MFL Presents: Stranded On You - Chapter 4

Its' been four days since that incident in Dumaguete City. However she still feels the pain on her ankle. She can even hardly do some household chores. This can't be happening since she needs to do extreme makeover of the old lodging house. She's planning to make it a bread and breakfast with a free one day tour in the nearby barrios on it's local attractions. Those attractions are haven't yet discovered. She needs to start right away, otherwise the two months extension will be in vain.

"Day, sakit pa gihapon ang piang nimo? Anna asks.

("Sweetie, are you still in pain?" Anna asks.)

"Sakit pa intawon. Ingon man ang doctor nga pila pa ni ka-adlaw usa maayo. Ingon sad siya nga kinahanglan pa daw ko magpakonsulta ug physical theraphist kung wala na siya maghubag," she says in a sad tone.

("Unfortunately, yes. The doctor said I need few days to recover. And she also said I need to see physical therapist once the swelling stops," she says in a sad tone.)

"Hala oy, grabe diay na?"

("Oh my, is it really serous?")

"Aw di man. Para lang daw sure ang di matandog ang piang. Mao lagi ni karon kay di ko puwede magpuyo ug dugay. Two months lang biya ang extension nga hitag sa bangko."

"No, it's not that serious, she just want to make sure that nothing will trigger the sprain again. But the problem is, the bank gave two months and I just can't sit and do nothing ."

"Ka way puangod adtong taw-hana no! Gibiyaan ra giyod ka. Wa gani miingon ug sorry," Anna says while grinding her teeth thinking how irresponsible that bastard tourist was.

("That ruthless man! He just left you without saying sorry," Anna says while grinding her teeth thinking how irresponsible that bastard tourist was.)

" Diyos ra'y mag-igo niya,"

("I'll let God handle it.")

"Unya, unsa ma'y plano nimo aning lodging house?"

("What's your plan with this lodging house then?")

"A total makeover. I want to remodel this into a bread and breakfast."

"Maayo! Unya, naa ka'y trabahador nga mo gama sa remodeling?"

("Great! Do you have men to work for the remodeling?")

"Mangita pa."

("Still looking.")

" I know," Anna says smilingly.

"Kinsa?"

("Who?")

"Nakanumdom ka ni Kevin? Elementary cush ba nimo. Contractor na biya siya karon. Makadiscount pa ka ka'y classmate biya to nato. Ug labaw sa tanan," she pauses making Angie more curious.

("Remember Kevin, your crush in elementary? He's now a contractor. I'm sure he will give discount since he was our classmate. And the most of all," she pauses making Angie more curious.)

"He is still single," she continues while emphasizing the word 'single', trying to imply something to Angie. However it doesn't work for Angie.

"So what now? What it has to do with my bread and breakfast business?"

"Naa oy! Hunahuna-a, kung magka-uyab mo wala na ka'y problema sa construction. Naa pa ka'y kauban," she says teasing again her best friend.

("Of course it has! Look, if you guys are together, you won't have problems with the construction at all. Plus, you'll never be alone," she says teasing again her best friend.)

Angie is shaking her head in amusement on how the tiny brain of her best friend is thinking silly things.

"You know what, why don't you just help me with my planning instead thinking silly things?"

"Okay. I was just playing to be a matchmaker," she smilingly says.

"Then you tried matching the wrong persons. Alright, enough of this. Let's focus on the plan."

Then the two starts brainstorming on how the interior designs must look like. The living room, the kitchen, the mini bar, the garden outside, the lounge where guests can have their coffee and relaxation are now well sketched. Though they didn't major interior designs but Angie has a gift of drawing. The new bread and breakfast is not that big. It has only 5 small size rooms with 7'x7', enough for backpackers and tight budget travelers to feel comfortable. She likes to have a library theme for the interior design. She plans to put some shelves and old book to every corner of the living room with a free to use laptop with internet. The old piano will remain in the living room. It'll be indeed a cozy mini bread and breakfast!

Meanwhile, Liam is indulging his vacation in an exclusive resort, opposite side of the island. He enjoys the white fine sands and the tropical foods. Of course it will not be as that good without the night life, so every night he's partying and binging alcohols. In his four days of stay, he already found a good idea for his comeback article. It's basically about the life of the islanders and the well-known superstitious belief in this paradise-like island.

It is his fifth day, and he wants to explore the whole island because someone told him that the island is really small and that he can go around within few hours. After finalizing his article, he decides to rent a motorcycle and starts driving, exploring the whole town. Then occasionally stops for his filming. However, he is still not satisfy and starts heading farther using the barrio roads. He has a waze map and he finds it easy to go around. He drives even more farther and really enjoy the sceneries. He occasionally stops and converse with the friendly locals. He's amaze how locals are excited to see foreigners in their barrio. They even invite him in and share humble meals. He can say, this is the best vacation ever. Better than staying in the resort. However, it has to end.

"Thank you so much for today," he says happily.

"You're welcome, Joe," one local man replies with a strong accent. The funny thing is, locals call all white as Joe.

"I wont forget this place. People here are so kind and welcoming. It's a great pleasure to meet you guys." He even hugs everyone in the house. And after taking some selfies he bid goodbye.

"I still want to stay but I can't. I have to go back. I'll be off to Dumaguete at dawn."

"Have a safe flight then," says the lady host.

Then he starts the engine and drive away. It's not to his knowing that the cloud is getting darker, because he still pre-occupy with what he had just experienced all day long. Suddenly, rains start to fall. He doesn't have raincoat so he's getting wet. Few minutes later, strong winds start blowing to the extent that he can't see the road clearly. The road he is taking is not the right way going back. He stops and check the waze but the internet is so slow, so he keeps driving farther. He keeps driving away from the hotel. He's checking waze again and this time internet is not working anymore. He is now nervous because there's no single house on his sight. He's been driving an hour now but he sees nothing and the rain is pouring so badly. He needs shelter but unfortunately there's none. He reaches to the very muddy slope and loses control of the maneuver when he sees the very bright light strikes ahead. Yes, he's almost struck by the lighting.

"Help!" he cries. And that's the last word he says.

Two hours later, Anna decides to go out to check their cows on the field. She is worried because they were not to take them into the shelter before the heavy rain fell. She take the flashlight with him because it's already seven in the evening. Before she reach to cows, she sees the motorcycle on on the ground. She slowly walks towards it and suddenly she hears someone moaning. She's trying to find where the moan is coming from. When she hears a noise few distance behind the motorcycle, she's shock for to see someone lying on the ground with blood on his face. Unable to speak due to her shock, she runs back to their house.

"Johnny! Johnny!"she's screaming while running towards the house. Her husband is startle hearing her voice and quickly.

"Naunsa man ka?" he asks.

("What?" he asks.)

"May tawo! May tawo!" Anna is panting.

("There's a man! There's a man!")

"Asa man?"

("Where?")

"Didto sa daro. Mura'g nadisgrasiya. Mamatay biya siguro 'to. Tala, adtuon nato!"she's shaking in fear but still manage to relate what she saw to her husband.

("In the field. I think it's an accident, he might die there. Let's go help him! " she's shaking in fear but still manage to relate what she saw to her husband.)

Then both run to see the man.