Where the Heart Simmered

CHAPTER 13

ONE SUNNY MORNING, Zayden had gone down from the hilltop to buy some necessities and food for their extended stay on the hilltop. It was eight in the morning nang maisipan ni Luna ang maglakad-lakad sa may lawa. Ine-enjoy naman niya ang paglalakad hanggang sa maisipan niyang magtampisaw. Marami ang mga turistang naroon at may kaniya-kaniyang mundo ang lahat.

Luna has her own world while playing with water.

The sound of the water was very soothing to her ears.

Not until a call on her phone made her sigh and smile a little.

“Hello, Rhett.” Pagsagot ni Luna sa tawag. Rhett Luis Donovan, the President of Donovan Airlines, and her fiancé.

“Kumusta?” tanong ni Rhett na may bahid ng ngiti sa labi.

“I’m good.”

“Halata nga sa boses mo. But I can sense the disappointment on you, Luna.”

Luna sighed. Hindi na niya itinago ang tunay niyang nararamdaman. “You know why.”

“Of course, I know,” Sabi ni Rhett. “We both don’t want this marriage. But in terms of business, I want this marriage.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Luna. Naipikit niya ang mata. Bigla niyang naalala ni Zayden. His smile and his gentleness to her. Everything. Napabuga siya ng hangin. “I don’t know, Rhett. I don’t know.”

Rhett sighed from the other line. “I’ll give you half a month to enjoy it. That’s all I can give you, Luna. So, enjoy your life whenever you are. Dahil alam mo na ang mangyayari kapag bumalik ka rito. Ako na ang bahala sa parents mo.”

“Salamat.”

“Don’t thank me. I’m also doing this for myself,” Rhett said. “Oo nga pala. Tumawag ako para ipaalam ko sa ‘yo na naghahanda na ang ating mga ina para sa kasal.”

Luna felt like the world had collapsed around her. Nawalan siya ng imik. A tear escaped her eyes. Her mother wouldn’t really let her go.

“Luna?”

Luna cleared the lump in her throat. “S-sige…”

“Don’t worry, after our wedding, you can do whatever you want. Just play the role of being a wife,” Rhett said.

Tumango na lamang si Luna at hindi na niya makuhang magsalita. Unti-unti niyang naibaba ang cellphone saka napatitig sa tubig. Natawa siya ng walang buhay.

“Luna… Luna… you’re really unlucky.”

Napapailing si Luna na natatawa. Parang sa mga oras na ‘yon ay binagsakan siya ng langit dahil sa kaniyang nalaman.

Wala na ba talaga siyang pag-asa na makawala sa kaniyang mga magulang?

Wala na ba talagang pag-asa na magawa niya ang gusto niya?

Suddenly, Zayden’s image popped into her mind. She smiled bitterly. Kung hindi lang dahil sa utang na loob niya sa kaniyang mga magulang, baka nagrebelde na siya. But she will be an ingrate if she turns back to her parents, who dressed and sheltered her.

Maybe, in her next life. If God permits, she will be willing to work with Zayden.

BEFORE NOON that day, Zayden returned to the cottage with groceries. He pushed the door open with his shoulders, arms full of groceries and the scent of bread still clinging to the brown paper bags.

Inside, the cottage was quiet.

Nakita niya si Luna na nakatulog sa may sofa. One leg was tucked under the other, and the sleeves of his oversized sweater had swallowed her hands completely. Nakabuklat rin ang sketchbook nito sa may sahig at may nakaguhit na puno at maliit na cottage.

Inilagay ni Zayden ang mga pinamili sa may lamesa, careful not to make noise. Then he walked towards Luna, moving carefully so as not to wake her. Lumuhod siya sa tabi ng couch kung saan nakahiga si Luna. He studied her for a moment, memorizing the way her hair had fallen over her cheek, the faint frown line on her forehead that softened every time she breathed out.

Napatitig na lamang si Zayden kay Luna. He was thinking and realized how easily Luna became part of his life.

Part of his home.

Alam niyang may hangganan ang lahat. Their relationship right now—hindi niya rin matukoy kung ano. They kissed, and something had already happened between them, and yet there was no clear level of their relationship. Pero masaya siya sa kung mayroon sila ni Luna. Saka na lamang niya iisipin ang mga mangyayari kapag nandiyan. Right now, he wants to enjoy this moment with Luna.

“Luna,” he whispered, though she didn’t stir.

Napangiti na lamang si Zayden.

He leaned in just enough to brush a soft kiss against her hairline. Then he whispered, like a promise only the quiet could hear.

“Let’s stay like this… just a little longer, Baby.”

Nanatili siya sa tabi ni Luna. Nakalimutan na niya ang dapat niyang gawin. And his world faded into warmth and quiet.

LUNA awoke to the sound of soft sizzling, clinking of utensils, and a comforting scent of garlic, onions, and something buttery browning slowly. Unti-unti siyang nagmulat ng mata at nakita niya si Zayden sa may kusina at nakaharap sa may kalan.

