Rule no. 1: Don't Fall In Love

Chapter 16

I was too stunned to speak. Adeline Thania's Shell? I suddenly remembered someone...

"Adelia," Tawag ni Vermone sa'kin dahil natulala pa 'ko. "What are you thinking?" Tanong n'ya.

"I just remembered someone..."

"Who?"

"A boy." I smiled while remembering that boy and my painting. Kamusta na kaya s'ya?

Nang tignan ko si Vermone ay nawala ang ngiti ko dahil ang sama ng tingin sa'kin. Nandidilim na ata paningin n'ya. He pursed his lips in his own manly way habang nakakunot ng todo ang noo at ang mga mata n'ya ay matalim na nakatingin sa'kin.

"W-Why?" Kabadong tanong ko.

"A boy, eh?" Sarkastikong sabi n'ya and he scoffed.

EH?

Nagseselos ba s'ya?! Ano ikakaselos n'ya?!

"Ver," I chuckled.

"Tss." Pagtatampo n'ya.

Kumalas s'ya sa pagkayakap at ako'y natatawa lang. Ang tampuhin naman ng bebe ko! Tumawa ako lalo nang sobrang sama lang ng tingin n'ya sa'kin.

"Vermone... baby..." Paglalambing ko naman.

Yinakap ko s'ya at nagpayakap naman s'ya pero hindi s'ya yumakap pabalik.

"Who's that boy, hm?" Tanong ulit ni Vermone.

"He's a nobody. He's just someone I remember all of a sudden. It was years ago! High school pa 'ko." Pag explain ko.

"Did I do something that reminded you about that bastard?" Naiinis niyang tanong pero ang cute.

"It's just about my painting!" I chuckled.

Napansin ko na biglang sumeryoso si Vermone at nawala lahat ng inis sa mukha n'ya.

"Your painting? The one you told me about?" He asked in a soft voice.

"Uh-huh. 'Wag ka na magtampo este... selos dahil 'di ko naman natatandaan pangalan no'n! Hindi ko 'man nga yata nalaman pangalan n'ya." I laughed softly and I smiled.

Bigla ay yinakap ako ni Vermone at hinahalikan ulo ko paulit-ulit. Clingy naman bigla!

"Tara, island hopping na!" Aya ko na sa kaniya at tumango lang s'ya. "Collins Yacht" Sambit ko nang makita.

May driver at ilang tauhan n'ya. Malaki ang yatch nila, ha!

"There's a second... floor and a basement?" Tanong ko at tumango lang si Vermone.

"Yeah, and we're now off to the first island." He kissed my cheek and talked to some people who's operating the yacht.

Inutusan naman ako ni Vermone na ilagay na 'yung mga gamit ko sa kwarto. Medyo malaki rin ang kwarto at may banyo pa. Inilagay ko na ang gamit namin at nagpalit na rin ako ng beach cardigan at rash guard na shorts to top my bikini para kapag mag swimming na ay madaliang palit.

"Love,"

Lumabas na 'ko kaagad ng kwarto at paglabas ay nagulat pa saglit si Vermone sa suot ko.

"We'll arrive there in 15 minutes. Want to eat something?"

"What food do we have?"

"Fish."

"Maybe later. So... what are we going to do there?"

"Hm? Take a dip for a while or a walk? You decide." Sagot lang n'ya at hinawakan na ang bewang ko habang papunta sa may couch.

May nag serve ng cocktails saamin at kaunting chips. Pero nagulat ako na pinapalitan ni Vermone ng juice ang drink ko pero 'di na 'ko nagreklamo.

Nagkuwentuhan lang kami ni Vermone at sabi ko mag free dive na kami pero ayaw pa muna ni Vermone sa mga susunod na island na lang daw.

As soon as we went there, akala ko sa may maraming tao kami bababa pero nagulat ako sa lumiko pa 'yung yacht at napunta sa may mas kaunting tao.

"Are we gonna swim?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Your choice, baby. If you're going to swim then I'll swim, too."

Pinakiramdaman ko muna saglit ang paligid at parang gusto ko rin mag swim kahit saglit na oras lang. Nag-ikot naman kami ni Vermone saglit at napunta rin kami sa may maraming tao.

