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The traffic in the Metro is hell.
And Aiah has frustratingly proven it once again, when she sprints her way out of her rushedly parked car up to the parking’s departure entrance.
So much for leaving her condo five hours before her flight.
With her huge luggage now rolling aggressively against the uneven airport floor, she barely makes it to the already deserted check-in counters.
Past the counters, she hurriedly gallops her way along the departure hall while every speaker around the area reports her name –
“Paging Aiah Arceta for Flight PR 2932 to Basco. This is the final boarding call. Please proceed to Gate 13A immediately.”
Aiah’s now seriously considering rebooking this flight so she could save herself from all the hassle.
Money isn’t even a problem.
But dang, she is persistent – being this late isn’t even her fault to begin with.
And what’s even the purpose of her nightly BGC runs if she isn’t going to catch her flight on-time, right?
So Aiah dashes her way to her designated gate, with her passport and boarding pass in hand, and her laptop bag loosely strung over her shoulder.
After so much hassle, she finally manages to enter her plane, albeit with dripping sweats and flushed skin.
Impatient irritated eyes from the seated passengers immediately welcome her while she walks along the aisle to search for her row.
Great.
Aiah thinks while she politely smiles at an old lady passenger who glares at her with a judging look.
Now everyone’s mad at me.
Even when she’s still on the road earlier, painstakingly stuck in unmoving traffic for hours, Aiah has already conditioned herself that this trip isn’t going to be as smooth and peaceful as she’s hoping it to be.
And while still walking along the aisle to find her seat, with her mood now turning a bit sour –
Aiah doesn’t have any idea then that this trip will eventually become one of her most cherished, and most treasured memories in the future.
And as she walks further along, slowly closing in to her assigned row, Aiah isn’t aware by then, that booking and riding this particular flight –
is going to be one of the best decisions that she has ever made in her entire life.
_
When she finally reaches her designated seat row, Aiah stops right at the aisle –
someone is already sitting at the window seat.
And Aiah always books the window seat.
She then finds herself staring at a lovely side profile of a girl, who amidst the sea of annoyed passengers’ faces, is smiling so brightly while looking through the window.
A pink ribbon neatly ties the girl’s long hair into a half-ponytail.
And her smile is so wide and radiant that you would think she’s staring at the most beautiful scenery in the world, and not at a boring view of plane cargos and cranes.
“Ay sorry, dito ka ba?”
Aiah must have been quietly staring for too long because the pretty girl is already talking to her.
“Dyan kasi talaga ako nakaupo,” the girl points to the aisle seat in front of Aiah. Her excited smile fades as she prepares herself to get her bag and switch seats,
“Sorry, akala ko kasi wala na akong katabi so lumipat na ako dito.”
The girl’s disappointment is so evident that Aiah solely blames her penchant for pretty smiles for what she’s about to say next –
“Ah, it’s fine. Here naman seat ko.” Aiah quickly points to the middle seat.
She always hates the middle seat.
“Ahh sa middle ka ba?” the girl pauses on collecting her things, and the excitement in her eyes slowly appears again. “Hindi dito?”
Aiah quickly nods and gives a reassuring smile, “Yup, I booked this middle seat.”
The girl then smiles wide. She immediately re-buckles her seatbelt while Aiah settles herself in the middle seat.
“If wala ng uupo dito,” the girl looks at her, eyes expectant, “okay lang bang dito n’ako?”
“Bakit sakin ka nagpapaalam,” Aiah softly chuckles, “that’s not my seat naman.”
It’s really not on her bingo card to be such a down bad gay for a pretty stranger on a plane, but there she is – acting just like that.
“Eh mas malapit ka kasi sa window seat, baka mas preferred mong dito lumipat?”
Aiah smiles and shakes her head, “Hindi na. Dyan ka na lang. I like sitting here in the middle naman.”
“Swerte ko naman pala sa katabi ko ngayon...” the girl pauses and stares at Aiah, then her friendly smile widens a bit when she utters her next words–
“Maganda na, mabait pa.”
The thing is, Aiah has had her fair share of straight girls who always smile and compliment her exactly just like what this pretty lady beside her did.
So instead of letting her internal gay panic get the best of her, she just warmly smiles back and mutters an honest–
“Thank you. You’re pretty yourself too.” instead.
She then makes a friendly nod to the girl, before she shifts her gaze to open her laptop bag and search for her glasses and book.
But the thing is,
Aiah turned away so quickly that she failed to notice the pink blush that slowly spreads its way across the other girl’s cheeks.
“Stacey nga pala.”
“Hmm?”
“My name’s Stacey. Ikaw ba?”
“I’m Aiah.”
“Pretty naman ng name mo, parang ikaw.”
“I think Stacey’s a prettier name.”
Stacey’s new smile that follows is so charming and magnetic that Aiah’s weak knees almost fold on the floor.
It nearly crumples Aiah’s facade but she must remain strong.
“Aiah, gano ka katagal sa Batanes?”
Aiah thinks that her name sounds so good whenever Stacey says it.
“Two weeks, at least.”
“At least two weeks? so may balak ka pang mag extend?”
Aiah hums, “hmm.. it depends siguro.”
“Bakit ang tagal?” Stacey then curiously asks her, “galing ka bang break up?”
It made Aiah laugh a little, “Ah hindi. I just want to unload some things off my mind. Punta lang ako there to unwind. To breathe some fresh air.”
“Wow.” Stacey’s tone is now teasing, “Rich kid ka siguro, no?”
Aiah lightly chuckles, “Pano mo naman nasabi?”
“Eh ang expensive kaya mag travel sa Batanes. Tapos at least two weeks ka don? Unless–”
“Unless?”
“Unless taga don ka talaga?”
Aiah shakes her head, “Nope. Vacation lang talaga habol ko there.”
“So rich kid ka nga?”
Aiah only smiles.
“Uy nag smile lang siya oh. So confirmed. Mayaman pala ‘tong katabi ko eh!”
Being fondly amused at Stacey’s animated reactions, Aiah replies with a gentle smile –
“Well, my parents own a business. So let’s just leave it at that.”
But Stacey suddenly pouts, “Ay may wall agad.”
Is that a pout? Aiah isn’t sure.
What she’s sure however, is that the expression looks so cute on Stacey.
“Wall?” Aiah asks, her brows slightly furrowing.
Stacey then shakes her head and smiles timidly,
“Wala, nevermind. I value your privacy naman.”
Aiah then genuinely asks, “Bakit, do you want to get to know my parents ba?”
The sudden question makes Stacey’s face go a little red– “uy hindi grabe ka naman!”
