CHAPTER 10

I stare into the clear seawater and see the starfish underneath. Sitting at the edge of our rented boat, I watch it rock continuously from my seat. We are currently at Black Island Beach in Busuanga, and I didn't realize we had already stopped.

"Doc. Ara," I returned to my present upon hearing my name.

I looked around and saw Tita Cecile standing behind me, holding onto the bamboo support of the boat's roof. She had already begun to descend, and nearly every one of our companions had left. When I turned to the shore, I saw all of them running towards the sandy beach.

Behind Tita Cecile, Eric suddenly approached me. He wore a white tank top, and I noticed a tribal tattoo on his left arm. He extended his right hand to me while his left held an SLR camera.

"Let's go!" Eric said. His voice was full of life.

I took a deep breath. When we arrived at the hotel, Eric seemed to follow me everywhere like a puppy. At first, it made me uncomfortable because it drew everyone's attention to us. However, I've grown accustomed to it. Even now, I still feel confused when he's around. I no longer get butterflies, but my heart and mind tell me I should give him a chance. Eric is kind and humble; ignoring a guy like him is complicated. It's not just because he's handsome—I never cared about that in the first place.

I had no choice but to take his hand. I hung my wallet and Android phone in a plastic pouch around my neck. He assisted me in getting off the boat. I am grateful to him because the ship constantly rocked, and I felt like I was losing my balance.

I feel sorry for Eric because I might reject him, too. But then I thought, is there any reason to turn him down if he tried to court me?

Good Friday was our last night at the hotel. I stayed in our room because I wanted to be alone. I went to the balcony, leaned at the railings, and gazed at the scenery, feeling completely content.

Feeling the gentle breeze on my skin, I couldn't help but close my eyes. Even in the darkness, it still took my breath away. The surroundings are so breathtaking. I prefer these kinds of moments when I'm traveling. I'm not a killjoy person. If I get this chance, I'll seize any opportunity. We should always make time for ourselves, which helps a lot to go throughout the day.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I thought no one was here." A voice interrupted my sightseeing.

I shifted my gaze and saw Eric standing beside the sliding door. In my mind, this was our room, and theirs was on the other side, so what was he doing here? Eric was amusing, but I forced myself not to laugh. He was already taking the right opportunity.

I can't bring myself to treat him sassily. "I just wanted to spend some time alone, Eric," I said.

He approached me, and I trusted him because he had no sinister motives. He leaned on the railings beside me as I turned my gaze back to the dark scenery in front of us. Now, we both admired our surroundings.

"I always see you like this, being alone, and I find it weird," Eric said. I glanced at him.

If you only knew Eric.

"Every one of us deserves to have a moment like this. You have been like this too; admit it."

"Yeah, thanks again." He chuckled softly and bowed his head. "We enjoy your company so far."

"I'm glad you did."

The sky tonight is a canvas of stars twinkling brightly. With the sea stretching endlessly before us, their brilliance is unobstructed. The moonlight casts a shimmering glow on the water, yet the stars dominate, shining vividly against the pitch-black backdrop.

I noticed we were both quiet and didn't like it. Why can't I think of a topic to talk about? I glanced at him, but he, too, glanced back at me. Suddenly, the two of us burst into laughter, causing us to feel embarrassed.

"Ahem!" another voice interrupted. Eric and I turned to the sliding door and saw Derek standing there.

"Hi, Derek," I greeted him. He scratched his head.

"Mama was searching for you both. They were all waiting downstairs."

Eric and I followed him, and I thanked him for his interruption in this awkward moment.

Tita Cecile organized a small gathering because it was our last night here. We all gathered around a long table she had set up on the large terrace of the hotel's first floor. She prepared a "boodle fight" for us, and we were all delighted with what she did. Her two sons, including Eric, had won my admiration.

We spent two hours at the table, bantering and laughing long after eating. During that time, I sat beside Eric, and we were inches apart. After finishing our meal, he switched seats, with Hans sitting just to his left.

