Dying Embers

Chapter Seventy-Four

Chapter Seventy-Four: The Embers Finally Burned

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ko, my gaze drifting toward him.

We were finally seated inside his car. The soft hum of the engine filled the silence, and his hands rested steadily on the wheel. Naka-focus siya sa road but every now and then, I'd catch him stealing quick glances at me, each one paired with a small, almost shy smile that did something strange to my chest.

"Basta," he said, his tone light, pero may halong misteryo, like he knew something I didn't.

Umayos ako ng upo, resting my head against the seat as the city lights blurred past the windows. Hindi ko kabisado ang daan, and with every turn he took, my curiosity tightened into something warm and unsettling. I wanted to ask, but something in his calmness made me trust the moment.

Then, slowly, he began to slow down, guiding the car into a spot beside a place that made my breath hitch.

A restaurant. Pero hindi 'yong ordinary type, you couldn't pass by without noticing it. It was the kind that people posted about online, the kind na na-feature pa sa magazine months ago. I didn't remember every detail, but I knew enough to recognize it the moment I saw the warm golden lights spilling out from its windows.

"Kakain tayo rito?" I asked softly when he finally parked.

He turned to me, eyes gleaming with that playful spark. "It's more than that," he said with a quick wink.

Before I could say anything, bumaba na siya and walked around the car, opening my door with an ease that made my heart flutter against my ribs. I managed a small smile as I stepped out, kahit ramdam kong may init na nanginginig sa loob ko, crawling up to my cheeks.

"Ang ganda ganda mo," he murmured, barely above a whisper, like it was meant for me alone, like it was a secret he couldn't keep any longer. His eyes held something soft, something unguarded.

Napairap ako, trying to hide the sudden rush in my chest. "Ngayon mo lang napansin?"

"Of course not," he answered, lips curving into that familiar half-smile that always, always, made me forget how to breathe properly.

"Sus," I muttered, though the warmth on my face gave me away.

He laughed softly, that carefree sound that never failed to disarm me. "Tara?"

I nodded, ready to move, but he surprised me again. He reached out for my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine like he'd been doing it for years.

Napasinghap ako, caught off guard by the electricity of that touch. My pulse stumbled, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I let my fingers curl back around his, letting the warmth settle between us.

And just like that, magkahawak-kamay kaming pumasok sa loob ng restaurant, as if the world outside had paused just long enough for us to breathe in this moment.

Pagpasok pa lang namin, parang huminto sandali ang mundo. The place felt warm and alive, high ceilings na parang hinihimas ng liwanag, warm lights na kasing-lambing ng mga bituing nakasabit sa kisame, and soft music that wrapped around the room like an embrace. Hindi siya intimidating. Hindi siya sobra. It was elegant, intimate, parang bawat sulok ay may sariling kwento na matagal nang naghihintay na mabasa.

Naramdaman ko ang dahan-dahang paggalaw ng hinlalaki niya sa kamay kong hawak niya, tracing small circles that made my heart trip over itself.

"Do you like it?" tanong niya, eyes focused on me instead of the room.

"Of course," bulong ko, halos hindi ko marinig sarili ko. "Chance... this place... it's beautiful."

Ngumiti siya, pero iba. Soft, almost shy, like he was carrying something he couldn't say yet. Hinaplos niya sandali ang balikat ko. "Wait here for a moment, okay?"