Love Lingers: Hearts Collide

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Midnight Craving

It was the middle of the night and Marty couldn't seem to sleep. Sana talaga hindi na siya nanood ng cooking show kanina habang nagpapaantok.

All she could think about was the grilled nectarine with burrata, mint, and honey. It looked really good and she couldn't help but wonder how it tastes like. She knew nectarine was similar to peaches, she knew how honey and mint and burrata tastes on their own but with all of those things tied up together? It's surely an explosion of flavors in her mouth, and she wants it now.

But it was already past midnight so she decided to go back to sleep. However, replays of the chef preparing the nectarine and burrata played in her mind like a broken montage and she couldn't help herself from salivating because it looked really good and appetizing especially with a generous amount of honey drizzled on top.

She pressed her lips together when she felt them quivering on the corners. Humigpit din ang yakap niya kay Ambee. But the image of the nectarine was still there . . . she could picture out the charred and caramelized parts, it's surely sweet and tangy but what if it's paired with cheese and some honey on top?

Napasinghap siya't wala sa sariling napabangon. She stood up to get some water from the nightstand thinking it would help ease her cravings but the image of the fruit was lingering on her mind.

Napaupo na lang din siya pabalik sa kama saka maya't mayang napapalingon kay Harley na mahimbing na ring natutulog.

She doesn't want to wake him up, he's already sleeping soundly, she shouldn't wake him up . . . but she couldn't help the replays in her mind and how good it seems on the screen.

Marty lightly poked on his arm. "Bee."

Kaso hindi naman nagising si Harley kaya inulit niya. "Bee," she called, sounding a little frustrated this time.

"Bee, gising ka please." She poked on his arm again but it wasn't working.

"Harley, may gusto kami ni beebie." She sniffed. Hindi pa rin nagigising si Harley kaya humiga na lang siya para bumalik sa tulog.

Marty rolled over with a heavy roll of breathing coming out from her lips.

Umusog siya't nagsumiksik kay Harley. She even draped his arm around her so she could bury her face in his chest.

Marty heaved deep breaths. She waited a minute . . . two . . . and three, but the image of the nectarine was still in her mind. The camera angle wasn't helping either when it zoomed in on the honey drizzle.

She swallowed, almost tasting it in her mouth and it seems as if the scent was also lingering around their hotel room.

Her forehead creased when she felt her stomach rumble, her cheeks were also turning warm. Marty pressed her lips together so she could hold it in but a tiny sniffle worked against her favor. 

Marty tried to contain her craving and frustration and tears and sniffles, but she hadn't noticed her shoulders shaking when he groaned. She hitched her breath to muffle her cries, afraid that she woke him up.

"Bee?" he called for her in a hoarse voice.

"Hmm?"

"Okay ka lang ba?"

"Oo," she answered.

"Talaga? Akala ko umiiyak ka kanina kasi parang may umaalog."

She sniffed. "Hindi. Okay lang ako." But her voice eventually wavered on the last word.

"Bee?"

"Sige na, matulog ka na ulit."

But Harley pulled himself up, opening the night light beside him, making her squint from its sudden brightness.