“Where are we going?” I asked Ismael. We were currently on our way home from Tagaytay. It was a drag because we only had two days, but it was worth it because with the help of Miss Levanier, Ismael and I were back together again. The smile on my lips never left me.
“Is it okay if we go to a carwash for a moment?” he answered.
I nodded. “Of course.” I also saw that his car’s tires were a bit muddy because of the heavy rain last night. “But can we go to a store first? Honestly, I still want to lurk around here in Tagaytay with you. We didn’t really enjoy our reservation at the resthouse yesterday. Can we stay here for a while?”
“Of course.” He held my hand, “I want to stay here longer with you too,” before kissing it.
“Do you think they noticed?” I changed the subject.
He glanced at me. “I don’t think Jenna noticed but I’m sure Yves did.”
My mouth dropped open. Right. Just from Mr. Roize looking at Ismael and me earlier, it seemed like he could sense the change in our auras.
I formed a straight smile. “Thank you, Ismael, for letting me do that. Let’s just tell them about us when we get back to the city. I just wanted to see their disappointed faces because they hid the real reason for this outing from us.”
“Honestly, I was the one who planned this.”
“W-what?” I gasped. “What do you mean you planned this?”
“I wanted to see you.”
I felt steam rise from my head because of excitement. I immediately looked away because of what he said.
“I asked for Jenna’s help, but they told me you wouldn’t come. I was about to leave the place when I saw you appear in front of my eyes.”
How many more surprises does he hide up his sleeves?
“I became hopeful when I saw you again. I almost embraced you.”
He’s really good with words and even better with actions. Even though I was the one who hurt him, he still finds a way to see me. “I hope every woman in this world met someone like you, Ismael. The world will be a better place if the world is full of you.”
“Then the world should also provide women like you for us to live.”
I chuckled. “Men would be traumatized to meet someone like me. You’re the only one who can hold on to my personality.”
“It’s because I know your story. If people learn what kind of woman is hiding behind that strong personality, I am sure they will also want to be with you. Luckily, you already chose me.”
“Pfft. Such a sweet talker!”
Like I said, we passed by a store. I don’t know what kind of store we went to, but besides food, they also sold toys. Ismael was curious because of what I was getting there.
“What is that for?” he asked when I took out the water guns. I pointed them at his face and shot him. “I wanna play!”
“Aren’t you too old for that?”
“I never had a chance to play when I was young, so let me play and…” I pointed the gun at him again. “Play with me.”
He just laughed. He was carrying a basket full of food, while I was putting toys in the other part of his basket. I saw a small smoke bomb and immediately took it. “Pay for these also,” I said to Ismael. He didn’t do anything but obey me.
I also got some roller skates. Ismael just shook his head, realizing that he was really has a child with him. Well, I never acted once in my life. Just for today. I am feeling it. I wanted to be as childlike as I could be, since I feel safe showing that side to Ismael. I am also curious about how he will react to seeing me like this. I kept remembering when we were at the Night Market. When he put little duckies on my head.
We went out and got back in the car. While he was driving, I opened the water guns I bought. There are other types of bubbles that are emitted, but I prefer the gun that shoots out strong water.
“That’s right, we’re about to go to the car wash, so let’s get dirty,” I suggested.
He giggled. “I’ll get dirty with you.”
“What did you say?” I tried to shoot him in the face and hit his ear.
“Jothea! I’m driving!”
“Why? You said you were willing to die with me!”
“Not today! We just got back together!” I laughed at his joke. In a few moments, we arrived at the place where Ismael was cleaning his car. I was just about to get out when he locked the door.
“Ismael?” I turned to him but water from his water gun hit my face. “What the hell?! Aren’t we going to get out?”
He just shot water in my face as an answer. I saw that Ismael’s car was already being showered with water and foam, while the two of us were still inside. I turned my gaze to Ismael.
“Ah, that’s it?! You want this, huh?” I immediately recovered and shot him with water too, but he quickly dodged it. I shot water at his face one after another, but because of what I did, I ran out of charge. He laughed as he shot my face.