Stacey clears her throat, “Meet the parents agad, eh hindi pa nga tayo.”
“Hindi pa tayo?”
“Close.” Stacey pauses and shyly looks at her–
“Hindi pa tayo close, I mean.”
Her face is then adorned with such an adorably embarrassed smile and Aiah has found herself staring again.
Oh.
My.
Lord.
How long is the flight to Batanes again?
Two hours?
…Two hours beside this pretty girl…
Aiah feigns nonchalance and just lightly chuckles her nervousness away.
Pinili mong umupo dyan, Aiah. Magdusa ka.
_
For the remainder of their two-hour flight, Aiah just busies herself reading.
Mainly to kill time, but mostly to protect her heart.
Because if Stacey keeps talking to her like that, Aiah isn’t sure if she’ll be able to make it to Batanes alive.
From time to time, Aiah steals some glances at Stacey, who, for the rest of their flight, is just looking outside the window with a smile.
It somehow validates Aiah’s decision to give up her seat for the girl.
So whenever she returns to reading her book, a small smile always makes its way into Aiah’s lips.
Unbeknownst to Aiah, Stacey is also doing the same to her.
She keeps stealing some glances at the pretty girl in the middle seat –
who looks so attractive in her specs,
whose glasses keep sliding down her nose while she reads,
who seems too engrossed with the book that she’s reading that she even smiles at it from time to time.
Stacey then looks outside the window after stealing another glance at Aiah – the girl just smiled at her book again.
Cute naman ng ngiti ni crush.
She stares at the sunset-tinged clouds and pensively smiles.
Ang ganda siguro ng binabasa niya.
_
Upon landing in Basco a little past 7 pm, the two girls bid their goodbyes with equally friendly smiles.
Stacey then excuses herself first so she could travel to her lodging and rest. While Aiah remains inside the airport as she waits for her huge luggage to arrive.
“Stacey? You’re still here?”
Stacey turns around, her one hand holding her phone beside her ear, while her other hand waves at Aiah –
“Hi, Aiah! Hala naabutan mo pa nga ako dito.”
Aiah then walks towards her, Stacey is standing just outside the Basco Airport.
“Wala ka bang sundo?”
Stacey clicks something on her phone before hiding it on her pocket, she then smiles at Aiah–
“Wala eh, kaya nga tinatawagan ko yung owner ng homestay ko. Balak ko kasi sanang mag-tricycle lang papunta don,” she softly chuckles, “DIY lang kasi ako dito sa Batanes.”
“Ahh..” Aiah nods, “sumagot na ba yung contact mo?”
Stacey shakes her head, “hindi pa nga eh. Tatawag na lang siguro ulit ako maya maya.”
“Gusto mo bang sumabay na lang sa’min? Where ba yung lodging mo? Hatid ka na lang namin.”
“Hala nakakahiya naman.” Stacey pauses, “Pero okay lang ba, Aiah? mukhang wala ng mga tricycles na bumi-byahe kasi eh.”
A shy Stacey is really something else. And it never fails to put a smile on Aiah’s lips –
“Oo naman. Ako naman nag aya di’ba?” she then looks around the area, “Besides it’s getting late na nga rin. So sabay ka na lang sa’kin.”
“Thank you ha,” Stacey’s grateful smile is even more beautiful with the airport’s night lights,
“Swerte ko talaga naging katabi kita.”
_
“You said earlier na DIY ka. How long ba stay mo dito sa Batanes?”
Aiah curiously asks. The two girls are now inside the complimentary van provided by her accommodation.
They are now traveling the Basco roads on the way to Stacey’s homestay.
“Oo DIY, budget traveler kasi ako. 5 days 6 nights lang. Ikaw ba? May tour ka na?”
“Wala pa. But my hotel is offering tour packages. Siguro I’ll book na lang through them tomorrow.”
Stacey then perks up and holds her shoulder,
“If gusto mo, sama ka na lang sa’kin mag tour Aiah! Mas matipid pa yun, pwede tayong mag share sa tricycle fee.”
Aiah’s gaze silently lands at the hand holding her, then she looks at Stacey –
“Sure kang gusto mo akong kasama?” she replies in a soft voice.
“Oo naman...” there’s a featherly touch that slightly brushes Aiah’s arm when Stacey pulls down her hand –
“bakit naman hindi?”
Aiah doesn’t reply right away.
She looks at Stacey whose eyes are equally expectant and shy.
“Pero okay lang, Aiah. baka ayaw mo ng diy tour–”
“Sure,” Aiah’s smile is gentle and kind, “I’ll join you tomorrow, Stacey.”
The younger girl’s eyes light up a little, she then gets her phone and offers it to Aiah with a wider smile –
“Kunin ko number mo ha. Para naman may contact tayo bukas sa tour. Okay lang ba?”
Aiah doesn’t really know why, but despite her internal panic,
despite her apprehension to be this much closer to the girl again,
and despite the tiny little tingles in her stomach when Stacey gently touched her,
Aiah is unable to resist the urge to just nod and give in.
She just met the girl barely four hours ago and Stacey already has that enigmatic effect on her.
Five more days with Stacey…
Aiah quietly types her number on Stacey’s phone.
Good luck na lang talaga sa’yo, Aiah.
_
Day 1 out of 5
Stacey texted her that their call time for the first day of their tour is 8am.
But Aiah is already standing in front of Stacey’s homestay as early as 7.30.
Dressed in her casual white cropped top shirt and denim jeans, with her shades perched on top of her head, Aiah doesn’t message Stacey until her apple watch strikes 8.
‘Good morning, Stacey. :)
I’m here na outside, by the gate. Labas ka na lang whenever you’re ready.’
“Ang ganda mo namang bungad sa umaga!”
Upon hearing it, Aiah looks up from her phone and sees that Stacey is already walking towards her –
looking all gorgeous and attractive in her beige sleeveless top and denim shorts.
“Good morning din naman sa’yo, Aiah.” Stacey vibrantly greets while she looks at Aiah from head to toe, “ang ganda ng top mo. Bagay na bagay sa’yo.”
“Thank you,” Aiah lightly chuckles, “I like your outfit too. You look prettier in it.”
“Bolera!” Stacey teasingly smiles at her before she turns around to wave and cheerily greet a local just across the road,
“Good morning, po!”
The grandmother stops sweeping her front yard and warmly smiles back, “Magandang umaga, mga ineng.”
A strong wind then blows and Stacey quickly jogs across to arrange the fallen dustpan and empty bottles besides the grandmother.
Aiah immediately follows along to help.
“Maraming salamat mga ineng. Enjoy kayo dito sa Batanes ha.” Greets the grandmother with a grateful smile.
