MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 24

HINDI mapigilan ni Ae ang makiliti nang panay ang halik ni Linel sa kanyang leeg. Nasa kusina siya't nagluluto ng hapunan habang nakatayo ito sa kanyang likod. Wala mang ambag sa pagluluto ay binubusog naman siya ng lambing.

She laughed softly. "Stop it. Tumutusok ang balbas mo sa balat ko," suway niya.

"Sorry." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm gonna behave now."

"Dapat lang, but stay there." She rested her head on his chest. "It feels good to feel you around me."

Linel wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Maya-maya ay sinilip nito ang niluluto niya. "Who taught you how to cook?"

"Si ate Deydey. Naging bonding namin 'to noon. Nagpaturo ako ng mga putaheng alam niya. She taught me how to do other household chores, too so I'd know what to do once I get married."

"Baby, you wouldn't have to lift a finger if you're gonna marry me someday."

She felt butterflies in her stomach because of the endearment Linel had used. Dati ay iritang-irita siya kapag iyon ang tawag ni Linel sa kanya ngunit ngayon naman ay parang gusto niyang marinig iyon nang paulit-ulit.

Hinalo niya ang inilulutong sinigang. "Linel, masarap din sa pakiramdam kapag ikaw ang kumikilos sa bahay. Kahit na tayo ang magkatuluyan, I would still want to do stuff around the house."

Pinatay niya ang kalan saka niya ito inutusang kumuha ng bowl na paglalagyan ng ulam. Inagaw naman nito ang sandok at ito ang nagsalin ng ulam sa bowl. Baka raw mapaso siya.

Saktong naglalagay na sila ng plato sa island counter nang marinig nila ang mga yapak patungo sa kanilang direksyon. Linel became alert as if he's always ready when they get into trouble. Kumalma lamang ito nang makitang si Linus ang naglalakad patungo sa kanila.

"Sinigang?" tanong nito. Halatang pagod dahil sa maghapong paggagala kasama si Fil.

She smiled. "Yup. Nagluto ako."

Kumuha ng extra'ng plato si Linus saka iyon inilagay sa tapat ng kapatid. Linel then put rice on her plate. Ito na rin ang naglagay ng ulam sa kanyang plato. Akma pa itong magkukutsara ng pagkain na animo'y susubuan siya.

Natawa nang mahina si Linus dahil sa nakitang ginagawa ng kakambal. "Linel, your girl has her own hands."

Linus smirked. "Let me baby her and go find someone you can baby, too."

Napakunot-noo si Evangeline. "Bakit si Micah?"

"They'd broken up already, baby," ani Linel saka siya sinubuan.

She chewed her food then looked at Linus. "Then go find someone you can baby. Sweet ka naman."

Linus grunted. "I know I'm sweet but . . . not that sweet." Sumubo ito ng pagkain at ngumuya habang tila ginagawang magic wand ang kutsara. Nang malunok ang pagkain ay muli itong nagsalita. "Wala rin sa plano ko ngayong makipagrelasyon. I think I'd focus on other things for now. Once Micah manages to reach her dreams and she still wants to date me, I think I'd still choose her."

"Naku, hindi mo rin masasabi 'yan. Malay mo bigla ka na lang makakilala ng bagong mamahalin," aniya.

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "I'm not closing my doors, but it's not really my priority for now. I don't want any complicated relationships."

"Complicated like makakaapekto sa work mo or 'yong hindi ka matatanggap ng family?" usyoso niya.

"Both, I guess. Parang ang hirap mag-risk kung gano'n. I don't think it's gonna work anyway, given the nature of my job. Hindi ako palaging makakauwi. Isa pa, if the family wouldn't like me, I'm not gonna squeeze myself in anymore. Respeto ko na lang sa pamilya ng posibleng makarelasyon ko." Umayos ito ng upo. "But of course, Linel and I aren't the same. I know he's gonna make your relationship work. Ngayon pa ba?"

Napakunot siya ng noo. Pareho ba ang magkapatid ng trabaho? Isa pa ay . . . ganoon din kaya ang tingin ni Linel sa magiging sitwasyon nila? Does Linel also consider the possibility of their relationship not working because of his job?

