Taking Chances II

“Sarah!” someone calls out from behind.

She stops for a moment and looks back at the person calling out for her. She blocks the glare of the sun from her eyes with her hand and squints trying to find a familiar face. Not too far from her right side a man starts to jog up to her. Upon recognizing the person approaching her she smiles and takes a couple steps forward.

“Luis...”

“Fancy meeting you here, are you alone?”

Sarah nods her head.

“Business meeting?”

Sarah shakes her head.

“Wow. Pinayagan kang magbakasyon ni tito? Well you deserve it naman since your business is doing so great. Looks like it won’t be long til you conquer the rest of the world.”

Sarah playfully slaps his shoulder and laughs softly, “Sana nga that was enough reason for Papa to give me a break. Truth is tumakas lang ako, ni hindi alam ni Papa kung asaan ako...”

Luis looks at Sarah carefully. He knew very well this was out of her character.

“May problema ka ba? Di ba escape mo itong beach? Naalala ko nung nagaaral pa tayo lagi kang tumataks sa beach pag stressed ka o di kaya may problema ka...”

Sarah shakes her head “Wag na lang nating pagusapan...”

Sensing she wasn’t ready to talk just yet Luis changes the topic “Naglunch ka na ba? Papunta ako dun sa resto nung kaibigan ko sabayan mo na ako.”

Sarah had nothing better to do and she figured the company would help take her mind off of her problems. They stop in front of a bar on the beach side and she looks at Luis curiously.

“Eh sarado pa tong resto...”

“Wag kang magalala kaibigan ko may ari nito may usapan kami na dito kami mag lulunch. Halika na.” He answers as he opens the door for her.

“Eh may usapan pala kayo nung kaibigan mo ba’t sinama mo pa ako dito baka maistorbo ko lang kayo...”

“Ano ka ba wag ka nang maarte jan, kung date sana to di istorbo ka nga. Tsaka kanina ko pa naririnig yang tiyan mo sigurado ako gutom na gutom ka na...”

Embarrassed Sarah places her hand over her stomach and quietly follows Luis into the restaurant.

“Bro!” Luis yells out as they enter through the door. He walks Sarah over to the bar counter and pulls her seat out for her. Just to the left of the bar they hear the clanking of plates and pots from the kitchen. Luis excuses himself for a second and walks into the kitchen.

Sarah places her hands on the counter and takes a look around the restaurant. Just a little while later Luis walks out of the kitchen two plates in hand and sets it before Sarah.

“Tayo lang ang kakain?” Sarah asks curiously upon seeing only two plates being set down.

“Susunod na si Lloydie may inaayos lang sa kusina, kain na alam kong kanina ka pa gutom na gutom”

Sarah smiles and picks up her fork. Just as she takes her first bite Lloydie walks out of the kitchen and begins to walk towards the bar.

Just as he is approaching Luis wipes his mouth and turns to Lloydie. “Bro, I would like you to meet Sarah, kaklase ko nung college. Sarah this is John Lloyd, a good friend and the owner of this restaurant.”

Lloydie sets his plate down and with a smile looks towards her. Just as he is about to extend his hand he stops and looks at her curiously “Ikaw...?”

Confused Sarah looks at him and asks “I’m sorry magkakilala ba tayo?”

Still smiling like a fool he shakes his head and explains “Uhm, kanina sa beach lumipad yung sombrero mo...”

Sarah tilts her head to one side trying to recall the happenings that morning and smiles. “Ah I remember, thank you again for catching my hat and well for lunch.”

“My pleasure” Lloydie replies as he takes his place just across from Sarah.

As they eat Luis talks and talks and talks about his adventures that morning but Lloydie isn’t listening as he is still in a trance, staring at Sarah. Sarah senses his intent stare and looks up at him forcing a smile amidst her uneasiness. She looks back down at her food as she eats trying to ignore his stare. But upon getting much too uncomfortable she looks up at him and interrupts Luis who is speaking still.

“Luis, I’m sorry, John Lloyd right? Ayaw mo bang umupo...? Marami namang pwedeng upuan di mo kailangang tumayo...”

Realizing how uncomfortable she was with him he diverts his stare “Uh okay lang akong nakatayo mas maayos kasing makipagusap pag kaharap ko kayo kesa yung tabi tabi tayo...”

Luis sensing the tension speaks up “Kasi naman Lloydie wag kang tumitig masyado, tutunawin mo na si Sarah nyan eh. Sarah pagpasensyahan mo na yan.”

Blushing John Lloyd continues to eat and Sarah looks back down at her food.

After lunch Sarah excuses herself to give the two guys a chance to talk. As she is about to walk out the door Luis calls after her, “Will we be seeing you tonight?”

Sarah turns to face them and asks “Saan?”

“Dito. Hindi buo ang bakasyon mo kung hindi ka makikiparty dito, it’s the hottest place to be.”

Sarah smiles and says “We’ll see” before heading out the door.

John Lloyd has a smirk on his face and Luis quickly notices it.

“Oh ba’t ganyan ang ngiti mo?”

John Lloyd chuckles before answering “By any chance is she single?”

Luis bites his bottom lip and then answers “As far as I know may boyfriend sya, childhood sweetheart... teka bakit mo naitatanong?”

John Lloyd looks down at his food with a smirk on his face.