“Opo. Salamat po, ‘la.” Stacey puts the last empty bottle back on its place,
“Ingat din po kayo sa pagwawalis.”
It made the grandmother laugh.
and it made Aiah’s heart swell a little more.
Stacey then carefully picks a stray dried leaf on top of the grandmother’s white hair, and Aiah can only sigh her growing adoration away.
Stacey.
This beautiful girl who took my window seat–
Aiah’s quiet stare at Stacey is now filled with inexplicable fondness.
This girl’s soul is even more beautiful.
_
The first day of their tour is super relaxing.
To say that Batanes is a beautiful paradise is an understatement.
Aiah has to thank Stacey because touring around Batanes inside a tricycle is a different level of exhilirating experience.
There’s not a lot of vehicles traveling around the municipality so they get to enjoy the fresh air of the province even more.
Their local tricycle driver, kuya Mario, is so friendly and warm that he even acts as a dependable tour guide for the two girls –
providing informative trivias about the province itself and the Ivatans , the local natives of Batanes.
“Bawal po magpatayo at bumili ng bahay dito Ma’am, kapag hindi ka Ivatan.” Kuya Mario shares while they travel to their next stop.
“Ah talaga po ba kuya?” Stacey asks.
“Dapat lang naman po ganon talaga, kuya.” Aiah adds.
“Oo nga po, Ma’am.” Kuya Mario then jokes, “Para po hindi mabili ng mga Chinese mga lugar namin dito sa Batanes.”
The two girls inside the tricycle laugh.
“Tama po yan, kuya! S’atin ang Batanes hindi sa kanila.” Stacey animatedly exclaims, before adding,
“Eh pano po kuya kung gusto ko palang mag retire dito sa Batanes? Wala na pong chance makabili ako ng bahay dito?”
Kuya Mario smiles, “Pwede naman po Ma’am, basta po magpakasal kayo sa Ivatan.”
Stacey then turns to Aiah,
“Aiah, sure ka bang hindi ka Ivatan?”
Aiah is stunned at the sudden question.
It takes a few seconds before she finally recovers and opts to ride with Stacey’s joke (yup, Aiah thinks it’s just a joke) -
“Hindi eh. Pero willing akong magpa-convert for you, Stacey.” she replies with a smile.
Stacey stares at her, lips slightly parted with a surprised smile, “Talaga?” she asks in a slower softer voice, “Gagawin mo yun for me?”
Aiah chuckles nervously.
“Hindi po pwedeng mag pa-convert, Ma’am. Wala pong ganon dito.”
Thank you, kuya Mario for saving me!
“Ayyyy,” Stacey then taps Aiah’s arm, “sa ibang lugar na lang pala tayo mag-settle, Aiah.”
Good Lord.
Aiah has no idea how many more times she would call the heavens and just chuckle her gay panic away.
Four more days like this with Stacey.
This girl would be the end of her.
_
‘Goodnight, Aiah. Sana nag-enjoy ka sa tour kahit naka tricycle lang tayo.
Thank you sa pagsama sa akin. 🥰’
‘Goodnight, Stacey. :) I really had fun. Promise!
No, I should be the one thanking you for organizing this tour and letting me tag along.’
‘See you tomorrow! 🥰 🩷’
‘Sleep well, Stacey. See you tomorrow. :)’
_
Day 2 out of 5
Stacey informed her that their second day is going to be on another island.
So right after sunrise, they brave the huge waves of the Philippine Sea and sail to Sabtang.
Sabtang Island is a gem on its own. For every site that they visit, it always leaves Aiah speechless.
It is also where the preserved Ivatan village of stone houses is located.
Aiah feels like they’re being transported to a different era when they visit the village and leisurely stroll around it.
The beauty of the island with Stacey’s smile on it carves something beautiful inside Aiah’s heart -
Like a hidden compartment,
a treasured memory,
a secured spot tucked deep within the deepest corners of her heart –
in which every space of it is delicately engraved with everything Stacey, all of her expressions, her gestures, and all of her smiles.
In the afternoon, they visit a stone chapel.
And after praying inside and taking some photos, a young girl walks towards them with a bunch of small packed items hanging around her wrist–
“mga ate ganda, Batanes souvenirs po, bili na po kayo.”
Stacey curiously checks one of the items - the kid is selling mini Batanes lighthouse magnets as souvenirs.
“Ay ang gaganda naman nito. Magkano isa?”
“80 lang po.”
“Ang mahal naman, beh. Pwedeng 50 na lang isa? Dalawa naman bibilhin ko.”
“Ay hindi po pwede ate, 80 po talaga.”
“Sige 3 for 140 na lang. Itong tatlo na kukunin ko.”
Stacey smiles charmingly while she tries to haggle with the kid.
But the young girl just scratches her head, seemingly thinking if she should give in to Stacey’s negotiation.
So Aiah walks towards them and asks Stacey,
“Are you going to buy those 3 items ba?”
“Oo sana. May pagbibigyan kasi ako pag uwi eh.”
Aiah then turns to the young girl and smiles, “Magkano ulit isa?”
“80 lang po, ate”
She then gets her wallet and gives a 500 peso bill to the child,
“Here, kunin ko na rin ‘tong 3 para sakto 480 na. Keep the change na lang din.”
Stacey then lightly taps Aiah’s arm,
“Huy, hala bakit ikaw magbabayad?”
Aiah turns to look at Stacey and smiles,
“Libre ko na.”
“Ate ganda, ito po oh! Salamat po ang bait niyo po!” The young girl happily exclaims while she hands over the items to Aiah.
When the child walks away and goes to the other tourists around the area, Stacey taps Aiah's arm again–
“Bakit mo ako nilibre? Nagpapa cute ka ba sa’kin?” She jokes lightheartedly.
So Aiah lets out an endearing chuckle,
“Ah.. eh kasi handcrafted naman yung magnets.”
“Meaning?”
“I think justifiable naman ang 80 pesos each na price. Mura pa nga siya for me since made by hand and mukhang good quality. For sure pinaghirapan nilang gawin yang mga souvenirs.”
“Siguro nga..” Stacey nods, “Pero bakit mo nga ako nilibre?” She probes further with a teasing smile.
Aiah softly laughs, “Bumibili ka ba ng coffee sa mga famous coffee shops sa Manila?”
Stacey nods, “Minsan. Pag bagong sweldo. Mahal eh.”
“Hmm.. do you buy your groceries in SM ba or any malls?”
“Oo, sa SM malapit samin. Dun ako madalas mag grocery after sweldo.”
