forget me not series 2 – The Romance of Ayin & Will
CHAPTER NINE
At the agreed time, Will was nowhere to be found.
There’s a standard 15-minute grace period for anything, Ayin told herself. She’ll give him that.
Thirty minutes later, she texted him impatiently, “Wer r u”
He texted back, “Just a few more mins”
She huffed and to forget her annoyance, went back to playing her Sudoku.
An hour later, Will was still nowhere to be found.
Damn it, they’re going to miss the sunset. I’m gonna kill him, she decided.
Ayin scowled as she picked up her phone and called him.
There was no answer.
After repeated calls with still no answer, she started to get worried. Was he lost? It would be too easy to get lost at SM MOA. Should she page him?
As she debated whether or not to leave her spot, she saw the man of the hour unhurriedly stroll inside the cafe with a big satisfied grin and…
Her eyes traveled down…
…more than 5 big shopping bags on his hands.
Unbelievable.
Out of the many questions running through her mind, she only voiced out one, “How are you going to fit all that in your backpack?”
He answered cheekily as he sat down, “I bought another one.”
One by one, he opened the bags and proudly showed her the items he bought, just like an impish boy who outsmarted the parents and got what he wished for at Toy Kingdom.
He looked so happy with his loot that all thoughts about scolding or killing him melted away.
She asked him, “You had fun?”
He grinned. “You bet.”
She smiled at him. “It’s worth it, then. Come on, let’s go catch a sunset.”
They missed the sunset.
By the time they found the right exit from the mall, it was already dark. And with his many shopping bags, they had to detour to the hotel before they started the long walk at the boulevard.
Him, “Aw, come on, don’t be mad.”
Her, “You made me miss the sunset.”
Him, “This isn’t so bad. Walking under the moon at the boulevard is nice, too. Look at the lights and music.”
He was irritatingly right. The popular seaside promenade overlooking Manila Bay was all lit up like a Christmas tree.
It wasn’t sunset picture perfect, but the boulevard at night was beautiful, too.
Looking up, she told him grumpily, “It’s a pity there are no stars tonight. The moon looks lonely.”
Him, “Don’t you worry. I have a whole galaxy in my pocket.”
Then he mimed taking out something from his pocket and throwing it up in the sky.
He then smiled coaxingly at her, “Never mind the sunset. I saved a star for each time I thought of you. Now see? You have a galaxy.”
She burst out laughing and felt herself loosen up.
You have to give the guy credit for trying to make up for the lost sunset, no matter how cheesy it was.
Her, “Not bad.”
The smiled at each other and continued walking.
The Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard is a two-kilometer stretch from the US embassy near Rizal Park up to the Cultural Center of the Philippines just past the Manila Yacht Club.
While most of Manila celebrated its cosmopolitan spirit with blocks of retail therapy, stunning skyscrapers and gigantic billboards, it provided a calming respite in the boulevard with its open-air cafes, stretch of coconut trees on one side and the sea on the other.
It’s just like a secret balcony offside a big ballroom filled with loud, party people, where a few tired souls converge to breathe and hear themselves talk.
As Will skipped ahead with his big bold steps to take a closer look at the anchored boats by the bay, Ayin called out to him impatiently.
Her, “Wait. Don’t you ever slow down? Remember your feet are twice bigger than mine.”
He stopped and, for a moment, narrowed his eyes, “Hm, I see.”
She followed the direction of his gaze and turned to check if there was something on her clothes. “What? What do you see?”
He grabbed her arm and grinned, “Your hand looks heavy, no wonder you’re walking so slow. Let me hold it for you.”
Just as he entwined his fingers with hers, she stumbled. He immediately tightened his hold to steady her.
Her, “Uh-oh, do you have a band-aid?”
Him, alarmed, “What happened? Where do you hurt?”
Then mischievously, she lifted her laughing eyes to his, “I just scraped my knee falling for you.”
He guffawed. Squeezing her hand, he said, “Your lines are worse than mine.”
She retorted, “You started it.”
After a few steps of companionable silence, he said, “By the way, my brother is joining us for drinks later after dinner.”
Surprised, she asked him, “JP is in Manila, too?”
Him, “No, it’s another half-brother, Yong. He’s currently working here in Manila.”
Before she could ask, he continued, “On my mother’s side, I have two half -brothers – we all have different fathers, and 1 full sister with same father, and another half-sister who shares Yong’s father.”
She looked at him in amazement.
He chuckled, “I know. And I’m the eldest of this strange family.”
Her, “What about your father’s side?”
Him, “I have a few half-siblings from my father’s side, too, but they’re all in the States, so we don’t know each other that well.”
