Where the Heart Simmered

CHAPTER 11

THE GRAVEL PATH crunched softly beneath their steps as Luna and Zayden walked side by side, the lake glowing ahead of them like a mirror holding the last kiss of sunset.

Walang nagsasalita sa kanilang dalawa. At tanging ang mga tawanan at kwentuhan ng ibang turista ang naririnig nila.

Malamig ang hangin at nakakarelax. The scent of pine and damp earth mingled in the air.

It was breathtaking. Ito ang tipo ng lugar na ayaw ng lisanin ni Luna.

Patuloy lamang sila sa paglakakad hanggang sa makarating sila sa parte ng lawa na walang masyadong tao.

Zayden stole a glance at Luna. Pero nakita niyang nakatingin ito sa kalangitan. Napansin niya lang na sa tuwing titingin siya sa dalaga, nakatingin ito sa langit. She was watching the sky.

“Luna?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I hug you?”

Tumango si Luna.

Pumuwesto si Zayden sa likuran ni Luna saka dahan-dahan niyang ipinalibot ang braso sa beywang nito. Then he placed his chin on her shoulder.

“You always watched the sky,” he murmured.

Luna beamed. “It’s always changing.”

“Anong mayroon sa papalit-palit na kalangitan?” tanong ni Zayden.

Umiling si Luna saka bahagyang natawa. “Hindi ko rin alam.” Aniya saka gumalaw kaya pinakawalan siya ng yakap ni Zayden.

Luna removed her sandals and sat on the wooden dock. Zayden followed. And their feet dangling just above the water. For a moment, there was only wind, brushing Luna’s hair across her cheek.

Umangat ang kamay ni Zayden. He gently tucked it behind her ear.

She looked at him.

“Do you ever wonder…” Luna began, her voice was soft, “How something this quiet can feel so loud?”

Zayden smiled and looked out across the lake, and then back to Luna. “Yeah, especially when you’re next to me.”

Natawa na lamang si Luna saka bahagyang hinampas niya ang braso ng binata. “That was smooth.”

Zayden chuckled. “I’ve been practicing,” he said with a grin. Then he leaned in slightly, enough for her smile to face—not in discomfort, but in anticipation. “I want to kiss you right now.”

Mabilis na inilayo ni Luna ang mukha saka tinakpan ang bibig. “Ang daming tao.”

“Kaya nga mamaya na lang.” Isang pilyong ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ni Zayden. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Luna.

Then Luna intertwined their fingers together.

Best feelings. Zayden thought.

Habang nakaupo sila roon at nag-uusap—just random talk—a couple came to them.

“Hi.”

Pareho pang napalingon ang dalawa.

“Yes?” Zayden asked.

The man smiled. “Can you take a picture of us?” he asked politely.

“Sure.” Hindi nagdalawang isip si Zayden saka tumayo. Kinuha ang camerang dala ng mag-asawa saka kinunan ang mga ito ng larawan.

“Thanks, pare.”

Tumango si Zayden saka ibinalik ang camera.

“Are you a local or a tourist too?” tanong ng babae.

“Half-half,” sagot ni Luna saka tumayo.

Natawa naman ang mag-asawa sa sagot ni Luna habang si Zayden ay nagtaka.

“Anong half-half?” tanong ni Zayden.

Ngumiti si Luna. “Half-alien, half-earth,” natatawa niyang sagot saka isinuot ang sandal. Then she greeted the couple. “Hi, I’m Luna.”

“Debbie, and this is my husband, James.”

“Zayden,” Zayden introduces himself.

“Parang namumukhaan kita,” sabi ni Debbie habang nakatingin kay Zayden.

Natawa na lamang si Luna ng mahina. Hindi na siya nagtataka kung may nakakakilala kay Zayden.

“He’s the chef of Leaf & Flame Restaurant,” said James.

“Oh. Ikaw pala ‘yon.”

Tumango si Zayden saka hinawakan si Luna sa kamay.

“Are you a couple?” Debbie asked, smiling.

Luna and Zayden looked at each other. Sa totoo lang hindi nila alam kung anong relasyon ang mayroon sila. They just kissed and that’s it. Hindi na nila pinag-usapan kung ano ang ang relasyon nila.

Natawa naman si James. “Mahal, don’t ask that question.”

Debbie pouted and hugged her husband sideways.

Zayden looked at Luna. “Let’s go. We have to prepare our dinner.”

“I’ll cook.”

“No.” Sabi ni Zayden sa maydiing boses. “I won’t let you destroy the kitchen.”

Luna pouted.

Zayden and Luna bid goodbye to James and Debbie. And then, they went back to their cottage. Papagabi na at maririnig na nila ang huni ng mga kuliglig.

“Let me cook, please.” Hiling ni Luna nang malapit na sila sa cottage nila.

“No,” saad ni Zayden. “But you can help me prepare the ingredients.”

Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Luna. “Really?”

Tumango si Zayden.

As Zayden and Luna entered the kitchen. Zayden cooked while Luna was watching and helping Zayden. Taga-abot siya ng mga kailangan nito—salt and spices.