Namili ako ng kaunting gamit na makikita sa souvenir shops. Kumain na rin kami sa isang resto.

"Crabs!" Sambit ko habang sinerve na ang pagkain.

Natawa pa si Vermone sa inasta ko. Paborito ko kasi talaga ang seafood. Naghimay na 'ko ng alimango at napansin ko na puro sinigang lang kinakain n'ya.

"You don't like crabs?" Tanong ko.

"I like them pero tinatamad lang ako maghimay." Natawa s'ya ng kaunti.

Bigla ay naglagay ako ng mga nahimay ko sa plato n'ya. Marami naman na 'ko nahimay. Gano'n kasi ako, himay bago kain. Dapat sinabi ni Vermone para nakikuha na s'ya sa mga hinihimay ko.

"Thank you, baby." Ngiting sabi n'ya.

"Kahit kuha lang diyan sa plato. 'Di ko naman mauubos lahat 'yan."

"Marami ka na nahimay, subo ka muna kahit kaunti." Malambing na sabi ni Vermone pero ngumiti lang ako at pinagpatuloy ang paghihimay sa isda.

Nagulat ako nang lumapit ang kutsara ni Vermone sa bibig ko habang may laman na kanin at ulam. I grinned and shook my head but he insisted.

Sinubuan ako ni Vermone hanggang sa natapos na 'ko mag himay kaya tuloy-tuloy na rin ang kain ko.

"Rest muna, Ver." Sambit ko at tumango naman s'ya.

Para kasing excited na s'ya mag swimming!

Bumalik kami sa parteng kaunti lang ang tao. Umupo ako sa beach sand kung saan umaabot ng kaunti 'yung tubig. I could only hear the waves which made me calm.

Vermone sat behind me and placed me in between his legs. His arms wrapped around my waist and he rested his chin on my shoulder.

I can say that I'm a lucky woman who got to experience him as my husband.

Kumuha ako ng bato at natandaan ko ang nasa bucket list namin.

Engrave name initials on a stone

"Let's engrave our name initials." Sambit ko.

Kumuha pa ng isang bato si Vermone na kung saan may matulis na dulo. Sinimulan na n'ya ang sa kaniya.

VLTC +

And I engraved mine kumunot pa ang noo n'ya nang mapansin na 'di ko linagay ang C sa dulo para sa Collins pero inasar ko lang s'ya.

VLTC + ATCC

"Where's the Collins?" Taas kilay niyang tanong.

"That's it, idiot. Adeline Thania Cruz-Collins. Too much c's if add ko pa ang middle initial ko. Adeline Thania Cervante Cruz-Collins."

Vermone chuckled a bit. "That's indeed a lot of C's."

Of course, we took a picture of it and also took pictures of us, me, and him. I took off my beach cardigan pero 'di ko na aalisin ang shorts ko.

Vermone removed his white shirt and quickly ran behind to catch up with me. He carried me bridal style kung saan napatili ako sa kilos n'ya at bumabad na kami sa tubig.

"Free dive," I said using my soft voice.

Ibinaba na 'ko ni Vermone mula sa pagkabuhat pero hinila naman n'ya 'ko bigla palapit sa kaniya at hinalikan nang marahan ang noo ko.

"Fine... In one condition. You have to hold my hand and not let go because I can't risk you wandering the ocean alone especially it's your first time." Bilin n'ya.

I got butterflies in my stomach... This man! Alam na alam ang kiliti sa puso ko pero alam kong 'di n'ya alam na napapakilig na n'ya 'ko. I bit my lower lip and just kissed him to distract him from looking at my flushed face.

"Hm, baby, stop. I might take you here." He stopped our kisses because it's indeed becoming hot.

I smirked at his statement. Pero natandaan ko na baka gawin nga ni Vermone 'yon dahil sa bucket list namin.

Make love on every corner of the beach

"You naughty husband." I laughed and poked his nose.

"Stop seducing me, my wife. My patience is very low when it comes to this. Especially if my wife's really... really... hot." He whispered the last word kung saan nag-init pakiramdam ko.

Nag-asaran na kami dahil pareho naming alam kung saan papunta 'yung kanina kung ipagpapatuloy pa namin. Minsan tinatangay ako ng mga alon pero nakakayanan ko naman.

