CHAPTER 7
1550 Words
ONE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, Zayden invited Luna to a picnic in the lake. Nakita niya ito noong nakaraang araw na naglilibot siya sa lugar. It was an open space, maraming turista at mga taga-doon ang pumunta sa lawa na ‘yon. Maganda itong lugar at malinis ang tubig kaya naisipan niyang ayain si Luna.
Hindi na nagtaka si Zayden nang makita niyang dala ni Luna ang sketchbook nito habang siya naman ay dala ang isang basket na kung saan ay nakalagay ang mga pagkain na ginawa niya.
Zayden parked his car in the parking area where many cars and motorcycles were parked.
The sky above the lake was a canvas of soft blue and drifting clouds. The breeze swept gently through the reeds. Leaves rustled gently.
Ramdam pareho ng dalawa ng ginhawang binibigay ng kalikasan.
“Ang daming tao.” Sabi ni Luna.
Ngumiti naman si Zayden. “Maghanap tayo ng pwesto.”
“Iyong walang masyadong tao.”
“Bakit? Takot ka sa maraming tao?” Natatawang tanong ni Zayden.
Tinignan lang naman ni Luna si Zayden. “Isa.” Bilang niya. “Huwag mo akong simulan, Mr. Fernandez.”
Tumawa lang si Zayden at naglakad patungo sa pinakadulong bahagi ng lawa. Walang masyadong tao doon at makakapag-relax silang dalawa.
Maganda ang lawa at ang paligid nito kaya naman natutuwa si Luna kahit pa inaasar siya ni Zayden. Mukhang nasanay na siya sa mga pang-aasar sa kaniya ng binata kaya lang sinasagot niya ito kaya nagtatalo sila, lalo kung pagdating sa kusina. Hindi pa rin siya sumusuko na balang araw matuto rin siyang magluto.
Luna kicked off her sandals as soon as they reached their destination. At tinulungan si Zayden na ilatag ang checkered blanket. Kapagkuwan napatingin siya sa paligid. The wildflowers that grew among the grass leaned lazily in the sunlight, and the scent of warm earth mixed with crusty mint.
Luna twirled once in the open air before sitting, sketchbook resting beside her like a second heart.
Huminga ng malalim si Luna. “This feels like walking into a fairytale. At hindi mo aakalain na may ganito kaganda na lugar dito sa probinsiya.”
Ngumiti si Zayden habang nilalabas ang laman ng basket.
Luna helped Zayden in silence. Inside the basket, there was soft bread still warm from the oven, jam sandwiches, strawberries from the farmer’s market, and a glass jar of lemonade with floating slices of lemon and rosemary.
“Sandali. Really? Rosemary in lemonade?” Luna asked. Napataas pa siya ng kilay.
Zayden poured two cups and handed one to Luna. “Try it before you question my geniusness.”
Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ni Luna. “Is that even a word?”
Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Zayden.
Luna took a sip of the lemonade. Her eyebrows lifted in mild shock. “Okay, chef. I see it.”
Zayden smirked, please.
Habang kumakain sila, naririnig nila ang paghuni ng mga ibon na nakadapo sa mga sanga ng puno. Kumikislap rin ang tubig sa may lawa habang natatamaan ito ng sinag ng araw.
“Wow. Ang cute.” Saad ni Luna nang makita ang mga pato na lumalangoy sa tubig at may mga anak pa ito.
Then Luna started to draw in her sketchbook.
Zayden looked at Luna and secretly took a picture of her.
“Pwede ka ng mag-asawa.” Bigla ngunit pabirong sabi ni Luna habang kumakain ng sandwich at gumuhit.
Zayden laughed, that soft, rare laugh Luna started to adore.
Zayden thought that Luna was drawing the surroundings, but he was surprised when Luna showed the sketchbook to him like a trophy.
“Is that…”
“Yeah, it’s you in an apron and a chef's hat.” Luna smiled, then she laughed. “Hindi nga lang tunay na tao ang ginuhit ko. Don’t blame me, I’m a cartoonist. And yeah, for the Champions in the kitchen. This is for you.”
Kinuha ni Zayden ang sketchbook saka pinicturan ang ginuhit ni Luna.
Luna finished her sandwich and leaned back on her elbows, face tilted towards the sun. “Noong bata ako, inimagine ko ang ganitong pagkakataon katulad nito, picnics by lakes, at sana kasama ang pamilya ko. Or someone beside me who wouldn’t mind the quiet.”
“Did you draw them?” Zayden asked as he glanced at her.
