Irish POV
ONE week have passed since I woke up. My family found me in the hospital. Isang mangingisda ang nakakita sakin sa dalampasigan. And there's no sign of Axis. I asked the man who saved me, and he doesn't saw anyone beside me when he found me. It's still vivid in my memory, how Axis appeared infront of me. We both jumped before the bomb exploded, and he hold my hand so tightly. Kaya paanong walang nakakakita sa kanya sa dalampasigan? Where are you Axis? I also asked my Dad, to help me find him. But he didn't say a thing. So I decided to seek help from the police. And I hate their system, they can't do anything to help me. They need a lot of information about Axis, and I--- I can't tell anything. Kasi wala naman talaga kong alam tungkol sa kanya. I'm worthless, sighed. What will I do now? How am I suppose to find him? I started crying heavily at wala akong pakialam kung marinig nila Daddy ang pag iyak ko. I heard a knock outside my room, at wala akong balak na pagbuksan kung sino man yung kumakatok. "Irish? Open the door anak, buksan mo please?" It was my mom, at hindi ko siya kayang tiisin. "What do you want mom?" I asked her in annoyance, that was rude of me. "Anak, I'm sorry. Walang magawa si mommy, para pagaanin ang nararamdam mo ngayon. I already asked your dad, pero ganun pa rin. I'm sorry Irish" Mas lalo akong naiyak dahil kay mommy, pakiramdam ko ang sama kong anak. My mom was saying sorry, and I'm being mean to her. "I'm sorry mom, I was rude to you. I'm really mad, and I'm trying to compose myself but can't. I don't know what to do-- what if-- what if they found him? Those guys who kidnapped me, they found Axis and--" My mom hugged me that me cry even more. "Don't cry, and don't think of negative idea anak. Hindi makakatulong yan. Pray okay? It will ease the pain. Talk to God. Surrender your pain to him. He will help you. Always remember that I'm here for you okay? Stop crying now" What my mom said is true, and I forgot to talk to God.
After so much crying, I fell asleep. And it's 5:30 in the morning. I took a quick shower and hurriedly get my luggage as I went outside. Kailangan kong umalis sa bahay namin, para hanapin si Axis. Bubuksan ko pa lang sana yung gate nang marinig kong nagsalita si Daddy. "Where are you going Irishiela?" I cringed and froze, what now? "I'm going to find him, Dad" I said, without looking at him. I don't have the guts to face my father, I know he's furious. "Seriously? Find who? That man? He's not worthy. A criminal like him, is not worth it. Go back to your room now" Dad knew everything about Axis. That's why he's acting like a new person to me. "But Dad-- I love him. And just like how he save me from them, I will save him too" Sa pagkakataong 'to nagawa kong tignan sa mga mata si Daddy. "You gotta be kidding me, Irishiela. You can't save him, a person like him is not a type to be save. Stop being so stubborn. Don't waste your time for a man who's life is always on the line" I can't help but to cry, this is too much for me to handle. "You're wrong Dad, Axis needs me. And I'm going to find him. I know, I will" Binuksan ko na yung gate, pagkatapos kong sabihin yan kay Dad. Naghihintay na din sa labas yung grab car na nabooked ko. "Stop! One more step and I will disown you. That man is the reason why they abducted you. And now you're going to find him? For Pete's sake! Your being delusional here. I won't let you, you are my daughter. I won't sit still and watch you walk in danger. Go to your room, and stop this!" This is the first time that I disobeyed my parents, my dad to be exact. Alam kong mali, pero mahal ko siya. No matter what he is or who he is, even if he's the most evil person alive my love for him won't change a bit.
I called Jaz earlier, at nasa island's resort siya ng boyfriend niya. And I'm on my way, I'm going back there. Kung san nagsimula ang lahat. Axis whereabouts is still unknown to me, I don't know where to start. Losing hope is not in my vocabulary. I missed him, I really do. His hugs, kisses, and all the skinships he made to me I missed them all. Tears started to fell as I've reminisce our moments together. "Maam, nandito na po tayo" The driver said, I pay him before I went outside his car. Flashes of memories began as I looked around. I saw Jaz, she's standing beside the receptionist. I tried my best to smile at her, it's really hard and I failed. "You don't need to force yourself Irish, trust me I know that kind of feeling. Let's go?" I nodded, dahil yun lang ang kaya ko. I want to stay on Axis cabin back then, that's why I suggested to Jaz na dun ako tutuloy. But sadly, his cabin is occupied. Ugh! In the end, bumalik ako sa cabin ko dati. I let out a loud sighed, as I lie down on the bed. I'm tired, mentally and physically. I want to drink, I think I need it. I stood up, and went to the resort's bar. "One shot of classic martini please." The lady bartender nodded. At kagaya dati, naupo ako sa high stool chair ng counter. One shot is not enough, so I ordered a lot more. I guess I'm drunk, the place is spinning. Lumabas ako sa bar, at nagpahangin. I'm walking slowly as I tried to be near on the shore. A man passed by, and he immediately run to the beach. A woman run as well, he grabbed the man before he drown himself. "Suicide? Is that even a plan? You're insane! I hate you!" Sinigawan nung babae yung lalaki, parang kami lang dati. Wh--why? Tumakbo ako pabalik sa cabin ko, kahit na nahihilo ako. Coincident? What the heck?! Nagumpisa na namang manubig ang mga mata ko.