“Baby, gave me…”

“Baby, please…”

“The salt, Baby.”

Iyon ang maririnig sa kusina mula kay Zayden.

But Luna was happy to help Zayden until she got a call from her friend. Nagpaalam siya kay Zayden na kausapin lang ang kaibigan niya.

Zayden nodded his head. And later, his phone rang too. Ang secretary niya ang tumawag. And his secretary was a boy. Ayaw niya sa babae. Mas mabilis kasing kumilos ang lalaki, walang halong arte.

“Boss, kailan po ang balik ninyo? You have a lot of documents to sign.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Zayden. “Anong nangyari? My restaurants have managers. It’s their job to sign any documents for the restaurant they manage.”

“Eh, Boss, kailangan po ang pirma niyo para sa payroll ng bawat employee.”

“Oh.” That’s right. He wanted to be fair and square. Nadala na kasi siya noon. May isang manager kasi siya na kinakaltasan ang sweldo ng mga empleyado niya kaya naman siya na ang nagbibigay ng sweldo sa mga empleyado. Ayaw na niyang maulit ang nangyari dati. That will be unfair to the employee na nagtatrabaho ng tapat.

“Go to my brother, Ben. Sabihin mo na hiramin ko muna ang daliri niya.”

“Sige po, Boss.”

After the call had ended, Zayden called his twin brother. At sinabi niya rito ang dahilan kung bakit siya tumawag.

“For pete sake, Zayden. This was your business.”

“You want me to get married? Sign it and let me enjoy my life.” Sabi ni Zayden.

Zane, on the other hand, rolled his eyes. “Argh! Fine,” he said in a defeated voice, and he ended the call.

Natawa naman ng mahina si Zayden saka napailing.

Pagkatapos niyang magluto, hinanda nila ni Luna ang dinner nila sa may porch.

Luna stepped out of the cottage, carrying a ceramic bowl of roasted vegetables. The soft clinking of utensils and the warm scent of garlic, thyme, and something buttery filled the air.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Zayden mula sa pag-aayos niya ng kandila sa lamesa na gawa sa kahoy. He took the bowl of roasted vegetables from Luna and put it on the table.

“You lit candles,” Luna said, a little surprised.

Nagkibit ng balikat si Zayden. “It’s a date.”

Ngumiti si Luna. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The only sounds to break the stillness of the night as they sat across from one another were the rustle of the trees, the gentle murmur of the cicadas, and the occasional laugh from another cottage. Nasa pagitan nila ang umuusok na pagkain, and a small bottle of wine.

Habang kumakain sila, napatingin si Luna sa paligid. “I feel like we’ve escaped the world.”

Zayden sipped his wine, eyes on her, not on the view. “Yeah, I feel it too.”

Luna turned to Zayden. Her heart was hoping that the man she would marry was him, but that was already impossible to happen.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Zayden asked. “Iniisip ko tuloy na gusto mo akong kainin.”

“Pwede ba?”

Biglang nasamid si Zayden sa iniinom. Napaubo pa siya.

Natawa naman si Luna.

“Don’t joke like that!” Zayden exclaimed. “That’s dangerous.” It’s torture actually.

Luna chuckled and shrugged. I wanted to do it, though.

Napailing si Luna. Ano ba ‘tong mga pinag-iisip niya? Kailan pa siya naging ganito?

Later that night, Luna, fresh from the shower, was surprised when Zayden took her to the back of the cottage, and she was really surprised when she saw the bonfire pit.

May kahoy roon na nagsisilbing upuan at doon umupo si Luna habang si Zayden naman ay sinindihan ang bonfire, letting the small flames catch.

The wind brushed. It was dark, but the stars illuminated the dark sky.

The flames in the bonfire crackled quietly, their orange glow casting soft flickers on Luna’s cheeks as she held the blanket wrapped around her.

Zayden tossed another log into the fire. Sparks rose like tiny fireflies and then disappeared.

“Ang ganda,” bulong ni Luna habang nakatingin sa apoy.

Zayden looked at Luna. “And so are you.”

Napatingin naman si Luna kay Zayden. “You always say things like that.”

“Totoo naman.” He moved close to Luna, slowly, until their shoulders brushed beneath the shared blanket.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa.

Luna looked at the fire and then at Zayden. Gusto niyang sulitin ang pagkakataon. Ang pagkakataon na may taong nagpapasaya sa kaniya ng ganito.

“Zayden,” Luna said softly, “if I ask you to kiss me, will you treat it like it means something?”

Zayden looked at Luna. “Are we on the same page?” he asked instead. And then he cupped Luna’s face gently, his thumb brushing the edge of her jaw.

Ngumiti si Luna. “Will you make me happy tonight?”

Zayden didn’t answer, but he kissed Luna. A kiss that was rushed. It was slow, warm, and deep. A kiss full of all the words they both couldn’t say because they opted not to say it.

Napahawak si Luna sa damit ni Zayden. While Zayden’s other hand slid around her waist, pulling her close until their knees touched, their breath mingling in the chill of the night.

The fire flickered, like it was igniting something.