Chapter 12

"Miss, ano ang ginagawa mong mag-isa?" tanong ng lalaking naka-pula. "Gusto mo samahan ka namin?" tanong ng lalaking naka-asul. "Ah, okay lang po ako," sabi ni Devon, kinakabahan. "Wag ka nang magpakipot pa miss," sabi ng lalaking naka-pula. Bigla syang hinablot ng lalaking naka-blue. Pero may bigla na lang sumapak sa lalaki. Lasing na ang dalawang lalaki kaya di makalaban ng maayos. Di sila tinigilan ng lalaking tumutulong kay Devon hanggang maging duguan sila. "You should always be careful Devon. Did you know how worried I was?" tanong ni James na halatang nag-aalala. Halos maluha-luha si Devon. "Thank you James," sabi ni Devon. Niyakap nya si James. "Anything for you Devon," sabi ni James. "Anyhing......" sabi nito. At hinalikan nya si Devon. Pinigil ni Devon ang halik. Kahit gusto nya, pinigilan pa rin nya. Alam nya na hindi naman sya mamahalin ni James. Iniisip nya na baka lasing lang ito. "James you're probably drunk," sabi ni Devon. "I'm not drunk. I didn't drink any alcoholic beverage. I really like you Devon, I really do. Ever since I kissed you. At first I thought it was a mere crush but now I realized that I really like you. Devon, will you be my girlfriend?" James asked. Devon was overwhelmed. "Uh...."  Devon said, unable to think straight. "If you're worrying about nanay, I already asked her permission. My parents said yes also. So you don't have to be worried," sabi ni James. "Manligaw ka muna," sabi ni Devon, ang ngiti hanggang tenga. "Okay, I'll court you. I will do my best to make you mine," sabi ni James.
Devon woke up feeling really happy. Di pa rin mabura yung ngiti sa labi nya. May kumatok sa pinto nya. "Pasok," sabi nya. Pumasok ang kuya Sam nya. "Uy, lil' sis. Mukhang masaya ka ngayon ha. Ano namang nangyari at ang laki ng ngiti mo?" tanong ni Sam. "Uhhhh....kahapon kasi....uhhhh...." sabi ni Devon. Natatakot syang sabihin kay Sam. "Haha, masyado kang tense sis," sabi ni Sam. "Wala. Si James, nanliligaw lang....." sabi ni Devon. Naramdaman nyang nanigas si Sam. Natakot sya. Nang biglang tumawa si Sam. "O sige, pwede ka nyang ligawan. Pero dadaan muna sya sa butas ng karayom. Mahigpit kaya ako," sabi ni Sam. "Kuya naman ehhhh...." sabi ni Devon.

Nag-bihis si Devon ng isang blue summer dress. Naiwan pala nya yung mga swimsuit nya sa sasakyan ng mama ni Patrick kaya bumalik kagabi yung mama ni Patrick para i-abot ito sa kanya. Suot nya ang isang dark purple tankini sa ilalim ng sun dress. May inabot na puting envelope si Kyra sa kanya kanina. Isang sulat mula kay James.

Dear Devon,
 Join me for breakfast please.
 I will wait for you at the beach. Just follow the stones and you will find me.
                              James
"Ano to, Hansel and Gretel?" isip ni Devon. Pagdating nya sa may beach, sinundan nya ang mga itim na bato. At sa dulo non, nakita nya si James sa may liblib na bahagi ng beach. May nakahandang sandwiches at drinks. "Hey. Good morning," sabi ni James. "Good morning. May pa-follow the stones ka pang nalalaman ha," sabi ni Devon. James laughed. "Come on. I prepared these," James said. "Ikaw ba ang gumawa nito," sabi ni Devon. "Yeah. It's my first time cooking," sabi ni James. Tumikim si Devon ng ham sandwich. "Masarap sya ah," sabi ni Devon. Ang laki naman ng ngiti ni James mula sa maliit na papuri ni Devon. Nagsimula nanaman ang harutan at kulitan ng dalawa. "Uhmmm, I want to sing a song for you," sabi ni James habang nagblu-blush.

"Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are(yeah)

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are
The way you are, the way you are
Girl you're amazing, just the way you are

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are. Yeah"

Matapos ang kanta ni James ang laki ng ngiti ni Devon. "Uy, salamat sa harana. Di ko alam na marunong ka palang mag-gitara. And ang ganda pala ng boses mo," sabi ni Devon. She's trying to act cool, pero sa totoo kinikilig sya. For her, this is the start of a perfect day.

They spent the rest of the day strolling around the beach, island hopping at magkulitan. Walang umabala sa kanila. Sina Ivan at Bret ay nilibang si Sam para di nito gambalaiin sina James at Devon. "James, tingnan mo! May pawikan. Ang cute naman!!" sabi ni Devon sabay takbo sa kinaroroonan ng mga pawikan. Nakipaglaro si Devon sa mga pawikan samantalang si James ay kinunan ng mga picture si Devon. "Uy, anong ginagawa mo? Kinuhanan mo ako ng picture no?" sabi ni Devon. "Yeah. You looked so cute," sabi ni James. At di napigilan ni Devon na mag-blush. Bumalik na lang sila sa resort nang magla-lunch na. Pagkatapos kumain ay nagsimula na ang chikahan ng mga girls sa kwarto ni Devon. "Uy, kumusta yung date?" tanong ni Fretzie. Eager makinig sina Jenny, Fretzie at Kyra para sa detalye. They giggled at the right parts. Sobrang kinilig ang tatlo. "Ang swerte mo naman ate," sabi ni Kyra. "Oo nga. Sana ganun din ka-sweet ang manliligaw ko," sabi ni Fretzie. "You mean Bret," pang-aasar ni Jenny. "Eh ikaw, ayaw mo bang maharana ni Ryan?" tanong naman ni Fretzie. "No way. Ang pangit ng boses nun. Bulol pa," sabi ni Jenny. "Pero gusto mo naman si Ryan diba?" sabi ni Kyra. "Ikaw naman, sino ba talaga? Ivan or Yong?" tanong ni Jenny. "Uy, nag change topic ka ha. Sagot muna," sabi ni Kyra. Nagkulitan ang apat tungkol sa love life nila. Samantala sa kwarto ni James kung saan nakatambay ang mga guys, pati si Sam. "Hey dude, share the details," sabi ni Bret. "You guys are like girls. Stop annoying me," sabi ni James with his I don't care voice. "Aww, kahit konti lang James. Para naman pag niyaya ko si Kyra, alam ko na ang gagawin," sabi ni Yong. "Fine. Just a few details. We ate breakfast, we played with, uhm, pahwikans, I think. And...uhhh....that's all we did," sabi ni James. "Dude, you suck at lying," Ivan said. "Nakahanda na ang pagkain," sabi ng caretaker ng resort. James sighed in relief.

Nanuod sila ng sunset, nag-swimming, nag-surf at nag-banana boat ride. Nag-spa din ang mga girls. Sa sumunod na araw, nag-shopping ang lahat para sa pasalubong. James, being a gentleman, carried all Devon's things.

Things seems perfect for James and Devon...........