Chapter 8

[ DAL LUBOMIR ]

I don't know what's going on in his mind. Ngayon ko lang nakausap nang malapitan ang isang Leox Acheron Solace, kaya hindi ko pa alam kung paano siya mag-isip.

We're riding a speed boat as of the moment, and Acheron is talking to the boatman, probably asking about the best diving spots. Meanwhile, here I am, checking the diving equipment we're going to use.

Before coming here, Leox and I took the basics of diving. He said that even though we both have diving experience, we still need to review the process before and after diving. Hindi naman ito naging mahaba, dahil alam na rin namin pareho kung ano ang gagawin.

"You're not thalassophobic, are you?"

I was checking the tank when Acheron asked. He came to me and sat on the fiberglass floor. Before answering him, I made sure the tanks were fine, then turned to look at him.

Una kong napansin ay ang mata niyang nakatingin sa akin. Acheron has this natural sharp gaze, complemented by his almond-shaped eyes that are slightly upturned at the outer corners...you could feel the intensity of his stare. These features make him look like he's always in a bad mood.

"No," I said, as if giving him a piece of information about myself.

Nakita ko siyang tumango. My eyes lingered on his muscular body. It was hard not to notice because he was wearing a rash guard, and it clung to him, making it even more obvious.

Kahit sino ay mapapatingin talaga sa magandang hubong ng katawan niya. Kung may mga kababaihan lang kaming kasama ngayon, for sure kanina pa naglalaway.

"You're not afraid of sharks?"

His second question made me freeze for a moment. We stared at each other for a couple of minutes before a soft laugh escaped his lips. 

"So you're afraid of sharks?" he said, sounding almost incredulous.

"N-No."

Shit... that sounded unconvincing.

"Don't worry," he suddenly said, standing up while gazing at the ocean. "There are no sharks in Lindenvale."

 I saw the way his smile widened, and for a sec I was mesmerized by his side profile. Acheron has full yet subtly curved lips that adds to his cold gaze, but whenever he smiles, that coldness vanishes into thin air, replaced by a warm breeze. 

"Are you ready?" he asked, both hands on his waist.

I looked away, trying to shift my focus to something or anything other than the sight in front of me. Narinig ko ang bahagya niyang pagtawa, siguro natatawa siya ngayon sa akin na hindi magawang tumingin sa kanya ng diretso.

I have a feeling that Acheron knows I like men. I can tell from his glances, the way he looks at me. So I was thinking, maybe he's just flirting with me now, which is not exactly good news.

"Go on, take a good look... I don't mind"

Because I had been staring at the waves in a distance, I didn't notice Acheron had moved closer—until he leaned in and whispered in my ear. His voice was sensual, and I was too shocked to even respond.

Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin pero nginitian lang niya ako.

"It's all yours, anytime you want. Go ahead... touch it," he said teasingly.

I stared at him in disbelief. The Acheron I talked to the other day wasn't this shameless. Well, back in Vien, he was actually just as shameless as he is now.

"We're both men, and I also have those muscles you have," I said, stating a fact.

Tanging ngiti lamang ang iginawad niya sa akin bago muling lumapit sa boatman. Naiwan naman akong naghahabol ng hininga. Ang ginawa niyang pagbulong sa akin ay nagdala ng sobrang kaba. Ramdam ko pa rin ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

He was too close.

Hindi naman kami magkapareho ng hubog ng katawan. Maskulado si Acheron habang ako ay payat. I don't like having those kinds of muscles, to  be honest.

"We're here!" Sigaw ni Acheron na ngayon ay naglalakad na patungo sa akin. Patay na rin ang makina ng speedboat.

I quicly put on the BCD with the tank attached. Actually, Acheron had prepared the equipment for me, so all I had to do was wear the BCD. He took care of  everything, and I only checked the gear because I wanted something to do while we travelled to the diving spot.

"Let me check you."

Hinayaan ko lang siya, total siya naman nag insist.

"Take a few breaths through your regulator to ensure airflow."

Wala nang bakas ng pilyong ngiti sa mukha niya at napalitan ito ng seryosong ekspresyon. Naka-focus siya sa pag-assist sa akin ng regulator ko.

Once he was done checking, he secured his own BCD and turned to me.  "We'll enter the water together," he said.

Positioning myself on the right side of the speed boat while Acheron took the other, we exchanged a brief glance before executing a synchronized back-roll entry into the water.

As soon as I entered the water, I gave Acheron the O.K. finger sign to indicate I was fine. I deflated my BCD, ensuring I floated at eye level while taking a normal breath. Once I was ready to descend, I signaled him again  before gradually releasing more air from my BCD, allowing myself to sink.

The moment I reached the seafloor, a breathtaking sight unfolded before me—massive corals stretched to every direction, teeming with life. Schools of fish swam effortlessly around me, their colors shimmering under the filtered sunlight. The scene was so mesmerizing that a small giggle escaped my lips, bubbles floating up as if sharing in my amusement.

I kept myself entertained, watching the fish and other marine creatures move gracefully around me. The vibrant colors, the way the light played on their scales—it was mesmerizing. I felt completely at peace, content just observing the underwater world.

