Boundless Echoes

“I can’t come.” Jhoanna’s words abruptly cut through the excitement of her cousins. We all turned to her as she moved to stand, but Colet was quick to grab her arm and pull her back down into her seat.

“What do you mean? We’re supposed to be enjoying today. Ngayon ka na lang bumalik dito, tapos hindi ka pa sasama sa amin?” Colet said, her voice laced with playful disappointment.

“I really can’t. I have plans with Yso.”

My brows furrowed at that. “Nasa Bohol siya ngayon, and she invited me to go swim.”

Mikha teased her, but I was still stuck on the name. Who is Yso? Gano’n ba siya kaimportante para tanggihan ang sarili niyang mga pinsan? Her girlfriend, maybe? Oh. I didn’t know she had one. I didn’t even know she swung that way too!

“Swim? Para saan pa ang dagat na malapit sa bakuran natin?! Siya ang imbitahan mo rito, Jho. If you don’t wanna go out tonight, then we’ll bring the party here.” Colet’s voice carried a tone of finality, though the playfulness remained. “For the meantime, mangangabayo muna kami nina Gwen at Aiah.” She stood, stretching her arms. “You can join us too, Mikhs and Jho.”

“Uh, last-minute change, Ate Colet. May pupuntahan lang ako saglit. I’ll be back before three for a swim.” Gwen spoke hurriedly before walking off. We barely had time to react, let alone ask where she was going.

“No thanks, I’m good na. I’ll just freshen up, get ready, and maybe find some swimsuits for later,” Mikha said as she stood.

Colet and I turned to Jhoanna expectantly.

“Susunduin ko si Yso.”

Her answer was brief, direct—almost dismissive—as she walked off, following Mikha.

Damn. Just who is this for her to personally pick her up? Napakarami nilang driver!

I exhaled slowly as I followed Colet to the stables, letting the scent of fresh hay and earth ground me. It doesn’t matter. Whoever Yso is, it’s none of my business.

And yet, as I ran a hand along the smooth leather of the saddle, adjusting the reins with practiced ease, my mind kept drifting back—to Jhoanna, to the way she stood up so casually, to the way she said that name like it meant something.

"Aiah, ang lalim ng iniisip mo," Colet’s teasing voice pulled me back. She was already on her horse, watching me with a knowing smirk. "Wanna share?"

I huffed, mounting my own horse. "Nothing important." I clenched the reins tighter. Hindi ko namalayang ang ginagamit ko palang kabayo ay ang sinakyan ni Jhoanna kanina. My fingers instinctively trailed over the smooth leather, lingering where her hands had been. Napailing ako, as if shaking off something ridiculous. It wasn’t my concern—I reminded myself, over and over, like a mantra I refused to believe.

“Do you know na magkapatid si Midnight at Sunshine?” tanong ni Colet habang inaayos ang tali ng kabayo niya.

"Who?" I turned to her, brow furrowed.

"Ayang gamit mo ngayon ay si Sunshine. Midnight is her brother, paboritong kabayo ni Jhoanna." Colet gave me a knowing smile. "You know… I don’t even ride Sunshine dahil may pagka-maarte siya, pero seeing you on that horse? Mukhang gusto ka niya. And well, as for Jhoanna—given na amo ito ng kapatid niya, siguro natural lang na nasasakyan din niya si Sunshine."

I ran a hand over Sunshine’s mane absentmindedly. The knowledge settled strangely in my chest, though I wasn’t sure why.

Jhoanna had her own horse. Of course, she did. It made sense—everything about her seemed like it belonged to something grand, something untouchable. And yet, for some reason, knowing this tiny detail about her made her feel… closer. More real.

I glanced at Colet, a thought nagging at me. "Wait—so if Sunshine is picky, doesn’t that mean Jhoanna is too?"

Colet chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, don’t get me wrong. Hindi siya maarte sa ganitong bagay. She just does whatever she wants—no one can really tell her otherwise."

I raised a brow. "So, paano siya natutong sumakay?"

