Martini Kisses (epistolary) ✔️

n a r r a t i v e

part 1

It rains a little after they arrive on the island, a slight drizzle that darkens the skies, casting an unmistakable gloom on the sea that doesn't make this any easier. Milly's quiet the entire ride on the sea plane and now in the service car driving them up the hill where the family mansion stands. Below, Villa Fuentabella, the private resort, sits in all its glory, occupying almost the entire island with its casitas and establishments spread around strategically near the shore and between the infinity pools.

There's a family renting the main casita, so they can't see it for now, she said. But they can check the rest of the villas, including the clubhouse, later after the rain stops. Kai wants to tell her that he's not really interested in any of that. It doesn't matter where they will go or what they will see. She doesn't need to play the host because he's here for her. She is the destination and the goal. The rest is just a backdrop.

The service car briefly stops at the iron gates, and a security guard greets them before letting them in.

Kai can't read the look on her face even as she smiles at the house helper who rushes to escort them, umbrella in hand, shielding them from the rain. More staff come out of the mansion to take their luggages.

"Magandang hapon po. Mabuti at nandito na kayo bago pa bumuhos ang ulan," an elderly woman at the door, who he can only surmise as the mayordoma, greets with a pleasant smile.

"Kaya nga po. Has the room been prepared po?" Milly answers in a faint voice. "Sorry for calling in last minute."

"Napalinis at handa na po sa taas. Dalawa lang po kayo? Ang daddy n'yo po?"

At the mention of her dad, her smile falters a bit. "It's just us po. We will be sharing the room."

"Bueno. Ipahahatid ko na po kayo sa master's bedroom."

The same lady staff who escorted them in leads them to the second floor, where most of the guest rooms are. A winding staircase opens to a long hallway littered with paintings and vases. At the far end is a balcony overlooking the infinity pool below it and the shoreline overhead.

"Master's bed room po."

Kai takes the key card from her as the two staff haul their luggage into the room. Milly walks inside wordlessly, heading to the misty glass windows. Outside, the rain continues its assault.

Kai thanks the staff and locks the door. He arranges their luggages neatly at the side and pads closer to Milly.

The wind picks up speed, whistling through as the downpour gets stronger, blanketing the shore in somber grey. A sense of deja vu hits him out of nowhere.

They've been here before. A different time, a different place, in a completely different situation.

Last time they were like this, the two of them were two lines finally converging on each other.

Now he can't shake off the feeling that they're drifting apart. That she's going to a place he can't reach anymore and-

No.

Hindi.

He's not losing her.

Even if it feels like she's slipping right through his fingertips even now, even when they're together like this.

Kai embraces her from behind as if that can anchor her back to him. He doesn't know where she's going every time she's withdrawing to herself like this. Doesn't know where her thoughts are running off to, doesn't know what kind of thoughts she's having.

"What are you thinking?" he asks, pressing his cheek to the side of her head.

Milly sighs and murmurs, "Do you see that? Even the skies are grieving his loss. Because we have one less good person in the world."