MARIIN niyang tinitigan si Malik.
He said he'll be watching her so she doesn't need to worry if she got the swamp. Naniniwala siya rito. He will never leave her.
Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at hinayaan ang sariling lumutang sa tubig. Sa una at ikalawa ay palagi siyang lumulubog. At sa bawat pag-ahon niya'y palaging nariyan si Malik upang bigyan siya ng lakas ng loob.
"Remove your fear from drowning. Think that you are floating. Calm down." He whispered in her ears before him supple a kiss on her forehead. He let go her and give some space. Humalukipkip ito at banayad na ngumiti.
Iwinaksi niya sa isipan ang takot at kinalma ang sarili. I'm going to float. Determined to learn, she slowly let her body lying on the water. This time, she didn't close her eyes. Her eyes landed on the blue sky. Kung paanong magtago ito sa ibat ibang hugis ng mga ulap. Her eyes drifted on the airplane. It was very far but from her position, she can see it as if it was just in front of her.
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi niya nang mapansin kung gaano na siya katagal na lumulutang. Dala nang pananabik ay napatuwid siya at napatingin kay Malik.
Instead of showing her bliss experience, she found herself laughing.
Malik's both arm snaked around her small waist. "How was it feel?"
"I want some more." She said as her heart race. Still, she can't get enough of what happened.
Malik chuckled. "Mukhang hindi ka pa rin makapaniwala."
Maging siya ay natawa habang tumatango. "Yeah. I was just enjoying the view until I realize I am really floating."
Malik caressed the curves of her waist going to her hip.
Doon nalipat ang atensyon niya. "Hmmm. Hindi ba't sanay kang mag-swimming?"
"Hmmm?"
She sighed heavily because of his answer. Malik was obviously not minding what she was saying because he was busy on caressing her back. She was not sure if he was, but the way his finger linger on her back, sending a sensual bolt of electricity.
Pumikit siya at napaawang ng labi dahil sa kiliting dala noon. "I w-wanted to see you doing it." She opened her eyes and caught his hand. "I don't want to enjoy the pool alone." She drifted her eyes on the water. Naging hindi siya komportable sa isang iglap at hindi makatigin dito. Pakiramdam din niya ay naramdaman ni Malik ang naramdaman niya kanina.
Hinapit siya nito upang bumulong, "I do enjoy it, baby."
She smiled sheepishly. Kahit kailan talaga ay hindi niya mapigilang ma-intimidate dito. The way his hawk eyes boring into her body makes her uncomfortable. "Let's swim, then?"
Unti-unti siyang pinawalan ni Malik.
Ngumisi siya noong tuluyang kumawala rito. Binalya niya ang tubig bago lumusong at lumangoy. Nasa mababaw lang sila na parte ng pool, kaya noong hindi niya na kayang huminga at pakiwari niya ay hindi niya na abo tang sahig ay agad siyang tumigil. Hindi naging malayo ang distansiya na nagawa niya, pero kung ikukumpara noon ay ito na yata ang pinaka-mahabang nalangoy niya.
Luminga siya upang hanapin si Malik ngunit hindi niya mahanap kung nasaan ito. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya at nagsimulang kabahan. Malik? Napaigtad siya nang biglang may kamay na humawak sa magkabila niyang baywang at umangat sa harap niya si Malik. Muli itong lumangoy palayo sa kanya. He float for a couple of minutes and when he felt the heat on his body he dive going back to her.
Marahas nitong pinalis ang tubig sa mukha matapos ay tinitigan siya. "Are you satisfy now?"
Pilya niyang nginisihan ito bago tumango. Napansin niya kasi ang ilan sa mga kababaihan na tumigil sa kani-kanilang ginagawa para lamang tingnan si Malik.
Nauna siyang umahon at agad lumapit sa sun lounger nila. Bago pa man nila maabot ang towel ay naunahan na siya ni Malik. Walang imik nitong tinuyo ang buhok niya maging ang ilang parte sa katawan niya. When his done, he took the bath robe and put on her.
