A Love Like This

Chapter 01

The sun bled orange and purple across the sky, painting the waves in fiery hues. I sat on the shore, knees pulled to my chest, the salty breeze brushing gently against my skin and the cool sand soothing contrast to the lingering warmth of the day.

I watched the horizon blur where the sky kissed the water. The feeling of the sea is always different, yet it never fails to bring me a deep sense of peace. It has a way of quieting the noise inside me.

The waves rolled in softly. No matter where life takes me, I know I will always return to this place where the world slows down, and the soul finds its rest.

Even in my wild personalities I can be so calm and very observing like the waves. I may leave but I know I will always come back. I'm very aware of everything that's happening on my surroundings. My eyes always observed everything, kahit na maliliit na bagay and I always cherish every moment.

I wonder where and when I will meet someone like me, someone who observes every little thing about me, someone who's interested in me, someone who will look at me with so much love.

Natawa ako sa sarili nang maalala ang kahihiyan sa Manila. It was Aljur's birthday, sa isang bar ginanap, the way my hair fell in loose waves down my back, the unmistakable sway, the ridiculous attempt at a sensual dance move that resembled a wobbly flamingo. Oh god, the shame. I still remember how I slowly danced for that man because of drunkenness.

I never finished watching the video. I couldn't. The urge to crawl into a hole and disappear was overwhelming. My parents saw it and they scold me. Nasa ibang bansa si kuya noon at tinawanan lang ako kaya everytime na may nago-open ng topic na iyon ay agad na ayaw kong pag-usapan.

I couldn't remember his face at hindi rin naman daw kita sa video dahil nakatalikod ito. That was the worst part. Hindi ko siya kilala pero marami ang may kilala sa kanya. He was just...there. A vaguely tall, dark figure, a silent recipient of my drunken performance. My best friend Olive is also there at saksi siya sa lahat ng nangyari. Kilig na kilig pa nga daw siya kaya hindi niya nagawang pigilan ako, aniya'y hinila raw ako palabas at simula doon ay wala na akong maalala!

"Aren't you going to unpack? What on earth did you pack for just a week? Looks like you’re moving in." I rolled my eyes. Tumayo ako't pinagpaan ang sarili habang nakasunod sa kapatid ko para makapag ayos na ng mga gamit.

"I can bring whatever I want, kuya. Mind your own business."

Sakto nga lang ang dalawang luggage na dala ko para sa lahat ng kailangan ko. Honestly, everything I packed was necessary, daywear, nightwear, skincare, toiletries, and of course, my personal essentials. And besides, it’s not like we were staying at just any random resort. This place is ours, family-owned. So even if I packed a whole closet, nobody should care.

"I'm hungry," reklamo ko pagkapasok sa bulwagan. It was a two-story house, the living room, a beige expanse of rental furniture and seashell-themed decorations, a floor-to-ceiling windows, and clean lines. It wasn't that huge, just a simple house with a four bedroom. The minimalist design, usually something I found sterile, felt calming here, nested against a backdrop of towering pines and the distant whisper of the oceans.

"Then cook for yourself,"

Sinimanguan ko siya at nag lakad na papunta sa ikalawang palapag para mag ayos ng mga dalang gamit. Hinawi ko ang malaking kurtina at binuksan ang floor-to-ceiling glass window para makapunta sa veranda. Tumambad sa akin ang pag lubog ng araw at ang malawak na dagat sa baba.

Minadali ko na ang pag-aayos. My internal clock was already screaming for food. Bago kami dumating ay may taga pangalaga ang bahay na ito na siyang nag-lilinis at nag aayos pero ngayong nandito kami ni kuya ay mas pinili ko na walang kasambahay.

"Ah, the princess has arrived!" he sarcastically announced.

"Hindi pa tapos?" I said in my usual maarte tone.

"Patience, sister dear!" Umupo ako at kumuha ng tubig para uminom. He answered some call habang iniintay na maluto ang ulam. Iniwan ko siya doon para kuhain ang phone ko na naiwan sa kwarto. Three missed calls ni mommy ang bumungad sa akin, bumaba ako at inintay nalang na tumawag ulit para masagot ang tawag.

"Ako na ang bahala. Yes...She's right here, uh-huh of course..." Inilapag niya sa lamesa ang niluto niya, may rice na rin at naka handa na ang lamesa. That's mom for sure and they're talking about me.

"Dig in," he said after the call, pulling up a chair opposite me.

"It's good." komento ko pagkatapos tikman ang nilutong adobo kahit na hindi naman kailangan. I just want to praise him, yumayabang siya kapag pinupuri.

"Of course, it is! I wouldn't serve you anything less than perfection." I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. Kuya Yuan, despite monumental ego, was a genuinely good cook. He lived alone in his condo at kahit noong nag-aaral pa ng kolehiyo.

"Anything planned for tomorrow?" tanong niya, his voice casual.

"Not really," I said, shrugging. "Maybe go for a swim? Bakit?"

