STRANGER IN DAVAO (part 3)

"SECRETS"

We all have secrets . . . . . even as I recount my life in this blog . . . I still keep secrets of my own. As we go on with our everyday lives, we meet and encounter people that at first look, we could have an idea of the totality of their character. But that is not enough . . . .

Behind a smile or a beautiful face . . . . underneath it might lie something that is not supposed to be seen or known.

Whatever the reason . . . . would be a mystery . . . .

* * *

Super fast and the furious eh nakapag-pa-fresh na akembang at nakababa sa lobby ng hotel.

Super waitsiva lang akez, habang super readaloo ng isang local newspaper na witchelles ko ren naiintindihan. Habang super pa-cute sa 'kin ang keri-kering concierge na kutis-molave. Ewan ko ba kung nabibighani lang siya sa angking kabyondahan kez o naloloka lang siya sa fact na super readaloo akembang ng dyaryo na wa ko rin naman learn ang mga nakachenelynbhar doonchinabelles.

Deadma.

Walang anu-ano eh biglang nag-vibrate na lamang ang nyelpie ko na medyo malapit sa puriit ko dahil nakalagay siya sa bulsa kez sa likod. Na-happy naman akembang dahil (1) hayan na siya at umoorwag na si DEEP VOICE, malamang; at (2) may kakaibang sensasyon akong nararamdaman sa may juriit kez. Happy da 'vah?

Anyway, this time eh numero ang lumabas sa screen kez.

So, super sagot naman akembang, pa-sweet . . . . pa-demure . . . .

"Hawwwwwwleeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrqcksh!!!!!!!!!!"

Echoz . . .

Simpleng, "Hello," lang naman.

"Are you ready?" talak ni DEEP VOICE, nang narinig ko uli ang boses niya eh nakaramdam akez ng kakaibang init na nagmumula sa pinakakaibuturan ng damdamin kez na animoy fresh na fresh na magma na mabilis na umaagos mula sa puson ng mundo . . . . naghahanap ng biyak na lalabasan at handang-handang sumabog!

"I'm ready when you are," talak ko na mahihiya pati si Say Alonzo sa kalandian.

"I'm here at the hotel entrance," chika ni DEEP VOICE.

So, isquierda agad akembang paatakchienabelles sa entrance ng hotel.

Pag-sight kez, eh waz namang utawsingbelles doonchie bukod sa isang daks na itim na sasakyan, parang "Everest".

Nasa-linya pa rin si DEEP VOICE.

Shinornong kez kung siyachie ang nasa daks na carumba.

Confirmed.

Mega kaway pa siya pero witchelles ko maaninag ang herodes na nasa loob.

So, labas akez, open-sesame ng door ng carumba, then enter.

Hayon na. Pag-sightchinabelles ko sa kanya eh nagkaroon nag-materialize na ren ang mga imahen na kaniney pa naglalaro sa isip ko. Mejo swak ang expectations ko.

Matured guy . . . siguro around mid-thirties. May mga stubbles sa fez. Naka-best in formal wear pa siya na parang feeling kez eh iyonchienabelles pa ang suot-suot niya sa office. Naka-tupi na lang ang sleeves to reveal his bulging biceps. Si daddy ha . . . .di nakakalimutang mag-gym, in fairness.

"Is this your first time?" shornong ni DEEP VOICE habang mega-druvang. In fairness naman talaga, ibang-iba ang hagod ng boses . . . parang nanunukso . . . nangaakit . . . . nakakapangilabot . . . . nakakatindig . . . . . you know . . . . balahibo.

"First time what? To be picked up by a stranger in my hotel?" sagot na tanong kez.

"No . . . in Davao . . . " klaro niya.

Ah okay . . . si daddy naman kasi eh . . . witchelles dinidiretso ang tanong para sa isang veklores na sadyang luntian ang pag-iisip na tulad ko.

"Technically no . . . . pero, the first time that I was here, hindi rin ako nakapaggala and nakalabas ng hotel dahil sa dami ng work and limited ang time."

"So . . . . it is your first time . . . . "

"Di nga eh."

"I mean . . . to be picked up by a stranger in your hotel . . . . "

"Ah . . . actually . . . I've been picked up by a lot of strangers na in a lot of times (kape!)"

Shuhimek lang kami ng slight then, talak siya, "So . . . how was it so far . . . . "

"Okay lang naman. Exciting. Adventure. Kasi 'di mo alam kung anong mangyayari sa inyo kapag as in total stranger ang naka-meet mo . . . pero happy naman so far . . . . di pa naman ako nagigilitan . ."

"I mean . . . . your stay here in Davao?"