Aiah then smiles, “Those are the reasons bakit kita nilibre.”
“Ha?” Stacey looks confused, “sorry, medyo lost ako.”
So Aiah expounds further in a calm and considerate tone,
“Those locals, they’re all just trying to make a living.”
Aiah pauses for a bit, she then stares at the local girls selling their items to the tourists from afar -
“We tend to haggle with them because we can. Pero if we buy items from big corporations, nakaka-haggle ba tayo? Hindi naman di ba? We just buy from them regardless of their pricing. Wala tayong magagawa kahit na they increase their item prices quarterly, which SM does to some of their grocery products, by the way. So if we buy from those corps, why don’t we support our locals the same way too, right?”
Stacey is just looking at Aiah, quietly absorbing everything that the older girl is saying.
Aiah then shifts her gaze to Stacey and smiles,
“I’m not saying it’s bad to haggle ha. It’s not. If you’re on a budget or you think an item is overpriced, then by all means do it. There’s nothing wrong with that naman.”
she then pauses for a bit and her expression slowly softens,
“I hope I didn’t sound like pinapangaralan kita, Stacey, because you haggled with the kid… that’s not what I meant ha. I just treated you kasi you seem to be on a budget, while I happen to have some spare.”
Aiah then looks at Stacey with worried eyes,
“But if it somehow offended you, I’m really sorry.”
Stacey’s not sure if she’s blushing now with the way Aiah is gently staring at her.
She doesn’t really get why the older girl is apologizing to her.
But what warms her heart is that in the middle of all of this, Aiah has still managed to consider her feelings –
Grabe naman ‘tong si crush, ako na nga nilibre siya pa mag so-sorry…
“Hoy hindi!” Stacey animatedly taps Aiah’s arm, a bit harder than what she intends to, perhaps as a defense mechanism to shield her racing heart –
“si OA naman to. Gets ko nga yung point mo eh. So kaya mo ako nilibre kasi you want to support the locals ganon?”
Aiah nods, “Yup. I have spare money naman. Besides, it looks like you really like those magnets.”
She then widely smiles at the younger girl, with cute dimpled dots and all,
“And I wanna buy them for you, so treat ko na lang yan sa’yo.”
If she wasn't blushing earlier, Stacey is a hundred percent sure that she is now.
Yet Aiah looks like she’s not noticing it, perhaps to not embarrass the younger girl further.
But Stacey thinks it’s a bit unfair with how she feels her face all heating up, yet Aiah is just standing there, looking all gorgeous and unbothered.
So with a bit of a courage, Stacey gently holds Aiah’s arm and looks at her in the eyes –
“Alam mo, Aiah.”
“Ano?”
“Habang tumatagal…” Stacey then puts up her sweetest of smile,
“lalo kang gumaganda sa paningin ko.”
“Bolera!” Aiah’s response is quick as she turns around and starts to jog,
“Kuya’s there na oh. Tara na, next stop na daw!”
“Hoy wait lang! ang bilis mo naman tumakbo.”
Stacey then jokingly shouts from afar while Aiah runs towards their tour tricycle –
“Nakakapagod ka namang kasama, Aiah!”
While running, what Stacey failed to see is the stupidly wide grin splitting across Aiah’s flustered face.
And while chasing Aiah, what Stacey failed to notice is the blush that quickly spreads across the older girl’s cheeks,
all bright and in deep shades of pink,
all because of Stacey, and Stacey alone.
_
‘Goodnight, Aiah. Sana nag enjoy ka sa second day ng tour kahit sa ibang Island tayo. 🥰’
‘Goodnight, Stacey. :)
I enjoyed it a lot. I love Sabtang and its people. Thank you ulit for bringing me there ha.’
‘Buti naman na-enjoy mo, Aiah!! See you tomorrow! 🥰 🩷’
‘See you tomorrow, Stacey. Sleep ka na :)’
‘Ikaw din, Aiah. Pahinga ka maigi. See youuu! 🩷’
_
Day 3 out of 5
For their third day, they go beach hopping.
They visit even the not so popular beaches in Batanes, those that usually aren’t part of the tour packages because they’re located in the far-flung areas.
When Aiah comments how the hidden Batanes beaches can even rival with Boracay, Stacey feels proud.
“Sinama ko talaga ‘to sa itinerary ko. Mas maganda kasi talaga pag hindi pa ganon ka-mainstream yung lugar, pag hindi pa kilala ng ibang mga turista. Mas ma-e-enjoy mo kasi unspoiled pa and–” Stacey raises her arms wide and twirls around, “walang ibang tao!”
Aiah giggles at a twirling Stacey,
“You’re right naman. I don’t like it din when there’s so many tourists around. You can’t fully enjoy the beauty of the place that way eh.”
“See? Gets na gets mo talaga ako, Aiah. At dahil dyan, halika selfie tayo.”
Aiah generously obliges. She really can’t find it within her to say no to Stacey.
Together, they make a variety of cute poses (as per Stacey’s request) with the white sand, the deep blue Pacific ocean, and the cottony clouds skyline as their backdrop.
And for the rest of the morning, the two girls just continue to explore and enjoy the serenity that the unspoiled white Batanes beaches bring.
When lunchtime comes, kuya Mario brings them to a small restaurant by the beach.
They ordered a freshly-caught seafood platter, and as soon as their meals arrived, Aiah pulled the plate of seafood towards herself.
“Let me peel your seafood for you."
Stacey’s eyes immediately widen,
“Hala, Aiah wag na! Eto naman nakakahiya. Kaya ko naman eh.”
“Okay lang for me, ano ka ba. Sayang naman kasi your pink nails eh, ang pretty pa naman oh. Baka masira pa.” Aiah then smiles while she gets a shrimp and starts peeling, “so just let me. Hindi naman manicured nails ko.”
Stacey shyly clears her throat,
“Actually.. pinagawa ko nga ‘to before this trip. Pinaghandaan ko talaga para naman match sa ibang fits ko.”
“See?” Aiah looks up from the seafood plate to Stacey, a gentle smile now adorning her lips -
“Kaya dapat ini-ingatan natin yang nails mo.”
The younger girl immediately looks down on her plate, unable to form any coherent reply from what Aiah has just said.
Stacy busies herself by putting rice on her plate and doesn’t look up until she feels that her face is not heated up anymore.
She could only hope that Aiah didn’t notice her intense blushing.
When she finally composes herself and looks at Aiah again, the girl is now busy opening a huge crab.
Her forehead is slightly creased and her expression is so adorably serious, that Stacey finds herself fondly staring at the older girl –
Hinay hinay lang naman, crush…
Aiah’s forehead smoothens out and her expression lights up as soon as she successfully opens the crab.