“Wait a minute-” Water entered my mouth. “Ismae-” Every time I speak, he hits me in the face.
“What? What are you trying to say?” he asks with a laugh, mixed with teasing.
“Time ou-”
But he just shoots water into my mouth again.
“I’m out of water! That’s enough! You’re such a jerk!”
He giggles as he watches me almost drown in the water he shoots into my face.
“Alright, alright. Let’s get out of here so they can also clean up our mess. Let’s go for a walk outside.”
Ismael was carrying a child who was none other than me while walking. He was holding my hand while I was munching on a big lollipop that I had bought earlier at the store. He said he was looking for a restaurant where we could eat because the food I bought wasn’t enough to satisfy us.
It was a fortunate thing we had brought a change of clothes, so we were able to change out of the clothes we had soaked earlier. I laughed at him because he was watching me in the car while I was putting on a dress. He complimented me endlessly. Whereas just last night, when he worried while changing jackets, it was as if we had never seen each other’s bodies.
We entered a simple restaurant not far from the car wash space where Ismael’s car was.
He immediately ordered what was supposed to be our lunch, but since it was already four in the afternoon, I didn’t know what to call it. We didn’t wait that long, so both of our stomachs were already full.
“You’re good at shooting,” I commented after we finished eating. He was always aiming for my face earlier. It was a good thing the water didn’t get into my nose. It wasn’t in my eyes either because it was all in my mouth.
He brought his mouth close to my ear. “It’s like you don’t know at all.”
My eyes widened at what he said, so I slapped his chest gently. He smiled while suppressing a teasing laugh.
“You’re so rude!” I whispered.
“What? I never said anything, Jothea. It was your mind.”
“But you already know how my mind works! You know that I know what you meant!”
He just shrugged. “I didn’t,” he resisted. I rolled my eyes. He’s really into teasing. But I know I will get used to it because this is how we start.
We left the restaurant after Ismael paid to go back to his car, which was just finished cleaning even the insides. We got back in and started driving again. We were holding hands and I can’t help but imagine how our lives would be after years. I had a longing in my heart for the future with him growing old with me, that one day even though we are old, he will still be my driver and I will still be his passenger princess.
The car stopped and I looked at the tunnel we were supposed to go through, but because there was a barrier, we couldn’t go straight.
He looked at his phone where the map we were following was.
“Why?” I asked.
“I think the route we took was wrong or un-updated. We need to go back,” he replied.
“Okay,” I replied.
“I’m sorry.”
“What? What are you sorry for? It’s okay!” I said before I could think of something silly. It seemed like I could use the smoke bomb and roller skates I bought earlier here. “But, can we play first before we go back?”
He frowned when he looked at me. I knew he wasn’t sure what he was going to let in, but since I was the one inviting him, he didn’t do anything.
It was already five in the afternoon and it was almost dark, so to turn this event into a memorable one, Ismael and I were going to play! And I knew he was a little annoyed with the route we took because they took us to a dead end, so I was going to put this on to make him feel better.
“So you’ll turn the tunnel into your playground?” Ismael asked as he watched me put on my roller skates. We were in the back of his car and even though I was dressed, I didn’t care. I was going to play!
“This is our playground, Ismael!” I corrected, before throwing him the roller skates that were meant for him. “Come on! Teach me!” I added after I finished putting them on.
“You’re telling me you don’t know how to use these yet you bought two pairs?”
I nodded. “Yes, and?”
He scoffed in disbelief. “Good thing you bought a quad roller skates and inline skates. I’ll use the inline instead since this is way harder to learn because they need more balance but I am not saying that these don’t need one. Also…” He sat down in front of me. “You need to double lace it so it won’t easily untie.” He laced up the quad roller skates I was wearing. I watched him in amazement.
He looked up. “Done.” Before he sat down next to me and also put on roller skates that fit him well. “Let’s go.” He held out his hand to me which I accepted.
What he said was true. I almost slipped when I stood up. It was good that Ismael grabbed my waist and stopped me from almost falling because if he wasn’t steady, we would both have fallen.
