Illicit Love

Wakas

Looking out at the sun as it dipped below the shimmering orange waters, I felt a familiar sense of calm. There's a unique kind of peace that Siapar Island offers, especially after a long, draining day. I couldn't help but marvel at the view; it was exactly what I needed to recharge.

"A penny for your thoughts?" My wife's voice broke the silence from behind, her presence grounding me back to reality.

A sense of peace washed over me as her warm hands found their way around my waist. Even so, my heart began to thrum with that same old excitement she always inspires. No one else affects me quite like this; she has a way of undoing my composure that is entirely her own. She really is the exception to everything.

It has been years since we married, yet the reality that my long-time crush is now my wife still feels like a dream. Those early memories remain etched in my mind with striking clarity—especially the day Ate Ana introduced her to our family. She was a mere seven-year-old child back then, and I was only ten. I closed my eyes, savoring her warmth as she leaned against me, while the cool sea breeze swept over us here on our balcony.

One morning, I was walking along the pathway of our home when I noticed a girl in the distance standing with Ate Ana, one of our household staff. Because the walls of our living room are made of glass, the outside world is always in clear view. The girl appeared shy, yet there was an undeniable charm about her. What truly arrested my attention, however, were her eyes. They possessed such a profound innocence that it felt easy to lose oneself in her gaze. In that moment, I found myself wishing I could preserve that gaze, keeping its light tucked away forever.

Her hands were curled firmly into the fabric of Ate Anna's shirt as she scanned her surroundings. I watched her intently, my head tilted in curiosity, studying the subtle nuances of her body language. The moment her eyes swept toward me, my pulse quickened into a frantic rhythm. I held my breath, wondering if I was visible or if the thick darkness shrouding me was enough to keep me hidden from her sight.

I felt a desperate urge to go over and ask her name. Something deep inside was pulling me toward her, urging me to just say hello, yet I remained paralyzed. My parents strictly forbade us from playing with the neighborhood children; they expected us to stay indoors, tethered to our studies.

I finally tore my gaze away when I heard my mother's voice behind me. My heart hammered against my ribs at the sound of her stern tone. She has always been incredibly strict with us, and that authority still leaves me shaken.

"Solanna, why are you still here and not in the study room? Isn't this the time you're scheduled to be studying?"

"A-Ah... I'm on my way, Mom," I said in a hushed tone, my voice trailing off.

She was just about to speak when we were interrupted by the sound of Ate Ana calling out for my mother.

"Ma'am Claudiana!"

I hurried toward the study, but before stepping inside, I paused to look back at Mommy. There she stood... My heart skipped a beat when I saw the way her eyes glowed with pure amazement. I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to move as my entire focus narrowed onto her face. With her striking, close-set eyes, she looked absolutely breathtaking.

Back then, I couldn't put a name to the emotions I was experiencing. I dismissed it as a simple desire for a sister, a natural side effect of being surrounded only by brothers. However, as time passed and she never reappeared, that "wanting" turned into a constant craving for her presence. I was too shy to ever ask Ate Ana who she was.

I made a habit of waiting every time Ate Ana came back from her break, scanning the doorway just in case she had brought her along. Years drifted by without a sign of her, and I was on the verge of giving up hope. But then, destiny decided to step in. Against all odds, I was given a second chance to cross paths with her.