Her, “Wow. So what was it like growing up with your parents having different families? As the eldest, did you stand in as a father to them?”
Him, “Not really. I was raised at my grandparents’ place. We have an age gap, so I grew up independently from them. Later on, I left for Cebu, they also explored different cities — kanya-kanyang diskarte (to each his/her own smarts).”
Him, “Not sure if Yong is relocating to Manila for good. Since I’m here, might as well catch up with him.”
She nodded. “You know, for someone who didn’t want to go to Manila, you have more business here than I do. From shopping to your brother to your car dealers and talyer visits tomorrow…”
He grinned at her, “I don’t want to waste time.”
She told him, “It’s okay to waste some. You’re on vacation.”
Him, “This is me on vacation. Doing something else from work. Although I love what I do in Cebu, it’s nice to take a break and not think of sales or driving schedules for awhile.”
Her, “My idea of a vacation is lazing around.”
Him, “Mine is doing other stuff I enjoy.”
She smirked, “Yeah, like shopping.”
He added, “And HHWW with you…”
Her, “Well, I like that, too.”
They grinned at each other, as different as night and day, yet joined together by their warm hands.
There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a place and walking together to get the feel of a person.
When you’re driving in a car, your focus is somehow divided and everything rushes by so fast that you tend to miss the small details.
And unlike the hurried fashion forward walk at the mall, the walk at the boulevard was characterized by small steps, some few steps back and a few side turns.
Just like in that moment, when Ayin and Will chanced upon a lively mini carnival.
Will exclaimed in delight, “Whoa! A race track for mini cars. This has just become my favorite spot in Manila.”
While Ayin’s eyes were immediately drawn to the Ferris wheel. “We have got to go up there!”
She turned to him excitedly, “Do you know there’s a popular belief that if couples kiss at the very top of the Ferris wheel, they will be blessed by the heavens?”
He didn’t answer her as he let go of her hand to go to the race track for a closer look.
She frowned at his retreating back and followed him.
Will was staring at the track dreamily with a soft smile on his face and suspiciously with more adoration shooting from his eyes than he ever did looking at her, if she wasn’t mistaken.
“Do you know, this is my ultimate dream? For the school to have a complete driving range and possibly a race track on the side?”
Excitedly, he pointed at the center, “Look at that layout! There’s a figure 8 track, perfect for executing beginner exercises. Let me take a picture.”
Then he looked at the ticket booth. “I wonder if they have cars to play with.”
She told him, “They’re closed. Let’s go up to the Ferris wheel, instead.”
Him, “Aha! It says here it’s free to use the track if you have a remote controlled toy car.”
She pointed out, “You don’t have one. Come on, let’s go to the Ferris wheel instead. The view will be amazing at night.” She tugged on his shirtsleeve for emphasis.
He didn’t mind her. When he turned his head at the direction of the mall with a gleam in his eye, she swiftly said, “Oh no, you don’t!”
Like Silvestre the cat who knew Shrek, he lifted pitiful eyes to her, “But it’s still open, we can make it.”
She shook her head adamantly, “No way! We’re not going back there to buy a toy car.”
She could see the conflicting emotions on his face.
She offered, “Let’s try something else. The Ferris wheel is still open. It’s just there, see? No need to walk far.”
Him, “I don’t like Ferris wheels.”
Her, “It’s fun. Like being up in the sky.”
He shook his head stubbornly, ”No. It’s too slow and time consuming.”
She scowled at him.
When he glanced back at the mall again, Ayin shuddered.
She quickly said, “Okay, okay, let’s make a deal. You disentangle yourself from the race track and we don’t climb up the Ferris Wheel.”
He was quiet for a moment, then sighed as he grabbed her hand. “Okay, that’s fair. Let’s go.”
They haven’t taken more than ten steps when they were distracted by a group of street artists doing pantomime.
Fascinated, they watched them for a while and applauded with the crowd at some of their impressive movements. Then, the magician came out with a few tricks. And the stilt walkers roamed around, putting everyone in a festive mood.
He suddenly turned to her and said, “Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears!”
She giggled as they moved away.
Just then, the unmistakable smell of sisig and grilled meat wafted through the air. They followed its scent and were led to an open-air cafe and bar that served local cuisine, along with live acoustic music.
Her, “How about that for dinner?”
Him, “Great.”
After about an hour of aimless walking, they gratefully settled on metal seats at a round table, and quickly ordered food and beers.
Her, “Just tell your brother to meet us here.”
He nodded and took out his phone to dial.
Half an hour later, his younger brother arrived with his cute Manileña girlfriend in tow.
