The Ocean's Promise

Chapter 3

It always feels good to be with him. Unang kita palang namin huling huli niya na ang kiliti ko. He knows how to make me laugh. He easily found his way through me.

Hanggang sa hinatid niya ako sa kwarto ay panay pa kami tawanan.

"Miss.." biro niya pa habang sinandal ang isang kamay sa taas ng pinto ko. "Pa kiss naman oh.." ngumuso siya.

I laughed. Umiling iling ako pero sinunod din naman ang gusto niya. "Silly.." I pinched his nose after.

"Haaaay..." he acted like he has been strucked by cupid with an arrow. Napaikit pa kunwari sabay hawak sa dibdib. "Lord, Thank you!!" He even shouted.

"Oy! Shhh!!" I covered his noisy mouth immediately while containing my laugh. "Ikaw talaga!" Suway kong pabulong. "Ang ingay mo! May ibang guests dito.."

Nagkilitian pa kami bago tuluyang tumigil dahil nagaalala na ako na baka maka istorbo na kami ng ibang guests.

He kissed my forehead repeatedly. Down to my nose.. my cheeks and lastly my lips.

"I love you so much.." he whispered after letting go of my lips. I can smell his minty breath as he was so close to me still. Pareho kaming napapikit.

"I can't wait to marry you.." he said breathily.

Ako na mismo ang lumapit para masiil ang labi niya.

My smile didn't fade kahit natapos na akong maghilamos. I changed my clothes and jumped right onto the bed.

It felt good to be loved. Maybe this was really the right decision. I feel happy..

"Agatha.." rinig kong bulong mula sa malayo.

"Agatha..." tawag pang muli

Napadilat ako at napabangon sa higaan. I looked around.

"Why am I here?" lito kong sabi nung matanaw na nasa pamilyar akong lugar.

It was the villa. Hindi ito ang kwarto ng resort kung saan kami naka check-in ah?

The wind was blowing through the curtains. Nakabukas bahagya ang sliding door. Naaaninang ko ang liwang ng buwas mula sa labas. Ang kalmadong hampas ng alon ay dinig ko din.

Mabagal akong tumayo at naglakad papalapit sa sliding door ng villa.

Masyadong maliwang nag buwan. It was clearly reflecting on the water. Agad akong nabighani sa aking nakikita.

Dahan dahan akong bumaba sa kahoy na hagdan ng villa. Malamig ang hangin pero hindi ko inalintana iyon. Masyado akong abala kakatitig sa buwan. I stopped when I felt the small wave on my feet.

Napababa ako ng tingin sa along humampas sa aking mga paa.

"You look so happy.." I heard a whisper again. This time it felt closer.

"Sino yan?!" Sigaw ko. Naistorbo ang katahimikan ng paligid.

"Sayang.. hindi mo na pala kailangan..." muling may bumulong.

I got confused. Ano daw?

I waited for more words. Nakakunot ang aking noo habang hinahanap kung saan galing ang boses na iyon. Di ko mawari kung babae o lalake ba. Masyadong mahina at parang hangin lang ang mga salita.

Am I imagining things?!

Am I going mad?!

Shit.

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at naupo sa buhangin.

Ayon at tinanghali tuloy ako ng gising! My head was aching too!

Panaginip ba iyon? Tumingin ako sa paligid. Nasa kwarto naman ako ng resort. So panaginip nga iyon? Di ko maintindihan.

It was a weird dream.

"Alam mo.. siguro minumulto ka ng dagat dahil nalaman niyang takot ka." Niko just laughed it out. Naikwento ko sakanya ang tungkol sa panaginip ko.

We were driving back to their rest house.

"Sige mang-asar ka pa!" Singhal ko. Minamasahe ko ang aking ulo. Nakainom na naman ako ng gamot kanina but somehow hindi pa eto umeepekto.

"Just kidding.." lambing niya.

Hinayaan ako ni Niko matulog buong hapon. He insisted to push back our suppliers meeting para makapag pahinga ako.

Sa sumunod na araw, natuloy din ang meeting. They handed out sample palletes for the motif. They showed me also a brochure from a famous designer. Napaka daming gowns!

"I doesn't have to be extravagant though.." Niko pointed out. "Beach wedding naman.."

"Yeah.." I agreed.

"Simple yet classy will do.." he added. "How about this? You like this?" He showed me one dress that he think I would like.

"Or this kaya?" Dagdag niya pa. "Or eto.." he pointed to another gown.

"Babe.." I laughed.

"You know what.. let's get this three.." wala sa sariling sabi niya. "You can chage your outfit three times."

"Stop that." Natawa ako. "One gown will do!"

He argued more on how the three dresses will suit me. Maganda daw ang tatlo kaya puwede naman daw makatatlong palit ako. One for the on the day shoot, one for the ceremony and one for the reception.

In the end, we decided to have two. It was along negotiation. But I appreciated how excited he was. I find it cute.

Sunod ay yung cake naman. He wanted 3 layers. Nag talo nanaman kami. The cake was too big at kami kami lang naman ang andun. It won't be even 50 people! Estimate namin ay nasa 30-40 lang ka tao dahil puro naman side niya ang imbitado. I have no one to invite though. Even my old friends.. Okay na din sa akin na wala sila. We suddenly grew apart after things happend, but it's okay. Ang ending ako din ang nanalo ulit.

"Your soon-to-husband is good at compromising." Asar ni Tita sa anak niya.

Niko just shrugged his shoulders. Natuto din si Niko na wag na makigpatalo sa iba pang dapat namin pagpilian. He eventually knew kaya tuwing nagsasabi ako ng gusto ko ngumunguso nalang siya.

"I'm sorry.." I pouted at him while we were on our way to the veranda. "I know you want the best for our wedding kahit na tayo tayo lang naman."

He sighed and hugged me. "It's nothing. What matters is, ikakasal tayo. Diba?" He looked at me.

"Oo naman.." I smiled at him. "That is what's important.."

We both had our snacks in the veranda. Tanaw ang dagat. Hindi masyadong mainit at sakto lang ang ihip ng hangin. We talked more about the wedding and also finalized our guest list.

Maaga kaming natulog ngayong araw din. It was a busy day. Halos buong araw kami nagplano para sa kasal.

Gabi na pero di ko parin makuha ang antok ko. I am tired but not sleepy. Should I bug Niko? Pero baka tulog na iyon. It was almost 12 midnight.

Naisip kong lumabas sa balcony ng kwarto. The cold wind immediatey blew hard on me. Yakap yakap ko ang sarili habang naglalakad papalapit sa katapusan ng balcony.

The moon is bright. It reflected clearly on the calm waters. Hindi masyadong madilim ang dalampasigan dahil may mga solar lights na naka tusok sa buhangin.

May natanaw akong naglalakad sa malayong parte ng dalampasigan. Gabing gabi na may guest pa ata sa kabilang resort na namamsyal. Ang creepy naman nun! Naglalakad pa siya mag isa.

Eventually I felt sleepy after a few minutes of staring at the moon.

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