He supported me until we reached the tunnel. He pulled me and turned his back if I slipped. I, on the other hand, looked at our feet because I was afraid I might fall on him again.
“It’s just like riding a bicycle, you need to look in front of you. Avoid looking at your feet. Look at me,” he explained.
“I might bump into you.”
“Just trust me.”
I slowly raised my head to meet his eyes. I just stared at him until he turned back because it was the end of the tunnel and there was another barrier blocking the way for cars.
“Now, I’m going to let go of your hands.”
“W-what? No! I can’t do it yet,” I said worriedly.
“Trust yourself just how much I trust you. Okay?” He let go of one of my hands.
“Ismael…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch you if you fall,” he said. “Now, I’m going to let go of your other hand.”
“Ismael!” I shouted when he finally let go of me.
“Relax and just go with the flow.”
The wheels on my shoes kept spinning and I smiled when I realized I was in control.
“Careful,” he reminded me.
“I can do it Ismael! I can do it!” I shouted at him while smiling. I was almost in tears as I circled him. He was smiling as he watched me. He closed his eyes and nodded.
But the thing is, how do I stop this?
“How do I stop, Ismael? I’m dizzy!” The nervousness returned to my chest, preventing me from thinking of a solution.
“Calm down; I’m here. If you’re dizzy, don’t turn around and go there first,” he instructed. “Then come back here.” I followed him. “Do the plow stop, Jothea. Push your feet out and then make a bubble forward to meet your toes together. Just like this.” He demonstrated it to me, and I did what he said.
I almost bumped into him. Luckily he caught me, which is why I was able to stop successfully. “Did you just cry?” he asked teasingly as he wiped away my tears.
“I was nervous.”
He just laughed. “Well, that’s the perk of it. It is inevitable to get hurt, but the perseverance of continuing it is tantamount to saying you’re doing it because of love.”
He really knows how to say ‘I love you’ in different ways.
We took a break in the back of his car when we got tired of skating. It was dark and our only light was the moon as well as his car light. The air was very cold, especially since we were surrounded by pine trees because we were on the mountain and we could see the other side of the mountain. I like the slow days with him just like this. There’s nothing really important to do but just do what you like. It feels so good.
I remembered again the smoke bomb I bought earlier. I immediately took it, but when I was about to light it, I realized that I hadn’t bought a lighter. I hadn’t smoked in a long time!
“By chance, do you have a lighter?” I asked Ismael.
“I don’t have it, Jothea. I never smoke.”
“Oh, okay. Too bad, I forgot to buy it. I was going to light this smoke bomb.”
He looked at me as if worried about my problem. “You don’t have it?”
I nodded. “I don’t smoke anymore.”
“Since when?”
“Since that day, you picked up that cigarette from my mouth.”
“I see. Come here; I’ll give you a reward for being a good girl.” He opened his arms so I put myself in between.
“It’s okay that you don’t have it. Your hug is enough for the spark,” I commented, making him laugh.
“Ahh, do you want a spark?” he asked. “I can even give you an explosion.”
I hit him. “There you go again!” But I stayed in his embrace. Who would want to give up this privilege? Especially since the climate here is cold. I want a warm hug from him.
“Why? Don’t you want to do it here?”
“Ismael!” I pulled away from him-“Let’s just go home!”-but he pulled me back, so I hugged him again.
“Why not give me a reward for teaching you how to skate? Isn’t it what I deserve?”
“Do you really want it? Here?” I asked in disbelief.
“Aren’t you cold?” I laughed. Why was he answering my question with a question?
“It’s cold, that’s why I’m hugging you, but I want to hear from you that you want to do it, Ismael,” I replied.
“Why? Do you agree?” he whispered.
“Tsk. Just tell me, Ismael. You need to tell me what you want.”
He brought his lips close to my ear before he spoke. “I still wanna play, Jothea. I want to have sex with you here in the car.”
I regretted it so much, requesting that he say it. He’s so fucking hot. I feel like I can take off my clothes right here in front of him because of what he said.
I pulled away from his embrace before staring at him. I could see he was waiting for what I was going to say.
I smirked seductively. “Then, give me your explosion.”