Stacey then shakes her head and smiles,
Baka naman ma-fall ako sa’yo ng tuluyan nyan.
_
‘Goodnight, Aiah. Sana na-enjoy mo rin ang third day ng tour. 🥰’
Aiah types something, ponders on it, then erases it afterwards.
I̶ e̶n̶j̶o̶y̶e̶d̶ i̶t̶ a̶ l̶o̶t̶. I̶ l̶o̶v̶e̶ w̶a̶t̶c̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ s̶u̶n̶s̶e̶t̶ o̶n̶ t̶h̶e̶ b̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ w̶i̶t̶h̶ y̶o̶u̶ k̶a̶s̶i̶. :̶)̶
‘Goodnight, Stacey. :)
I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you again for bringing me there. Batanes beaches are really one for the books.’
[Stacey sends a photo]
‘Ayan pala, Aiah. Nakalimutan ko i-send sa’yo kanina. Ang cute natin dyan no? 😋’
It’s a beautiful selfie of them on the beach earlier.
Aiah just stares at the photo for a solid ten seconds and smiles.
Her fingers automatically hovers to the save button but then she stops herself and composes a reply –
‘Can I save this picture of us? If okay lang sa’yo?’
Stacey’s reply is quick –
‘Oo naman! Gawin mo pang wallpaper yan if gusto mo. 😋’
Aiah almost chokes on her almond snack.
Why is Stacey like this? Always catching her off guard.
‘Joke lang yon, Aiah ha. Baka kasi seryosohin mo. 😅’
Aiah types something but Stacey sends a message again.
‘Pero okay lang din naman kung seseryosohin mo, phone mo naman yan. Go lang! 😋’
Aiah sends her reply.
‘Ah hindi. People might think na girlfriend kita if I do that eh. 😅’
‘Ayaw mo ba?’
Aiah blankly stares at Stacey’s reply – she doesn’t really know how to properly respond to that question.
Is Stacey flirting with her?
But Aiah still doesn’t want to assume.
She’s been on this hill before and it didn’t end well.
While Aiah’s racking her brain on what she should reply next, Stacey sends a message again–
‘Joke lang ulit! Hahaha. 😋 Sige na, matutulog na ako, Aiah. Maaga pa tayo bukas eh.
See you tomorrow! 🥰🩷’
‘Sleep well, Stacey. See you tomorrow. :)’
Aiah is about to lock her phone when it beeps again –
‘I really had fun today, Aiah! Ang saya ng araw na’to. Thank you sa kagandahan mo. 😋 Hahaha.
Wag ka na mag reply ha. See youuuu 🥰🩷’
‘Sweet dreams, Stacey. :)’
‘Ay nagreply pa nga! Ang kulit! Hahaha. See you bukas. 🩷’
Aiah doesn’t reply anymore.
And before putting her phone down, she fondly stares at their selfie again.
While looking at their beautiful photo now, Aiah can only let out a weak tender sigh and affectionately smiles –
Good Lord.
We really do look cute together, huh.
_
Day 4 out of 5
On the fourth day, they have a tour around South Batan.
It’s a different municipality located on the southern end of the main Batanes island - boasting a variety of touristy spots and beautiful sceneries on its own.
Before lunch time, they visit the Honesty Café.
It’s a famous coffee shop and souvenir store in Batanes that is totally unmanned and is open 24/7.
There is just a designated box in one corner where customers have to drop their payment, trusting that they would do the right thing and pay the exact amount.
Coming from the metro where dishonesty is rampant, the store is such a refreshing concept for the two girls.
Now, it’s been a known fact that Batanes has a “zero” crime rate in the country. And for the last three days that they’ve been touring the province, Aiah has personally witnessed how honest and kind the Ivatans truly are.
But it’s an entirely different conversation if it involves tourists from all over the world.
“Hindi ba sila nalulugi dito, kuya?” Aiah curiously asks Kuya Mario, “Every tourist is paying the exact amount po talaga?”
“Hindi po natin sure yan, ma’am. Pero sabi po ng may ari, hindi naman daw po sila nalulugi dito. Sobra sobra pa nga daw po minsan ang kita nila sa isang araw.”
“Ahh..” Aiah nods after realizing something, “Maybe some tourists pay for extra po ‘no?”
Kuya Mario chuckles, “Ganon na nga po siguro, ma’am. Parang tip na raw po sa mga may-ari nitong shop.”
“Excuse me, miss, this item is 250 pesos. You only paid for 100.”
Aiah quickly turns her head to one corner of the store when she hears Stacey.
The younger girl is now talking to a group of three middle-aged foreigners.
“Chinese tourists po yang mga yan, ma’am.” Kuya Mario whispers to her.
Aiah nods while she listens to their conversation.
The tourist replies to Stacey in a thick accent, “I have money. I pay now. This is my money.”
Stacey shakes her head and politely smiles, “Yes, but that’s not enough. You need to pay 250 pesos for this.”
But the tourist stubbornly insists, “No no. I pay this. 100. This is my money.”
So Stacey gets the souvenir item from the tourist’s hand and firmly replies,
“This is the Honesty store. If you don't have the complete amount then please don’t get any items here.”
For the rest of their stay in the store, Stacey observes those tourists like a hawk, making sure they would be paying the right amount if ever they get any items from the shelf.
When the tourists finally leave, Stacey walks towards Aiah with her arms crossed over her chest,
“Mga kampon talaga ni Alice Guo, ang hilig manguha ng hindi naman dapat sa kanila.”
It made Aiah and Kuya Mario laugh.
“I like that you’re politically aware.” Aiah genuinely remarks with an amused smile.
“Bakit, crush mo na ba ako nyan, Aiah?”
It’s amazing how Stacey’s expression seamlessly switches from a very charismatic justified fierceness to an endearingly charming teasing face,
and Aiah’s heart is having a field day appreciating every second of it.
Kahit nasa plane pa lang naman, Stacey.
Aiah would like to sincerely reply.
But instead, and as usual, she just chuckles her nervousness away and smiles,
“Halika na nga. Next stop na daw sabi ni kuya oh.”
Their last stop for the day is the Mahatao Church.
Within the church’s vicinity, they enter a library filled with thick numbered blue books.
“Aiah, kailan ulit birthday mo?” Stacey asks.
Aiah chuckles at the random question, “Bakit, reregaluhan mo ba ako?”
“Dali na!”
“January 27, 1998.”
“Mas matanda ka pala sakin ng 2 years.” Stacey comments while she paces towards the shelves and scans the books.