Colet smirked. "The usual? She saw Midnight and decided she wanted to ride. No trainer, no lessons—sumampa lang siya nang walang pasabi. Of course, muntik na siyang mahulog, pero ayun siya, tumatawa lang habang hawak ang tali."

I blinked. "Tumatawa?"

"Like a lunatic," Colet confirmed, grinning at the memory. "Sabi ni Lolo Cristóbal, hayaan lang siya. If she wants to learn the hard way, let her. So she did. Wala pang isang linggo, she was riding like she was born to do it."

I didn’t realize I was gripping the reins tighter.

"Jhoanna never asks for permission," Colet continued, her voice lighter now. "If she wants something, she takes it. If she’s curious, she goes for it.”

I exhaled, forcing myself to relax as I glanced down at the horse I was riding. Sunshine, the supposedly choosy one.

A small, ironic smile played on my lips.

"Sunshine likes you," Colet noted again, as if reading my thoughts.

I flicked the reins lightly, feeling the steady rhythm of the horse beneath me. "Maybe she just wants something different."

We were happy horse-riding when someone called for our attention. “Ma’am Colet, nakabalik na po si Ma’am Gwen kasama rin po si Ma’am Jhoanna at isang bisita.”

Colet pulled on her reins slightly, slowing her horse as she turned to the stable hand. "Si Jhoanna? May kasama?"

The stable hand nodded. "Opo, Ma’am. ‘Yung bisita po nila, si Ma’am Yso daw po.”

I stiffened.

Yso. So she really did pick her up. Colet hummed, adjusting her grip on the reins. "Mukhang dumiretso na sila sa tabing-dagat."

I glanced at her. "Sa beach?"

"Mm. May daanan dito sa may bakuran, diretso na papunta ro’n," she explained, nodding toward a barely visible path beyond the trees. "Malamang nandoon sila ngayon."

I looked in the direction she was pointing, my grip unconsciously tightening on the reins. Jhoanna was back. And she brought Yso.

I shouldn’t care.

But the thought of them together—alone by the water—settled uneasily in my chest.

“Let’s freshen up first, Aiah. May dala ka namang swimwear, right?” I absentmindedly nodded to her at isinoli na ang kabayo. “Kasama na ba nila si Mikha?” tanong nito at tumango naman ang tauhan. Hmm. Mukhang kami na lang ang inaantay. “Good. Then let’s not keep them waiting.” Colet shot me a grin before leading the way back to the house.

I followed in silence, my thoughts still lingering on the image of Jhoanna by the water, this mysterious Yso by her side. It wasn’t my concern—I reminded myself for the hundredth time. And yet, as we made our way inside to freshen up, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that, for some reason, I wanted to know exactly who Yso was.

Pagdating namin doon, nasa tubig na sina Gwen at Mikha, masayang nagtatampisaw habang sumasabay sa alon. Ang dagat ay tila kumikinang sa ilalim ng papalubog na araw, mga kulay kahel at bughaw na humahalo sa bawat hampas ng alon. May malakas na hagikgikan mula sa dalawa, lumulutang sa hangin kasabay ng amoy ng alat at banayad na simoy ng dagat.

Napalingon ako sa hindi kalayuan at doon ko nakita si Jhoanna—kasama ang isang babae.

They were talking intimately!

Masyadong magkalapit. May bahagyang pagdikit ng mga balikat. Jhoanna was listening, her head slightly tilted, eyes locked onto the woman’s face like she actually cared about whatever she was saying. And that—somehow—settled uneasily in my chest.

The sea breeze ruffled Jhoanna’s cropped top as if it wanted to get in between them. My fingers tightened slightly around the fabric of my robe.

"Jhoanna, come here!" sigaw ni Colet, dahilan para mapalingon siya sa amin.

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin saglit bago niya marahang inalis ang kamay niya sa babae at tumayo. Walang pagmamadali, pero walang pag-aalinlangan. She didn’t look guilty. She didn’t look anything at all.

Mabilis siyang naglakad papunta sa amin, kasunod ang kasama niya.

