At The Sunrise

Chapter 11

"But, why?"

"Don't you think that's too much? We are on an arranged marriage, Zach. At hindi siguro magandang idea na gawin natin lagi ito. Maybe we should just focus on the business and not anything else."

He was silent. She can see the disappointment in his eyes and that makes her feel bad. She wished she never had said that. But instead, Zach smiled and put his arms around her shoulders.

"Let's just enjoy the sunset, Yve."

Ilang minuto pa silang nanatili sa kanilang pwesto. They watched the sun until it fades away and darkness starts to lure in. Nagsimula nang maging mas maingay ang lugar, marahil ay nagsisilabasan na ang mga turista para kumain at mag party.

"What do you want to eat?" maya maya ay tanong ni Zach.

"I don't think kaya ko pang kumain, Zach. Busog pa ako."

"Me too. Well, what would you like to do now?"

"I don't know. Maybe we should pack up our things para maago tayong makaalis bukas."

"Nah. Mamaya na yan. Let's go get tattoo."

"What? No!"

"I mean henna tattoo. We're not getting real ones." sagot nitong nakangiti.

"Ikaw na lang. Samahan na lang kita."

Aniya sabay tayo at nagsimulang maglakad. Agad naman sumunod si Zach at inakbayan siya. Hindi naman kalayuan ang kiosk ng tattoo maker. Agad itong kinausap ni Zach habang siya ay nakatingin lang sa mga designs na naka display.

"This way, Ma'am." lumapit ang isang babae at agad siyang inalalayang makaupo.

"Oh, I'm not getting any tattoo." protesta niya rito ng makitang kumukuha ng ilang gamit ang babae.

"Your husband already has picked a design for you, Ma'am."
nakangiting sagot nito.

Lumingon siya sa gawi ni Zach pero kinindatan lang siya nito at pumuwesto para simulan ang tattoo. Hindi na rin siya tumutol pa nang simulan ang gawain.

It took 15 minutes para matapos ang design. Pinalagay niya iyon sa likod niya. Kay Zach naman ay nasa braso. It was beautiful on her skin. The color suits well sa tan niyang balat. It was an ambigram of their names Yvonne V Zachary but it looked like her name was reflecting his.

"That is so perfect, Mrs. Valeria."komento ni Zach habang pinagmamasdan ito.

"It is. And what have you got, Mr. Valeria?" tanong niya rito.

Pinakita sa kanya ni Zach ang kanyang tattoo. It was a beautiful image of her smiling. Napamangha siya rito but that made her speechless. Why would Zach have her face tattoed on him?

"If we go beyond 8 years, I'll have a real tattoo of your beautiful face, Mrs. Valeria." he said and bended down to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

She blushed. She never would've thought that Zach is considering it. Well, it was too early for her to consider Zach to be part of her life after this marriage. Yes, she have known him since they were kids but they just started to get to to know each other since he moved in with her few months ago. But so far, they're getting along very well.

"We'll see, Zach." tanging sagot niya rito.

Ngumiti ito. Hinawakan siya ni Zach sa kamay at hinila palabas ng kiosk. They took pictures of their tattoo na parang mga batang na e-excite. Patuloy rin sila sa paglalakad at panaka nakang kumuha ng mga litrato nilang dalawa sa bawat madaanang magandang lugar.

"Let's go and have something to eat, Mrs. Valeria. And I wanted to show you something."

Maya-maya ay sabi ni Zach habang hawak ang kanyang kamay at dinala siya sa isang bahagi ng isla.

"Surprise!" ani Zach nang makarating sila sa beachfront.

She was amazed by his surprise. Sa may dalampasigan ay mag sand image ng kanilang bahay at nakaukit ang Mr. and Mrs. Valeria sa ibabang bahagi. It was a perfect image of their home. At sa di kalayuan ay may naka set-up na dinner table para sa kanilang dalawa. May mga musicians rin doon na tumutugtog ng violin. They were playing their wedding songs. But what amazes her is the full moon's view. It was so perfect for lovers.

"What are these for, Zach?" hindi niya napigilang tanong dito.

"Date." simpleng sagot ni Zach at inalalayan siya papunta sa upuan.

"Hindi ko alam paano mo nagawa ang lahat ng ito dahil magkasama tayong dalawa buong araw." nakangiting komento niya rito.

"The idea was all mine, of course. Pero si Amur ang lahat ng nag-asikaso. So, shall we eat?"

Hindi na siya sumagot at nagsimulang kumain. Akala niya busog pa siya pero nang makita ang nakahanda ay nakaramdam siya ng gana. Their main dish was roasted lamb with olive sprinkles, may side dish rin silang buttered crab meat at vegetable salad. And the rosè wine was the perfect combination. May dumating rin na almond vanilla cake matapos nilang kumain.