She then gets a book with a number ‘127’ written on its spine and teasingly smiles at Aiah -
“Si ate pala ‘to eh. Hi ate Aiah, bakit ang extra blooming mo today?”
“Oh please, don’t call me ate. 2 yrs lang naman.”
Aiah then notices that Stacey is writing something in the book.
“We can write in their books?”
Stacey nods. She replies while still writing in her chosen book,
“Sabi ni Kuya Mario, para daw talaga sa mga tourists ito. Blank Book Archives daw tawag nila dito. Niregalo daw ng mga Spaniards yang blank books sa church after maitayo itong simbahan.”
Stacey then closes her book and smiles at Aiah,
“And over the years, nagsusulat ang mga tourists ng mga wishes nila dito sa books. Kaya parang for memories safekeeping na rin daw itong mga libro dito.”
“Ah, I see…” Aiah nods and hums, “How about you Stacey, when’s your birthday?”
Stacey just stares at Aiah, seemingly thinking whether to answer the girl or not. After a while she replies,
“Secret! Kuha ka na lang kahit anong number dyan.”
“Nope.” Aiah shakes her head, “I told you my birthday, so you should tell me yours, too.”
Stacey then pouts and finally gives in,
“July 13, 2000...”
“Alright, got it!” Aiah smiles before walking towards the shelves and starts searching for book number ‘713’.
Stacey is just silently observing her.
When Aiah finds the specific book and gets it from the shelf, she suddenly stops and looks at Stacey with wide eyes, realization finally dawning on her –
“Your birthday was yesterday?!”
Stacey shyly shrugs, “Surprise?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Bakit, reregaluhan mo ba ako?” Stacey teasingly mirrors Aiah’s reply earlier.
“Oo naman, why not?” Aiah smiles before she puts the book on the table and starts writing,
“No, seriously, why didn’t you tell me? We could have celebrated yesterday sana.”
Pinagbalat at hinimayan mo naman ako ng seafood kahapon, okay na yun, crush.
“Hindi naman kasi importante–”
“Importante yun, Stacey. Birthday mo yun eh.”
Stacey remains quiet. She just stands there, from across the library table, while she quietly observes the older girl.
When Aiah finishes writing on her book, she looks at Stacey with warm eyes,
“It’s your special day, Stacey.”
Aiah’s next tone is gentler, kinder, while she looks at Stacey with the softest of smile,
“It will always be important.”
_
‘Belated Happy Birthday, Stacey. :) Do you want to celebrate it ba tomorrow?’
‘Thank you, Aiah. 🥰🩷. Sana nag enjoy ka ulit today.’
‘I thoroughly enjoyed today, too. Thank you, Stacey. :)
Btw, may gusto ka bang gift? Or any food that you’d like to eat for tomorrow?’
Stacey types, but deletes it as quick–
H̶i̶n̶d̶i̶ n̶a̶. E̶n̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ n̶g̶ b̶i̶r̶t̶h̶d̶a̶y̶ g̶i̶f̶t̶ y̶u̶n̶g̶ c̶u̶t̶e̶ s̶e̶l̶f̶i̶e̶ n̶a̶t̶i̶n̶ t̶o̶g̶e̶t̶h̶e̶r̶.
‘Naku wag na, Aiah! Aabalahin mo pa sarili mo. Masaya naman ako kahit anong kainin natin together. 🥰’
‘But I insist. I told you, your birthday is special. So if you think of something, just let me know agad ha. :)’
P̶a̶r̶a̶n̶g̶ j̶o̶w̶a̶ n̶a̶m̶a̶n̶ 't̶o̶. W̶a̶g̶ k̶a̶ n̶a̶m̶a̶n̶g̶ m̶a̶s̶y̶a̶d̶o̶n̶g̶ p̶a̶-̶f̶a̶l̶l̶ c̶r̶u̶s̶h̶!̶ 😭😭😭
‘Sige, Aiah. Sabihan kita agad. Goodnight! 🥰 See you tomorrow! 🥰🩷’
‘Goodnight, Stacey. See you tomorrow. :)’
Stacey is about to charge her phone when it notifies again –
‘Happy birthday again sa magandang tour buddy ko! 🩷
Sweet dreams, Stacey. Goodnight. :)’
Stacey stupidly smiles while reading the message again, and again, and again – her cheeks blushing in deep bright red.
Hay nako, crush. Konting konti na lang talaga…
She reads Aiah’s last message for one last time and smiles,
Baka ipakilala na kita kina Mama.
_
Day 5 out of 5
Their final day of the tour involves a lot of hiking along the beautiful terrains and rolling hills of Batanes.
When they visit one of the famous rolling hills, the two girls simultaneously exclaim in awe.
The rolling hills are a breathtaking lush of green pastures that vastly expands until it meets the mountains and the West Philippine Sea.
Actually climbing the hills and seeing it in person is incomparable to just looking at it from the pictures online.
It’s really such a breathtaking sight to experience firsthand.
“Ma’am, gusto niyo po videohan ko po kayo? Maganda po view dito sa Vayang ma’am.”
Kuya Mario offers, so Stacey happily runs towards him and hands over her phone –
“Sige kuya, eto oh. Click niyo lang po yan pag ready na po kayo.”
Stacey then runs besides Aiah again and says–
“Tara ganitong pose, Aiah–”
“Hindi po ganyan ma’am!” Kuya Mario shouts from afar, “Usog pa po kayo don banda konti. Tapos takbo po kayo papalapit sa’kin habang magka holding hands.”
“HO?!!” Aiah and Stacey simultaneously react, shocked expressions both painted on their faces.
If Aiah doesn’t want to assume during the entirety of their trip, Kuya Mario is the exact opposite. All along, their friendly tour guide thought that Aiah and Stacey are a couple.
“Magkahawak po kayo ng kamay ma’am!” Kuya Mario shouts again, “Tapos po takbo po kayo galing don sa mas mataas na part ng hill, tapos bababa kayo habang nakatingin sa isa’t isa.”
Aiah nervously clears her throat, she shouts at Kuya Mario to clarify, “Kuya! Hindi po kami–”
But Stacey quickly holds her hand, she looks at Aiah and smiles, “Ito na lang, Aiah.”
“H-huh?” Aiah nervously stutters, her heart is already hammering inside her chest with the way Stacey is gently holding her hand.
“Birthday gift mo sa’kin, Aiah.” Stacey shyly smiles, “Ito na lang... Okay lang ba?”
Aiah is unable to look straight into Stacey’s eyes.
She can swear to the heavens now that she’s currently blushing so deeply.
It’s just a simple hold in her hand but Stacey has already rendered her speechless for several seconds.
