CHAPTER 6
1993 Words
Kinabukasan, ibang klase ang pakiramdam ko paggising.
Hindi dahil sa view ng Lake Como.
Hindi dahil sa napakagandang villa.
Kundi dahil… magaan ang puso ko.
Parang wala akong iniisip.
Parang simpleng babae lang ulit ako.
At katabi ko ang asawa ko.
Late morning nang magpasya kaming lumabas ng villa.
Gusto kong makita ang paligid.
“Where are we going?” tanong ko habang naglalakad kami palabas ng villa.
Sebastian casually slipped his arm around my shoulders.
“Bellagio.”
“Bellagio?”
He nodded.
“Most beautiful village in Lake Como.”
“Wow.”
Nagkibit-balikat siya.
“I thought my wife might like it.”
I smiled.
“You’re assuming correctly.”
Ilang minuto lang ang biyahe sa private boat papuntang Bellagio.
Habang papalapit kami sa maliit na bayan, parang nasa postcard ako.
Colorful houses.
Stone streets.
Flower-covered balconies.
At ang napakalinaw na tubig ng Lake Como.
“Sebastian…”
I whispered.
“This place looks unreal.”
He glanced at me.
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because I like that face you make when you’re amazed.”
I laughed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Pagbaba namin ng boat, naglakad-lakad lang kami sa makikitid na streets ng Bellagio.
Nakakabit ang braso niya sa balikat ko habang naglalakad kami.
Ako naman nakaakbay sa bewang niya.
Parang normal lang kaming couple na namamasyal.
“Look at this!”
Napahinto ako sa isang maliit na shop na puno ng Italian pastries.
Sebastian leaned closer.
“You want something?”
“I want everything.”
He laughed.
“That’s expensive.”
“You’re a billionaire.”
“Fair point.”
Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang makarating sa isang maliit na lakeside restaurant.
Outdoor seating.
Direct view ng lake.
Parang eksena sa romantic movie.
Doon kami nag lunch.
Fresh pasta.
Seafood.
At wine na sabi ni Sebastian ay “local specialty.”
“Masarap?” tanong niya habang pinapanood akong kumain.
I nodded enthusiastically.
“Very.”
“Good.”
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Because my wife looks cute when she’s eating.”
Napangiti ako.
“You’re very cheesy today.”
“I’m on honeymoon.”
After lunch, nagpatuloy ulit kami sa paglalakad.
Hand in hand.
Paminsan-minsan nagkukulitan.
Paminsan-minsan nagtatawanan lang.
At bandang hapon…
Biglang dumilim ang langit.
I frowned slightly.
“Sebastian…”
“Hm?”
“Is it me or—”
Patak.
Then another.
Then suddenly—
“Umuulan!”
Within seconds, lumakas ang ulan.
Napahiyaw ako habang tumatawa.
“Oh my God!”
Sebastian started laughing too.
“Run!”
Agad niya akong hinila sa kamay.
Tumatakbo kami sa makitid na street habang umuulan.
Pareho kaming basang-basa.
My hair sticking everywhere.
My dress clinging slightly to my legs.
Pero pareho lang kaming tumatawa.
“Bella!”
“You said romantic Italy!”
“This is romantic!”
“Hindi romantic ang mabasa!”
Sa wakas nakarating kami sa isang maliit na restaurant na may awning sa labas.
Pareho kaming humihingal habang nakatayo sa ilalim ng bubong.
Basang-basa.
Nagkatinginan kami.
Then sabay kaming natawa.
Malakas.
Walang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid.
“You look ridiculous,” sabi ni Sebastian.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re soaked.”
“So are you!”
I pointed at his shirt.
“Your billionaire image is ruined.”
He chuckled.
“I think I’ll survive.”
Then he gently brushed wet hair away from my face.
His eyes softened.
“You’re happy.”
I looked at him.
Then nodded.
“Very.”
And standing there under the soft Italian rain…
Pagpasok namin sa maliit na restaurant café, agad kaming sinalubong ng mainit na hangin at ang mabangong amoy ng freshly brewed coffee.