Time check, it's 3:30 pm. And me being always late, just woke up. I'm glad, I don't have any hang over. I headed to the bathroom, and stared myself in the mirror. My eyes is swollen. The scenario last night is too much and unbelievable. Of all places, why there? Eagerness started to own me, I want to find Axis. But how? I sighed. After taking a bath, I dressed up. I don't have plans, silly of me. A knock on my door brought me to earth. I open the door, and a woman startled me. "Good afternoon, Ms. Martinez. I'm Ayesha, the manager of this resort. I'm here to personally give you this--" she handed me a blue card, "This blue card, will give you the privilege to roam around the three surrounding island for free. Boat, food, amenities are all free. And also--" A red tulips? She gave me a three red tulips. "Why me? Did I won? or something?" Instead of answering me, she just smiled and left. "What a weird woman" I whispered. I guess, I'm gonna use this card now.
The memories we've shared here is still vivid, his kiss and embrace lingers. Nasa 'ég' island ako ngayon, at nakaupo sa puting buhangin. What a day! I stand up to go to the next island, when a kid approached me. "Para po sa inyo" The kid runaway after he gave me this. A tulip flower again. Two tulip flowers. Yung tatlong tulip flowers na binigay ni Ayesha, ay nasa bangka dinala ko kahit na ang weird ng pagkabigay niya. A total of five tulip flowers. In 'Elska' island, I had eaten some sweets delicacies like maha blangka and puting biko. My late merienda, and first meal for today. I'm about to go outside the hut, when the staff gave me a tulip flower. One tulip flower. Anong meron sa mga tao dito? Sumakay na ko sa bangka dala ang tulip flower na bigay nung staff. And last but not the least out of the three, is 'þig' island. Hindi rin ako nagtagal sa island na 'to, hindi maganda ang memories namin dito. Sa island na 'to kami nag away, ito ata ang puno't dulo eh. Nasa bangka na ko, pabalik sa resort at curious talaga ko kung anong meaning nung name ng tatlong island. "Manong, alam niyo po ba ang meaning ng mga pangalan nung tatlong island? Ang weird po kasi eh" Napatingin sakin si manong driver saka ngumiti. "Oo naman, Ma'am. Yung mga magulang ni sir Ivan, ang nagpangalan sa tatlong isla. At kung curious kayo sa meaning nito, pumunta kayo ngayon sa wharf. May tao na magsasabi sa inyo. Siya nga pala, para po sa inyo" Another tulip flower, he gave me two tulip flowers. Sa wharf? People here are often weird. Why would I go there? Hays. Malapit na din magsunset, maybe I should go.
The boat arrived in the resort at exactly 5:30 pm. I went first to my cabin to get changed. Nagmamadali akong naglakad papunta sa wharf, dala ko din yung tulip flowers na bigay sakin. Eight red tulip flowers in total. Am I in the wrong location? But--- the signage says it all. Hindi naman ako namamalikmata lang, the entire area from here downstairs and upstairs lights up due to candle lights. A flower candle lights. As I went upstairs, the center flame lights flower candles attached inside to individual flower petals spread out. The flower opens up and spins to the tune of George Frederic Handel's 'Eternal Source Of Light Divine'. I'm nervous, and the hell with that. Every step I take is breathless. My heart pound like a massive tornado. What's wrong with me? What's happening? The stunning sunset also made the place more beautiful than before. I already made a wish before, and I want that wish to come true, right here. I walked a little more and there was a man who's standing there at the end, I can't see his face. Nakatalikod kasi siya sakin. He has a cast on his arm. Like a slow motion in the movies, the man turned around and I had the chance to see his face. As soon as I saw his face, tears started to fell and the tulip flowers that I'm holding on fell down also. "A---a-xis"