MAY MALANSA DITO? Can you smell it ba, guyz?" It was Katlego's voice. Nang makalapit kami ni Shanta sa mesa nila, tumaas ang tingin niya sa amin. "Oh, I didn't see you there! Nandito na pala kayo! Kaya pala iba ang naaamoy ko, eh!"   Nagtawanan silang mga nasa mesa. He had the Lachlan beside him and Clavis across from him. Katabi naman ng aso ang isa pang aso na si Jirario sa kanan upuang.    "Tanga. Bibig mo lang 'yon," singit ni Shanta saka pinagmasdan ang pagkain ni Lego. "Ano 'to? Pusit ba 'yan? Meron pa doon? Patikim nga-"   "Hep, hep, hep! Huwag kang kukuha diyan! Magpabili ka na lang!"   "Madamot ka. Tangina mo. Kapag ako hinihingian mo, namimigay ako. Kapag ako ang hihingi, 'di ka namimigay-"

THE GUARD opened the entrance door for me as I came into an exclusive restobar where Euart was. Nginitian ko siya bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob. I thought music would be booming once I came in since it's a bar, but when I caught a view of the resto's interior, customers were silently conversing with each other on their tables. It explained why he wanted to talk to me here. The atmosphere was serene as it was accompanied by operatic music. The lights were a bit dim yet a yellow glint. Habang sa kaliwa ay inookupahan ng mga upuan at mesa, the right side was a bar counter. At doon nahagip ng mga mata ko ang pigura ni Euart. Only I could mark the other side of his face. He was at the far corner, sitting and drinking alone. I sighed at how messed up he looked. He seemed to be deep in thoughts as his gaze was focused on his glass. Naglakad ako patungo roon kung nasaan siya. And as I strode in big steps, hindi pa rin siya lumilingon sa paligid. Hindi pa rin niya ramdam ang

BA'T NANDITO KA?" sigang tanong ni Clavis noong lumapit siya sa amin. His fists were clenched while his chest rose a bit. Pero kahit anong gawin niya, nagmukha pa rin siyang kawayan. "Sinong nagpadala sa 'yo rito? Hindi naman kita inimbitahan.""Well…" Euart seemed to never be faltered by our friend's arrogance. "Who could have invited me, hmm? Maybe, I invited myself here to take vengeance. What do you think?" Then, he smirked and pushed his eyeglasses up that was falling from his nose. I chuckled. Unti-unting nawawala ang angas ni Clavis habang namumula siya mula sa sikat ng araw."I invited him here. Is that a problem?" I butted in before a fight could transpire. "No. That's not a problem-""Anong hindi?! Eh, si Dalmi-""Ayos lang sa akin," putol ni Shanta at nginitian kaming lahat na nakapalibot sa isang bilog. "Wala namang nagbago. Barkada ko pa rin 'yan."I grinned. Nasagi ng mga mata ni Shanta ang pagtitig ko sa kanya. When she realized my e

THE BEACH RESORT was located somewhere in the North that's hidden in the public, but was known by everybody else. Sa sobrang tago ng lugar, halos hindi na ito matuldukan sa mapa ng Pilipinas.I thought we were somewhere part in the land of Lingayen. But I realized the digital map was pertaining to the gulf. Parte ang islang ito sa mas tuktok na bahagi ng Lingayen gulf. In its northern part, different islands and beaches that are too tiny to be located in a digimap compromised it.This was how unique the islands were. Parang ang pagmamahal ko kay Shanta. I had kept my love for her like these secluded islands. She never knew how vibrant and lively the islands were till she explored its innate glory.Marami pang nakatagong yaman mula rito. At araw-araw na kasama niya ako ay isang palaisipan. Sasaya, iiyak, tatawa, at malulungkot siya sa anumang madidiskubre niya. It's the island that would bring out the best of her emotions. At a

SHANTA AND I spent the night together in an underwater cave beside a trickling bonfire. Kinaumagahan niyon habang naghahanap ng pagkain sa maliit na gubat, tinawag ako ni Shanta para pumunta sa dalampasigan."What happened?!" I shouted as I scurried down the rock formations. "May problema ba?""May barko!" hiyaw ni Shanta at hinala ang mga kamay ko. "Kumaway ka, dali! Kaway ka!"While I braked my feet against the calm waves, tumunghay ako sa hindi kalayuan. And to my glee, natanaw ng mga mata ko ang isang yateng papunta rito sa tagong isla.Lumawak ang ngiti ko."Here!" I screamed. "Help!""Manong!" Shanta howled while waving her arms in the air. "Dito po! Tulong! Nandito kami!"After multiple screamings, the yacht anchored on the shore. Si Clavis ang unang bumaba ng barko at sinundan siya nina Katlego at ang iba."Gago kayo! Sinong nag-isip 'to?! Bakit hindi niyo sinabi s