Sa labas ng glass window, patuloy pa ring bumubuhos ang ulan sa Lake Como.
Inside, warm yellow lights reflected on wooden tables, habang ang ibang customers ay tahimik na nagkakape at nag-uusap.
Napailing ako habang pinipiga ang buhok ko.
“Grabe.”
Sebastian chuckled habang hinahatid niya ako sa isang table malapit sa window.
“You insisted on walking.”
“You insisted on running!”
“Because you were screaming.”
“I was not screaming!”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You definitely screamed.”
Napatawa ako.
“Okay fine… maybe a little.”
A waitress approached us politely.
“Buonasera.”
Sebastian ordered in smooth Italian.
“Due cappuccino… and some pastries.”
I blinked.
“You speak Italian?”
He shrugged.
“Business.”
“Of course.”
Billionaire answer again.
Pagkaalis ng waitress, napansin kong basang-basa pa rin ang buhok ko.
“Ugh.”
Napailing ako.
“I look like a mess.”
Sebastian looked at me for a moment.
Then slowly pulled something from his pocket.
A white handkerchief.
Elegant.
Probably expensive.
Before I could react, he leaned closer and gently started drying my hair with it.
“Sebastian…”
“Hm?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
His movements were calm and careful as he gently wiped the water from the strands of my hair.
“I want to.”
Napangiti ako ng bahagya.
Then he brushed another damp strand away from my face.
“You’re cold.”
“A little.”
Without hesitation, he took off his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.
The warmth of the fabric immediately surrounded me.
My heart softened.
“Thank you.”
“Always.”
A few minutes later, the waitress returned.
Two cups of steaming cappuccino.
And a plate filled with pastries.
Croissants.
Cannoli.
Small fruit tarts.
My eyes widened.
“Sebastian.”
“Yes?”
“That’s a lot.”
“You said you wanted everything.”
I laughed.
“Fair.”
I took a sip of the cappuccino.
Immediately my eyes closed.
“Wow.”
“Good?”
“Very.”
Sebastian watched me again with that quiet expression.
“What?”
“You look happy.”
I shrugged slightly.
“I am.”
I gestured toward the rainy window outside.
“Coffee.”
“Pastries.”
“Rain.”
Then I looked at him.
“And my husband.”
He leaned slightly closer.
“Not a bad combination.”
“Nope.”
For a moment, we simply sat there quietly.
Watching the rain fall over Lake Como.
Holding warm cups of coffee.
Like a normal couple.
No billionaires.
No empires.
Just two people enjoying a rainy afternoon in Italy.
And somehow…
It felt perfect.
Matagal din kaming nanatili sa café.
Coffee.
Pastries.
At tawanan habang pinapanood ang ulan sa labas ng bintana.
Pero nang medyo lumakas ulit ang ulan, napatingin si Sebastian sa relo niya.
“Ready to go home?”
I nodded.
“Medyo giniginaw na rin ako.”
He stood up immediately and helped me with my chair.
Paglabas namin ng café, napansin kong may nakaabang na itim na luxury car sa gilid ng street.
Nakabukas na ang pinto.
Nakaabang ang driver sa harap.
Napangiti ako.
“Of course may susundo.”
Sebastian smirked slightly.
“You married a Montemayor.”
“Still getting used to that.”
Pagpasok namin sa loob ng sasakyan, agad kong napansin ang privacy partition sa pagitan namin at ng driver.
Kaya hindi kami kita mula sa harapan.
The door closed.
Tahimik ang loob.
Naririnig lang ang patak ng ulan sa bintana.
I rubbed my arms slightly.
“Ang lamig…”
Basang-basa pa rin ang blouse ko dahil sa ulan.
Napansin agad iyon ni Sebastian.
“Bella.”
“Hm?”
“You’re freezing.”
Before I could react, gently niyang hinawakan ang laylayan ng blouse ko.
“Sebastian…”
“Relax.”
His voice was calm.
“Just change it.”
Mula sa maliit na travel bag sa tabi niya, kumuha siya ng dry blouse.
Then carefully, he helped me remove the wet one.