She quietly looks at their held hands and internally composes herself.
After a few moment, she finally looks up and nods,
“I told you that your birthday is special di ba. And if this is what you want then–”
Aiah’s next smile is assuring, “Of course, okay lang sa akin, Stacey.”
So together, with their hands now holding each other, the two girls walk to the higher spot of the hill where Kuya Mario is pointing at.
And together, they run down the hills following their tour guide’s instructions religiously, albeit with equally shy smiles and blushing cheeks.
“Yung next stop po sana natin Ma’am ay sa Fundacion Pacita po. Kaso hindi na po siya open for tourists, Ma’am. Exclusive na po siya para sa mga naka check-in lang doon.”
Kuya Mario explains while they walk towards their parked tricycle.
Stacey looks disappointed, “Ay talaga po kuya? Bawal nang pumunta don pag outsiders?”
“Opo ma’am. Naghigpit na po yan sila eh.”
Aiah then chimes in, “Fundacion Pacita? Ito po ba yung hotel, kuya?”
“Opo ma’am. Yung sikat na museum at hotel po dito sa Batanes na nasa tuktok ng bundok.”
“Ahh..” Aiah nods then looks at Stacey, “you wanna go there ba?”
“Oo sana. Maganda daw doon eh. Kaso closed for outsiders na daw eh, sayang.”
Aiah then warmly smiles, her eyes inviting,
“If you wanna go there, then let’s have dinner there later.”
“Eh hindi nga daw pwede–” Stacey pauses when she notices the knowing smile on Aiah’s lips–
“Don’t tell me, doon ka nag si-stay?!”
So Aiah follows her and shrugs teasingly,
“Okay, then I wouldn’t tell you.”
Before quickly dashing her way towards their tour tricycle again.
“Aiah!!!” Stacey cutely whines and stomps her feet. She then shouts at the running girl,
“Bakit ba lagi ka na lang tumatakbo?? Hindi naman ako runner eh!”
Little did Stacey know, having their last dinner at the restaurant in Aiah’s hotel was the older girl’s plan all along.
It just so happened that Kuya Mario mentioned it first, that Aiah didn’t have to whip up her lame alibi anymore, just so she can invite Stacey for a surprise dinner later.
-
“Happy Birthday, Stacey!”
Stacey’s expression is stunned.
Her eyes widening in surprise while she stares at the older girl who’s smiling so widely from across their dinner table –
Aiah is now holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand, and a wide square plate of mini cake platter in the other.
Each of the five mini cakes on the plate has a small pink candle in the middle.
“Sorry, I didn't know what flavor is your favorite eh. So I hope kahit isa dito may tumama?”
Aiah warmly smiles while she looks at Stacey.
When the younger girl still doesn’t reply, Aiah asks worryingly,
“Are you okay? Why, wala ba here yung favorite cake mo?”
“Wait lang naman, Aiah..” Stacey then puts a hand on her chest and feels her rapidly beating heart,
“Bakit ka naman ganyan sa’kin?” she follows in a softer quieter voice.
“Hmm? Sorry, Stacey, I didn't catch that.”
Stacey then inhales deep and shakes her head,
“Wala..” She finally smiles and points at the pink strawberry mini cake,
“Ayan oh, favorite ko. May tama ka naman.”
Pati puso ko nga ata tinamaan mo na.
Aiah smiles relieved, “I kinda expected it actually. Since you like the color pink. Pero I don’t wanna assume eh.”
“Mag assume ka rin naman pa minsan minsan.”
“hmm?”
“Wala.” Stacey chuckles, “Tara, kain na tayo.”
She then gratefully smiles at Aiah and adds,
“Thank you ulit sa flowers and cakes ha.”
“You’re welcome, Stacey. Anything for your birthday.”
After dinner, they stayed at the outside veranda of Aiah’s hotel room.
Now seated in one of the veranda’s garden chairs, Stacey quietly drinks in the breathtaking view –
The sunset is just starting and the vast sky is now draped in a beautiful mix of purple and orange.
Below them is the Pacific ocean, and just on the farther right end is the expanded panoramic view of Batanes rolling hills, in all of its golden green glory.
Stacey then feels a warm blanket being cloaked around her shoulders.
“It’s chilly here outside. Baka ginawin ka, Stacey.”
Aiah notes before sitting on the vacant garden chair just beside her.
The younger girl mumbles a shy, “Thank you,” before pulling the warm blanket closer to her, enveloping her bare arms and upper body even more.
“Last day ko na pala today ‘no?” Stacey quietly remarks, her eyes fixated on the ocean.
“Oo nga eh. Ang bilis.. Thank you again, Stacey ha. I really had fun traveling with you.”
Aiah smiles, she’s looking at Stacey, but the younger girl is still staring at the view.
“Alam mo ba’ng muntikan na akong hindi tumuloy sa trip na ‘to?” Stacey quietly notes as the ocean draws a small wave and crashes ashore.
“Really?” Aiah asks, still looking at the side profile of the younger girl, “how come?”
“I planned this trip years ago pa, as a gift for myself sana, like a birthday solo trip. Then nagka family emergency kami, so I was thinking, sayang naman ang possible na gagastusin ko for this trip. Pandagdag ko na lang sana kina Mama.”
“Pero?”
“Pero pinilit ako ni Mama na ituloy ko eh. Alam niya kasing matagal ng nasa bucket list ko ang Batanes. Sabi niya–” Stacey pauses for a bit, “sabi ni Mama sakin, deserve ko naman daw sumaya paminsan minsan...”
the ocean hums from afar as it draws another wave, “So ayan… nandito na’ko ngayon.”
“I have to thank your mother pala. Dahil sa kaniya nakilala kita.”
The remark makes Stacey glance at Aiah. The older girl is still looking at her, eyes soft as always, with her lips smiling sincerely.
Stacey then weakly smiles and quietly adds, “Gusto mo ba’ng makilala Mama ko, Aiah?”
Aiah lightly chuckles at the joke , and Stacey just quietly stares at the chuckling girl. After a few seconds, the younger girl reverts her gaze back to the ocean again.
“Pero seriously,” she hears Aiah commenting beside her, “It’s good that you continued with this trip pa rin. Tama naman si Mama mo, you really deserve to be happy, Stacey.”
“Talaga, Aiah?" Stacey breathes, "Sa tingin mo deserve ko yun?”
The older girl nods, even though Stacey’s not looking at her,
“Don’t deprive yourself of the good things in life just because you think you don’t deserve them. You do. Deserve na deserve mong sumaya.”
