Cherry-picked Pitfall

Chapter XIX

BRIGHTER DAYS were about to come. Unlike the previous ones, the sky wasn't hiding the sun anymore. It was still partially cloudy but at least, the weather was getting better. You could even tell just by listening at the serenade of the sea, its waves were calmer. The crisp of every splash sent shivers down the spine as you stood still by the seashore.

If I would choose a place in Islas de Hermoso Fuego where I could stay peacefully, I realized that that would be bukana.

Although houses were here, this place was the most peaceful during the day. People of isla were mostly busy doing their jobs as fishermen, farmers, sellers, and helpers. Others were spending most of their time at church and school. Kaya wala talaga gaanong tao sa kani-kanilang mga bahay. Kung may maiiwan man, iyon ay para lang magpahinga. Kaya't walang ingay, walang magulo, walang kahit anong makaiistorbo sa pagmuni-muni mo kung gusto mong kausapin ang dagat.

I suddenly made a realization. Na hindi lahat ng tao ay pinipili talagang manatili sa tahanan nila, na kung papipiliin sila ay mas gusto nilang makalaya.

Which made sense actually. Hindi ka naman kasi dapat nakukulong sa sarili mong pamamahay dahil— hindi naman lahat ng tahanan ay ligtas para silungan tuwing hindi maganda ang pakiramdam mo o gusto mo ng proteksyon mula sa mundo at hindi lahat ng tahanan ay bubusugin ka sa pagkain at pagmamahal.

Hindi kasi lahat ng tahanan ay tahanan para sa atin. We might have a place to call our house but we couldn't always turn it into a home.

And that's fine. One must walk out of the room when respect, trust, and safety were no longer being served.

I heaved a sigh after thinking about those. Nonetheless, looking at the better side of it, staying here was ecstatic— ecstatic enough to wander about the things that mesmerized me in this place. Ecstatic enough to meet new people. . .

"You're here."

Hindi nga naman Maynila ang isla. Mabilis mong malilibot ang bawat sulok nito kung kabisado mo ang lugar o kung gugustuhin mo. Kaya sa kaunting taong pwede makasalamuha mo, hindi imposibleng isa doon si Damon.

His eyes were looking intently at me. Para itong may gustong itanong ngunit ang kanyang labi ay nakatikom. I couldn't figure it out though. Kaya naman nginitian ko siya bago umimik, "May kailangan ka?"

Damon pursed his lips. Then he shook his head. "Wala naman, wala naman. Napadaan lang dito." Saka ito lumingon sa dagat na pinagmamasdan ko rin kanina. His forehead creased as those eyes aimed to look at the farthest side of the wide sea. Akala mo'y may hinahanap.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto na nagpapakiramdaman kami, tumikhim si Damon. "How are you?"

"Is this about yesterday?" pagkaklaro ko.

Siguro kung may bagay man akong napansin, iyon ay ang kawalan ng tensyon sa pagitan namin. Magaan ang loob ko kay Damon, hindi na rin ako naiilang sa kanya. Maybe because he proved himself to me. Marami na rin kaming napag-usapan tungkol sa kanya-kanya naming karanasan sa buhay at dahil na rin sa mga nangyari kahapon— mula sa pag-aproba sa Mayor's office at sa paglakas ng alon sa dagat, our bond grew better.

I clicked my tongue. "It was not traumatic, if that's your concern. So you don't have to worry. Okay na rin ako physically. Nakapagpahinga na ako nang maayos. Halos kagigising ko lang din nga kaya hindi ako nakapunta agad sa sakahan," I explained.

With that, he just bobbed his head, understanding that there should not be any discussion about it, but he still blurted out something about yesterday as I expected it.

"I admire your professionalism regarding yesterday at city hall." His eyes landed on me after giving a statement.

Napatitig din naman ako sa kanya na may ngiti. Of course, that was a compliment. "Salamat. Maliit na bagay iyon na pwede kong gawin para sa isla," sagot ko naman.

"Maliit man para sa 'yong gawin 'yon, malaki naman ang magandang epekto noon para sa mga tao ng Islas de Hermoso Fuego, kaya salamat din. I like your grit." Damon brushed his hair after a soft wind blew on our faces. "Hindi ko akalain na ganoon mo kakausapin yung Mayor na iyon. Aaminin ko, medyo nakakapikon ang pagiging sexist niya sa 'yo. Mayabang na, mapangmaliit pa ng iba," he even added.

I nodded as I remembered what really happened inside Mayor's Teñente's hive. Ibang klaseng lalaki. Mataas masyado ang tingin sa sarili at mababa naman sa iba. Halata sa kanyang almusal niya ang pananapak sa dignidad ng ibang tao at hapunan niya ang ilegal na gawain sa bayan nila. Normal na iyon kung tutuusin pero hindi pa rin tama, kaya hindi dapat makasanayan. People that embodied those negative characteristics should never run for candidacy—they would never deserve people's vote and be called a public servant. At kung may tao man na dapat na nasa ganoong posisyon, yung katulad dapat ni Damon.

In line with thoughts, I turned my gazes on to him. I gladly received his compliments towards me with a genuine smile that reflected even on my eyes. In a split second, my expression turned a bit serious. "Kasi kapag nanay ka na, wala ka ng hindi kaya," I justified my actions.

Damon silently and repeatedly nodded. Baka pa siya makaimik ay nagsalita ako ulit.

"Bakit ka nga pala napadaan dito? Sinadya mo bang mangumusta? Seryoso, okay na talaga ako." I gave him that assurance. Baka inisip niyang siya pa ang may kasalanan kung bakit muntik na akong malunod kahapon, e, hindi naman.

"Yes, but I actually want to go to Bealado. Tutal nandito ka na rin naman, baka pwedeng samahan mo ako? Kung wala ka lang naman gagawin kasi baka. . ."

Before he could finish his statement, I walked past him. "Hindi ka nakaka-istorbo kaya tara na," I cut him off.

Hindi naman na siya nagsalita pagkatapos noon. Sumunod na siya sa paglalakad ko na walang kahit anong reaksyon. We were also quiet on our way to Bealado, but the moment we set our feeth on the edge of a sandbar where we decided to stand, he heaved a loud sigh.

"Parang galing sa balon, ha?" pang-aasar ko pa. "May problema ba? Pwede ka namang mag-share," I spoke while subconsciously looking at the beauty of Bealado. Parang napakalayo mo sa totoong mundo kung titingnan mo ang kapayapaang nabibigay nito sa kaluluwa mo.

It felt so safe to shout whatever you wanted to shout in here as it was free from judgments. Free from anger and sadness or any strong negative emotions the world would make you feel, even free from destructive thoughts that could ruin you from within.

Now I could say everything here felt steady and stable. It wasn't just the people or the place itself. It's about how you feel— "Hey what the heck!"