Chapter 1: Dive (Walter)

Walter's Point of View

The fingers of my left hand tapped one after another, like horses racing at the starting line, while my eyes stayed fixed on the closed door. A grin spread across my face the moment Samantha walked in.

Her smooth, tanned skin seemed to glow, perfectly complementing the crisp white blouse she wore. Her round, brown eyes—so expressive—never failed to betray her emotions. Ang kaniyang ilong naman ay matangos, bagay na bagay sa kaniyang maliit na mga labi. Her hair that curls at the end is long and usually rests at her shoulder like waves of water. Her height, on the other hand, is just average. When she stands next to me, her chin barely reaches my shoulder. She looks devastatingly stressed, yet her beauty still shines through.

“One hour late,” bungad kong sabi sa kaniya. Sinulyapan lang ako nito at dumiretso siya sa kaniyang puwesto.

“Sinamahan ko si tatay sa hospital,” saad nito sabay baba ng kaniyang bag sa mesa. Walang buhay ang kaniyang boses. “Pasensiya na. Wala talagang ibang puwedeng sumama sa kaniya.”

“Not my fault,” saad ko habang ginagalaw-galaw ang swivel chair. May sinabi siya ngunit hindi ko iyon narinig. Pagkakuwan ay kinuha niya ang kaniyang laptop, binuksan iyon at naglakad palapit sa akin.

“Ito 'yong data interpretation na ginawa ko,” saad niya nang ilapag sa aking harap ang laptop.

Napatingin ako sa bar lines at mga numero. Mayroon ding texts sa ibaba. It was her interpretation.

“Are you sure about this?” mapagduda kong sabi at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. “I'm having second thoughts because it feels like your mind is somewhere else, caught up in too many things.”

She walked straight toward me and leaned in, her shoulder brushing lightly against mine as she pointed at the line graph—specifically the downward curve showing the fluctuation of demand in Visayas. Her vanilla-scented perfume drifted over me, battling faint traces of alcohol that still clung to her—likely from the hospital.

“Sinabi mo sa interpretation mo na underperforming ang Visayas kasi walang demand,” pagsisimula niya bago ilipat ang daliri at ituro ang interpretation niya. “But in my interpretation here which is based on the shipment data and previous sales last quarter, hindi underperforming ang Visayas. The fluctuation in demand is due to shipment delays because of port congestion.”

Umayos siya ng tindig at napahawak sa likod ng aking swivel chair habang nakatingin sa akin. Her eyes were consumed by anger, probably because of what I said earlier. Her stares were full of hatred and she could even burn me to death.

Ngumisi ako at napahawak sa kamay niyang nakapatong sa likod ng aking swivel chair. “You can leave now.”

*****

I set my foot on the edge of the pool, extended my arms and placed my hands one after another before my body bent for a dive. Water splashed as soon as its coldness touched my body. My arms made a path by forcing the water on either side while my legs fluttered in tight, rapid beats—small but strong—pushing me forward with steady propulsion.

Naramdaman ko ang paninikip ng aking dibdib ngunit hindi ako umahon. Nanatili lamang ako sa ilalim ng tubig at nagpatuloy sa paglangoy. Saka lang ako umahon nang maramdaman ang matigas na marmol ng pool sa aking palad.

Napahangos ako na sinabayan ng paglandas ng tubig mula sa aking ulo pabalik sa pool. I rested my arms on the edge of the pool before glancing at Sid, the only heir of the Marquez Jewelries and is also my bestfriend. Nakatayo siya malapit sa akin habang may hawak na cellphone. Katulad ko ay tanging speedo lang din ang suot nito.

Napailing siya. “Forty-five seconds.”

Ibinaon ko ang aking noo sa aking palad. Forty seconds? Mas lalong bumagal ang paglangoy ko. Kanina ay forty seconds iyon, samantalang ang pinakauna ay thirty-three seconds.

A trained swimmer can reach the end of this twenty-five meter pool within eighteen seconds. Some professionals can even do it in less than fifteen seconds. Ang average time ko ay nasa twenty seconds. To think that it has doubled, I am definitely not at my best fit.

“Is there something that's bothering you?” tanong sa akin ni Sid. He's also my swimming partner so he knows how fast I can swim.

Nag-angat ulit ako ng tingin sa kaniya. I pressed my palms against the floor and lifted my body. Napatalikod ako kay Sid nang mapaupo ako. Ang binti ko ay nakalublob sa tubig.

Napatingin ako sa mga paa ko na aking ginagalaw-galaw sa tubig. “It's mom and dad.”

I felt his steps on the floor until I found him sitting next to me. Dahil siya ang nag-iisang matalik kong kaibigan, siya rin madalas ang nakakaalam ng mga bagay na bumabagabag sa akin. Alam niya iyong pangako na sinabi ko sa magulang ko last year.

“So, what will happen? Last time I checked, wala ka pa ring girlfriend,” saad nito at natawa. Napasulyap ako sa kaniya at siniko siya. “Sa dinami-rami kasi ng puwedeng i-promise, bakit 'yong girlfriend pa? You've been single for how many years already.”

Natahimik muna ako nang ilang segundo bago nagsalita.

“That's what they wanted, a girlfriend. Alam mo naman, matanda na sila at wala pang apo,” pagpapaliwanag ko naman. “Tapos tumatanda na raw ako. I'm only thirty-eight.”

“Matanda na nga,” pagsang-ayon ni Sid dahilan para wisikan ko siya ng tubig. Nakalimutan niya sigurong magkasing-edad lang kaming dalawa. “Pero bakit ikaw? They could have asked for a grandson from Wesley. Madali lang iyon para sa kapatid mo.”

He's right. Kung si Wesley lang sana ang hiningan nila ng apo, matagal na sana iyong naibigay ng nakababatang kapatid ko. Kaso si Wesley ang tipo ng playboy na takot na takot sa responsibilidad bilang ama. Halos paiba-iba ito ng girlfriend kada buwan, minsan nga linggo.

My parents, especially my father, don't trust Wesley that much. They believe that Wesley is still immature.

“Actually, problem solved naman na. I already found someone who's willing to be my fake girlfriend,” saad ko na lamang sa halip na sagutin ang tanong niya.

Napasulyap siya sa akin. “Then what's bothering you?”

“With everything that’s going to happen at the event, and now that I’ll be introducing someone as my girlfriend. I honestly don’t know how they’ll react,” sagot ko naman. “Baka bigla nilang sabihin na dapat ay ikasal na ako.”

Humalakhak si Sid at umakbay sa akin. “E’ di gawin mo na lang ding fake wife.”

“Idiot!” sambit ko at hinawakan ang braso niyang nakaakbay sa akin bago itulak siya sa tubig.