Chapter 15

/ DAL LUBOMIR /

Pagkatapos naming maubos lahat ng pinamili naming pagkain sa night market, bigla na lang akong hinila ni Acheron. Wala siyang sinabi kung saan kami pupunta, at hindi rin ako nagtanong. Knowing Acheron, I knew he was just keeping a promise. Naalala ko 'yung sinabi niya na he'd show me the beauty of this place. And he did.

I didn’t expect much from him because I thought he was just the same as always. Sinakyan ko lang siya noong una, pero hindi ko inakalang hahantong kami sa ganito. I don’t want this feeling to fade, but at the same time, I’m afraid to take the risk again.

Acheron has done nothing but good. He may be shameless, but I can feel his tenderness.

"Saan mo ako dadalhin?" tanong ko sa kanya, dahil kanina pa kami naglalakad at kanina ko pa rin napapansin ang ngiti niya. 'Yung ngiting parang may binabalak.

"We're going to the place where I used to stay. The view from there is magnificent," he said casually.

"Maglalakad lang ba tayo papunta roon?"

Sa totoo lang, masakit na talaga ang paa ko. Baka nakalimutan niya na galing pa kami sa falls at halos wala akong pahinga.

Acheron stopped and turned to me. We were on the side of a quiet road, with barely any cars passing by. Maybe because we’re on an island and it’s already late.

"Are you tired?"

"Of course I am!" I exclaimed, giving him a death glare.

I know he’s fit, but he should at least be considerate. I’ve never even set foot inside a gym.

"Oh, sorry," he said, probably realizing it just now. "You want to ride on my back?"

Napatanga ako. Pero wala rin naman akong ibang pagpipilian. Walang taxi sa paligid. The road was paved, but not a single vehicle was in sight. Still, kahit pagod na pagod na ako sa walang tigil na paglalakad, hindi ko pa rin kayang sumakay sa likod niya.

I can endure the pain, but not the shame...

"No thanks," I said and kept walking.

Hindi na niya hawak ang kamay ko, pero nag-iwan iyon ng kakaibang init. I could still feel his hand on mine, and for some reason, I felt comfortable… safe.

"C'mon, Dal!" he insisted, but I didn’t listen.

Just imagining myself riding on his back was so embarrassing, I could feel my face heat up.

Hindi na rin ako pinilit ni Acheron. Hinayaan niya akong maglakad, pero palagi siyang nakaalalay sa gilid ko. Sometimes, he would gently hold my arm whenever I stumbled over small rocks.

After about thirty minutes of walking, we finally arrived in front of a three-meter-tall wooden gate. I couldn’t see what was inside... it was too tall to peek through. I just silently followed Acheron as he quietly pushed the gate open.

"This is yours?" I asked as he nudged the gate forward.

"Yes," he replied simply.

Before stepping inside, I glanced at the surroundings—and that’s when I realized we were on top of a hill. The wind was cold, and fog clung to the pavement like soft smoke. Tall trees filled the area, but what caught my attention was the distant glow of lights from the nearby town. It wasn’t like the bright, busy city lights of Quintessa, but there was something magical about it. It was… beyond beautiful.

"I was captivated by the view... that's why I bought this property," I heard Acheron say beside me. When I looked his way, he was also gazing at the scenery in front of us.

"I don’t usually bring a car when I’m on the island. Walking lets me slow down, pause for a while… and appreciate the beauty around me. Just like in life. Sometimes we need to pause and notice the little things. Especially the people who stayed with us through the ups and downs."

Acheron sure had good things to say, but I couldn't agree with him this time. We live different lives, and maybe he had a nice path that led him here that’s why he can say things like that.

As for me, life hasn’t been kind.

Pausing for a while? That could put me in danger.
Appreciating people? That’s just a waste of time. In the end, they always leave or betray you.
There’s nothing special in my life either... aside from being born into a wealthy family.