Naiinis na ko sa usapang ito ha.

"Davao. Great. Okay lang . . . . ganda nga eh . . alam mo, given the opportunity . . . I can actually live here."

"Anong klaseng opportunity naman yon?"

"Kapag, alam mo yon, siguro merong mag-ooffer sa 'ken ng bahay at high-paying job eh di why not?"

"What if I offer you a house and a high-paying job, right now? What would you say?"

"Nako. 'Wag ka namang magbiro ng ganyan. Alam mo, if you're in Manila. I wouldn't just offer you a house and a high-paying job."

"Of course not . . . I can see that you can't afford it naman and besides, if I'm in Manila, I would stay in my unit in the Residences."

Parang at that momentzzzz eh parang gusto ko namang hanapin ang intertropical convergenze zone dahil may nafi-felt akez na may panaka-nakang pagbuga ng malakas-lakas na hangin sa may bandang driver's seat until narealize kong si DEEP VOICE yon na parang may built-in industrial fan.

Wit naman akez agad na natiwang . . . betsiva kez ang mga utawsingbelles na ganitrax . . . . .may bilib sa sarili . . . . at katakut-takot na self-confidence ang inee-exude. Ibang level ito . . . . may challenge.

Kunwari ay namangha naman akez sa tinalak niya. Kung makapag-"Residences" naman siya eh parang ang mga unit sa Greenbelt eh nabibili lang ng kinse isang tumpok ha.

After 20 minutes eh witchelles pa ren kame nakakarating sa dapat na marating namin at nagsisimula na 'kong maloka dahil pa-sukal na ng pa-sukal ang mga daan na tinatahak namin.

Pero, inassure naman niya akez na super happiness ang aatakan namin kaya patience lang daw.

* * *

We all have secrets . . . . As we go on with our everyday lives, we meet and encounter people that at first look, we could have an idea of the totality of their character.

We may encounter some people who at first are already very outspoken, they could be bright individuals. Used to be at the top of class . . . . achievements fill up the last 3 pages of their curriculum vitae. They could also be not well-liked.

On the other hand, there are those who could barely speak a word. Insecurity fills the air whenever they're around . . . . . people with low self-esteem and self-confidence. They'd rather be silent in ages than commit a mistake in a second.

Voices and the manner of speaking could also tell a lot . . . . . a person who speaks very fast and spontaneous can be an intelligent one . . . . a person who speaks very fast but doesn't make any sense at all can be a poser . . . . a person who could not finish a sensible sentence could be a shy type if not probably a model . . . . a high-pitched voice that has more intonations than the YES.FM jingle could be a very joyful person and if it is a guy then he might be gay . . . . a very DEEP and modulated VOICE could be the mysterious type . . . .

But, then again, these are not enough. Still . . . there's more than what meets the ears and the eyes.

* * *

Finally, after forty-years in the travelling portion at halos bumaligtad na ang matres ko sa pajikut-jikot na daan at super lalim ng mga bangin eh nakarating din kami sa isang super happy na place at the top of a hill. "Jack's Ridge" daw ang namesung ng place. In fairness, super happy talaga.

It reminds me of . . . . .

Haaaaaay . . . . I promised myself not to think about it . . . .pero heto najisip ko na naman . . . at since nandito eh . . . . eh ichichika ko na lang din . . . .

It reminds me of Antipolo and the overlooking chenelynbhar . . . . at sa tuwing may-I-remember ko ang place na yonchie eh super najijisip ko ren ang mga eksenang naganap sa 'ken doonchinabelles . . . with "who else"? "Him" . . . . whose name should not be mentioned.

Anyway, may ilang-ilang bar and resto donchie and isang coffee shop.

So, enter kami sa coffee shop ever.

Pag-sight kez sa menu eh naloka naman akey . . . . parang lahat ng category ng food and beverage eh may something that got to do with durian. Sa pastry section . . .eh may durian cheesecake . . . . meron ding durian cookies . . . . sa coffee section . . . may durian coffee . . . at sa frappe section eh may durian frap . . . . san ka pa?

Pano kaya sa Pangasinan . . . . since sikat ang bagoong doonchie . . . . haves din kaya ng bagoong cheesecake at bagoong frappe? Ang chaka ng eksena . . . .

Anyway . . .super order na lang akez ng latte with 1 shot of espresso for more energy and more gising-gisingan portion . . . .

Siyempre super treat naman itung si DEEP VOICE . . . eh siya naman kaya ang nag-aya noh . . choz! Mag-take advantage talaga? Actually, dumukot na akez (pero charing lang) . . . .he insisted to pay. Okay fine! Matino naman akong kausap noh . . . .

