Waves of Affliction (Isla Series #3)

06

"I didn't know you smoke."

Natigilan ako sa pag-inhale sa disposable vape ko nang bumalik si Kai galing sa banyo. He sat down beside me with his brow arched. I blew the smoke at his face, smirking after.

"Tsk." Inilag niya ang mukha at pinaypay ang usok.

"It's a disposable vape," I told him and offered my pod to him. Umiling siya. Nagkibit-balikat ako at nagpatuloy lang.

"It smells good, like candy."

"I know, right. Strawberries and cream ang flavor." Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang label sa vape bilang pruweba. "Want to try, babe?" offer ko pa.

I felt him freeze. He blinked for a while before clearing his throat.

"I'm good, thanks." He scrunched his nose. "I'm not comfortable with you using that though."

Natigilan ako at nagtaas ng kilay. "Why not?"

He shrugged. "I'd like my wife to be healthy for the long run. Baka iwan mo pa 'ko nang maaga," he unconsciously said.

I chewed my lip to stop myself from laughing. Tumikhim pa ako para pigilan iyon.

"I won't die using this, Kai. Chill. We'll have million of years together! Forever! 'Til death do us part!" I exaggerated.

He chuckled a little, which took me aback. Ano'ng nakakatawa? At tumatawa siya! Hindi ito palatawa!

"I'm just kidding. Just use it wisely, and don't blow the smoke on my face, woman." His warm fingers touched my jaw when he pushed it gently to the other side.

"Ikaw? Do you smoke?"

As much as hindi ako taga-initiate ng usapan, ang hirap lang tumahimik dahil palaging uncomfortable ang silence sa pagitan namin. I'd rather try to start a convo even when it was hard.

"Cigarette? No."

Kinuha niya ang watermelon shake niya sa lamesa. Parang nahiya ako bigla dahil 'to ako, umiinom ng alak, tapos siya pashake-shake lang!

"You?"

"Nope." I popped the 'p' before inhaling on my pod again.

"Have you tried?"

I shrugged. "Just one puff. I was really curious. High school."

He arched a brow while sipping on his shake. Akala ko may komento na naman siya pero hindi na siya nagsalita ulit. We had some more small talks before going back home to the resort.

"Come on, you could do it..." I bit my finger out of nervousness my eyes were very focused on Marco. Laban de Ahora ngayon.

Marco paddled fast before standing up on his short board. He rode the wave like it was his own. Walang nagkamali na sumabay sa kaniya. He swiftly did a few cut backs before doing a bottom turn, then for his last trick, he made a rodeo flip, going high up in the air.

I could feel my heart racing while anticipating if he was going to land on the water flawlessly or if he would end up failing the hardest surfing trick.

Napasigaw ako at napapalakpak kasabay nang ibang mga nanunuod nang nagtagumpay siya sa huling trick niya. Sinuntok niya ang ere sa tuwa bago nag-paddle pabalik sa line up.

"Galing!" sabay na sigaw ni Esme at Cali, pumapalakpak pa.

"Go, Quin!" I cheered even when I was sure he wouldn't hear me.

"Wala, uwian na naman! Panalo na si crush!" I heard Rosie say, a longboarder who had a crush on Marco since high school. She wasn't even trying to hide it. She's super vocal about it, but Marco kept on rejecting her.