Warmth of a Lover

Seven

From for away, my curious eyes were looking all over the visible island. Hearing my Aunt erupting into fits of laughter on the inside of the yacht-like boat made me smile.

Unexpected things kept on happening these days, people around me seemed more adept and alert than usual.

I squinted at the view, somewhere deep within me, a voice was whispering about the keen familiarity of what I was seeing. Maybe I saw this in my dream but the shore and the evergreen trees were vaguely ringing in my head. 

I experienced interesting days and now that the launch was over, I found myself here almost near to an island which I thought was never going to happen. Nonetheless, things for sure were bound to become exciting.

I totally left all of my work in Manila and I had no plans on receiving any calls because, for the longest time, this trip was what I actually deserved and needed. 

"We're here!" was the first thing I heard after seeing Aunt Francheska bolt to the edge and she jumped immediately to the shore waters. 

"Francheska! Be careful darling," Ivan followed her worriedly. 

"Come here now, Ivan. This is the island that I so always wanted to go to."

She leaped into the sea without warning and swam around, grinning under the heat of the sun. Her hair stayed stuck and soaked to her skin, her smile as glinting as the rays of the bright day.

It was lovely to see Aunt Francheska appearing so bubbly and happy. A rare sight to see since she was that calm and collected lady in the eyes of others. But to me, she was silly and cute. 

Unsurprisingly, my Aunt was much too cheerful considering that she was in her forties. I mean I do understand that she needed this trip as much as I did. Plus, both she and Ivan were finally settling down together. Now isn't that just sweet?

"Welcome to Carmina Island!" 

We received huge garlands made with real fragrant flowers. In varied yellow, blue, pink, orange, purple, and white, it looked pretty when placed on our necks.

The few people who probably served as staff waited for our arrival and upon setting eyes upon us walking towards them, my Aunt Francheska received the prettiest flower crown and I, wore the decent one which I liked because it was simple. 

I proudly placed it on my head, feeling like I've become a giddy teenager back in a dream of conquering the world and just feeling the emotions.

The flowers were beautiful but with the garland and the flower crown, I pictured myself looking like a well-grown branch of a tree or a plant with lanky limbs. Ironic. Not a princess in a land of a flowered kingdom. 

Azur appeared next to me. "While we're here, maybe we should let ourselves free from the masks we wear too often." 

"What?"

"Don't we all wear different masks every day? Appear happy even when we're sad? Appear okay when we're not?" he said with pursed lips. 

"Do we really wear masks?"

"Yes, we do, to get through the day. Funny, isn't it?"

I grunted softly. "I guess you can see me without all the burden. The carefree and unfiltered Amber Jade, no mask, and no pretending."

"That would be interesting. Would you mind letting me sit in the front so I could witness it firsthand?" Azur retorted kidding around.

"I'll think about it. But, don't ever forget that you still owe me."