“Bro, I know that look and I’m telling you hindi sya katulad nang mga babae mo so if I were you maghanap ka na lang ng ibang lolokohin.”

***

Sarah sits down on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, contemplating whether or not she should turn it back on. She’d been gone more than a day now and she was sure her father was furious if not concerned. She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. Just as she is about to turn the power back on her phone she changes her mind and tucks her phone into her luggage. She grabs her laptop and sends her dad an email telling him that she was safe. After sending her email she shuts her laptop and stares out the window marvelling at the clear blue sky. Sitting comfortably on the balcony, overlooking the beach, she reads her book feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin.

She was so calm and relaxed that she had fallen asleep on the balcony. She awoke just as the sun was starting to set. She sits a while longer contemplating on what to do for the evening. She then remembers Luis’ invitation earlier that night. The bar wasn’t really her scene but she figured she had nothing else to do and a change of environment would be nice. She quickly freshens up and changes into something more appropriate for the occasion.

Luis was telling no lie when he said that John Lloyd’s bar was the place to be on a night like this. The crowds flocked the bar and you could hear the noise of the party from far away. Sarah wedged her way through the crowd trying to find a familiar face. No luck, Luis was nowhere in sight. However, from behind the bar counter she spots John Lloyd and since she was really starting to feel out of place she moved towards the bar counter and took a seat. She sits there awhile before John Lloyd spots her. Just as fast as the smile appeared on his face he appeared right before her.

“You made it!” he said out loud.

Sarah nods her head, unable to think with all this noise around her.

“So what can I get for you? A beer? Gin? Vodka?”

Sarah shakes her head “No thank you, I don’t drink.”

“Hah?” John Lloyd asks cupping his ear “Hindi kita marinig lakasan mo yung boses mo”

Sarah says louder “Hindi ako umiinom.”

John Lloyd smiles and says “Sige na, akong bahala sa yo, kahit isa lang. It’s on the house.”

John Lloyd quickly prepares a drink and places it before Sarah.

“Enjoy.”

Sarah smiles politely and scratches her head unsure of whether or not she should accept this drink. But before she could refuse it John Lloyd was excusing himself.

“Sarah, sorry di kita mae-entertain I have to work pa. But please do enjoy yourself I’ll make sure to look for you when it starts to die down.”

And just like that he was on the other side of the bar serving up drinks to awaiting customers. Sarah sits there awhile looking around herself. She opts to take the drink and finish it before she stands up and leaves the bar.

***

“Nandito ka lang pala...”

Sarah turns her head and sees John Lloyd standing behind her. He takes a seat beside her in the sand and looks out into the star filled sky with her.

Sarah smiles and says “Na o-op lang ako doon.”

“Ganun ba? Sige samahan na lang kita dito.”

“Ha? Wag na pumasok ka na doon may trabaho ka pa diba?”

“May bartenders naman doon eh kaya na nila yun.”

Sarah looks at him curiously “Bakit mo ba ako sinasamahan?”

“Ayaw mo?”

“Hindi naman sa ganun but you don’t have to I mean hindi mo naman ako kailangang i-entertain eh. So ba’t ka nga nandito ngayon?”

“Yung totoo?”

Sarah nods her head.

“Hindi ko din alam. Basta gusto kitang makasama...”

Sarah bows her head down with a smile. She didn’t know how or why but he made her feel special, in a way she had never felt.

“If it’s not too much to ask, ba’t ka nagpapakasenti ditong magisa?”

“Hindi naman ako nagpapakasenti ah...”

“Oh c’mon, kahit di kita kilala kitang kita sa mga mata mo na meron kang dinadamdam.”

“I’d rather not. Kaya nga ako nagpunta dito sa beach para takasan yung mga problema ko so wag na lang natin pagusapan...”

“Oh ganun naman pala eh. Nag punta ka dita para makalimot pero eto ka nagpapaka-emo. Halika mag enjoy tayo.”

Lloydie grabs her by her arm and runs towards the waters. As they run through the water Sarah yells out “Hoy, ano ka ba ang lamig nang tubig...”

They’re knee deep in water and standing face to face. John Lloyd has a huge grin on his face and Sarah looks at him with uncertainty.

“Lighten up...” he says to her.

With that Sarah looks around her and then smiles. She looks back at John Lloyd then splashes water in his face. This prompted him to splash her back and not long after they’re chasing each other in the water acting like children. This wasn’t like her. This was so out of her character. She wasn’t one to act so unreserved, especially with someone she hardly knew. She didn’t know why but with him she let go of her inhibitions and just let herself go.

***

She’s shivering standing at her door, trying to get the door open. Once she gets inside she quickly searches for a towel and hands it over to him.

“Thank you for walking me to my room. Eto oh para di ka masyadong malamigan habang naglalakad.”

“Salamat. I had a good night.”

“Ako din, salamat, I can’t remember the last time I felt so free.” Sarah says with a huge grin.

They stand at the doorway for awhile just staring at one another.

Then Sarah finally speaks up. “Sige na bumalik ka na doon. Good night.”

John Lloyd nods his head. “Good night.”

Just as he starts to walk away and she is about to shut the door he turns back.

“Sarah...?”

She pauses and raises her eyebrows at him.

“Kita tayo bukas?”

She smiles faintly “I'd like that.”