Pink Skies

xxxi

"Doon," turo niyang muli. Napahawak ako sa kanyang polo habang lito kung uunahin ko bang titignan ang tinuturo niya o yung kamay niya ngayon na nakahawak sa akin.

"N-Ngayon na?"

"If you want," he softly said. Para akong hinehele sa boses niya samahan pa ng preskong hangin at ng magandang paligid.

"Magluluto ka?"

Pareho kaming bahagyang nagulat sa tanong ko. He's busy! May trabaho siya kaya bakit ko siya aabalahing ipagluto ako. My gosh, Ziana Rose! His brows furrowed and he looks like he's considering what I just said.

"Kung gusto mo. I can cook for us."

Nahiya ako at paniguradong pinamulahan. I shook my head then pulled away from him. His expression changed from amused to wondering while watching me step back.

"A-Ayos lang.. kahit ano na lang. You don't have to cook."

Sinamahan niya ako pabalik ng mansyon. The housemaids looks surprised seeing him kaya agad silang nagsilapit. Fire only raised his hand at di na tumuloy ang mga kasambahay. He told me to wait in my room at tatawagin na lang ako after an hour. I wondered if he's really going to cook.

"Saan daw po ang punta niyo Miss Ziana?" tanong ng kasambahay na inalalayan ako paakyat ng hagdan. She's still with me until I reach my room.

"Just.. around here sa rancho," sagot ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talagang sasabihin ko dahil hindi ko naman nakita ng maayos ang tinuro ni Fire kanina.

I decided to change my dress at maghilamos na rin. Mabuti pala kanina ay naglinis ako ng mukha bago lumabas! I wore a layered pink chiffon floral dress and a strappy sandals. Hindi ko na hinintay pang tawagin ako para bumaba, lumabas na agad ako ng kwarto.

Pagkasarado ko ng pinto ay narinig ko rin ang pagkasara ng kay Fire. Our eyes met. Agad kong napuna na naligo siya at nagpalit ng damit. His hair is still damp at amoy na amoy ang panlalake niyang pabango. When we reached the stairs, nag-aalangan niyang nilahad ang kanyang kamay. Something tug my heart when  I saw the look on his face.

All this time, he's trying to protect me and give me what I want kahit na hindi niya naman iyon obligasyon. As my wounds heal, I think my heart also does. He had broken my heart years ago but he saved me from death. It made me realize that I have been judging him all this time. Iba na ang Fire na kasama ko ngayon, still he got those characteristics of his younger self but he matured, physically and mentally.

Hindi ko binawi ang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak niya though the moment we stepped outside their mansion, he loosened his hold. It was like he's testing if I will pull away but I didn't and he held it carefully like I'm a fragile glass or what. Sa kabilang kamay niya ay may dala siyang basket at may mat sa ibabaw. Are we going to have a picnic?

"Here.." sabi niya.

In front of us are beds of white daisies under the morning sun. Hindi naman sobrang init. There's the soft touch of warmth from the sun and the fresh blow of the wind. May mga paru-paru pa sa paligid and the fragrance of the flowers and the man beside me engulfed my senses.

Fire reluctantly freed my hand to arrange the mat on the grass. Pinanood ko siya habang ginagawa niya iyon. I giggled when two butterflies went to him at ang isa ay dumapo sa kanyang balikat, hindi niya ito napansin. Lumapit ako nang nakitang ayos na at naupo sa tabi niya. He looks shocked to see me that close to him. His gaze followed my hand nang inangat ko ito papunta sa kanyang balikat. Gusto ko sanang hawakan ang paru-paro but it flew before I can even touch it.

"Sayang.."

He cleared his throat at nilahad ang laman ng basket. Napatingin din ako roon.

"Ikaw nagluto?" tanong ko.