Illicit Love

Kabanata 39

"Let's go back."

Nauna na siyang maglakad palabas. Napanguso ako habang naglalakad pasunod sa likod niya. Simula nang lumabas kami ng washroom, hindi niya na ako muling inimikan. Hindi na namin nakita sila Bridgette sa table pagdating namin.

"Umalis na sila Bridgette," nakangising sabi ni Beatrice nang makaupo kami ni Solanna. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil hindi naman namin tinatanong. Kanina ko pa nararamdaman ang mapang-asar niyang mga ngiti.

"Hindi ko naman tinatanong, Beatrice. I don't care if she left or not—"

"Beatrice was just mentioning it... Thought you might be looking for her," Solanna said, her eyebrow arched in a subtle challenge. She held my gaze for a beat too long, her eyes searching mine as if trying to decipher a hidden thought. "I hate to even ask this, Zariah, but who is more beautiful, me or Bridgette? Who knows... perhaps you're also drawn to someone with her particular kind of charm..."

Napaubo si Beatrice kaya sandali akong napatingin sa kanya. Gulat siyang nakatingin kay Solanna bago niya ako binalingan ng tingin habang nakangisi. "You're dead..." she mouthed to me.

My lips parted slightly as my eyes drifted back to Solanna's. She held my gaze with an unwavering intensity, looking as though she were completely absorbed in our conversation, patiently awaiting my response.

"As I told you, my eyes are for you alone. From the very first moment I saw you, you captured a part of me I didn't even know existed. I didn't realize that with every step I took toward you, I was losing sight of my own path—only to find that I was already falling for you," I whispered, a tender smile playing on my lips.

She narrowed her eyes and averted her gaze, but she couldn't hide the faint crimson blooming across her cheeks. It was clear she was jealous of Bridgette, and I felt a sudden, desperate urge to reassure her. I wanted her to know that no one else held even a fraction of my interest. To me, the rest of the world was just background noise. She was the only one who truly mattered. If showering her with praise was the only way to prove it, I would gladly compose a million-word tribute to her beauty and character, reciting it for the rest of our lives.

Pagkatapos ng nakakakabang brunch na 'yon, dumiretso na kami papunta sa shore kung saan naghihintay na ang yateng sasakyan namin para sa gagawin naming free diving. Hindi na sumama si Beatrice dahil mas gusto niya raw matulog at magpahinga maghapon.

Since this was our first official date, I did everything in my power to make it a memorable experience for us. I have waited a long time for this, and now that we are finally together, I won't take our time for granted. I am committed to making up for all the years we lost, and I will do my best to make every single day we spend together feel like the best day of our lives.

After our day of free diving and island hopping, I had one final surprise waiting for her. A knot of nerves tightened in my chest. I had no idea how she would react, but I was ready to take the risk. As I'd promised myself, I wanted to make this day truly special—a memory that we would both carry with us forever.

"Swasdi, Khun phu hying..." bati samin ng crew nang makatungtong kami sa deck ng yate.

"Swasdi..." nakangiting bati ko rin sa kanya dahil mukhang walang balak na magsalita itong kasama ko.

Bigla akong nilingon ni Solanna na abala kaninang naglilibot ng tingin sa kabuoan ng yate. Nakataas na naman ang kilay niya habang suspicious na nakatingin sa akin.

"W-What?"

"You know how to speak Thai?"

My mouth hung open, and for a second, I was on the verge of speaking, but I thought better of it and simply shook my head. Even the crew member, who had been wearing a bright smile just moments ago, suddenly looked uncomfortable under Solanna's piercing gaze. "I'm not fluent," I admitted softly. "But I know a few of their basic words."