"Hindi ka ba giniginaw?" Sumandal si Cavin sa railing ng balcony at tumabi kay Niana. "It's almost midnight. Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?"
Nakapatong ang dalawang siko ni Niana sa nasabing railing habang nakaharap sa tahimik at madilim na karagatan dahil iyon ang view sa room na iniregalo sa kanila ng parents ni Cavin.
"Hindi pa naman, ikaw ba? Buti rin pala, na-convince mo ang parents mo na sasabay na tayo ng uwi bukas." Dumiretso ng tayo si Niana at tumabi kay Cavin. "Nanonood ka ba ng horror?"
Cavin gazed at Niana. "Why? Do you have something in mind?" he muttered.
"Wala akong balak matulog, e. Kapag pagod kasi ako physically, mas madalas na active ang utak ko. Mas gusto kong nanonood ng movie kapag ganoon," Niana answered. "Kung inaantok ka na, hihinaan ko na lang ang TV."
"No, let's watch," Cavin suggested. "Mag-shower lang ako. How about you? Do you want me to prepare the tub? Like, mauuna na akong mag-shower while the tub is filling up?"
Tumango si Niana at muling tumalikod para pagmasdan ang kadiliman ng lugar.
Kahit kailan, hindi naisip ni Niana na maikakasal siya sa ganoong kagandang lugar. She was dreaming of a nice beach wedding, but not as fancy as what just happened. Walang tao bukod sa mga staff at mga bisita. It was private and serene but was also suffocating.
Inikot ni Niana ang dalawang singsing na suot gamit ang hinlalaki. Wala naman siyang masabi kay Cavin dahil sa mga pagkakataong magkasama sila, maayos naman ang pakikitungo sa kaniya.
Isa pa, wala rin namang dapat ibang sisihin pa sa sitwasyon nila.
Alam ni Niana sa sarili na hindi siya pinilit ni Cavin.
She didn't even think about the deal. Oo, mayroong pag-aalinlangan, pero mas nanaig sa kaniya na mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang magulang niya.
Ang pangarap nila, noon pa man.
Niana was aware that it was almost midnight, but she left the room and took the elevator going down to the lobby. Parang bigla siyang nagutom at naalala na mayroon siyang nakitang vendo machine sa isang parte ng waiting area ng resort.
Habang nakaharap sa vendo machine, nakatitig si Niana sa chips and chocolates, pero hindi makapili ng kakainin. Hindi alam ni Niana kung gusto ba niya ng something sweet, something spicy, or why not something salty.
Naramdaman din niya ang pangangasim ng sikmura nang makita ang wedding ring na suot.
It was real and Niana still couldn't grasp the thought that she was already married. She was still even wearing her wedding gown!
"Nakapili ka na?"
Nilingon ni Niana ang pamilyar na boses. It was Cavin wearing a simple, white T-shirt, black gray pants, and the room slippers provided by the hotel. Nakapasok ang dalawang kamay nito sa bulsa ng pants.
"Your tub is ready." Mababa ang boses ni Cavin at nakapamulsang lumapit sa kaniya. "Let's go so you could watch that horror movie."
Nanginginig ang kamay ni Niana habang kinukuha ang chips na bumagsak, pero nagbagsakan lahat ng hawak niya dahil parang ang bigat-bigat lang ng lahat. Parang bigla niyang naramdaman ang bigat ng kasalanan nila ni Cavin.
Niana was tapping her chest as she tried to hide the tears from Cavin until she felt him slowly lift her in a bridal style and all she could do was to encircle her arms around her husband's neck.
She could smell Cavin's neck—who wasn't wearing any perfume. It was a subtle smell of minty shampoo mixed with a bath soap she couldn't explain, but it was comforting.