He nodded "I'm heading out tomorrow. To see a friend. Gusto mo sumama?"

I shook my head and raised an eyebrow. "A friend? I didn't know you knew anyone here."

The next day came fast like the northern wind. Magulo ang kama ko nang tumayo ako para makapag ayos. I realized most of the clothes I brought were dresses and swimwear, so I wore a pastel yellow dress before going out. I also brought some of my unread book para kapag nabagot ako ay mayroon akong pagkaka-abalahan.

Wala si kuya nang bumaba ako pero ang breakfast ay handa na. Scrambled egg at sausage ang nandoon at may bread din. Kumain ako nang kaunti bago ihanda ang camera, the sun is rising kaya magandang mag picture.

Plano kong mag basa ng libro pagkatapos kumuha ng ilang pictures habang nag lalakad-lakad sa tabing dagat at mamayang hapon naman ay naisip ko na maligo sa dagat, the water looked inviting under the sun. Mas maganda ang buhangin sa kabilang banda, hindi mabato at may iilang palm trees din, kahit dito ay tanaw na tanaw kaya minadali ko ang paglalakad sa malalaking bato para lubos na makita ang bandang 'yon.

Maganda rin naman ang beach dito sa tapat namin. A pristine, light-colored sandy beach occupies the foreground. The sand is smooth, except for a few dark rocks or pebbles near the waterline.

"Mygod!" halos maiyak ako nang madulas ako sa isang malaking bato. Tumayo ako at tiningnan ang binti na may gasgas at kaunting dugo dahil sa matitilos na bato. Hinimas ko ang braso ko, may gasgas din at mahapdi dahil sumadsad din sa bato.

"Oh my gosh! Is this my unlucky day?"

Dahan-dahan akong nag lakad sa batuhan kahit na may kalayuan at nang makita ang makinis na buhangin ay tuluyan na akong naka-hinga ng maluwag. Ininda ko ang sakit at nag lakad sa parteng mababasa ng tubig dagat ang paa ko para tuluyang ma-distract ang sarili at para makalimutan ang hapdi. Pinag masdan ko ang mansion sa taas, medyo natatabunan ng ilang puno pero kita parin. I take that opportunity to take some photos. At nang makontento ay nag lakad ako papunta sana sa mga palm trees para maupo at mag pahinga.

I was busy staring at the photos I had just taken that I didn't notice someone was there. He was lounging in the hammock between the palm trees, one arm slung casually over the side and the right hand holding a phone to his ear. Mariin ang tingin niya sa akin. Nag lakad ako palapit at napangiwi nang biglang kumirot ang mga gasgas.

He had dark hair that fell across his forehead in a deliberately tousled manner, the sunlight caught his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline, the strong curve on his nose, the deep-set intensity of his eyes. They were the color of warm amber and a galaxy of stars, siguro ay dahil sa sikat ng araw kaya kumikinang.

"Good morning," I managed, my voice a little breathless. My eyes didn't leave his. He's incredibly gorgeous, he looked snobbish and cold.

He raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging in the air. I swallowed, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Ang guwapo naman!

The warmth in his gaze vanished, replace by a sharp, almost dismissive look. His brow furrowed slightly, as if annoyed by my presence. Ibinaba niya ang cellphone, mukhang irita dahil naabala ko ata. He didn't reply immediately, simply studying me with those intense eyes. It was unnerving but also strangely thrilling.

He swung his legs over the side of the hammock and stood up, towering over me. He was even more imposing up close. Tiningala ko siya, his eyes sparkling with amusement and something else... Something I couldn't quite decipher.

"It was," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "Until you arrived."

Aba't ang suplado naman!

"I'm just walking. Napadaan lang." nag-iwas ako ng tingin

He chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "Napadaan? This is a private property, baby girl." he gestured with a casual flick of his wrist towards the large, sprawling mansion visible through the trees, "We own most of this coastline."

"Well, good for you," I said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "I'll just be going then."

I turned around to leave, but he spoke again, his voice a shade softer this time.

"Wait,"

I stopped, my back still on him. My heart was doing a ridiculous little tap dance in my chest.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"H-huh?" I countered, turning back to face him. "My name? Bakit?"

He shrugged, the movement causing the muscles in his chest and arms to flex. "Curiosity," Bahagya siyang lumapit at halos hindi ako makaapila nang bigla niyang hawiin ang buhok ko na dinala ng hangin sa aking mukha. Walang pasabi, biglaan! Nataranta tuloy ako at hindi alam kung saan titingin.

"Malia," I said, deciding there was no harm in giving him my name lalo na at guwapo naman.

"Malia," he repeated, the way he said it making it sound like a caress.

An awkward silence descended between us. He continued to study me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I found myself unable to look away. Naputol lang ang pagtitigan namin ng mag ring ang cellphone niya, tiningnan niya ito pero hindi sinagot.

"Pwede ba akong bumalik ulit? I just like the view..."

"View, huh?" he smirked.

#ALLTChapter01