We had fun until it's time to go to the next island.

"Itatapon ba natin sa dagat 'to?" Tanong ko kay Vermone habang hawak ang bato na kung saan naka-engrave ang mga name initals namin.

"Hm, no. Ilagay natin sa bundok na pupuntahan natin soon." He kissed my cheek and wrapped a towel on my shoulders.

20 minutes and estimated travel time to the next island. I just sat on a chair, hindi pa sa sofa dahil basa pa 'ko.

"Free diving!!!" Excited kong sabi nang nakita ko na naglalabas na ng mga equipment ang tauhan ni Vermone.

"May instructor ba niyan?" Tanong ko kay Vermone.

"I'm your one and only instructor. 'Wag ka na maghanap ng iba." Masungit na sabi ni Vermone kaya natawa lang ako.

Bigla ay huminto kami sa bandang gitna pero malapit na sa susunod na island. Dito raw kami mag free dive.

I removed the towel that was wrapped around me and I didn't bother to remove my shorts. Sinuot na ni Vermone sa'kin ang mga kailangan suotin.

Nauna si Vermone bumaba sa yacht para masalo ako kaagad.

"Walang pating dito, ha! Baka mamaya may kumagat na lang bigla sa'kin!" kabadong sabi ko.

Vermone smiled. "Ako lang ang kakagat sa'yo kung sakali kaya 'wag ka mag-alala-"

Pinalo ko ang dibdib n'ya sa kapilyuhan n'ya! Bwisit na asawa 'to!

We counted on three and we started to wander the ocean. Tuwang tuwa ako sa mga isda na nakikita ko. Vermone's holding my hand tightly na para bang anytime ay mawawala ako sa kaniya.

Tinuro ko ang mga isda at tumango lang si Vermone. Tuwang tuwa ako. Gusto ko pa sana lumalim lalo pero hinila na 'ko ni Vermone pataas kaya 'di na 'ko nakapunta sa gusto kong puntahan.

"No," Vermone warned me immediately when we got up.

"Ver, I think I saw some pearls there, please, baby..." Pagmamakaawa ko at pasimple lang akong tinignan ni Vermone.

"No, baby, that's too deep na." Lambing n'ya pabalik at yinakap na ang dalawang braso sa bewang ko.

"I already know how to do it. Can I go there-"

"Mas lalong hindi." Mariin na sabi n'ya at kunot noong tinignan ako.

Fine, my clingy husband. I smiled and still tried to convince him to let me free dive alone hanggang sa napapayag ko s'ya.

"Please, don't go there, baby. I'm begging you."

Tumango lang ako at sumisid na. I waved to the fishes na para bang naiintindihan nila 'ko pero pinuntahan ko ang gusto kong puntahan kanina.

Tama ako na lalagyan 'to ng mga pearls. Kailangan lang buksan. Umahon na 'ko at bumalik na malapit sa yacht.

"Sir! Nandito na po s'ya!"

Natulala ako nang makita ang mga ibang tauhan na mukhang sumisid din. I saw Vermone not so far away and immediately swam to me.

"Where have you been?! Alam mo bang alalang alala ako sa'yo?! It's been 20 f*****g minutes!"

I hugged him which made him stop talking.

He hugged me back at sobrang higpit na para bang takot na takot siyang mawala ako.

"I'm sorry..." Sambit ko.

Vermone kissed my hair and kissed my cheek repeatedly.

"Don't do that again please, baby, please." Pagmamakaawa n'ya talaga.

Tumango ako at yinakap s'ya lalo. Binalot ko na ang dalawang binti ko sa bewang n'ya at hinalikan ang noo n'ya. I must have made him worry so much.

Napaahon na 'ko nang kaunti dahil sa naging posisyon ko. Siniksik n'ya sarili n'ya sa bandang dibdib ko at mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa'kin.

"No more free diving." Sambit n'ya bigla na kung saan ikinagulat ko ng sobra.

"Vermone! I'm fine. Look! I even got this!" Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang nakuha ko. "I'm sure may pearl sa loob nito."

"No more. Free diving." Mas mariin niyang sabi and I pouted.

"I love freediving!"

