Below The Tide (Charity Series #1)

• Thirty Nine •

Betina Tiara

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Dahil sa pagdaan ng mabilis na oras, napagpasyahan namin ni Zen na magpalipas ng gabi rito sa beach house. Inaalala niya kasi ang byahe namin na hanggang ngayon, kahit na ilang beses niya na akong naisakay sa motor niya ay may pangamba pa rin siya-- 'yun ang bagay na gusto kong malaman.

"I usually wouldn't let anyone to ride on my bike because I had a nightmare on my own but... will you put your faith in me?"

Zen led me to a nearby beach with my eyes blindfolded. Sabi niya ay may surpresa raw siya sa akin kahit na unexpected naman ang hindi namin pag-uwi, feeling ko tuloy ay planado niya na hindi talaga kami umuwi.

Hindi ko alam kung saang parte kami nagpunta-- basta naririnig ko lang ang kalmadong alon ng dagat at nararamdaman ang malambot na buhangin sa paa ko.

After a while of walking, Zen had me sit in a soft comforter on the sand.

"Wait a sec, babe." he whispered.

"Anong pakulo 'to, Zen?" natatawang tanong ko sa kabila ng kawalan ko ng paningin.

Pero imbes na sumagot, ang marahang tawa niya lang ang narinig ko.

I could see nothing and heard only his movements and the crash of waves and... a match being lit? What is this guy doing?

Hindi ko na napigilang magtanong muli, "What are you doing?"

"Sshh, it's almost ready..."

Soon, I felt Zen behind my back taking off the blindfold. As I slowly opened my eyes, I now saw him sitting crossed-leg in front of me.

His dark brown eyes were absolutely radiating with feeling, looking right at me, with a smiling warmth.

"Look babe, isn't it beautiful?"

Following his gaze, I saw candle upon candle lighting up this patch of beach like a dreamscape. It was like having little fairies hovering all around Zen and me. Noon ko lang din napansin na nakaupo nga kami sa isang puti at makapal na comforter na may mga kasamang square pillows sa tabi.

I threw my hands over my mouth, unable to believe my eyes.

Honestly I... I find this very sweet and romantic.

"Do you like it?" I heard him asking.

I nodded, "I really do. But when did you prepare all of this?"

"After dinner, when you were having your shower. Isang mabilisang kilos," he proudly chuckled, "To strengthen it to block the wind, I had to dig these little ditches. Hmm... I had a help of other staff so it was finished nice and quickly."

Grabe... such an effort.

Humagod ang puso ko. Sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan kong lungkot at sakit, pananaksil at pag-iwan, heto at may isang taong naghanda ng magandang surpresa sa paningin ko...

Zen... has always been surprising me since day one. He's always making my heart moved.

"B-Babe? Hey, why are you crying?"

Huh? Why was I crying all of a sudden? Aside from feeling moved, what was this inexplicable feeling?

"Babe, please don't cry..." seemingly realizing his words were having no effect, he then took me in his arms.

Habang nakayakap siya sa 'kin, doon ko lang napagtantong basang-basa na pala ang pisngi ko dahil sa luha.

"I honestly didn't thought that this would make you cry, you know I hate seeing you cry, right? But I'd just like to surprise you like this. Aside from bringing you joy, I won't ever make you feel anything bad..." his voice soft with affection.