At The Sunrise

Chapter 6

She can feel her back against a soft fabric. Pero pagod siya para imulat ang mga mata. She was dreaming of a wonderful island experience with Zach. And she did not want to cut it off. Everything was so amazing that she felt like she does not want it to end. She drifted back to her deep sleep.

"I will never let you fall. I'll stand up with you forever. I'll be there for you through it all. Even if saving you sends me to heaven cause you're mine. You're mine."

Naalimpungatan si Yvonne sa isang malamig na tinig at malungkot na kanta. She thought it was a dream but he sounds familiar. Then realization hits. Agad siyang bumangon. She is in a tent, wrapped in a blanket. Ganun pa rin naman ang suot niya kanina. Agad siyang lumabas ng tent at nakita si Zach na kumakanta. He was strumming a guitar in front of a bonfire. She did not know he could play an instrument. He has a good voice.

Agad itong tumigil sa pagkanta nang maramdaman ang presensiya niya.

"Hey, are you hungry?" tanong nito.

"Not really. How long have I been asleep, Zach?"

"Four hours."

"I'm sorry kung nakatulog ako. Napagod ako kanina."

"It's ok. Masaya akong nag-eenjoy ka kasama ako. You should eat." anito saka pinaghanda siya ng pagkain.

Siya marahil ang nagluto. Exclusive nga ang island. Walang bahay kung saan at mukhang sila lang ang tao roon. Only a lighthouse stood not far away sa buong isla. At mukang maliit na island nga lang ito. Nakita niya sa di kalayuan ang bangka na ginamit nila kanina.

"Saan matutulog ang tour guide natin?" curious niyang tanong.

"Kanina pa siya tulog. Doon lang din sa bangka."

"Kumain na rin ba siya?"

"Oo. And marami kaming napag-usapan tungkol sa Maldives. May itinerary na tayo bukas courtesy of  our tour guide." nakangiting sabi nito.

"That's good. Teka, kumain ka na ba?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm all good."

Tinapos ni Yvonne ang kanyang kinakain at agad nilapag ang pinggan sa picnic basket na nasa malapit. Saka niya napansin ang bote ng alak na nasa tabi ni Zach.

"Marami ka na bang nainom?"

"Konti lang. Pangpa antok."

"Sabayan na kita." aniya saka kinuha ang bote at nilagok iyon ng dire-diretso.

"Wow. I never knew you were a hard drinker."

"I am. Pero minsan lang akong umiinom. Kapag may okasyon lang at get-togethers.

"That's good. Now, we're getting to know each other a lot. Tell me, Yvonne, what else should I know about you?"

"Well, I'm a terrible driver. I don't know how to cook. I have allergies sa peanuts. I don't drink beers. What about you?"

"Halos alam mo na lahat, eh. Teka, ano pa bang di ko nasasabi. Well, because I studied cooking, I know how to do bottle flairing and cocktail mixing. Basic lang naman. I do work-outs a lot because I eat a lot. I was a cyclist kaso wala na akong time. And I smoke when I'm angry."

"Wow! That's new. Come to think of it, I actually never saw you angry. You always look cool."

"I do. Kapag galit ako, laging malalim ang rason. I'm just the kind of person na hindi gustong magalit as much as possible."

"Well, sino ba naman ang gusto na laging bad mood. And maybe you can get back to cycling, Maybe we can do it together."

"Hey, you just said you are a terrible driver."

"I was referring to cars, Mr. Valeria. I know how to bike. And it's the easiest. And maybe you can teach me how to cook. Para may silbi naman ako sa kusina natin." biro niya rito.

"Ok. Well, let's see how our schedule goes pagkatapos nitong 'honeymoon'natin." anito na bahagyang tumawa.

"Oo nga. The merge will soon happen. And we are going to be very busy." komento niya.

"Yeah. Pero para din naman sa ikakabuti ni business ng mga parents natin ito,eh. That soon will become ours."

Marami pa silang napag-usapan ni Zach. Nag share ito ng mga memories niya sa Australia at experiences niya sa naging business niya doon. They both talked about their life before this marriage was all set into reality. Masaya naman sila sa friendship na nahanap sa isa't isa. They talked until midnight. Hindi niya namalayang nakaka 3 bote na pala sila ng rum.

"Malalim na ang gabi. We should get some sleep." ani Zach at naunang tumayo.

"Yeah. Naparami na pala tayo ng inom." sagot niya habang tumatayo. But before she realized it, her head was spinning. And she loses her balance. Mabuti na lang maagap ang pag-alalay sa kanya ni Zach. Their tent was few steps away and he helped her back on her feet hanggang sa makarating siya sa tent. Kumakanta pa sila habang naglalakad. Pareho silang tumatawa sa kanilang kalokohan.

"Next time, hindi ka na pwedeng uminom ng ganon karami." ani Zach.

"What? That's unfair. Medyo matagal na kasi nang huli akong unimon. I forgot the feeling. And besides, pagod ako kaya madaling nakapasaok ang alcohol sa ulo ko."

"No excuses, Mrs. Valeria. Habang kasal ka sa akin, di ka pwedeng uminom ng marami. I want you safe under my roof."

"Fine, Mr. Valeria. KJ mo."

Hindi na ito umimik pa. Dinala siya nito hanggang sa tent at tinulungan siyang maka ayos ng pwesto.

"You sleep well, Yvonne. We're going to have another big day tomorrow."

Bue before she can lay her back, he kissed her. Nagulat siya sa ginawa nito. But her body could not react. Maybe it was the influence of the alcohol but she wanted what he was doing. He supported her back while kissing her and slowly laid her down. Hindi namamalayan ni Yvonne na lumalalim ang kanilang halik. And her arms wrapped around his neck. Their kiss deepened like they were both needing it. They were both searching. Her head was spinning but she knows what is happening. That was the first passionate kiss they ever had. And it felt good.

She can feel Zach slowly pulling away from the kiss.

"I'm not taking advantage of us being intoxicated, Yvonne. I badly want to make love to you but not tonight." he whispered between their breaths. He tucked her blanket in and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Valeria." bulong nito saka lumabas ng tent at sinara ang zipper nito.

Yvonne can her his footsteps away from her tent. She can hear him safely packing up their leftovers and putting out the fire and until she can hear him zipping his own tent.

Hindi siya makatulog. That kiss. She touched her lips like it was her first. Napangiti siya, not because Zach can lift a woman off her feet but because she was gentleman enough to stop himself. They are all alone in an island where nobody knows, he is her husband and they are both drunk. He has all the chances to have sex with her but yet he choose to walk away. She had kissed him before but this feels like the first real kiss. She did not realized that Zach could give her butterflies in her stomach.

"Stop it, Yve. It was just a kiss." kausap niya sa sarili. She decided to take off all her clothes. Naiinitan siya. And finally letting sleep take her.