"Where do you want to eat?" He asked her while drying his own body.
Tinikom niya ang bibig sa naisip na pagkain. Matagal niyang pangarap na kumain ng pizza. Iyon ang isa sa pinaka-ayaw ipakain sa kanya noon ni Pause. Pizza, burger, fries at Ice cream those are the unhealthy foods that extremely prohibited to her.
Malik arch his brow when she didn't respond. "Why?" He asked as if he knows what's on her mind.
She heave a deep sigh. Hindi na siya si Vika, bakit ba siya natatakot sumuway? "Gusto ko ng burger... double deck, wait... may triple deck bang ganoon?" Pumitik siya sa kawalan. "With strawberry ice cream, please!"
Malik backs a laughter. "Alright. We will order everything you wanted."
Ganoon na nga ang nangyari. They google map the mushroom and burger. Naintriga kasi si Jyra sa patty na gawa sa mushroom.
Nasa tawag si Malik noong ilatag ng Waiter ang order nila. Siya nama'y napakagat labi pa noong makita ang double decker na burger.
Double-decker burger looks yummy. She followed the glass of strawberry ice cream. May decoration iyon na lalong nagpatakam sa kanya. Hindi naman malalaman ni Pause ito.
"Enjoy your meal," the waiter said.
"Thanks," aniya sa Waiter.
Nang balingan niya si Malik ay nakatingin na ito sa kanya. "Carbs, ha?" tukso sa kanya nito.
She was cleaning her hand using the sanitizer. Dinampot niya ang burger at piniga iyon. "I can burn it."
The side of Malik's lip rose in amusement. "Hmmm... and I know the most effective way to burn it."
Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Alam niya kung ano nag tinutukoy nito pero itinapon niya sa malayong lugar ang ideya na iyon dahil masyado siyang excited sa pagkaing nasa harapan niya.
They've talked about the railway. Since North Gate was kind of far from the main city, a railway will do to have a better access. Maraming benefit ang maidudulot noon. At dahil makabago ang proyekto sa North Gate ng Vixie Empire, naayon ang kanilang project at sinang-ayunan na ng tatlong head ng Vixie.
While adoring the food she can't help but fall deeply with Malik too. Hindi niya kasi inaasahan ang ganitong pagtulong nito sa kompanya ng ina. At lalo ang malamang future investor pala ito. Lazarde was big, but now it is becoming bigger. Hindi niya sasayangin ang oportunidad na ito. Tutulungan niya si Frank. If he made it to Paris, she can do it here in the Philippines as well.
Pinupunasan ni Malik ang sariling bibig noong sumulyap ito sa labas. Napalingon din tuloy siya roon. Napansin niya ang nag-aagaw kahel at asul na kulay. I enjoy the day with you Malik. Ibig bang sabihin nito ay tapos na ang oras nating magkasama? She glanced back at him. Napalunok siya nang makitang titig na titig sa kanya ito.
"Colin called me. Today is his birthday."
Dinampot niya ang natitirang sanitizer. Habang kinukuha ang wet towel ay tumango siya. Going there means she will see Shawn, but Colin is a good friend and if they didn't go, she is rude.
"We can drop by. We're not going to stay long," suhestiyon ni Malik.
Hindi siya umimik. Something on the back of her head was saying don't go, but that was rude. Walang dahilan para hindi siya pumunta. Umangat ang tingin niya kay Malik nang maalala na alam nitong may hindi maganda sa pagitan nila ni Shawn. Perhaps, he was thinking the same thing.
Muli siyang tumango. "Will not stay long," she agreed.
Malik was just staring at her. Tinitimbang ang kanyang isinagot. Hindi nga nito nilingon ang lumapit na waiter para ipatong ang bill sa mesa nila.
She dropped her agonizing thought and forced herself to smile. "Because I have to burn this heavy loads later. You know."