Dahil may partition ang sasakyan, siya lang ang nakakakita sa akin.
Walang ibang tao.
Walang ibang mata.
Just him.
“You’re impossible,” mahina kong sabi habang tumatawa.
“Why?”
“You’re changing my clothes in the back of a car.”
“You’re cold.”
He slid the dry blouse over my shoulders and helped fix it gently.
“There.”
His movements were careful.
Almost tender.
Then he reached for something beside him.
A thick soft blanket.
Ibinalabal niya ito sa akin agad.
Warm.
Comforting.
Then he pulled me closer.
I automatically leaned against his chest.
His arm wrapped around my shoulders.
Protective.
“Better?” he asked quietly.
I nodded.
“Much better.”
Outside the window, the rain continued falling over Lake Como.
Inside the car…
It was warm.
Peaceful.
Sebastian lightly kissed the top of my head.
“You had fun today?”
I smiled against his shoulder.
“Very.”
“Good.”
Then he tightened his hold around me slightly.
“Because tomorrow…”
He murmured softly.
“I’m taking you somewhere even better.”
I lifted my head slightly.
“Better than Bellagio?”
He looked down at me.
A small mysterious smile forming on his lips.
“Wait and see.”
And as the car slowly drove through the rainy streets of Lake Como back toward our villa…
I realized something.
Life with Sebastian Montemayor was never going to be ordinary.
And somehow…
I loved that.
Tahimik ang biyahe pabalik sa villa.
Nakasandal lang ako sa dibdib ni Sebastian habang nakabalot sa makapal na blanket. Paminsan-minsan ay hinahaplos niya ang buhok ko, tila sinisigurong hindi na ako giniginaw.
Sa labas ng bintana, unti-unti nang humihina ang ulan habang dumadaan ang sasakyan sa makikitid na kalsada ng Lake Como.
Pagpasok namin sa loob ng villa, mainit at tahimik ang paligid. The soft lights inside made the whole place feel even more peaceful.
Napangiti ako habang tinatanggal ang blanket.
“Ang saya ng araw natin.”
Sebastian closed the door behind us.
“It was.”
Lumapit siya sa akin, marahang hinila ako palapit sa kanya.
“And the night isn’t over yet.”
Napatawa ako ng mahina.
“Sebastian…”
“What?”
“You look like you have plans.”
He smirked slightly.
“I always have plans.”
Umakyat kami sa kwarto.
Tahimik ang villa, at ang tanging maririnig ay ang mahina at malayong tunog ng tubig ng Lake Como sa labas.
Pagdating namin sa bedroom, binuksan ni Sebastian ang terrace door nang bahagya. Pumasok ang malamig na hangin ng gabi, kasabay ng tanawin ng kumikislap na ilaw sa kabilang side ng lake.
“Beautiful,” bulong ko.
He stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Yes.”
“But not as beautiful as my wife.”
I rolled my eyes slightly.
“You’re very cheesy tonight.”
“I’m on honeymoon.”
“Still?”
“Especially.”
Napatawa ako.
At tulad ng inaasahan…
Hindi lang pahinga ang ginawa namin sa gabing iyon.
We stayed awake talking, laughing, and quietly discovering each other again—like two people who still couldn’t believe they were finally married.
Sebastian, as usual, had more energy than I did.
“Sebastian,” natawa akong sabi habang nakahiga kami sa kama.
“Hm?”
“Hindi ka ba napapagod?”
He chuckled softly.
“Not when it comes to you.”
I shook my head.
“Grabe ka.”
He pulled me closer against his chest.
“Three rounds is minimum.”
Napatawa ako.
“Sebastian!”
“What?”
“You’re unbelievable.”
He kissed my hair gently.
“But you married me anyway.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Liar.”
I smiled against his shoulder.
Because the truth was…
Despite the teasing, the laughter, and the playful arguments—
Every moment with him felt warm.
Safe.
And somehow…
Even after everything that had already happened between us—
It still felt like we were only beginning to discover each other.
Outside, the quiet waters of Lake Como reflected the moonlight.
And inside the villa…
Our honeymoon continued under the calm Italian night.
- Writer