But even though I didn’t agree with what he said, I didn’t bother voicing my thoughts. There’s a limit to what he needs to know. Acheron is still a stranger.

"Let’s go inside. It’s getting colder," he said.

Sumunod ako sa kanya at tahimik na pinagmasdan ang paligid. Behind the tall wooden gate was a very simple wooden cabin. It had a steep roof, large glass windows, and warm lighting inside, making it look incredibly cozy. The cabin was built on a slope with two levels, connected by wooden stairs and decks. Trees surrounded it, giving the place a peaceful and private feel. It looked like the perfect spot to relax and escape into nature.

Before reaching the house, we had to go down about two meters, then climb a set of concrete stairs. The path wasn’t hard to walk on since wooden lamp posts lit the way. Moss covered their surfaces, giving the trail a soft, lived-in charm.

"Wow!" I blurted out, looking back at the pathway.

The lights began turning off gradually now that no one was walking past them anymore. I couldn’t help but smile at what I saw. I didn’t expect that. It felt like magic.

"Let’s go inside," he said again, gently holding my hand as he led me in.

There was no one inside the cabin, but the lights were on, and the floor sparkled from being freshly cleaned. Every corner was tidy, and a light, pleasant scent lingered in the air.

"We have a caretaker who stays here to clean and maintain the cabin," Acheron explained. "He stays in the treehouse a few meters away."

"A treehouse? Sa’yo rin ba ‘yon?" I asked.

He nodded and turned around to look at me. I already knew he was wealthy. He’d been in the industry since he was ten years old and he owns a well-known wine company. Still, seeing it in front of me like this was different.

"So, why are we here?" I finally asked.

He never explained why we came here, especially when we could’ve just taken the jet ski back to Lindenvale.

"Oh! I just got a text from Kim. She said it’s raining in Lindenvale and told me not to go home yet, for safety," he said, turning toward the kitchen and opening the refrigerator.
"Mabuti na rin at may property ako rito. We can stay the night here."

He took out a glass pitcher, grabbed a glass from the cupboard, and poured himself some water. After drinking, he poured another glass and handed it to me.

I accepted it and took a sip.

Only then did I realize... it was an indirect kiss.

When I looked at him, he didn’t seem to notice. No reaction at all. But what do I expect from someone as shameless as him? I handed him the glass, and he placed it in the sink.

"My bed is on the balcony, and it’s somewhat cold outside, so I’m lending you my sweater."

Acheron walked into a room and didn’t bother to close the door, so I saw what he was doing inside. He brought out a blue knitted sweater and a thick blanket for me.

“Bakit nasa balcony ang higaan mo? What if umulan?” I asked him.

“I like the view from my balcony, and it has a glass roof. Let’s go there you’ll see.”

I followed him. I was just walking behind him when he suddenly took my hand and pulled me to his side. I didn’t pull away because the moment he held my hand, his natural warmth enveloped my palm. It was comforting... and addicting at the same time.

When we reached the balcony, I was left in awe of the view. The lights from the neighboring town met the dark sky filled with twinkling stars. The magnificent ball of light made the whole scene magical. It felt like I was on the balcony of an ancient palace, watching the world below.

The wind was a little chilly, but bearable. I looked at the bed placed on the side of the balcony. It was a king-size bed—very cozy—with artificial plants on both sides.

“Dito ka rin ba matutulog?” I asked Acheron, who had been staring at me the whole time.

“Yes,” he answered plainly and walked over to the bed to lie down. “You don’t mind sleeping together, right?”

There was no malice in his tone, and I didn’t sense anything strange from him. He just seemed like he wanted to sleep, maybe he was tired too.

“Fine.”

I don’t really have a choice, do I?

I got into bed and lay down. There was a big gap between us, but he seemed fine with it. He had his back turned to me, so I didn’t know whether his eyes were still open or if he had already fallen asleep.

I was awake for a couple of minutes, but sleep pulled me into a deep slumber. I didn’t know if the person beside me moved, but I felt warm arms hugging me. It was comforting... and I liked it.

