MONTE COSTA SERIES 1: SHORE OF HEARTS

Kabanata 23

PANAY ang hingi ni Teissa ng tawad kay Armani dahil sa nagawa niya rito dala ng sobrang pagkataranta.

"It's fine, baby," paniniguro ni Armani.

"S-Sigurado ka?" she asked worriedly.

He smiled. "Yes. I'm okay now."

Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya't idinala siya sa veranda ng cabin. His arms slowly wrapped around her small frame but Teissa didn't say anything. Probably because a part of her wanted to feel his warm embrace, too.

It was awkward but at the same time feels so good. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman niyang init sa kanyang dibdib habang nakasandal siya sa dibdib ni Armani.

There are voices in her head saying this can't possibly be real but the warmth of his embrace and his gentle kisses on top of her head were enough to shush the voices down.

Bumuntonghininga si Teissa habang tanaw ang malawak na karagatan. The sky bleeds with amber and crimson, creating a work of art that makes her realize how great of an artist the Creator is.

"Armani?" tawag niya. Ang mga mata ay nakatanaw pa rin sa malayo.

"Hmm?"

"Do you regret being married . . . to me?" she finally had to courage to ask.

Humigpit ang pagkakayakap nito sa kanya. "Being married to you was the best part of the last four years of my life," he said in a gentle voice before he made her face him.

Napalunok siya habang hirap na panatilihin ang titig sa mga mata nito. "Pero . . . hindi mo naman ako gusto noon . . . hindi ba?"

Pumungay ang mga mata ni Armani habang itinutulak ang ilang hibla ng buhok niya patungo sa likod ng kanyang tainga. "Who told you that I didn't like you?"

Teissa sighed. Her eyes were now staring at his chest. "Naisip ko lang. I mean . . ." Sandali niyang ipinaglapat ang kanyang mga labi. "Kayo ni ate Tammy, I thought you were . . ."

"In love?" He sighed. "Teissa, we're good friends and the love I have for your sister is plainly familial since we were so close I already considered her like a sister."

Tiningala niya ito. "At ako ay . . . hindi?"

Armani stared at her for a few moments with a hint of amusement in his wild brown eyes. Tila ba nag-iisip ito ng tamang paraan kung paano ba isasatinig kung ano mang tumatakbo ngayon sa isipan nito.

"At first I . . . thought I would only see you that way, too but when you turned eighteen and I saw you wearing your peach dress on your party, I . . . realized that you're no longer the same Teissa that I wanna treat as a sister."

Her heart pounced. "You . . . had a crush on me . . . even before we got married?"

Marahan itong tumango. "Do you remember when we had breakfast in your hacienda before the fiesta? You were by the veranda of your room wearing your jammies and your long wavy hair was slightly disheveled. I saw your innocent face and finally admitted to myself that . . ." He inhaled a sharp breath. "That you're someone I wanna look at everyday of my life . . ."

Her chest was filled with a warm feeling as if the morning sunrays hit her heart. It felt so . . . surreal to hear his own version of a love confession. The confession she never thought she'd ever hear slip from his lips. Not even in her wildest dreams.

Kusang gumuhit ang munting ngiti sa mga labi ni Teissa. "I . . . don't know what to say." Her hand slowly lifted until it finally rested on his chest. His heartbeat vibrated against her palm. "But it feels so good . . . to hear you say that. Lalo na at . . . hindi ko naman inakalang posibleng . . . may maramdaman kang espesyal para sa akin."

Armani let out a sharp breath before he held her hand that's resting on his chest. Their eyes met. His glistened with all the emotions he couldn't put into words anymore.

"May I know why you thought that I would never feel this way towards you?" he asked in a gentle tone.

Sandaling lumunok si Teissa. "B-Because I am . . . too average."

He lifted a brow. "Average? How come?"

Teissa released the suffocating air in her lungs. "Armani, you've always been unreachable. It's like you're near yet I am never allowed to hold you. You're arm's reach but there's an invisible wall separating our worlds."

"That's not true." He gently rubbed his thumb on the back of her palm while he's staring at her as if he wanted her to see the truth in his eyes.

