My Restless Feet

He texted me monday morning inviting me to go to panglao with him that very afternoon and I was like..what the?! told him I got work that night and replied half-heartedly that we can do so on thursday as its my rest day and am on leave the following day. He was persistent bout going then and there and I held my ground, after all I got work that night and who is he to asked that of me anyway.

Wednesday came and the whole day we exchanged messages bout the bohol escapade, what he wanted was to go to Panglao and I on the other hand whose never been there wanted to see the chocolate hills and the tarsiers. He was like okay so you want a day tour and I said yes of course, that being my answer he told me he’s gonna look for day tour packages and asked me how much my budget is, I told him look for the cheapest that you can find. I never really thought its gonna work, I mean I was only into the whole planning half heartedly after all, I was so sure that its not gonna push through. So he kept asking me if am sure and would really wanna go and I keep saying yes.

I didnt get any message from him for what seem like 4 hours and then the next message was already all about the details of when and where we’re s’pose to meet the following day right after my shift and I was like okay…so now Wena you can’t back out coz its there …not that I would want to anyway. So to make the story short I went to work that night not quite sure if the trip is gonna push through or not. But as early as 4 am I got a message from him reminding me of the time were s’pose to meet at Jollibee Gorordo and the time we’d have to check in. Went home from work, pulled my bag pack out of the cabinet placed in whatever item I could grab from my closet and keep repeating to myself so this is really happening. Went to jollibee, waited a couple of minutes and he was there, he ordered food for take out, hailed a cab told the driver that we’re going to pier 4 and thats it. Was about to slap my face to make sure am not dreaming but had to stop as the driver was glancing at me through his mirror from time to time. Conversation were made bout this and that and we finally arrived at the port, since its my first time to travel on board a craft he had to stir me to this direction and that.

When I travel either by bus or plane or whatever I always choose the window seat w/c is exactly what I did fully assuming that its my rightful place per indicated in my ticket, so took my seat and minutes later the cruise began, we chatted bout this and that and occassionally I’d have to look at the window and at the vast ocean that lies ahead. I must have looked and sounded stupid as he laughed and said I’m like the 5 year girl seating behind us who was also looking at the sea from her side of the window. Can’t help it, it was my first time to travel by sea and my reaction to whatever it is that amazes me is always very visible in my countenance.

I took pictures of the sea with my phone and I took a pic of him when he fell asleep, when we arrived in Bohol, he led the way and was the perfect gentleman I thought only existed in movies and novels. I stayed close by him as we walked through the throng of fellow passengers, he’d look back once in a while to check if am still there, we approached a lady bearing a card with his name and funny thing about it is when after they introduced themselves the lady saw me with him, she actually asked him if we’re married,it produced a giggle from me, he shook his head and said no. On board the car as we are about to begin the tour the lady introduced herself as Carylle (our tour guide) and we introduced outselves as well, she then asked us if we’re engaged and that caused both of us laughing, we told her we’re friends. plain and simple. Is it really hard to believe that a boy and a girl out together are just friends?

Anyways the tour progressed and in the process, Carylle had some questions bout the arrangement of the tour and he answered them all, of course I had no idea of where we’ll stay, where we’ll eat or when we leave, worst I even had no idea at how much I owe him. Per agreement I was s’pose to pay him the moment we’re together but then he said that I can just pay him during payday and I was like okay. We had lunch while cruising the Loboc River, there were other “tourists” as well Filipinos and foreigners alike, the lunch plus the cruise was awesome and the place was just captivatingly beautiful. From lunch we visited the Chocolate Hills, Baclayon Church, the man-made forest (mini Baguio), the Blood Compact Site, places he’s been through before but is going back to for my sake.

After that we were driven towards Panglao to where the resort we’re staying is located. The place was great, had an awesome view to the beach, though he didnt really like it..he has always been picky. We shared the bed and I had to warn him that I’m not a peaceful sleeper..and he was like uh-oh, turns out that he was the one who does not keep his side of the bed. We woke up at like 11 pm coz he got hungry and so did I, went to the resorts restaurant and was informed that kitchen is close so no more food to serve, and since this is in the province we hiked I dunno how many kilometers in search of an open restaurant so we can dine, had to cross our fingers everytime we pass by an open establishment. Luckily we did find one and we ate off the grill dishes. It was fun for me I s’pose to be on such an adventure, we talked bout this and that, people on the floor most often and when were done went back to the resort and went off to sleep. The following morning he was already awake when I woke up and asked me if I wanna go swim or eat first, we went swimming..oh he did I didnt…just walked along the shore as I dont know how to swim. When the sun has fully risen we went back to the room and changed after that we had breakfast. When he’s done eating he told me he’ll be at the reception to check his mails (they offer free internet access) while I was sitting there taking pics with my phone. A couple of minutes after though I followed him through the reception, they were talking about the bill and all, I looked at him and he just said, “murag la pa to nimo nahipos imo butang mam” and he was smiling sheepishly. I was like bbleeehhh whatever, took the key from him went to the room and fixed things up. It was then I realized how lucky I was, I was able to go to Bohol, visit the beautiful places the island has to offer w/o having to worry about anything myself. I was just there enjoying the whole experience while he does the work and not to mention pay for everything. Of course am gonna pay him my share of the bill but the fact that I didnt have to worry bout the details of the trip was just amazing. When in the first place the day tour was booked coz of me hehehe. Up until now I still have no idea on how much am gonna pay coz he has not texted yet, couldnt believe how lucky I was and how unlucky he was as I was such a brat and a pain in the ass.

He was just so sweet and is a perfect gentleman..the kind of guy who opens doors for you, who’d graciously make way to make you pass first, who’d wake you up to see if you wanna eat, who’d encourage you to continue climbing more than a hundred steps so you can reach the top and see the chocolate hills below. The place was great but it was the company I enjoyed most, hope I can say the same is true for him. I’ve always been such a brat ever since we met on the floor and though I tried my damnedest to change that I’ve never been successful. He used to call me “makulit” and it sounds right coz I really am, even my mom says so toinks!!

What more can I say? It was amazing and am glad I said yes to his invitation. It might have caused him trouble at work as he was s’pose to fly back to Manila thursday night for he has work friday night. He ended up rescheduling his flight from thursday to friday night and that could mean trouble with his TL. Hope all goes well with him at work.