When morning came, the first thing I noticed after I opened my eyes was the heavy rain. The morning cold had doubled. I gripped the hem of the blanket and hugged myself. But I stopped midway when something moved beside me. Strong arms wrapped around my body, and suddenly, the cold turned into warmth.

Doon ko lang naalala na magkatabi pala kami ni Acheron natulog, nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang hilik. We were in a spooning position and I was lying on his shoulder. Kahit na makapal ang suot kong damit, ramdam ko pa rin ang matigas niyang katawan.

Should I move?

I was contemplating whether I should get up or just wait for him to move. Ayokong gisingin siya. Besides, the heat coming from his body was addicting. I didn’t want to pull away from the warmth he gave.

"Hmm..."

Acheron suddenly moved his head, as if trying to hide in the crook of my neck. At first I thought he was dreaming, but then I sensed he was actually sniffing me.

"Stop!" I said firmly.

Ghad! Alam naman niyang men have sensitive mornings!

"Hmm... I thought I was dreaming."

He moved his hand, wrapped it around my waist, and pulled me closer. I shut my eyes when my back hit something hard because of the sudden movement. I didn’t know if I should be angry or ashamed.

"Let go, Acheron!"

"Good morning, Dal." He whispered in my ear and kissed me on the cheek. Goosebumps immediately crawled all over my body.

"You smell nice," he commented and pulled me even closer.

"You’re too close."

"Just giving you my warmth. I felt you shiver earlier."

Tsk! Reasons! Ang sabihin mo, naho-horny ka lang! But of course, hindi ko ‘yan sasabihin sa kanya.

"The rain has been pouring since midnight, and I just found out from the weather forecast that we’re having a low pressure area in the country, particularly in this region. Fishermen are prohibited from going out to sea. The piers are closed as well. No one’s allowed to use any kind of sea vehicle. That means we can’t go back to Lindenvale."

Agad nag-sink in sa utak ko ang sinabi niya. May low pressure area. Hindi kami makakauwi ngayon. Kami lang dalawa sa bahay na ‘to!

What the hell am I thinking?

Nahawa na ba ako sa kawalanghiyaan niya?

"I think you like this idea of us cuddling early in the morning, Acheron."

"I'm glad you knew," he said, and I could feel his lips form a smile. "But before this cuddle turns into something I can’t control, let’s eat breakfast."

Acheron got up, half-naked, and his broad chest greeted my half-open eyes. His sudden absence brought back the shivers I had earlier. Agad akong nagtalukbong ng kumot upang mapawi ang lamig.

Hinintay ko munang makapasok siya sa loob bago ako bumangon. Nahihiya ako. Ewan ko kung bakit, pero nahihiya ako, lalo na kanina, na dikit na dikit ang mga balat naming dalawa. At some point, I wanted more than just a cuddle.

I mean, Acheron and I are adults… and… and…

"Oh my God, Dal! Snap out of it!"

Tinampal ko ang sarili kong pisngi. Kung ano-ano na ang pumapasok sa utak ko simula nang makilala ko si Acheron.

"Dal, come on!" sigaw niya mula sa loob.

Agad akong bumangon at inayos ang sarili. I asked where the sink was because I needed to wash my face first before having breakfast. Afterward, I went to the kitchen where there was a square-shaped glass table with two chairs. On the table, there were eggs, hotdogs, and fried rice as well.

Maaga yata siyang nagising at nag-prepare ng agahan. There was also coffee. I guess he woke up first to prepare breakfast for the two of us, and after he finished, he went back to sleep.

"Do you have any plans for today?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nothing much, but I have a meeting with a client at ten a.m., so I’m going to stay in one of the rooms. If you need something, you’re free to come in. Other than that, I don’t have anything to do."

Pero mukhang uulan buong araw ngayon dahil sa LPA. Though I don’t have anything in mind, I still want to walk around the island. I hope the rain would stop somehow.

- B M -