"Are you done?"- tanong ko sa asawa ko pagkapanhik ko sa taas. Galing kasi ako sa labas at nag ayos ng mga dadalhin namin.
She's sitting in front of the mirror and busy doing something on her face.
"We're just going to sail. Don't bother making yourself beautiful because you already are."
"Tsk, I just want to look good when we take pictures together."
Humalukipkip ako at naupo sa edge ng kama habang nakatitig pa din sa kanya.
"Mag pipicture pa?"
Her brows furrowed, and she looked at me through the mirror.
"Of course. Memories din yon."
Tumango nalang ako at tinignan ang wristwatch ko. Akala ko naman pagbalik ko dito tapos na sya kasi ilang minuto din ang tinagal ko sa baba para maihanda yung dadalhin namin pagkain. Chineck ko pa yung speed boat sa labas at pinaandar para masigurong walang problema kahit alam kong bago iyon.
I watched her through my lashes and unconsciously swallowed my saliva when she stood up to fully check her appearance in front of the full-body-sized mirror beside her.
She's wearing this long pink satin dress that hugged her curves, and there's a slit on both sides. Her shoulder blades were being shown as well, and her silky and smooth-looking hair was just hanging behind her back.
Masyado syang maganda at nakakaakit lalo na nung nag spray sya ng pabango.
Tumayo ako at nagpamulsa. Unlike Unlike her, I'm wearing my white open polo shirt with a black tube inside, paired with a denim knee-length short and a Prada slipper.
"Do I look good?"- she asked, facing me with a bright smile on her lips.
"Yeah. Parang ayaw ko na tuloy umalis."
"And why is that?" she asked, confused.
Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang magkabila nyang balikat. Muli ko syang hinarap sa salamin at niyakap ang bewang nya. Hinalikan ko ang balikat nya at tumungo duon.
"You look ravishing."- pag amin ko.
Ang kaninang tense nyang katawan ay biglang kumalma. Narinig ko din ang pagtawa nya at paghaplos sa braso ko na nasa bewang nya.
"Kakagaling ko lang, ikaw talaga.."- biro nya at may inabot.
"What are you doing?"- I asked, still bowing down on her shoulder.
"Taking a mirror shot of this moment."
Hindi ako nag angat ng tingin pero rinig ko ang pag click nya sa camera. She nudges me and makes me look at the screen of her phone.
The photo was shot perfectly. Mukha kaming couple na mostly makikita lang sa Pinterest.
"Ang ganda mo. Gusto ko nalang dito tayo. Naaakit ako.."- mahinang usal ko at hinalikan ang leeg nya pero umiwas lang sya habang natatawa.
"Calm down, Claire. We have a sea date today, remember?"
Huminga ako ng malalim at kumalas sa kanya matapos kong tumitig sa maganda nyang mukha at nangungusap nyang mga mata.
"Sorry. Tara na?"
Hinawakan ko ang kamay nya at sabay na kaming lumabas ng kwarto.
(A/N: Play the media if you want)
She requested this kind of date. She said she wanted to sail around the island with me using her speed boat, and I agreed.
After locking the whole house, we went to the seaside and carefully went inside the speed boat. I saw her glance at the side where the wine and the food were placed.
Nasa food basket iyon pero chineck pa din nya. Akala yata nya makakalimutin ako pero nailagay ko naman lahat ng food duon.
I turned on the engine and told her to sit down because we were about to leave, and she obliged instantly with a wide smile on her lips.
Kanina pa sya nakangiti. Napailing nalang ako kasi alam ko naman kung bakit. Napapayag kasi nya ako kahit alam nyang ayaw ko talaga na pumapalaot.
I'm afraid of waves and what's unknown under the sea. Mas gusto ko pang lumipad nalang.
"Are you sure you can really drive this one?"
I smirked, "Just sit back and relax."
Habang nag mamaneho ng speed boat ay tinignan ko sya at nakatitig din pala sya sakin habang hawak ang phone nya.
"Baby, just enjoy the view."- suway ko sa kanya dahil nahihiya talaga akong magpa picture.
I may have the looks, but I'm not really a fan of flexing my face anywhere. I'm camera shy because I grew up like that.
"I can't help it. You're my best view, baby."-she replied without even blinking and put down her phone.
I tighten my grip on the wheel and ignore the heat spreading across my face. I heard her mischievous laugh, and as I glanced back at her, I almost forgot how to breathe properly. My heart beat erratically as I watched her from the side.
She's smiling like an angel, and her hair is being blown by the wind while I'm driving across the sea. My eyes slowly traveled down her face to her lips, where she was smiling genuinely.
She's really happy, huh?
"I want to go up there."- she said, which surprised me. She's pointing at the port side.
"It's dangerous, mamaya na kapag tumigil tayo."
