Chapter Three: Paradise

Malori

I was standing at the threshold of the pathways leading to an unknown end. It has a torch that gives light on both sides every six feet away, with fresh garlands scattered on the white brick walls the same height as mine. The smells of leaves and water soothe my senses. Tall trees are everywhere where the birds are resting and chirping. Yes, I was in the middle of the woods, somewhere on a remote island far from the city.

I'm wearing an off-the-shoulder satin wedding dress with long sleeves hiding my arms but revealing my bare shoulder, neck, and collar bones. The dress is long enough to cover my bare feet, but it exposes them whenever the wind blows. My skin enjoys the feeling of coldness that the dress gives me. My hair was in a messy bun with a few tufts dancing freely in the air. I start to walk, and my feet feel the cold stones beneath them as the wind follows me. I had been walking for an hour and finally reached the path's end.

A modern-style nipa hut stood at the far end of the pathway on the outskirts of the woods. The pillars are set an inch above the ground, and the five-step stairs made of stones appear to be a floating cottage. The amakan and plain concrete features offer a refreshing yet sophisticated way of life. It has white fences as tall as my waist and various flowers planted in the front yard. At the right front is a birdcage with my favourite Agapornis inside. I was about to touch the birds when I heard a lion roar on the left side of the yard. I withdrew my hand and turned my gaze to the white lion inside his big cage. "Why did he bring a white lion into his home?" my inner thoughts asked. I can also hear a sound from the hanging wind chimes in the trees and big waves crashing on the shores. I kept walking and followed the path to the front of the house.

I am now standing in front of the door, made of square glass and arboraceous like the windows. When I opened it, I was surprised to see the interior. Everything is white. From the couch and window blinds to the wood dining table and chairs are perfectly white. The carpeted floor and wooden stairs are also white. Living and kitchen appliances are in modern times. I start to go upstairs to an open door and found a king-size bed with pillows and a comforter hanging at the bedside. A window blind covers the entire glass wall of the room, complementing the carpeted floor. Even up here, his favourite colour is visible.

I could perceive Zuri from the pellucid glass wall, and he was looking at me while slowly wagging his head. I turned to my right and was surprised to see two well-planted cherry blossom trees, each with a sturdy trunk tied with a white hammock. The room has a large open balcony with an overlooking view of the clear water of brine. The sun is about to set, giving the sky a purple and orange hue. The floor bestows the entire house with a distinct personality made of santol wood. Each corner has miniature coconut trees planted in a large pot and a white bench with throw pillows resting on it. “This place is a perfect definition of paradise,” I murmured.

There, a man standing facing the screaming wideness of the ocean. Arms crossing over his broad chest. He is half-naked, wearing only his black pants and his barefoot. Facing his back to me, I can see his ghastly lion head tattoo on the upper right back of his shoulder and a crucifix on the left lower part of his waist. A white female husky is sitting beside him, perilously looking at me, but I gave her an angelic smile.

"Husband?" I called him. I saw how his muscles flexed when he moved to face me. His eyes terrorise me, but his smile is melting me like jelly and his lips that I want to devour.

He slowly walks toward me, and in a few seconds, he is in front of me. He clasps my face with his both hands. "Wife," he said in his male voice. He stares at me for a few moments and speaks again. "You're mine now, and this will be forever," he says as he raises my right hand and kisses my ring finger, where he slid the wedding ring earlier.

I smile and tiptoe to kiss him on his lips. "I'm yours, forever," I replied.

We heard Kataleya growl and Zuri roar after our sweet exchange of short vows. My husband chuckled. "They're jealous," he winked.

"Well, I'll deal with them later, and they will surely love me more than you after tonight," I jokingly teased him.

He hugged me and began to move in larghetto as if we were dancing to beautiful music. His warm cheeks cling to mine, and he whispers. "My life had been dark, but you have brought it to light. I was about to give up when you gave me hope. I don't believe in fairytales, but fvck the fantasy you gave me one, us. I promised myself I wouldn't marry, but now I feel deprived without you. Malori, you are my favourite mistake. No one understands me as you do. I love you, baby. I do."

His warm breath that touches my cheeks while saying those words travels down to my heart. It sounds like a beautiful song that composes for me. After all that I did, he'd still choose to marry and love me again.

Hindi ko namalayan na namamasa na ang aking mga mata mula sa mga luhang nagbabadya ng pumatak. Masaya ako, masayang-masaya na sa kabila ng lahat, natuto rin siyang magpatawad at magmahal muli. At hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang mga taong iniwan ko, mga bagay na isinakripisyo ko, kahit ang mga pangarap ko at ang hindi ko pagsuko kahit halos buhay ko ang maging kapalit makuha ko lang siyang muli.

Mabini niya akong hinalikan sa noo, sa tungki ng aking ilong at sa labi. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad paharap habang ako ay paatras. Naramdaman ko na lang ang malapad at malamig na bubog sa aking likuran. Ang mabini niyang halik ay naging mapvsok kaya aking tinugunan. I can taste his manly mix of menthol mouthwash and the bitterness of his favourite brandy. I presumed he must have been drinking before I came. Pinakawalan n’ya lamang ang aking labi sa labis sa kakapusan ng aming mga hininga. Dinama ng dalawa niyang palad ang aking dibdib, napasinghap ako at nakagat ang ibabang labi.

“I can't keep going like this all night.” He growled.

“What?” I ask while moaning.

He lifts me by grabbing my legs and encircling them around his waist as he walks into the room while aggressively kissing me again. I can feel his hardness down there, rubbing up against my wetness inside the slinky lingerie. Halik pa lamang niya ay sobra na akong nadadala, at ang buong katawan ko ay kusang bumibigay sa kan’ya. Umupo siya sa kama kaya mas lalo ko siyang naramdaman.“My god! He seems ready. Yes! I want you now, husband, and I’m not going to protest,”my thoughts enticing me.