Cherry-picked Pitfall

Chapter XXI

TWO MONTHS since I landed my feet in Islas de Hermoso Fuego and I could finally say that this isla must be the home I needed and wanted.

The soft burbles of untroubled bluish-green water and the scattered glints on the surface of the lagoon. It took me about a month before realizing how mesmerizing this place could be. Everything here seemed pleasant, steady, slow, and gentle.

"Oo naman! Maganda ang Bealado!" Damon affirmed proudly. Nagawa niya pang iangat ang mga kamay niya mula sa tubig dahilan para magtilamsik ito, kaya napapunas ako ng mukha. Bahagya pa itong natawa bago mag-sorry.

I just bobbed my head while a slightly grimaced face and hummed while thinking of my proposal. "Kaya nga. As I was saying, this should be the place where we should start." Binanggit ko kasi sa kanya na magandang gawing tourist spot ang Bealado.

"Sigurado ka ba?" he doubted. "Malaking responsibilidad ito para sa lahat."

"Kaya pagpaplanuhan natin," I told him with overflowing positivity. "Kailangan ng bantay sa towers, sa over-looking swing, at least five life guards, three guides and watchers. Kailangan din natin planuhin yung daan papuntang Bealado mismo without passing bukana at sakahan. Kailangan din ng tulay papuntang bayan para may bilihan ng snacks, good, at souvenirs," I explained vividly. I was enthusiastic about Bealado being a tourist spot because before telling this to Damon, I already did lots of research about it from building to executing.

"Masyadong matrabaho," he rejected the idea.

"For sure. Matrabaho ang process at hanggang mabuo siya ay marami tayong sacrifices at adjustments na kailangan gawin. Even expenses, labor, effort, and time. Pero dahan-dahanin lang natin, kakayanin naman," I presented more of my thoughts about the project.

"Saan naman kukuha ng pondo?" Damon questioned me with a doubtful eyes.

"Investors, NGA, LGU, and fundraising," sagot ko naman.

"Paano ang promotion?" he even asked.

"We'll work on that, Damon. We have Laurice and me who work on network and media," natatawa kong sagot ngayon matapos mapansin ang seryoso niyang tono. "Ang daming tanong, ha," I said sarcastically, though honestly I didn't mind.

"Lagi ka namang may sagot sa lahat ng bagay," he rebutted.

"Sige, hindi na." I faked my surrender.

"No, no, I like it," Damon immediately said. "At least you have answers to questions. It is a sign of maturity that I don't usually see from people your age." He flashed a sincere smile as he looked earnestly on my direction. Kitang-kita ko iyon dahil magkatabi lang naman kaming nakalusong sa Bealado habang nakapatong ang mga braso sa maliit na rock formation sa gitna ng tubig.

"Why?" I asked unconsciously while admiring his features.

"Sa panahon ngayon, sa ganyang edad, marami pa ang lost," Damon reasoned out.

Napatango naman ako nang maisip ko ang sinabi niya. "Hmm.. Baka dahil privileged lang ako?" That's me and my awareness of how I lived my life even with all the hardships I went through.

"Yeah, may point. But not all the time privilege is the issue. Siguro sa mindset mo na rin and how well made you are as a person— that's your personality, Sera. . . .and it even got better because of your experiences."

I forced a smile and that didn't meet my eyes. Remembering it all made me feel a warm thump on my heart. "Pero sa totoo lang, naiisip ko na sana hindi na nangyari sa akin 'to. It's me who chose to be better and I would never give credit to my traumas."

Damon smiled at me as well, then he brushed his hair using his fingers. "Yeah, I just want to acknowledge that you are doing great. Baka lang nagda-doubt ka sa capabilities mo." He even tapped my shoulder after saying that. "Also, tama ka naman. May mga bagay talaga na sana hindi nangyari kahit na nakatulong pa ito sa atin," he agreed, showing validity to how I felt regarding the battles I won.

"Regrets, maybe?" I tried guessing what was that called.

Damon scoffed. "No. It is more of. . . penitence and being apologetic to yourself with what happened as it caused damage to you, and you. . . .you will make that it will not happen again."

That sounded sincere, so I concurred to what he said. "I like that, I like that." Then my gaze landed on Damon's hands that were tracing the surface of rock formation.

"Pero hindi ko na gusto ang init ng araw," he murmured which made him laugh as well.

Dahil sa sinabi niya ay natawa rin ako. Nang lingunin ko nga siya, naabutan kong nakatingin din pala siya sa akin.

"Tara na?" Yaya ko sa kanya nang mapansin kong pulang-pula na ang balikat niya. "Mamaya magka-sunburn ka na naman parang noong last time," paalala ko pa.

"I put sunscreen now! I learned from that day." His voice got louder as he was caught off-guard with what I said. Still, he just brushed it off with a chortle.

Damon and I decided to go home. After all, it was about time to have lunch. He even encouraged me to eat at Villa Alquiza but I rejected the offer. Gusto ko ring umuwi at magpahinga kasama ang anak ko. Mga ganitong oras ay ako ang nagpapatulog sa kanya sa hapon.

We slowly walked our way home while still exchanging opinions and dad jokes with each other. When we reached the Llanura, we were stopped by a figure running towards us.

It was Diyang! Kitang-kita sa takbo niya ang pagmamadali na halos madapa para lang maabot kami. It was even visible on her face that was full of sweat. Tatanungin ko pa lang sana siya, pero nang huminto siya sa harap namin ay iniangat niya ang palad niya habang naghahabol ng hininga.

We waited for a few seconds and when Diyang recovered from running quickly, she gulped as she faced me with her tensed eyes. "Ate Sera. . ." Then she announced something that turned my stomach upside down.

"Nandyan siya!"