"If only you know how much I wanna worship you. I . . . feel like I am always at your mercy." Pumungay ang mga mata nito. "Na kapag nagalit ka sa akin ay hindi ko kayang mapakali. God . . ." He sighed. "You've got your fingers wrapped around my neck without you even knowing. That's . . . how much power you have over me, Teissa."

Lalong nagwala ang kanyang dibdib. Hindi niya nagawang kumibo kaya nang dumapo sa kanyang mga labi ang titig nito ay halos manlambot ang mga tuhod ni Teissa.

As if there was a silent agreement that happened between their pounding hearts, her arms wrapped around his neck as soon as he lowered his head to kiss her on her lips.

Kusang sumara ang kanyang mga mata nang lumapat ang kanilang mga labi sa isa't isa. The little hairs on her nape stood to its end as a sultry yet familiar feeling traveled up to her spine, shutting down all the rational parts of her brain.

Tumugon siya sa masuyo nitong halik, dahilan upang tuluyan itong mawalan ng kontrol sa sarili. Their kiss slightly deepen but Armani pulled away before he fully lost control of himself.

He flashed a small smile as he cupped her cheek. "I can't believe I can finally kiss you even when it's not dark."

He pulled his phone out and took a photo of them. Ang mga labi nito ay humalik sa kanyang ulo habang nakalapat ang gilid ng kanyang mukha sa dibdib nito.

She pursed her lips when Armani posted their photo on IG with a caption that says, "sa'yo lamang pipiliing isuko ang kalayaan, aking bersyon ng Gabriela Silang."

Armani held her chin then smirked. "Do I get an extra point for my Filipino caption, hmm?"

Pabiro niya itong inirapan. "Hindi naman si Gabriela ang asawa ni Andres, Armani. Si Gregoria De Jesus. Kabit mo yata ako, eh," biro niya.

He let out a soft laughter as he locked her again in his arms. "Sorry. Guess you have to refresh my mind about history." He rubbed her back. "Let's visit the resto in Raja Amor Suites. I haven't eaten yet because I was waiting for you."

Tumango siya. "Sige."

Armani entwined their fingers, making Teissa's cheeks blush again. Hindi pa siya sanay na ganito sila pero masaya siyang hindi naman pala ibang tao ang napangasawa niya. Ibang klase rin ang kanyang Lolo Lino. Alam na alam nito kung sino ang pipiliin para sa kanya.

They were about to leave the room when Armani received a chat from someone. Sandali itong tumigil sa paghakbang at dinukot ang phone upang tingnan ang mensaheng natanggap.

Teissa noticed the sudden shift in his mood. Even his forehead creased while he's reading the chat, and before he typed a reply, Armani even let out a disappointed sigh as if he didn't like what he just read.

Nalunok ni Teissa ang kanyang laway bago siya nag-aalalang nagtanong. "May problema ba, Armani?"

Armani put his phone back inside his pocket before he forced a smile. "Nothing, baby. Don't worry about it." Kinuha nitong muli ang kanyang kamay at giniya na siyang lumabas. "Sorry about that."

Marahan na lamang siyang tumango kahit na iba ang pakiramdam niya sa natanggap nitong mensahe. Tungkol sa trabaho kaya iyon at parang biglang nasira ang magandang mood nito?

"Gaano pala tayo katagal dito, Armani?" tanong niya nang kahit paano ay mapawi ang pagkakakunot ng noo nito.

He gently caressed the side of her hand with his thumb. "Two weeks. Pwede tayong mag-extend but we have to book a room in Raja Amor since my cabin is scheduled for renovation."

Kumunot ang noo ni Teisssa. "Renovation? But it looks perfectly good."

"Yeah, but we'll surely gonna need a room for our future kids. Ipagagawa ko na habang bakante pa si Stephan."

Teissa's heart pounded loudly inside her chest. "G-Gusto mo ng . . . anak?"

His lips curved for a sweet yet meaningful smile. "Hindi pwedeng si Islaw lang ang baby natin . . ."