Saan pa nga ba niya makikita ang binata kundi sa kusina?

Zayden stood at the stove, with his brow slightly furrowed in concentration.

Gentle music was being played in the background.

Napangiti si Luna habang nakatingin kay Zayden. Napapa-sway kasi ito sa music habang may kung anong hinahalo ito sa palayok. On the counter, sliced tomatoes and herbs were neatly arranged.

Luna watched Zayden, still half-asleep but already smiling. At that moment, she forgot about Rhett’s call that morning. At tanging si Zayden na lamang ang laman ng kaniyang isipan. Umupo siya sa sofa. “That smells unfairly good.”

Sumulyap naman si Zayden. His face softened. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

Tumayo si Luna saka naglakad palapit kay Zayden. Sinilip niya ang niluluto nito at naramdaman na lamang niya na hinalikan siya ni Zayden sa noo.

“I was not trying to wake you.”

“Hindi nga pero ginising ako ng adobo mo.”

Zayden chuckled sexily. “Are you hungry?”

Napahawak si Luna sa tiyan. “Gutom na ako.” Kapagkuwan nagulat siya nang makita ang oras. “It’s already one in the afternoon.”

“Yeah.”

Luna rested her head against Zayden’s back while he cooked.

Kapagkuwan napatingin sila sa labas nang maramdaman nila ang paglakas ng hangin at nakita nila ang pagbuo ng maitim na ulap sa hindi kalayuan.

“Mukhang uulan yata?” sabi ni Luna nang unti-unting kumilimlim ang kalangitan.

“Don’t worry, we’re safe.”

Ngumiti si Luna. “I like waking up like this,” she whispered. “To the smell of garlic. And…you…”

Zayden turned around to face Luna and kissed her again, slower this time, on the lips.

Luna smiled.

Zayden turned his back on Luna and faced the stove.

Bumalik naman si Luna sa may couch at pinanood si Zayden habang nagluluto.

Outside, the rain started to pour. But inside, something better than the rain filled the space.

Luna wanted to tell Zayden about the call she received this morning, but opted not to. Ayaw niyang sirain ang moment na 'to.

She wants this moment to be happy.

LUNA AND ZAYDEN stayed at the hilltop cottage for a few more days. And on their last day, in the cottage, one late afternoon, while the sky outside was soft with golden clouds, the two were doing their own work.

Nagsusulat ng recipe si Zayden habang si Luna naman ay gumuguhit.

The soft scratch of a pencil on paper mingled with the sound of a pen gliding across a recipe journal.

Nakaupo si Zayden sa dulo ng lamesa na gawa sa kahoy at nababahiran ng tinta ng bolpen ang kaniyang daliri habang maingat niyang isinusulat ang recipe ng isang stew na nagawa niya dahil kay Luna—garlic cream stew. Oo, marami ng garlic cream stews sa ibang restaurant pero iba sa kaniya dahil may mga idinagdag siyang spices at herbs.

Sa tapat ni Zayden, nakaupo si Luna sa sahig at gumuhit. Nakalugay ang kaniyang buhok at seryosong gumuguhit ng isang cartoon character. Isang cartoon character na ang inspirasyon niya ay si Zayden.

“Baby, what do you think? Thyme or rosemary?” Zayden asked.

“Hmm?” Napakurap si Luna, snapping out of her focus.

“For the stew.” Ipinakita ni Zayden ang recipe kay Luna—na hindi niya talaga gawain. He wanted to write the recipe on her own, but it was different this time. Luna is special to him.

Luna tapped the pencil against her bottom lip. “Thyme is softer. Makes it feel more… homey.”

Ngumiti si Zayden. “Thyme it is.”

Kapagkuwan kumunot ang noo ni Zayden. “Bakit parang kanina ko pa napapansin na panay ang tingin mo sa akin, Baby?”

Luna smirked. “I’m drawing. You’re the character,” she said, and showed Zayden what she had drawn in her sketchbook.

Natawa na lamang si Zayden saka napailing nang makita ang drawing ni Luna. It was a cartoon character version of him with a messy apron, wild hair, a wooden spoon tucked behind one ear, and a pot overflowing behind him like a bubbling volcano.

Napangiti na rin si Luna nang marinig niya ang pagtawa ni Zayden. Ang sarap lang kasi na pakinggan ang tawa nito.

“I’m having another half-a-month vacation.”

“Really?” Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Zayden.

Tumango si Luna.

“Yeah, that’s good. Pumunta tayo sa mga ibang tourist spot dito sa probinsiya.”

Masayang pumayag naman si Luna. Hindi na niya inisip ang mga susunod na mangyayari. Basta ang nasa kaniyang isipan ay sulitin niya ang pagkakataon na ‘to para pasayahin ang sarili na hindi na niya magagawa oras na bumalik siya ng syudad.