She looked at Linel, searching for answer. Binigyan naman siya nito ng munting ngiti saka nito itinulak ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok patungo sa likod ng kanyang tainga.

Sinubuan na lamang siya nito ng pagkain nang mapansin nitong nanamlay siya. Although she still tried to engage into conversations, Ae couldn't lift up her mood anymore because of the things that bothered her.

Linel wrapped his arms around her waist while she was standing by the veranda of his room. Hinawakan naman niya ang braso nitong nakayakap sa kanya saka niya inianggulo ang kanyang ulo nang malaya nitong mahalikan ang kanyang leeg.

"What's going on in that pretty mind?" he asked in a gentle voice.

Ae sighed before she faced him. Her hands rested on the sides of his neck as she caressed his prominent jawline with her thumbs.

"Do you think we'd make it work? I mean, our relationship?" she asked.

Linel's eyes softened. Nagpakawala ito ng matalim na hininga bago nito pinatakan ng halik ang kanyang noo.

"We will, but you're gonna have to be tough. Dating men like me would feel lonely at first, but I promise you that every time we're together, we're gonna make up to all the days I am not with you. Can you be tough for me?" he asked, his eyes penetrates her as he waited for her answer.

Ae weighed down things. The pros and the cons of their possible situation once Linel leaves for work. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng negatibong bagay na kalapit ng pakikipagrelasyon niya rito, mas naging matimbang pa rin ang pagmamahal na nararamdaman niya para rito.

Siguro sa simula lamang magiging mahirap. Baka kung masasanay siya o kung matututunan niyang ilaan ang oras niya sa sarili niyang pangarap ay hindi na niya ito gaanong maiisip habang nasa malayo ito.

She sighed before she gave him a tender smile. "Promise me you'll always come home safe."

"I will. I can't die knowing you're finally waiting for me."

She stroked his jaw with her thumb. "No other girls during your mission?"

Umiling ito. "No other girls."

"No flirting with your colleague? Target? Ako lang palagi?" she asked.

"Baby, I'm always down on my knees for you . . ." he said as if it was the greatest confession he could ever say in his entire life. His eyes flickered with love, too as if his heart couldn't contain all his emotions anymore that love reached his blue eyes.

Warmth clawed Ae's heart. She still can't believe that Linel had loved her for several years since they were still young and innocent. If that love remained in his heart in all those years, who is she to question if Linel would still look for someone else while he was away? He was faithful even when they weren't in a relationship. Paano pa ngayong may namamagitan na sa kanila?

"I think I'll accept that condo you were offering earlier so I can decorate the place with our pictures."

Lumamlam ang mga mata nito. "About that . . ." He sighed. "There's something I'm gonna ask from you."

"Ano 'yon?"

Linel tucked her hair behind her hair. "No one has to know about our relationship. Not because I'm ashamed or something. It's for your safety."

"Oh, uhm . . ." Nilunok niya ang bumara sa kanyang lalamunan saka niya ito pilit na nginitian. "Kahit . . . sina Raiah at Vina ba?"

"Yes," he said under his breath. "As much as I wanna tell the world that you're finally mine, we have to be careful and make sure you wouldn't get into trouble for being my woman."

Nakaramdam siya ng panghihinayang ngunit dahil ginusto niyang maging karelasyon ito ay wala na rin naman siyang magagawa. Kailangan niyang maintindihan na kumplikado na ang buhay ni Linel ngayon. Hindi na gaya noon na kahit hindi naman sila ay kalat na kalat kung gaano siya nito kamahal.

The irony. Kung kailan naman siya na itong handang ipagsigawang mahal niya ito ay saka naman nila kailangang itago ang relasyon nila.

A small smile made its way to her lips as she tried to make it seem like she agrees to his request. "I want to go on a date tomorrow. Sa Ocean Park."

"I have a better place in mind, baby," he said.

Bahagyang nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. "Saan?"

A meaningful smile made its way to his lips.

"Sa Monte Costa . . ."