"I won't fall, Claire,"- she assured me, but I didn't let her.
Hinigit ko nalang sya sa tabi ko at pinatayo sa harapan ko. Pumwesto ako sa likuran nya at humawak sa bewang nya.
"We'll go there later, for now ikaw muna mag drive, hmm?"- bulong ko sa kanya.
"But I..."
"Just relax. I'm here, I'll guide you."- I said, letting her maneuver the speed boat to the destination she wanted to go.
Malayo na kami sa isla at literal na nag iikot at nagmamasid sa magagandang view na nakikita namin sa paligid. There are rock formation na natatanaw namin sa ibang banda pero hindi kami nag stop at tama lang na tinignan iyon dahil hindi naman ako papayag na umakyat sya duon. Baka masugatan pa sya.
Narinig ko ang pagsinghap nya dahil sa medyo malakas na alon ng tubig kaya hindi ko napigilan matawa sa reaksyon nya. Halata kasing natakot sya e.
"This is enough."- sukong sabi nya at huminto na ng tuluyan.
Humarap sya sakin at nabigla ako ng siilin nya ako ng halik. Pero hindi pa ako nakaka halik pabalik ay bumitaw na sya.
"Let's go na dun!"- she said and put on her hat.
I chuckled as I watched her go there. I followed her, bringing the food with me. Nagpipicture pa sya dun paglapit ko kaya naman mabilis kong nilapag yung hawak ko para lapitan sya. I'm just worried. Baka malaglag kasi sya. Kung makasandal kasi sa bakal parang 100% sure sya na hindi sya mahuhulog sa tubig.
"Let's take a picture together."
Pinagbigyan ko nalang sya sa gusto nya para hindi magtampo at pagkatapos niyon ay kumain na kami at uminom.
"Hindi ka ba naiinitan?"- tanong ko habang nagliligpit. "I mean, yung balat mo."
She chuckled, "Don't worry, baby. I already applied sunblock on me kanina sa bahay."
"Okay"
Bumalik kami sa cockpit pero nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil dumiretso sya sa platform at sinimulan hubadin ang dress nyang suot.
Nag iwas ako ng tingin at narinig ko nalang ang pag bagsak nya sa tubig. Bumuga ako ng hangin at lumapit duon para ayusin yung dress nya, inaantay ko ang pag ahon nya pero ilang minuto na ay hindi ko pa sya nakikita.
Nagsimula akong kabahan pero yung mga binti ko ay ayaw kumilos para tumalon din.
"Addison?!"- I called and shut my eyes tight while shaking my head to disregard the unpleasant thoughts running through my mind.
I cursed when she still didn't show up. I take off my clothes and let myself be submerged in the deep water to look for her.
Binalot kaagad ako ng lamig at halos panawan ako ng ulirat dahil paglubog ko ay ang dilim ng nakita ko. Maliwanag lang sa surface pero kapag tumitig ka sa ilalim madilim na.
"Addison!"- I exclaimed again until I felt a pair of arms wrapping around my waist, followed by a warm body pressing on my back.
Humarap ako sa kanya at niyakap sya ng mahigpit.
"Don't do that. Tinakot mo ako!"- singhal ko sa kanya.
"Tinry ko lang naman kung kaya ko pa din tumagal sa ilalim ng tubig."
"You should have informed me! I hate you!"
Tinulak ko sya ng bahagya pero ngumiti lang sya ng magaan sa akin.
"I know you're afraid, Claire. But look at you now; you're here in this deep water with me. Risking your life to save me from an imaginary death."
Kahit ako din e hindi makapaniwala na nakatalon ako kahit nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko kanina.
"So it's a test?"
She hummed and smiled sweetly.
Muli syang lumapit sa akin at pinalibot sa leeg ko ang mga braso nya hindi pa sya nakuntento at pati legs nya ay inangkla na din nya sa bewang ko. Muntik tuloy kaming lumubog mabuti nalang naagapan ko kaya natawa sya.
"Relax, no one's going to hurt you here."- she whispered while tracing my face.
"Ikaw ang masasaktan ko kapag hindi mo tinigil yan."- nagtitimping sabi ko habang hawak ang bewang nya.
"Hmm, sounds good."
"Addison!"
Her laugh resonated in the air, and trust me, she's really a beauty.
Yumakap sya sakin at dinantay sa balikat ko ang ulo nya. Nilalamig ako pero yung init na nagmumula sa katawan nya ay nakakatulong kahit papano na hindi ako manginig ng tuluyan.
"Masaya ako na ikaw ang kasama ko, Claire. I hope this won't be the first and last time we're going to sail together."
"I'm your wife. I'll always be with you."- I replied, caressing her back.