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang suot niya—a white denim shorts and a crop top—so effortlessly casual, yet it made her stand out. Lahat kaming nandito ay nakabathing suit, kahit natatakpan pa ng robe ang akin. Even Yso was in one.

Yso.

She was pretty. Tall, almost the same height as me, with striking features that suited a model. Her sun-kissed skin, high cheekbones, and sharp eyes made her look effortlessly confident. And now—she was smiling at me.

Oh. Friendly, huh?

“Hi, I’m Ysobel,” she said, offering her hand. So Ysobel is her name. I raised a brow slightly, waiting for more. “Ysobel Luna.”

I accepted her handshake. “Aiah Arceta.” She smiled knowingly. “Yeah, I know.” That made my brow lift higher. “Kilala ang pamilya niyo,” she continued casually. “I live in Laguna, but my mom’s from Cebu, so I know a bit about the people there.” I hummed, my grip firm before I let go. Interesting.

Beside us, Jhoanna remained silent. I flicked my gaze toward her, but her expression was unreadable. She wasn’t paying attention—or at least, she was pretending not to. “Small world,” I mused, shifting my weight slightly. “So you visit Cebu often?”

Ysobel’s lips twitched into a smirk, like she found my curiosity amusing. “Not really. I travel a lot, but I hear things.”

I nodded, though something about the way she said it made me feel like I was missing a bigger picture. What exactly did she hear?

Colet, sensing the shift in the air, clapped her hands together. “Enough of that—are we swimming or what?”

Ysobel chuckled. “I was waiting for Jhoanna to convince me.”

Jhoanna finally looked up at her, then at me. “Then let’s go.”

And just like that, she turned away, leading the way to the water—no hesitation, no glance back.

I exhaled through my nose, ignoring the strange tug in my chest.

Right. Nothing new there.

As Jhoanna waded into the water, the waves lapped at her legs, the tide pulling at her like it knew she belonged. The sun had begun its descent, casting long golden streaks across the sea. For a brief moment, the light caught in her hair, turning dark brown into hints of gold—like embers in the fading day.

Hindi siya nag-alinlangan, hindi tulad naming iba na saglit pang tinimbang ang lamig ng tubig. Basta na lang siyang sumuong, walang pag-aalinlangan as if the sea had been waiting for her return.

And Ysobel? She followed effortlessly, shaking out her ponytail as she stepped into the waves. The water curled around her, welcoming. I clicked my tongue and looked away. What does it matter?

“You coming, Aiah?” Colet’s voice snapped me out of it.

I huffed, untying my robe and tossing it onto a nearby lounge chair. The ocean breeze licked at my skin as I stepped forward. Fine. If Jhoanna could pretend I wasn’t here, I could do the same.

The first step into the water was a shock—cooler than expected, sending a shiver up my spine. The salt clung to the air, mixing with the distant scent of bonfire smoke from somewhere further down the shore. Gwen and Mikha were already waist-deep, splashing at each other, their laughter carrying over the gentle crash of waves.

Jhoanna had drifted further out, her body half-submerged as she floated lazily, eyes closed, face tilted toward the sky. Effortless. Untouchable.

And then Ysobel swam toward her, cutting through the water with ease—like she belonged there too.

Annoying.

I took another step forward when Colet suddenly grinned. "Race tayo hanggang doon sa buoy!" She pointed at the red marker bobbing in the distance, the setting sun reflecting off its wet surface. Mikha groaned. "Ikaw lang ‘ata ang may energy pang lumangoy nang malayo."

"Come on, para masaya!" Colet whined. "Aiah? Jhoanna? Yso?"

Jhoanna cracked an eye open, a slow, knowing smirk forming on her lips. "I don’t lose races."

Colet rolled her eyes. "Sino bang may sabing mananalo ka?"

I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "I’m in."

Ysobel tilted her head, eyes glinting with something I couldn’t quite read. "Sure, why not?"

That’s when Jhoanna finally turned to me—for the first time since she left Ysobel’s side. Her gaze lingered, unreadable, as if she was measuring something. Then, she shrugged.

"Let’s see if you can keep up, Arceta."

My jaw tensed slightly.

Oh, it’s on.