Nikos gave Arize an approving glance as she descended downstairs. Pareho silang naka-casual. She was wearing a baby blue sleeveless blouse and cut off pants and sneakers. Habang si Nikos ay naka-short sleeved shirt, walking shorts and sandals. He donned his Oakley sunglasses back. “Wear this.” Inabot nito sa kanya ang straw hat. “It is scorching hot here. Even hotter than the hottest summer in the Philippines.”
He decided to spend their last day touring the whole island. Kailangan daw nilang mag-relax dahil pagbalik sa Manila ay maraming trabahong naghihintay.
“Where is our first destination?” tanong niya habang naghihintay sila ng taxi. Mas mararamdaman daw nilang turista sila kung magko-commute sila.
“The world-famous caldera of course.” Mula sa villa ay nagpahatid sila sa Skala. “Doon tayo sa tuktok.”
Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita ang tuktok ng bulkang Thira. “Paano natin aakyatin iyan? Maglalakad lang tayo? Papatayin mo ba ako?”
“That is one of the choices. We have to walk around five hundred steps on our way up. Or you can ride the donkey. And there’s the cable car, too.”
Nangilid ang luha niya nang makita ang mga nakahilerang donkey. “Nikos, naaawa ako sa kanila. Mahihirapan sila kapag sinakyan natin sila.”
Kinabig siya nito. “Hush now. We can always take the cable car.”
Her smile lit up. Her eyes widened like saucers as she looked at the beautiful sceneries from the cable car. Nakikita niya ang dagat at ang makitid na daan sa gilid ng bulkan. Maya maya pa ay bumaba na sila sa caldera. Dali-dali siyang pumunta sa gilid ng bangin. Umihip ang malakas na hangin at bahagya siyang nahilo nang makita kung gaano kataas ang babagsakan niya kung sakali. At iyon mismo ang naramdaman niya. Parang dahan-dahan siyang nahuhulog.
“Arize!” Mabilis siyang hinila ni Nikos sa kamay at isinandig sa katawan nito. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against his. Her back was leaning against his warm and hard body. “God! Akala ko malalalaglag ka. Are you okay?” he whispered against her ear, his arms never letting her go.
“I felt a bit queasy. Nalula ako dahil di ko alam na ganoon siya kataas. And I feel like I was about to fall. Thanks for saving me.” Kung wala ito, malamang ay nasa bunganga na siya ng bulkan. And it wasn’t a dead volcano. It was dormant.
“Huwag kang lalayo sa akin?” Inalis nito ang kamay sa baywang niya subalit hawak pa rin ang kamay niya. “Bago sumabog ang bulkan noong 1500 BC, isang isla lang ang Santorini. After its eruption some parts of the island is submerged. Parang nahati ang isla sa dalawa. This is Thira and the other island is Thirasia.”
“Can we see the archaeological site?” tanong niya.
“Yes. We will go there. As well as the winery, the beach and the vineyard. You’ll see. You will fall in love with Santorini,” anito habang nakatingin sa dagat.
“I am already in love,” she whispered, her eyes not leaving his face.
“I MISS watching the sunset.” Sumimsim ng raki, isang uri ng Greek spirit, si Arizona habang pinagmamasdan ang paglubog ng araw mula sa terrace ng villa. “It is like a luxury. Palagi kasi akong nakakulong sa opisina para magtrabaho.”
He refilled her wine. Maaga silang naghapunan ni Nikos. They bought souvlaki a Greek burger. Iniinit din nila ang lamb sausage na iniluto ni Ariadna bago nito pinuntahan ang kaibigan. “You shouldn’t deprive your self of such a simple luxury.”
Nilingon niya ito. “Thanks for the tour. Dapat nagtatrabaho pa rin tayo. But you still gave me day off. Perhaps the best day off I had.”
“I am glad that you enjoyed the tour around the island.”
Sumandal siya sa railing ng verandah at humarap dito. “Kung alam ko lang na ganito kaganda dito, sana dito na lang ako nagpunta sa halip na sa cruise.”
“Good thing you took the cruise instead. Kung hindi, di tayo nagkakilala.”
“I thought you rue the day you met me. I am a pain in the ass.”
Lumapit ito sa kanya. His eyes caressed her face. “I believe that things happen for a reason. There are things you can’t control, Arize.”
“That’s right,” she agreed in half-whisper. Like the unruly beat of her heart at the moment. Like the urge to have him near her.
Hinaplos ng daliri nito ang mukha niya. “Ise omorfi.”
“I know that!” she said with a mix of excitement and thrill. “You told me that I am beautiful.” Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya. “Is that right?”
He nodded. “Let’s see if you get the next one right. Filise me.”
“Ano iyon?” nakakunot noo niyang tanong.
“Hulaan mo. Kung hindi may penalty ka.”
“What is the penalty?” As an answer, his warm firm lips were claiming her. Nahigit niya ang hininga kaya kinuha nito ang pagkakataon na palalimin ang halik.
So this was how real kiss felt. Parang ihinehele siya sa ulap. She felt so light. Yumakap siya sa leeg nito. It was crazy. Ayaw niyang tumigil ito sa pag-angkin sa labi niya. He angled his head and the kiss became more demanding. Hinapit nito ang katawan niya palapit at halos parang iisa ang katawan nila.
“Nikos, Arize, are you home?”
Bigla silang naghiwalay nang marinig ang pagtawag ni Ariadna. Napasandal siya sa verandah habang habol ang hininga. Habang pumasok naman si Nikos sa loob ng villa para lapitan ito. “We are here, Theia!” wika ni Nikos.
“Oh! I thought you will go out tonight,” anang si Ariadna na sapo ang dibdib. “Shame on you, Nikos! You only feed Arize with these? You should have treated her somewhere else. How about you take her to a bar at the beach and party? Show her how we Greeks party.”