Kissing the Agony (Agony Series #1)

Chapter 17: Softness in the Firelight

Maaga akong nagising dahil ang usapan namin ni Cyrus kagabi bago kami magtungo sa kanya kanya naming villa ay ala sais y media ipapahanda ang breakfast namin. Hindi na rin naman ako nagreklamo pa, dahil medyo pagod na rin naman talaga ako no'n.

Halos maghapon kaming naglangoy nang naglangoy kaya pagod ang buong katawan ko. Noong hapon na nasa beach kami ay nag swimming lang kami ulit, at kumuha ng mga litrato ng isa't isa.

We also took selfies on his phone. In all of those pictures, he was the one holding the camera and his other hand on my waist, never leaving it until he's satisfied with our photos together.

Sometimes he'd pull me closer, just slightly, as if to frame the shot better, but his fingers lingered a little too long. In one photo, my head tilted toward his shoulder without thinking. In another, his cheek brushed mine, and he didn't move away.

We smiled. We laughed. And once, caught mid-laugh, he looked at me instead of the camera... like he forgot what he was doing.

He didn't say much, but when I glanced at him between shots, there was softness in his eyes I didn't dare name.

I can't help but notice that we complimented each other's visuals so... well. My warm skin tone was inherited... effortless, passed down through blood. His was earned. The sun had kissed his skin through years of training, drills, and long days in the field. His tan wasn't just color, it was proof of the life he chose.

Afterwards, we dined in one of the beach resort's restaurants and he ordered Italian food, as I requested. Pizza, pasta, and wine. We talked about the activities we are going to do the following day.

We went to our villas an hour after our dinner. Aniya'y magpahinga na raw kami ng maaga para maganda ang at maaliwalas ang gising kinabukasan, na sinang-ayunan ko naman. I feel groggy when I am deprived of sleep so I really didn't mind that we slept early.

Our breakfast was served—pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and coffee, on the balcony of my villa. It was something I specifically asked for. I had been dreaming of a slow morning like this... breakfast with a view of the beach, no rush, just quiet. And now that it was here, it was even more breathtaking than I imagined.

The sky was a soft wash of pastels, pale pinks melting into sleepy blues. The waves were calm, lazily kissing the shore, and the sand looked untouched, like the day hadn't fully woken up yet. There was a hush in the air, the kind that made everything feel sacred. A few fishing boats floated in the distance, rocking gently like they were still dreaming too.

"Antok ka pa noh? You're not a morning person?" I asked Cyrus when I noticed his sleepy eyes.

Why is he still sleepy when we slept earlier than usual? I started getting annoyed with the thought that he sneaked out last night to flirt with someone in a bar near the beach resort.

Is that the reason why he suggested for us to sleep early? So he could go and have fun while I sleep soundly in my own villa?

I sliced through my pancake and bit a piece. I looked at Cyrus who's now putting some bacon and pancakes on his plate.

He shrugged. "Only when breakfast looks this good," he said as he glanced at me and not on the fucking bacon on his plate.

I rolled my eyes at him and pouted, trying to hide my smile.

Anong nginingiti ngiti mo, Rhian?

He must notice my suppressed smile because when I glanced at him again, he was stifling a smile, too.

Ang gwapo gwapo, nakakainis.

He looked so laid back in his white linen polo and linen khaki pants. Meanwhile, I look so chic in my hot pink bikini top, paired with a white, see-through maxi skirt. My full pearl set tied the whole look together, adding just the right touch of beachy elegance—just the way I liked it.