Tumango si Luna. “Lagi,” sagot niya. “I did one sketch over and over again. A girl lying in a field with a book over her chest, a pencil in her hand, and sunlight on her face. Always alone, but in that drawing, the girl was yearning for her freedom. Iyong klase ng kalayaan na hayaan siyang mamili ng kung anong gusto niya.”
Zayden’s voice was low, thoughtful. “Maybe you were just waiting for the right time.”
Umiling si Luna. “That day would never come,” she said. She smiled and looked at Zayden. “But I was thankful that my wish was fulfilled. You fulfilled it.”
“I aim to impress,” Zayden deadpanned, but at the moment his heart was already beating so fast. Kasi nag-iisip siya ng ibang ibig sabihin ng sinabi ni Luna kahit pa alam naman niyang wala ‘yong ibig sabihin para sa dalaga.
Natawa na lamang si Luna saka humiga ng tuluyan habang nakadipa ang kaniyang kamay sa blanket. The willow branches above swayed gently by the breeze, shadows dancing across her skin.
Zayden lay back beside Luna, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
Nanatili sila sa ganoong posisyon habang pinapanood ang mga ulap sa kalangitan na nagpapalit ng pigura. Luna traced invisible lines in the air, sketching them from memory.
“Den.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you ever been in love?” Luna asked in a gentle voice.
Nahigit ni Zayden ang kaniyang hininga. “Yeah.”
Luna became interested. “What happened? Can you tell me? Please.”
One ‘please’ from Luna and Zayden immediately swayed. “She wants to chase her dreams.”
“You broke up?”
“She broke up with me.” Sagot ni Zayden.
Nagulat naman si Luna. “She broke up? Pinakawalan ka niya?”
Natawa si Zayden. “Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?”
“Well, I mean…” Bumangon si Luna saka tumingin kay Zayden. “Sa tingin ko mabait ka naman, ideal man at magaling magluto.”
Ngumiti si Zayden. “Like I said, she chased her dreams.”
“You have already moved on?”
“Oo naman.” And I already like someone. A simple but beautiful woman. He thought while looking at Luna.
Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Luna nang medyo mapansinng nakatitig sa kaniya ang binata. Hindi niya kayang makipagtitigan rito.
“How about you?” Zayden asked, sitting up. “Have you ever been in love?”
Umiling si Luna. “I never had.”
“Bakit naman?”
“I wasn’t allowed to.”
Zayden stared at Luna. “Your parents didn’t allow you to have a relationship? Ang strict naman nila?”
“It’s my mom. Okay lang naman kay Daddy pero dahil mahal ni Daddy si Mommy at nirerespeto niya ito, hindi na siya umiimik.”
Kumunot ang noo ni Zayden. “Hindi naman pwede na tatanda kang dalaga. Wala kang kasama pagtanda.”
Tipid lamang na ngumiti si Luna saka tumayo pero hindi niya nabalanse ang kaniyang sarili kaya bumagsak siya. Pero hind isa blanket siya bumagsak kundi kay Zayden.
Zayden let out an ‘umph’ sound when Luna landed on him.
They were now in an awkward position. Luna was lying on top of Zayden. Pareho pang nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata sa gulat.
“I’m so sorry!” Luna gasped, propped up over Zayden, her palms on his chest. “Are you okay?”
Zayden’s eyes were wide, half in shock, and trying hard not to notice how close their faces were.
“Okay lang ako.” Ani Zayden. His voice was a little strained. “A flying pigeon crushed into my ribs, but it’s fine.”
“Pigeon ka diyan?”
Luna started to scramble off Zayden, but her foot got tangled in the edge of the picnic blanket, making her wobble and fall again. This time, nose to nose with Zayden.
They both froze.
Napahawak ang kamay ni Zayden sa beywang ni Luna upang alalayan ito. At sa pagkakalapit nilang dalawa, naamoy niya ang dalaga. Luna smelled sweet. And he wanted to bury his face on her neck just to smell her scent.
Namula si Luna. “I swear I didn’t mean it.”
“Are you saying you don’t routinely tackle people during picnics?” Zayden murmured.
“This is my first picnic,” Luna said.
Zayden smiled, and something at that moment had shifted—gentle, unspoken but undeniable feelings.
Napakurap si Luna saka nagmamadaling umalis sa ibabaw ni Zayden habang humihingi ng pasensiya.
"Next time," Zayden said, glancing at Luna with a glint in his eyes, “maybe just ask for a hug.”
Napatakip na lamang si Luna sa mukha.
Zayden continued eating—this time, he ate some strawberries. He was normal, while Luna was not. She felt awkward about what had happened.
Yeah, even when they got home, Luna felt so awkward.
- Writer