Pumuwesto kami sa labas. Na ang kashobe eh super tarik na bangin. Na mahipan ka lang siguro ng hangin . . . . . .at napatumbling ka lang ng slight eh . . . kinabukasan . . . . . closed coffin ang labanan.

At may napansin akong nakapaskil sa isang puno na karatulang chumichika nang "This is a designated smoking area". In-explain naman sa 'kin ni DEEP VOICE na sa Davao eh witchelles kering magyosi ka lang ng magyosi sa kahit saan. Maski open-air eh may "DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA" at kapag na-jullie-yap-daza kang super subey sa isang lugar na walang karatulang "DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA" eh haves ka ng instant bracelet na magkakadena sa magkabilang kamay.

Kaloka!!!

Pero in fairness . . . . . happy talaga ang place. Romantic . . . . the whole city eh sight na sight. Masarap ang hangin . . . at ang mga stars eh parang mega-connive pa sa pagningning para maging mas perfect ang gabi na papasa para sa isang uber-mushy na koreanovela na hindi naman nagre-rate.

So, hayon na nga . . . .chikahan kami ng slight-slight. Actually, ako lang ang more na chumichika. So, more ask akey.

Na-learn ko na isa siyang cabinet . . . . closet . . . closet-case . . . . tagong-bading . . . . . taong pinipilit na i-jobos ang hasang para hindi mahalata ang pagkapula neto.

So, tinanong ko sa kanya kung kamusta naman ang lovelife niya.

Chika niya na mahirap daw para sa isang tulad niya na magka-lovelife sa Davao, where everybody knows everbody. Sobrang maingat daw siya at kung minsan pa nga raw eh kapag sinusumpong siya ng pagka-Catherine-Zeta-Jones at witchelles masolusyunan nang pagkikipag-daupang-palad kay Mariang Palad (at kay "Haller Fingger") eh mega-travel pa siya sa Cagayan De Oro para bumuking. At take note ha . . Davao and Cagayan De Oro is not like Riverbanks and Lawton . . . . . Davao and Cagayan De Oro is super far sa isa't isa . . . like Riverbanks and Barasoain Church.

More chikahan . . more chikahan . . . hanggang napansin kong iritado ang tingin niya sa pagkaka-upo kez. Tapos, tumalak siyang . . . .

"Bernard . . . can you spread your legs apart."

Naka-de-kwatro ako 'non. Yung de-kwatrong pa-girl with matching kuyakoy-kuyakoy pa.

Alam 'nyo, in normal circumstances . . . I wouldn't be offended kapag tinalakan akong "spread your legs apart" because normal circumstances for me is when I am in bed with a guy.

Pero yung eksenang yon . . . is definitely not one of my normal circumstances.

Sumunod din ako maski labag sa loob kong bumukaka at umupo na parang konstru na nag-yo-yosi break sa construction site. Ano pa ba ang bettti-boop niyang gawen ko . . . . .gusto pa ba niyang palalimin ang boses ko to the baritone level? Pero witchelles naman na siya tumalak pa. Yung pagko-cross-legs ko lang daw. Masyado daw kasing pa-girl baka lang daw meh makahalata.

Eh kung tampal-tampalin ko kaya siya ng pa-girl kong mga kamay!?

Deadma na.

I respect naman him. Ayaw ko rin siyang mapahiya. Kaya sinaid ko na ang lahat ng menthol hormones ko para lang sa kanya.

Humaba pa ang chikahan . . . . . .

Hanggang sa may isang girl na lumapit at binati si DEEP VOICE.

Nagchikahan sila.

Noong una eh deadma akez sa usapan nila.

Hanggang sa . . . . nakahearsung akembang ng mga words na "motion" . . . "ordinance" . . . . "letter" . . . . "kausapin mo kaya si vice . . . . . "

Sa mga puntong iyon eh nagbago ang ekspresyon sa fezlack ko from Dorothy before OZ to Dorothy with the Munchkins and the wicked witch of the west!

Napansin ni DEEP VOICE ang pagkambyo ng fezlack kez.

Inontroduce niya agad akez sa girlaloo . . . . .

"Bernard, this is my colleague . . . . Councilor cherva-er-er-chervavich . . . . "

* * *

We all have secrets . . . . . As we go on with our everyday lives, we meet and encounter people that at first look, we could have an idea of the totality of their character. But that is not enough . . . .

Behind a smile or a beautiful face . . . . underneath it might lie something that is not supposed to be seen or known.

Whatever the reason . . . . would be a mystery . . . .

But secrets are bound to be discovered.

The question is . . . like the song goes . . . "How do we ever keep a secret?"

* * *

To be continued . . . .