"LONGING LOVE"

As beautiful as the exterior of the house was, I could say that it paled in comparison to what awaited Marius and me inside. It felt like I had been transported back to the times of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo because of everything I saw. There was no TV in the living room, but there was a beautiful grand piano. An old grandfather’s clock and numerous antique furniture pieces captivated me.

"Wow" was all I could utter while freely taking in the breathtaking surroundings.

"Do you like it?" Marius asked, pulling me back to the present as if a rope had tugged me.

I turned to him and looked up, smiling. "I love it. I mean, I love everything about this house," I honestly expressed.

For countless times, I saw the glint in Marius's dark eyes brighten due to what I said. I couldn't deny that there was something about those eyes of his that made me lose myself every time our gazes met.

Not long after, we heard the approaching footsteps heading our way. I immediately smiled when a gracious lady, who looked to be in her fifties, entered the large and spacious living room of the old house. She was morena but beautiful. Her attractiveness became even more vivid to me as she smiled.

"Oh, you're here," she kindly remarked, her smile lingering on her lips as she kept her gaze fixed on me.

I smiled back. Even though I only saw her now, I felt that she was kind. And perhaps I wasn't mistaken about that part. I could see that she was close to Marius.

"Nana Lourdes, this is Sam." Marius introduced me to the lady.

Nana Lourdes approached me with an open and welcoming face. She then reached out for my hand.

I didn't refuse her handshake. I accepted it, feeling her careful grasp in the palm of my hand. Nana Lourdes's hand was warm, and it brought an indescribable caress to my heart. And I liked that.

"I'm happy to meet you, hija. What Marius says is true. You're so beautiful," she said, still not removing her gaze from my face.

I immediately felt the warmth on both my cheeks due to Nana Lourdes's scrutinizing look. And when Marius probably noticed my slight discomfort, that was when he spoke.

"We're hungry, Nana," Marius said.

"Immediately, the lady turned her attention to Marius. 'Oh, that's right! Come to the dining area; the table is set. I've prepared your favorite, Paksiw na Bangus!” Her tone reflected pride in her last statement.

As Marius had hoped, we proceeded to the dining room for lunch. The spread on the table was delightful: Paksiw na Bangus, a savory Filipino dish made with milkfish marinated in vinegar, garlic, and spices, creating a delectable balance of sourness and richness. Accompanying it was Tortang Talong, an eggplant omelet, where grilled eggplants are dipped in beaten eggs and then fried to perfection. For dessert, we enjoyed Buko Pandan, a refreshing Filipino delicacy made with young coconut strips mixed with pandan-flavored gelatin, tapioca pearls, and sweetened cream.

I was thoroughly satisfied. So when Marius escorted me to my room, I decided to settle into the rocking chair by the window. Before that, however, we engaged in a conversation that brought a smile to my face.

'Aren't we sharing a room?'I asked him curiously, unable to contain myself.

I noticed the sparkle in Marius's eyes in response to my question. I don't know why, but I suddenly felt a bit shy.

'Do you want me to stay here?' he asked, giving me a wink afterward.

I let out a gasp at Marius's playful remark. Despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement. It seemed like there had been numerous instances between us, and I found it a bit perplexing.

“You're naughty, aren't you?” Unable to resist, I teased, lightly patting his shoulder.

At that moment, Marius raised his thick eyebrow while a mischievous grin lingered on his lips.

“That's why I'm asking if you want me here.”

He repeated his question, leaving my suitcase near the door.

I held his gaze for a moment. It felt like Marius was challenging me with his eyes, prompting me to respond. So, I felt a surge of boldness, something that rarely happened to me.

It's true. My frankness usually only surfaces when I've had a few drinks. But for something like this to occur without the push of alcohol, there must be something about this man that brings it out of me.

“I think there's something in you that's the cause of my vulnerability. That's why you got me pregnant,” I said outright.

I saw Marius register surprise on his face at what I just said. Judging by the way he treated me, I had an idea that I was a bit conservative when it came to him. Well, that's really how I am. I couldn't even understand myself or where I got the courage to say such things to him.

Marius' reaction was brief. I don't know if it was because there were only two of us in that room. And even though the door was open, Nana Lourdes was in the kitchen, busy cleaning up after our meal.

"Really?" he asked as he took a step closer to me. My heart raced with inexplicable nervousness, but I couldn't afford to show it.

He couldn't see me nervous and overly affected by just a simple gaze. I had no idea, and even I couldn't explain why I felt this way.

"The truth is, you're really shy," Marius said as he gently brushed a few strands of hair away from my face.

Somehow, my heart calmed down a bit with his gesture.

I thought he would pull me close and kiss me. But instead, his simple gesture was enough, and my heart was quickly filled with joy.

"I'm really shy, Marius. That's natural for me, even though I grew up in London," I explained to him.

He nodded and held my hand, pulling me to sit on the edge of an antique four-poster bed.

"That's one of the things I like about you, Sam. Your shyness," he said, looking deeply into my eyes.

My heart was pleased with what he said. So, I wasn't surprised when I felt my entire face warm up as a result of that compliment.

"Thank you," I almost whispered in response.

He nodded and smiled kindly. "Sam, I really want to sleep in this room with you. I want to make love to you, like I used to, all night, until dawn. But your current condition is preventing me from doing that."

"Is that why you decided to have a separate room? You know, even with this condition, I'm still your boyfriend, and I'm still your girlfriend, right?" I said, feeling a bit confused if I should be happy or offended by what Marius said. But in the end, I chose the former.

At least he wasn't like other men who took advantage of these situations. It made me admire Marius even more. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that I fell even more in love with him.

"HEY."

That single word from a familiar voice brought me back to the present.

I immediately turned to the direction it came from—the door where I saw Marius peeking.

"Yeah?" I asked him.

"How are you? Are you okay here? Do you want to watch TV with me in the movie room?" he asked, taking a step towards me.

I shrugged before answering his question.

"I'm okay here," I replied briefly.

He nodded and pulled up a chair, sitting in front of me.

"Tell me, is there something you want? Aren't you bored here?" Marius asked me again.

I shook my head and admired his handsome face. "You're really handsome, even in casual clothes," I said, referring to the simple white shirt and shorts he was wearing.

A broad smile formed on Marius's lips, followed by a soft laugh. "Really? Do you think I'm handsome?" he asked me in an affectionate tone.

I bit my lower lip to suppress a gentle laugh due to the overwhelming feeling of excitement. But I failed to do so.

"Extremely handsome." I finally admitted the truth to him.

Marius remained silent after my confession, leaving me startled and feeling quite uncomfortable.

Things happened quickly. I was not prepared for Marius's sudden attack. It was too late to react. I just felt his passionate kiss start to consume my being. And it was the kind of kiss that I knew could take me places, as in an instant, it melted all the resistance I had.