Naramdaman ko bigla ang paghawak sa akin ni Acheron sa aking pulsohan. Nag signal siya sa akin na sumunod ako sa kanya. Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip dahil sabi niya sa akin kanina na may underwater cave raw sa pupuntahan namin.

We swam for a few minutes before the entrance of the cave came into view. Awe instantly filled me. It was teeming with marine life, and the water here was even bluer than before. I followed closely behind Acheron, my gaze darting around, taking in the mesmerizing sight. The entrance was wide enough for both of us to enter side by side.

If the outside was stunning, the inside was nothing short of breathtaking. Underwater caves have always held a certain mystery. You never really know what awaits inside. But the moment we entered, I was captivated. The first thing that struck me was the ethereal glow of the blue water, illuminated by beams of sunlight streaming through the cave's openings. Then came the vibrant corals and the schools of fish weaving through the rock formations, filling the space with life and color.

I couldn't see Acheron's reaction, but I knew he was just as mesmerized as I was. He lingered near the massive corals, even reaching out in an attempt to catch a small cuttlefish. His fascination with the marine life around us was evident, and for a moment, I found myself watching him instead of the scenery.

We stayed inside the cave for about ten minutes before Acheron signaled that it was time to head back. As we swam toward the exit, I felt his steady presence beside me. But as we moved farther, I noticed the ocean current getting stronger.

A sudden surge of water pulled at me, making my movements unsteady. Panic started to creep in when I realized I was being carried away by the current. My breathing hitched, and I struggled to regain control, but before fear could completely take over, a strong arm wrapped around me.

Acheron.

His firm grip and steady pull guided me upward. I focused on his presence, on the silent reassurance he provided. And as I looked up at him, silhouetted against the shimmering light from above, I felt something unexpected. Safety.

"Are you okay?" Iyan kaagad ang tanong niya nang nasa ibabaw na kami, but I couldn't answer him because my regulator was still in my mouth. I tried to take it off, but Acheron stopped me.

"Still not safe yet," I heard him say.

I saw how he raised his hand and signaled O.K. to the boatman. He pulled me closer to him as we approached the boat, which was a meter away from us.

"Take off your fins," he commanded. I gave them to him, and he passed them to the boatman. It was time for me to get into the boat, and throughout the whole process, Acheron was considerate and assisted me like I was a very important person.

Nang nakasampa na ako, balak ko sanang alalayan siya, pero walang hirap lang niyang inakyat ang speed boat.

"Ayos lang po ba kayo? Bigla pong lumakas ang sug, mabuti na lang po nakaahon kayo kaagad," may halong pag-alala sa tono ng boses ng boatman nang lumapit ito sa amin.

"Ayos lang po kami," sagot ko sa kanya habang tinatanggal ang tank at BCD. I saw Acheron do the same and stow his gear properly.

"Tara na po!" utos niya sa boatman, na agad namang sinang-ayunan.

I put my gear next to Acheron's and then went to the nearest object I could sit on. The wind was blowing a little strong, thanks to the sun, I still felt warm.

"Are you okay?" This time, Acheron sat beside me and handed me a bottle of water. "Stay hydrated."

"Thanks," I said and took the bottled water. "Ayos lang ako," sagot ko sa unang tanong niya.

Naging malayo ang tingin nito, parang may iniisip.  Uminom naman ako ng tubig habang nakatingin sa kanya. Thinking about what happened earlier when we were underwater, I came to realize   that something was odd about Acheron today.

Even before diving.

"How was it?" he suddenly asked. "Was it worth your time?"

I heaved a sigh and looked at the waves from afar. "It was worth it. I didn't know there was an underwater cave in Lindenvale."

"You were having fun, actually."

Huh? How could he even tell when he couldn't see my face?

A soft chuckle escaped from his lips, and then he patted my head, not minding my still-wet hair. I just gave him a furrowed brow.

"Happy?" muling tanong niya na ngayon ay malawak na ang ngiti sa mga labi. Was it fun teasing me?

"Well, you look happy, so I'm not gonna ask. Tomorrow, we'll be spending the day at the falls. My crew will be with us, along with some locals. Is it okay with you?"

I don't mind having a lot of company. The more people I interact with, the more distracted I become.

I was about to answer him, but he didn't give me the chance as he spoke again.

"But if you'd rather have me all to yourself, just say the word... I'll send the others packing."

Napatanga na lamang ako nang makita ko siyang malapad na nakangiti, para bang proud na proud siya sa sinabi niya sa akin. But I didn't know why I was reacting to those flirty lines. My cheeks were burning up, and I couldn't tell if it was because of the sun's heat or this guy's shamelessness.

"You better keep your mouth shut, Acheron." I warned him and turned my back.

Shit! What the hell was going on with this man? Nababaliw na ba siya? In broad daylight? Under the sun? Well, bakit pa ba ako magtataka? Kaya nga niyang manghalik sa harapan ng maraming tao.

But is this really the Acheron that people talk about? A kind-hearted, morally upright, all-around good guy?

That was a bluff!

This man is totally shameless!

- B M -