At The Sunrise

Chapter 3

A loud knock woke her up and interrupted her wonderful dreams. Nang tingnan niya ang kanyang bed side table, it was 8 am. Tinatamad man ay tinungo niya ang pintuan.

"What?" iritado niyang bungad kay Zach.

"Good morning, Gorgeous. I just want to remind you may flight tayo mamayang alas 11 kaya maghanda ka na. And would you like something to eat?" tanong nito.

"Yeah, that stupid honeymoon. Bakit ba kasi ngayon ang flight. Can we postpone it tomorrow?" nababagot niyang sagot rito.

"I wish we could but our parents are so persistent. Katatawag lang nila at ihahatid daw tayo sa airport."

"Damn! Sila na lang kaya umalis. This is so crazy."

"Tama na ang reklamo. Imagine this, we can do anything we want sa Maldives. Let's think about it as vacation. And hey, I cooked something. You could really use a breakfast."

"Fine. Nagugutom na rin ako." aniya habang pababa ng hagdan. Di na siya nag abalang mag-ayos ng sarili. Dapat masanay na silang dalawa sa casual nilang set-up.

Agad siyang naupo sa lamesa at amoy niya ang masarap na luto ni Zach. Nag-aral kasi ito ng cooking sa Australia kasabay ng Business Management nito.

"Plano mo ba akong patabain sa loob ng walong taon, Zach?" tawang komento niya.

"You're welcome, Mrs. Valeria. Una sa lahat, you look so skinny. Ayokong isipin ng parents mo pinapabayaan kita. Pangalawa, I'm trying out new dishes. At pangatlo, magiging sosyo kita sa business ko kaya ikaw ang mauunang tumikim sa putahe and I want your inputs."

"Whatever." sagot niya habang nakangiti rito.

They are good friends at plano nilang panatilihin sa ganito ang kanilang treatment. Wala silang naging ano man communication ng nasa Australia si Zach. Pero hindi naman sila naging mailap sa isa't isa nang makabalik ito last year. Although he keeps his personal life all by himself, kinakausap naman siya nito sa mga long term plans niya lalo na after ng annulment.

"You know, naisip ko lang. Dapat may endearment tayo sa harap ng parents natin. What do you think?" biglang sabi ni Zach habang kumakain.

"Yeah. What about hon?" sagot niya.

"Ayoko. Masyadong common."

"Love?"

"Ayoko rin. Di naman tayo totoong in love."

"Eh ang choosy mo pala eh. Ikaw nalang mag-isip. And that's your idea, anyway."

"Hhhmmm. Wala pa akong naiisip."

"Fine. Saka na natin pag-isipan yan. What do you plan to do in Maldives?" curious niyang tanong dito.

"Well, I'm planning to do water adventures. And try out their dishes. I'd like to see it's wonderful places and maybe make love to you." sagot niya habang nakatitig ng diretso sa kanya.

Agad kinabahan at napa ubo c Yvonne.

"Wag ka ngang magbiro ng ganyan. Di nakakatuwa, eh."

"Well, it's going to be a beautiful experience and I have a gorgeous wife. What do you expect a man to do in such a beautiful place?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Tumigil ka na, Zachy."

"Fine. What about you? Any particular things na gusto mong gawin sa Maldives?"

"Yeah. Gusto kong makita ang structures ng sites nila doon. Baka makakuha ako ng idea sa next projects ko. I'll do beaching and I guess a little bit of fun."

"You will surely have fun with me." nakangisi nitong sagot.

"Zachy, ngayon pa lang binabalaan na kita. Wag kang gumawa ng kalokohan sa Maldives at baka hindi kita matantiya."

"I'll try my best to behave, Mrs. Valeria. Pero maraming magagandang babae doon. Alam mo na, mahina kasi ako."

"Bahala ka kung anong gusto mong gawin. Just don't let it ruin anything lalo na ang tiwala ng parents natin. Wag kang gagawa ng kahit anong ikakasira ng mga pangalan natin kung ayaw mong pareho tayong pupulutin sa kangkongan."

"Fine. Bakit ba kasi ayaw mo na lang enjoyin to kasama ako? You probably can help me distract myself away from women. And maybe I can just focus on you."

"Stop! I don't want this conversation again, Mr. Valeria." aniya at agad na tumayo para pumasok sa kwarto.

Hindi niya na binigyan ito ng pagkakataong makasagot. He has a bad reputation when it comes to women. And she does not want to see it for herself. Ok na sa kanya ang asawa nito, but it does not mean she has to do what wives do for their husbands. She is still an independent woman. She will still make decision for herself. At ayaw niyang magkaroon ng physical contact dito. Well, she never had any physical contact with any man. She had boyfriends pero hindi pa niya naisusuko ang Bataan. She doubt that Zach knows she is still a virgin. And she would like to keep it that way until their annulment.

Gusto niya lang ma enjoy ang stay sa Maldives lalo na ang iba't ibang infrastructure doon. She is an architecht and she would like to to take at closer look of what this beautiful paradise has. She is making projects for known celebrities, politicians and even to middle class people. Meron siyang architectural firm na ayaw niyang isuko kahit anong mangyari. She worked so hard to build something for herself. Pagsasabayin niya ito kasama ng pamamahala ng ilan nilang negosyo.

"Multi-tasking has always been my thing, anyways." aniya sa sarili habang naghahanda ng mga gamit para sa bakasyon.