Where the Heart Simmered

CHAPTER 17

THE NEXT MORNING for Luna isn’t good as the passed mornings. Paano ba naman kasi? Umagang-umaga at pagmulat pa lamang niya ng kaniyang mata, ang text agad ng kaniyang ina ang bumungad sa kaniya.

“Luna, Rhett had talked to me. Fine, enjoy your life wherever you are. But don’t forget your responsibility. Marry Rhett, and you will be able to repay your debt of gratitude to us. Moreover, I like him to be my son-in-law.”

Luna can only sigh and looked at beside her. Napangiti na lamang siya nag makitang mahimbing na natutulog si Zayden sa kaniyang tabi. Her mood sour vanished instantly because of Zayden.

Muling napatingin sa cellphone si Luna nang umilaw ito. And there’s a message from her father. “Princess, don’t mind your mother. If you really don’t want to get married, then don’t. Magagawan ko ‘yon ng paraan.”

“Thanks, Daddy. But don’t worry, mabait naman si Rhett. Siguro magiging magkasundo naman kami in the future.”

And then she hit send with a heavy heart. From the moment she from Rhett that their parents were already planning for their marriage, she had accepted the fact that she had no other choice but to marry Rhett.

Lumayo man siya ngunit hindi siya makakawala.

Luna turned to her side and stared at Zayden. “Den, I like you too, but fate wouldn’t let us be together,” she said and kissed Zayden’s forehead. “Maybe, hanggang sa ganitong relasyon na lang tayo at mapuputol rin ‘to.”

Bumangon si Luna at dahan-dahang bumaba mula sa kama upang hindi magising si Zayden. Pumunta siya sa banyo at pagkasara ng banyo, nagmulat naman ng mata si Zayden. Kumuyom ang kaniyang kamay. He heard it loud and clear. Ngunit hindi siya papayag na hanggang dito na lamang sila ni Luna. Gagawa siya ng paraan.

Zayden’s attention was shifted to his phone when it rang. Inabot niya ang cellphone sa nightstand. Hindi niya napigilan ang pagtaas ng kaniyang kilay nang makitang ang kakambal niya ang tumatawag.

He answered the call. “You called?”

“Hey, good morning, Zayden. Well, I was hoping you had a good morning.”

Zayden groaned. “Bakit ka napatawag?”

“Opps! I think you don’t have a good morning,” Zane said. “Pero wala na akong pakialam. Tumawag lang ako dahil sa anak ko. He wants to talk to you.”

And from the background, Zayden heard his nephew’s voice.

“Tito Papa!!!”

“Hey, Zyaire,” bati ni Zayden sa pamangkin.

“Tito Papa, how are you po?”

Zayden smiled. “I’m good.”

“Tito Papa, pasalubong.”

Natawa ng malakas si Zayden. Sabi na nga ba niya, eh. “Sure, kiddo. I will buy lots of food.”

“Yey! Thank you po, Tito Papa!”

Zayden could picture his nephew jumping in happiness.

“You always spoil my son.” Zane sighed from the other line.

“And you didn’t?” Zayden asked in an obvious tone. “Alam kong lagi kang nasasabihan diyan ng asawa mo, eh.”

“Fine. I spoil my son, okay. Pero mabalik tayo sa ‘yo. Wala ka bang nakita diyan na pwedeng mong ipakilala sa amin ni Mommy pagbalik mo?”

Sasagot sana si Zayden pero bumukas ang pinto ng banyo at lumabas si Luna. “Maybe,” he said.

“So, may nakita ka nga na nagpatibok ng puso mo?”

Agad na napahawak ng dibdib si Zayden.

“Oh, natahimik ka?”

“Call you later, Zane.”

Zayden ended the call. Ayaw niyang magisa ng kakambal niya. Hindi pa naman ito titigil sa kakatanong kung hindi nito nakuha ang gusto nitong sagot.

“You okay?” Luna asked.

Zayden looked at Luna. He had indeed fallen for her. “Come here.”

Lumapit naman si Luna kay Zayden. “Bakit?”

Hinawakan ni Zayden ang kamay ni Luna. “Anong gusto mong agahan?” tanong niya.

“Ikaw,” pabirong sagot ni Luna.

But Zayden take it seriously. Hinila niya si Luna sa kama at kinubabawan niya ito.

“Sure, Baby. I’m always available,” said Zayden as he kissed Luna’s neck. It was his favorite spot. Ang bango kasi.

“I’m just joking,” natatawang saad ni Luna habang itinutulak si Zayden paalis ng ibabaw niya pero mabigat ito.

“I’m not joking, Baby.” Zayden kissed torridly on Luna's lips while his hands were unbuttoning her satin pajamas.

Luna let out a sigh of contentment and closed her eyes as she tilted her head and gave Zayden more access. “Den…” she moaned.

Hindi na bago ito sa kanilang dalawa. Laging may nangyayari sa kanila tuwing umaga mula ng makabalik sila mula sa pinuntahan nilang hilltop. Zayden said it was an exercise. Nakaka-burn daw ng fats ang s*x tuwing umaga.