Melay and Denver kept making snide remarks about the two of us, further fueled by Tita Cecile. Eric blushed and tried to hide it with a forced smile, and I couldn't help but turn red, too. Melay mentioned that someone kept asking about my personal life, clearly referring to Eric. I could not believe that Eric had already gained the trust of my group of friends. Of course, Melay couldn't share everything, as there are parts of my past that I have chosen to keep secret.

It was eleven o'clock at night, yet sleep had eluded us all. Eric and his two cousins gathered at the end of the hotel terrace. My two male friends, Lester and Philip, were there. I saw Philip's drone land in front of them, and that's probably what they were discussing.

Melay, Audrey, and Denver relax on the sand while enjoying the cool summer breeze. Tita Cecile and I sat on the sandy ground a few meters away. We placed a blanket over the ground.

"Eric seems okay now," I told Tita Cecile as I draped a shawl over my shoulders to fend off the chilly wind.

"Yes, indeed. Eric's life changed after we visited you. Thank you, by the way," she replied with a smile, adjusting her moo-moo dress with Hawaiian prints. "I told his mother about it, and she was very pleased. She asks him about his condition every day."

"By the way, can I ask something?" I interjected. "Are Eric and his mom on good terms now?"

Tita Cecile sighed. "Well, I'm still trying to help Eric and Carolina, my sister, reconcile. Eric is a kind child. His mom raised him with strong Filipino values; he loves her very much. But he's not ready to face the reality of their situation just yet."

"I feel sorry for him. I believe he's doing his best to cope." I turned towards Eric and saw him looking at me. "I'm sure with time, he'll accept everything."

"Let's change the topic, Ara. How about you?" Tita Cecile asked. "Can you tell me about your family? I want to get to know you better if that's all right."

"They're all in Canada, so I'm alone here. We are two girls, and I'm the youngest."

"Really?" she exclaimed, clearly surprised. "Just look at that! Our family also has only two girls, and I'm the youngest."

I opened my mouth in astonishment. Tita Cecile had caught me completely by surprise.

"How about your love life? Sorry for asking too much," she added.

At first, I felt my tongue tighten under her numerous questions, but I managed to answer without embarrassment. "I had a boyfriend. We were together for six years."

"Wow! That's a long time," she exclaimed. "Are you still together?"

I pursed my lips. "No, Tita. He passed away."

"Oh!" she exclaimed again, visibly taken aback. "I'm so sorry, dear." She moved closer and patted my back.

"Surprisingly, we have a lot in common. I'm a widow." I looked at her, surprised by this new revelation.

"I loved my husband so much. We faced many challenges in our relationship. Even when we were dating, many people were against us. I remember only Ate Carol encouraged me to fight for him. We overcame everything in the end. Isn't it a great feeling to know that despite all the obstacles, success is even sweeter when you have the person you love by your side?"

I curled my arms around her as if she were my mother.

"But the most painful thing," she continued, "Is when they take away your companion in battle, little by little, until you're the only one left. That's unfair, right?"

I stared into the emptiness, feeling sadness and pain wash over me again.

She kept telling her story, even though it was painful to hear. "When the cancer was consuming my husband, I grew tired of shedding tears. I accepted that I would be the one to finish the battle alone. I taught myself the art of letting go."

How about me? I've come to terms with his absence, yet I find it difficult to let go. Could the sudden loss of Hector have prevented me from saying goodbye to him?

"Oh dear! We came here to have fun, right? Not like this," Tita Cecile interrupted, wiping tears from her eyes. I let go of her. "We should join Denver's group."

She stood up and adjusted the hem of her moo-moo dress.

"I wish I could move on like you, Tita," I told her, and my mood changed. I fixed my gaze on the dark shoreline.

Tita Cecile returned to my side and sat down. "Dear, you have nothing to go back to. There's no room for crying anymore. Leave it behind. We're wasting precious days of our lives that should be filled with happiness. You still have a lot to experience. It's not good to suffer forever."

I bowed my head, trying to hold back tears. Tita Cecile was right. I have nothing left to go back to. Why should I suffer for someone who can never come back? I understand that accepting it will cause repeated pain, but that's the reality. I also have the right to be happy.

When Tita Cecile told me that, I finally realized Hector was gone.