Aiah then warmly smiles at Stacey’s side profile,
“Because happiness really looks good on you, Stacey.”
Stacey weakly smiles at the vast blue ocean.
A moment of silence then fills between them and all they can hear is the soft whistling of the night wind and the crashing of the waves below.
“Aiah…” Stacey speaks after a while. All along, she can feel how Aiah’s quiet stare remains on her, “bakit ang bait bait mo sa’kin?”
The older girl softly chuckles, “Dapat ba hindi?”
Stacey then turns her head, her eyes set while she looks at Aiah –
“Ako lang ba ang mag isang kinikilig sa buong trip natin?”
It leaves Aiah speechless.
She feels her heart now loudly thumping inside her chest.
With the way Stacey is intensely looking at her now, she feels the urge to stray her gaze away and avoid her stare.
But she didn’t.
So while chuckling nervously, she quietly asks instead,
“Is that a hirit or–”
“No.” Stacey’s reply is quick. Her intense gaze on Aiah remains, “Hindi siya hirit, Aiah. Seryosong tanong siya.”
Unable to hold the younger girl’s eyes on her anymore, Aiah quickly shifts her gaze to the front.
Beside her, she can still feel the weight of Stacey’s stare.
So Aiah takes a long deep breath and finally answers, “Hindi syempre…”
“Hindi?”
She takes another inhale of the salt-stricken air before turning to Stacey, her eyes warm and kind, as always,
“It’s not just you, Stacey. Ako rin naman.”
“So kinikilig ka rin sa’kin?” Stacey probes further.
Aiah shyly chuckles, she feels her cheeks heating up a bit, “Sino ba namang hindi?”
“Expound.”
“I mean, look at you. Sino ba namang hindi kikiligin sa isang tulad mo?”
Stacey blinks twice, trying to calm her now erratically beating heart,
“tulad ko? bakit, ano bang meron sa’kin, Aiah?”
Aiah fondly smiles, “Marami.” she then meets Stacey’s eyes and replies in the softest of tone,
“In the few days that I’ve known you, I’ve witnessed how beautiful of a person you truly are, Stacey– inside and out. You’re very gorgeous and smart obviously. You’re very firm with your beliefs and morals too. You can be fierce at times but then you also have a soft compassionate heart. You always wear your heart on your sleeves, and I think that it’s such a very endearing quality of you to be honest.”
Aiah softly chuckles, “Sobrang dami mong good qualities, Stacey. If iisa isahin ko lahat, baka hindi ka na umabot sa flight mo nyan bukas.”
Stacey feels her face slowly heating up while Aiah compliments her.
Aiah said all of them with gentle genuineness, that it didn’t sound like she just said it to flatter the younger girl.
It sounded honest, and raw. Like a well-kept secret tucked deep into someone’s heart.
Stacey tries her best to smile unaffectedly, but she’s sure as hell that her expression now looks awkward and embarrassing.
“and you also have the prettiest smile that I have ever seen. Do you know that?” Aiah quickly appends, still looking at Stacey with an affectionate stare.
“Kaya mo ba binigay sa’kin yung window seat mo?”
Aiah looks shocked, “You knew?”
Stacey nods and shyly smiles,
“Nakita ko sa boarding pass mo. Sorry, hindi ko naman sinasadyang makita. Nakaipit kasi sa passport mo.”
Aiah shakes her head, lips parting in surprise. Chuckling helplessly, she comments–
“So all this time, halata na pala ako?”
Stacey grins, “Hindi naman.. akala ko nga naawa ka lang sa’kin kaya mo yon ginawa.”
Aiah stares at Stacey, her voice slightly teasing,
“That’s definitely not the reason.”
“Oh?”
Aiah nods, her lips now smirking into an affectionately playful curve.
And Stacey can only helplessly blush–
“Crush na crush kaya kita, Aiah. Kaya nga ako nagpapa-cute sa’yo buong trip eh.”
Aiah can’t help but let out an amused giggle towards the girl who’s now blushing profusely in front of her.
She fondly smiles at Stacey, her eyes warm and deep with affection.
Then she puts out her right hand from inside her own blanket and offers it to the younger girl.
Her palm is wide and open, her hand just casually hanging there and stretched in between them.
A silent invitation –
all for Stacey to take and hold whenever she feels ready.
The younger girl then looks down on Aiah’s hand, and then to the older girl’s reassuring smile.
After a while, she finally takes it, and as soon as their palms touch, the older girl delicately laces their fingers together.
Stacey can feel the loud thundering of her heart inside of its ribcage, and Aiah also feels the same.
And while the Batanes sky is starting to fill with bright constellations of stars, as the cold ocean wind softly splashes their faces, the two girls quietly stare at the breathtaking view with a wide smile.
Both of their hearts are now swelling with joy, both still don't have any idea that it’s already the start of something tender. Something beautiful.
A lasting love story that will eventually grow and stand the test of time.
“For what it takes,” Aiah gently squeezes their held hands,
“Sobrang crush na crush din kita, Stacey.”
FIN.
______
______
Epilogue.
______
It's the year 2030, and for their first wedding anniversary, Aiah and Stacey decide to travel to Batanes again.
Aiah’s smile is teasing and wide while she reads what’s written inside the blue book #127,
“This is what you wrote? This was your birthday wish? Really?”
Stacey nods and grins as wide,
“Oo eh. Lakas ko kay Lord ‘no?”
Aiah fondly laughs and walks towards Stacey, she cups the younger girl’s face and softly runs a thumb over her cheek,
“And thank you sa Kaniya kasi tinupad niya yung wish mo.”
Stacey softly smiles at her wife,
“Ikaw rin naman, natupad yung sa’yo.”
“And I hope it stays that way everyday. I have to make sure of it.”
“Ginagawa mo naman, Aiah. Sobra sobra pa nga.”
“Dapat lang. It’s what you deserve, Stacey.”
“Ma’am, next stop na po tayo?” Kuya Mario peeks his head from the library door.
The two girls then nod, then safely place the two books back on the shelf.
-
Mahatao Blank Book Archives
Blue Book #127, page 27
“ July 14, 2024.
Maraiah Queen Arceta, Birthday: January 27, 1998
Lord, yan na po complete name and birthday niya ha, para hindi na po kayo mahirapan maghanap.
Sana po siya na ang para sa akin.
Kung hindi talaga siya, baka pwede naman nating ipilit?
Magpapakabait na po talaga ako kapag natupad yan. Promise! ”
Blue Book #713, page 13
“July 14, 2024.
Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja,
I sincerely wish that this girl will always find the happiness that she deserves.
And even way more when it’s her birthday :)”
__