She pulled back and stared at me. I don't know what's behind her eyes, but by the look she's giving me, I know she's emotional right now, and I don't know why.
"What's wrong?"- kunot noo na tanong ko. "Tinamaan ka ba sa wine kanina?"
"No, I'm just too happy. Natatakot tuloy ako na baka hanggang dito lang to."
"What do you mean? We can still make happy memories in the city."
"I know, but here is different. Aminin mo man o hindi alam kong mas gusto mo din na tayo lang dalawa, walang iba."
I licked my lower lip, and I saw how her eyes followed my tongue. The movement of her throat didn't escape my eyes. She started drawing circles on my nape, and it's slowly turning me on when she slightly pulls a fistful of my hair.
"You don't want to go back?"- I asked lowly.
"I want to stay here for good. Walang stress dito."
"You're right. But why?"- medyo umabante ako palapit sa platform at hindi naman nya iyon napansin.
Hindi sya umimik at nilapit lang ang mukha nya sakin. Sa unang dampi ng labi nya ay nakamulat lang ako pero pumikit din ako kalaunan ng magsimula syang igalaw ang malambot nyang labi.
Humigpit ang kapit ko sa bewang nya at sinabayan ang bawat paghagod ng labi nya. Mabagal sa umpisa hanggang sa medyo bumibilis tapos babagal ulit na parang inaakit namin ang isat isa.
"I love you.."- she whispered while leaning her forehead on mine and slightly gripping my hair.
I pulled her up until she was sitting on the platform, and I followed. Now we're both dripping wet while sitting beside each other and letting the water touch our feet.
Inabot ko ang polo shirt ko at pinatong sa balikat nya at hinaplos ang pisnge nya.
"I love you, and I assure you that nothing will change between us even if we go back to the city."- I said seriously.
Hinayaan ko syang isandal ang ulo sa balikat ko at pinagsiklop nya ang mga kamay namin habang nakatanaw kaming dalawa sa karagatan.
I want to stay here too. I want to live a quiet life with her, but I know we need to go back to settle things we left in the city.
**************
Alas onse y media na ngunit naalimpungatan ako dahil nakapa ko na walang tao sa tabi ko. Umusod ako at binuhay ang lampshade at saka ako lumingon sa paligid ng kwarto para tignan kung na saan sya.
"The heck!"- I was surprised when I saw a silhouette standing in front of the open door.
Kinusot ko ang mga mata ko at inaninag iyon. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng umabante ito at nasilayan ng liwanag.
"Bakit nandyan ka sa labas?"- tanong ko sa kanya at naupo. Sinuklay ko din ang buhok ko at tinignan ulit sya.
She was just standing near the bed without tearing her gaze away from me.
"Addison, anong problema?"- malumanay na tanong ko at sinalubong ang tingin nya.
She looks so serious, and her quietness is sending shivers down my spine. She moved and raised her hand, which was holding a phone.
"Mom called."- tipid nyang sabi.
"At this hour? Ano daw sabi?"
Sinundan ko sya ng tingin ng kumilos sya at nilapag sa bed side table ang phone nya pagkatapos ay naupo sa kama.
"We need to go back."
My brows furrowed, "But we still have a week left to stay here."
She comb her hair and sigh in defeat. "Yeah. It's funny na kanina lang nag uusap tayo about sa pag uwi pero eto kailangan na talaga natin umuwi."
"Why?"
"Si d-dad kasi.."
Biglang nag crack ang boses nya pagkasabi nya ng dad kaya naman umusod kaagad ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap sya. Sumiksik sya sakin at humikbi ng mahina.
"I didn't know he was sick,"- she said, gripping my shirt. "Mom said, he collapsed."
"I hope it's not that severe."
"It's my fault that he's under a lot of stress nowadays."
"Hey, it's not your fault, okay?"
"It is. If I didn't break free——"
I gently cupped her face while shaking my head.
"Don't blame yourself, baby. What happened is something you cannot control. Let's just hope for the better, hmm?"
She sobbed but still nodded her head in understanding before hugging me again.
I hushed her down until she was okay. I asked her if she wanted to drink water, but she declined and went in the bathroom instead to wash her face.
After a minute, she goes back in bed and lays her head down on top of my chest. I kiss her head and whisper things that somehow make her feel okay.
I was left in deep thought when I felt that she had fallen asleep. It pains me to see her crying, and looking back, I realized that her father told me to make her daughter the happiest. Is it because he has health issues that he agreed right away when Addison told them she wanted to marry me because he wanted to witness that thing while he still could?
My own what-ifs were drowning me in the depths, making me unable to sleep comfortably the whole night.
I'm not close to Tito Alex, but I know he's a good man, and he loved my wife dearly. I hope he's not dying, because I can't bear to see my wife lose her smile because of it.