Soon enough, as the pulutan and beers kept coming in, they were all feeling light and bubbly. At least, the girls were.
At some point, Will pulled his brother aside for a serious private talk by the sea wall.
I bet he’s giving him a lecture, Ayin figured as she observed them from their table. The man loves to lecture.
Lani, the brother’s girlfriend, apparently ran along those thoughts as well because she asked her, “Is Kuya Will very strict?”
Ayin considered thoughtfully, “Hm, I’m not sure about strict. This is the first time I’ve seen him in a serious talk with his family. Don’t be fooled by the serious face though, he’s also fun and kind.”
In fact, he’s just like an onion, there are so many sides to him, and she wasn’t even halfway peeling him yet.
Lani giggled, “I can tell you like him very much.”
Ayin grinned at her, “Yeah, but apparently not as much as you like Yong. My gosh, the way you guys could barely keep your hands off each other was insane. Ugh, my eyes! That’s probably why Will took him away.”
Frankly, though, she was delighted by how open they were about their affection for each other.
The younger ones always seemed smarter about being honest with their feelings and the philosophy of YOLO – you only live once.
For feelings not to fester in the dark, she agreed it was better to just let it free and shine.
Lani giggled again, not bothering to deny it. “I wonder what they’re talking about.”
Because she saw stars and hearts in Lani’s eyes, Ayin teased her, “Probably asking Yong when he’s going to settle down and make an honest woman out of you.”
Lani squealed, “I’ll drink to that!”
Ayin grabbed her almost empty beer bottle and clinked it with hers.
“Cheers!” they said in unison.
And they drank, bottoms up.
Later, as Yong and Lani left, they continued to walk the boulevard.
Slowly, Will let out a big smile, “Ah, it feels good.”
Her, “What?”
Him, “Talking to Yong, asking him about his future plans and how he can help our family now that he’s older. There are some family matters that need to be settled in Dipolog. It feels good to share the responsibility.”
Her, “I knew it! You were giving him a lecture.”
Him, “I just don’t want him to wander around too much and get lost.”
She teased him, “Look at you, such a Big Brother!”
After a while, she said, “I’m a wanderer, too. I like getting lost sometimes. Like now, just walking with no destination. Are you going to lecture me, as well?”
Him, “That’s okay, I’m with you. I’m good with directions.”
But after some thought, he added, “But it’s also nice to wander for a while.”
She smiled.
She liked seeing this side of Will – lighter, more playful and crazier.
She enjoyed watching him walk a little differently than usual. Gone were his big, bold steps that she sometimes had to catch up with.
Back in his comfort zone, he was used to brisk walking to success or being strapped with the heavy baggage of having a company to feed and grow.
She was not that different back home, either. More often than not, she also marched to the same fast paced band.
But here, walking among strangers in a new place, on vacation, gave them the chance to assume different selves and try a different walk — a bit loopy, lighter, and a little bit lost.
Being miles away from home, there’s nothing like doing the moonwalk as one takes to new heights or considers new dreams – just like his race track and her ferris wheel.
Never mind that they didn’t manage to realize both yet. These were something beautiful to dream about. Next trip, perhaps.
Taking a trip to Manila might be a small step for some, but it was a big leap in their relationship.
They were learning so much about each other in this short trip – their peeves, what tickles their fancy and their tolerance for each other. Details that they may not have uncovered had they not strayed from home.
The moonwalk by the bay ran parallel with their relationship. There was no final destination in sight. No measure of time. There was only faith that the road would just lead them to where they were meant to be.
And then, as they walked some more, the night sky suddenly exploded with vibrant colors.
Ahh, fireworks. Like stars shooting across the sky.
“Wow, a galaxy indeed,” she murmured.
And then she felt sparks on her back as he wrapped his arms around her.
She snuggled into his embrace. He felt like home in a strip full of strangers.
They watched the play of lights as the crowd oohed and aahed.
Boom, boom, boom. Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.
Then, like a lightning bolt, he turned her around and kissed her.
Boldly. Freely. Unapologetically.
And just like that, as Katy Perry sang somewhere, they owned the night like the fourth of July.
And for the first time, Ayin felt her spirit fly and connect with Manila, too.
Whereas before, Manila was just a simple layover for an international flight, a two-day trip for a work conference, or a landing point for out of town visits to Baguio or Subic…
Now, it took root in the heart like any magical place born out of a beautiful moment or memory shared with someone special.
That very night when Manila dazzled with its sparkling lights, it easily became one of her favorite spaces.
A beautiful space that’s light and warm enough for two kindred souls meandering like in a dream, exploring unfamiliar spaces, and finding traces of home in each other.
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