Luna was half-believed Zayden. Pero hinayaan na lamang niya itong angkinin siya dahil gusto rin naman ng katawan niya. Her body was always reacting to Zayden’s touch and kiss. Parang hinahanap na rin ito ng katawan niya.

After making love, Luna fell asleep again.

Napangiti na lamang si Zayden saka tinakpan ang hubad na katawan ng dalaga saka bumaba sa kama. He walked into the bathroom and take a bath.

Pagkatapos niyang maligo, wearing only sweatpants, no upper clothes, he went to the kitchen to cook breakfast.

Katatapos niya lamang na magluto nang maramdaman niyang may yumakap sa kaniyang mula sa likuran. It’s Luna with damp hair and in his shirt.

Zayden automatically smiled. “Morning, Baby. You looked sexy in my shirt.”

Pabirong kinagat ni Luna ang braso ni Zayden. “You rascal.”

Zayden chuckled. “I won’t deny that, Baby.”

Luna rolled her eyes.

They were enjoying their breakfast with coffee when Zayden’s phone rang.

Zayden frowned, checking the caller ID, and his smile faded. Tumingin siya kay Luna. “Restaurant. It’s Dean, my secretary.”

Luna looked up, sending a change in his tone. “Go ahead.”

Tumayo si Zayden saka medyo lumayo kay Luna habang sinasagot ang tawag. His voice was low at first. “Hello?”

Napatingin naman si Luna kay Zayden na nasa tabi ng bintana at nakikipag-usap sa sekretaryo nito.

“…wait, what?”

“What do you mean the delivery didn’t arrive?”

Zayden paused. His jaw clenched. “And the oven? Since when?”

Napatigil na sa pagkain si Luna. She watched Zayden, her chest tightening at the sight of him slowly shifting out of their happy morning, back into the weight of the world he left behind in the city.

Another pause from Zayden. His voice was calm this time. “No, hindi mo na ‘yon kasalanan, Dean. Tama lang na tinawagan mo ako.”

Zayden hung up and stood still for a moment. Hawak niya ng mahigpit ang cellphone. And his shoulder was tense.

Tumayo naman si Luna saka nilapitan si Zayden. “Hey…”

Humarap si Zayden kay Luna. Humihingi ng pasensiya ang mga mata nito. “Kitchen oven broke down. Deliveries didn’t arrive, and we have two big reservations tomorrow night.”

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa.

“Kailangan mong bumalik.”

“Pero paano ka?” tanong ni Zayden.

Luna smiled. “Ano ka ba? Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko dito sa probinsiya. Sa susunod na linggo babalik na rin naman ako sa syudad.”

Pareho silang natigilan. At pareho nilang naisip ang posibleng mangyari. After going back to the city, posibleng hindi na sila magkita.

Doon natatakot si Zayden pero hindi naman niya pwedeng hayaan ang restaurant niya. It was his hard work, and he didn’t want to have bad reviews from customers that might ruin his business.

Zayden stared at Luna. Kapagkuwan sinapo niya ang mukha nito at hinalikan ito sa labi.

“Come with me.” Ani Zayden nang maghiwalay ang kanilang labi.

“You want me to go with you?” gulat na tanong ni Luna. Hindi niya kasi inaasahan ‘yon.

“Yes, I want you to come with me.”

“Pero…”

“Baby, please,” Zayden begged. “Kahit ibigay mo na sa akin ang natitirang araw na malaya ka. Please be with me.”

Nakagat ni Luna ang pang-ibabang labi saka dahan-dahang tumango. “Kailan tayo aalis?”

“Ngayon na.”

Later that morning, their bags were packed, the car was waiting, and the city was calling.

Napanguso si Luna habang nakatingin sa apartment. “Parang ayaw ko pang umalis,” she murmured, eyes roaming the cozy space that had started to feel like something more, even if it’s temporary.

Zayden zipped up his duffel bag and smiled softly. “Gusto ko ngang iwanna lang ‘yong restaurant at magtayo ng maliit na bakery dito.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Luna. “Kahit wala kang sure na customers?”

Tumawa si Zayden. “Meron naman akong isa. A girl who loves to draw.”

Luna rolled her eyes but blushed anyway. “Let’s go. Bago pa man magbago ang isip ko at hindi na ako sumama sa ‘yo.”

They loaded the car in comfortable silence.

As the engine started, Luna looked back at the apartment one last time. This is the place where she met Zayden and fell in love with him.

Luna closed her eyes and leaned on the passenger seat.

The road back to the city was long, but it didn’t feel rushed. Nakababa ang bintana para pumasok ang hangin. Music played low on the radio.

And as the skyline came into view, tall buildings, honking cars, and blinking traffic lights. Alam na ni Luna na unti-unti na siyang bumabalik sa reyalidad. Tumingin siya kay Zayden na nakatutok ang mata sa daan.

A small smile played on her lips. For the remaining days of my freedom, I will enjoy it to the fullest.

But Luna felt sorry for Zayden. Dahil ginamit niya ito para sa kaniyang pansariling kapakanan at kaligayahan.

And now she felt guilty because she had already fallen in love with Zayden.