MAXINE woke up with hot kisses on her neck down to the valley of her bre-sts. Napangiti siya kahit nanatiling nakapikit ang kaniyang mga mata. Madaling araw na silang nakatulog at ramdam pa niya ang bakas ng nangyari sa kanilang dalawa.
“Trying to be my alarm clock, huh?” She grinned.
Lucas chuckled. Hinawi nito ang buhok na tumatabing sa kaniyang mukha.
She opened her eyes, yawning. Tinapunan niya ng tingin ang asawa niyang nakatukod ang siko sa gilid ng ulo niya habang nakatunghay sa kaniya.
“I won’t be sorry for last night. I still want more, but you’ll be needing your energy today,” he said, half-smiling.
Ngumuso siya at hinampas ang matigas nitong braso.
He stroke her cheek.
“Would you like to join me in the shower?” he asked seductively and trailed his fingertip along her skin softly.
She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes while enjoying his touches.
“No. Hindi natin mae-enjoy ang stay natin dito sa island kung dito lang tayo sa kuwarto, Luke.”
Napangiti siya nang makarinig ng sunod-sunod na katok. Kasunod no’n ay ang maliit na tinig na bunso nilang si Zach.
“Oh, the real alarm clock is here.” Lucas groaned. Nangingiti itong bumangon at napilitang magtungo sa banyo.
Siya naman ay bumangon na rin para pagbuksan ng pinto si Zach. Thanks to Lucas for dressing her up last night before she fell asleep.
“Hi, baby! Good morning!” bati niya sa pupungas-pungas pang si Zach at kinalong ito.
She kissed him on her cheeks. “Where’s your Kuya Noah?”
Ngumuso si Zach. “He left me. I saw him talking to a girl. Mom, she’s pretty and I think Kuya will marry her soon.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ni Zach. “What? Where did you get that…”
She sighed. Mukhang kung anu-ano na naman ang itinuturo ni Lucas sa mga anak nila. The last time, Lucas taught them how go catch girls’ attention. And now, Zach has an idea about marriage.
“No, baby. Kuya Noah’s still young, okay? He can only get married if he reach the legal age. Not too early, though.”
Napangiwi siya sa ideyang iyon. Iniisip niya pa lang na ikakasal na ang mga anak niya ay nami-miss na agad niya ang mga ito. They’re growing too fast.
Noah has this strict and intimidating aura. Kabaliktaran naman si Zach na masayahin at mapagbiro. Bukod pa ro’n ang pagiging malambing nito. Noah was sweet when he was younger than his age. Pero ngayong teenager na ito, ayaw na nitong nagpapahalik sa kaniya. Ayaw rin nitong nakikita ng ibang tao na inaasikaso pa niya. He hates being treated like a baby. He wanted to do things on his own. He even wanted to prepare his own meal. Kahit nakakalungkot para sa kaniya na masyadong mabilis mag-mature si Noah ay sinuportahan na lang niya ito sa gustong gawin, as long as hindi naman ito nakakasama. Besides, maybe Noah was just preparing himself for an independent life. Sa edad kasi nito’y nabubuksan na rin ang usapan sa kursong gusto nitong kunin abroad. He wanted to pursue architecture.
Maya-maya ay nagpaalam na rin si Zach na lalabas muna. Siya naman ay lumabas muna sa balkonahe at tinanaw ang dalawang anak na naglalaro na sa buhangin. Then she saw the girl Zach was probably talking about. Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiti nang makilala ito kahit nasa malayo. It’s Francine, apo ng katiwala nila sa resort. She met the little girl in the city hall when they were seeking for financial assistance. Then the girl’s grandmother humbly asked for a job. Hanga siya sa pamilya ng batang ‘yon kaya hindi na rin siya nagtataka na maayos ang pagpapalaki kay Francine.
