Cavin held Niana's hand and asked his wife to walk by the shore. They had no idea what time it was and they didn't actually care. They were walking hand and hand, talking about school and work.
Both were careful about asking something personal. Kahit mag-asawa sila, mayroon pa ring boundaries. Pareho nilang binibigyan ng space ang isa't isa at hinahayaang magkusa sa pag-open up.
Alam ni Cavin na mayroong nagbago sa kaniya. He wasn't a good listener nor a comforter. Ayaw niyang nakikinig sa problema ng ibang tao dahil hindi naman niya problema iyon, pero nang pumasok si Niana sa buhay niya, mayroong pagbabago.
One thing changed was holding someone's hand while walking. It became a habit to hide his hands inside the pocket of his pants, but with Niana, walking while holding his wife felt different.
Ramdam ni Niana na unti-unti na siyang nag-o-open up kay Cavin. Mayroong takot, pero gusto niyang subukan. Ayaw niyang itago o lokohin ang sarili. Gusto niyang kausap si Cavin dahil wala siyang naririnig na sagot.
"Isa rin sa gusto ko na kapag nagsasabi ako sa 'yo, wala kang ipinapayo o kahit ano," pag-aamin ni Niana sa asawa. "Hindi ko kailangang mapaisip sa posibleng scenarios base sa sinabi mo. M-Mas gusto kong nakikinig ka lang sa akin."
"I remembered what you told me when my mother was in the hospital." Cavin gazed at Niana and squeezed her hand a little. "Naalala ko 'yung sinabi mo sa akin na hindi ko alam ang totoong sitwasyon, wala ako sa position, at ayaw natin parehong mag-expect."
Tumigil sa paglalakad si Niana at nilingon si Cavin. "Y-You remembered?"
"Small details, baby."
Pumuwesto si Cavin sa likuran ni Niana habang pareho silang nakatingin sa kadiliman ng karagatan. Pumalibot ang braso ni Cavin sa baywang ni Niana at hinalikan ang batok ng asawa at huminga nang malalim.
Naramdaman ni Niana ang pagkakapatong ng baba ni Cavin sa tuktok ng ulo niya. Ganoon siya kaliit at ganoon ito katangkad. Isang rason iyon kung bakit siya nagsusuot ng heels sa office.
Niana was around five feet, three inches, and Cavin was six feet, three inches. There was a twelve-inch difference. She was too short for Cavin, the reason why he could rest his chin on top of her head.
Ganoon kalala.
"Sobrang thankful ako na heels were invented." Niana chuckled. "Kahit man lang napeke ko ang height ko, para naman hindi ako magmukhang patatas kapag katabi kita."
"I like you this cute, baby," Cavin whispered and breathed. "I like you very much, Niña."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Niana habang nakatitig sa kawalan. It was her first time hearing Cavin call her by her nickname. It sounded so nice, but she won't tell him. Gusto pa rin niya ang Niana kaysa Niña.
"Babalik na rin ba tayo bukas ng hapon?" tanong ni Niana kay Cavin. "Hindi ko pa natatapos 'yung ipinagagawa mo sa aking report sa school. Ikaw, ang tamad mo! Ako palagi inuutusan mo sa school works mo."
"You're better at it, love." Cavin chuckled. "I'm not really into that. Mas gusto ko ang practical and on the spot, the reason why I am hiring trainers para makapag-ready ako sa company."
Niana frowned and turned around to face Cavin. "I-Ikaw ang nagha-hire sa kanila?"
"Oo. Akala mo si Dad?" Cavin faintly smiled. "Siya lang ang pinahahanap ko sa trainers, but it was all me. It was actually coming from my own pocket. Tamad ako sa school kasi hindi ko naman magagamit 'yung mga itinuturo nila. Mas gusto kong matuto from professionals."
"Kung ganoon," nagtatakang tinitigan ni Niana ang asawa, "bakit ka pa pumapasok sa school? Kung tutuusin, puwede ka namang mag-homeschool o kaya naman scheduled lang."