"Baby, this was the first time I got scared so bad, please, baby, don't do it again." Hinalikan niya ng mariin ang labi ko kung saan parang may gayuma ito na napatango ako sa lahat ng sinasabi n'ya. "I don't want to lose you , please..."

My heart hurt at that... But you'll lose me soon, baby. We'll lose each other sooner...

Hindi na kami nakababa sa pangalawang island na pinuntahan namin dahil sobra nag-alala talaga si Vermone at ayaw talaga akong pakawalan mula sa yakap.

Not that I don't want it pero syempre gusto ko rin. After we took a bath we made... love in Vermone's room and just cuddled while we're on our way to the last island.

"You know what? I can make love every second, every minute, every hour, every day... to you. Basta ikaw." Malambing niyang sabi.

"Ayaw ko nga." Rebat ko and Vermone chuckled. "Magsawa ka bigla sa'kin."

With that ay mas himigpit ang yakap ni Vermone sa'kin. "No. Kahit kailan hindi kita pinagsawaan at hinding hindi kita pagsasawaan. Mas lalo lang lumalala..." He kissed my neck at pinalo ko s'ya.

"Baka malapit na tayo!" Pinagalitan ko s'ya.

He playfully glared at me at tumango. Nagpahinga pa kami saglit bago magbihis at lumabas sa kwarto. When I saw the people on his yacht ay bigla ako kinabahan.

"They did not hear us, right?" Pabulong kong tanong kay Vermone.

Vermone smirked while he's cutting the watermelons.

Nang hindi s'ya sumagot ay pinalo ko ang braso n'ya dahilan na ng pagkatawa n'ya.

"No. Okay? Don't worry... I kissed you every time you'll try to scream but even though they heard it... Wala silang pakialam at wala akong pakialam. I'm making love with my wife at wala dapat silang masabi roon." He kissed my nose and lips.

This man... He handed me one slice of watermelon at kinain ko na lang 'yon. Not seedless but it's sweet! I love it.

Nang makarating sa last island ay naisipan namin na dito na rin mag dinner. It's almost 6:00 in the evening kaya naisipan namin kumain na lang muna bago mag-ikot.

"Vermone?"

We both looked in the same direction kung saan tinawag s'ya ng isang lalaki.

His grip on my waist tightened as the man went closer to us.

"Oh, who's this beautiful woman here?" He smirked.

"My wife." Seryosong sagot lang ni Vermone.

"Kasal ka na?" Gulat na tanong nung lalaki.

I can sense that Vermone's mood is not right. Something's not right here...

"Yeah,"

"Why don't you introduce her to us?" Tumingin ang lalaki sa'kin.

I looked up to face Vermone and he immediately met my gaze.

"Adeline, this is my cousin. Mother side. Gerald Harrick Tiamsom."

"Hi, beautiful lady." He held out his hand and I just smiled and shook my head as a sign that I don't want to accept his hand.

"Hi, Gerald Tiamsom."

Gerald looks amused at what I've done but I only did that because I can sense that my husband is not liking every bit of this moment.

"We need to go. My wife's hungry, ingat ka." Paalam na ni Vermone.

"Ingat, couz!" Gerald smirked.

I also don't like his vibe but I want to ask Vermone first.

His mood really changed when he saw Gerald so I got quiet while we're eating.

"Baby..." He held my hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry..." He smiled a bit maybe to ease the tension.

I smiled. "I understand that there's something... wrong but I want you to tell me that."

Sumeryoso ang itsura ni Vermone. "Okay, I'll tell you when we're back home, baby." He sighed.

"Don't think about it, Ver, just relax, okay? I don't want this night ruined." I pouted cutely and he chuckled.

"It's not ruined because I got you beside me. I..."

Inaabangan ko lang ang sasabihin n'ya pero bigla ay umiling s'ya at hinalikan ulit ang kamay ko.

The night went on until it's time to go back to the island. It'll take 20 to 30 minutes.

Vermone is now hugging me while sleeping. He must have been tired. But I can't wait to think deeply about his reaction a while ago when he saw his cousin. It's very suspicious and I suddenly remember na ang mga invited lang sa kasal namin no'n ay pinsan n'ya sa father side.

Ano kayang meron?