Chapter 18

Midnight Craving

It was the middle of the night and Marty couldn't seem to sleep. Sana talaga hindi na siya nanood ng cooking show kanina habang nagpapaantok.

All she could think about was the grilled nectarine with burrata, mint, and honey. It looked really good and she couldn't help but wonder how it tastes like. She knew nectarine was similar to peaches, she knew how honey and mint and burrata tastes on their own but with all of those things tied up together? It's surely an explosion of flavors in her mouth, and she wants it now.

But it was already past midnight so she decided to go back to sleep. However, replays of the chef preparing the nectarine and burrata played in her mind like a broken montage and she couldn't help herself from salivating because it looked really good and appetizing especially with a generous amount of honey drizzled on top.

She pressed her lips together when she felt them quivering on the corners. Humigpit din ang yakap niya kay Ambee. But the image of the nectarine was still there . . . she could picture out the charred and caramelized parts, it's surely sweet and tangy but what if it's paired with cheese and some honey on top?

Napasinghap siya't wala sa sariling napabangon. She stood up to get some water from the nightstand thinking it would help ease her cravings but the image of the fruit was lingering on her mind.

Napaupo na lang din siya pabalik sa kama saka maya't mayang napapalingon kay Harley na mahimbing na ring natutulog.

She doesn't want to wake him up, he's already sleeping soundly, she shouldn't wake him up . . . but she couldn't help the replays in her mind and how good it seems on the screen.

Marty lightly poked on his arm. "Bee."

Kaso hindi naman nagising si Harley kaya inulit niya. "Bee," she called, sounding a little frustrated this time.

"Bee, gising ka please." She poked on his arm again but it wasn't working.

"Harley, may gusto kami ni beebie." She sniffed. Hindi pa rin nagigising si Harley kaya humiga na lang siya para bumalik sa tulog.

Marty rolled over with a heavy roll of breathing coming out from her lips.

Umusog siya't nagsumiksik kay Harley. She even draped his arm around her so she could bury her face in his chest.

Marty heaved deep breaths. She waited a minute . . . two . . . and three, but the image of the nectarine was still in her mind. The camera angle wasn't helping either when it zoomed in on the honey drizzle.

She swallowed, almost tasting it in her mouth and it seems as if the scent was also lingering around their hotel room.

Her forehead creased when she felt her stomach rumble, her cheeks were also turning warm. Marty pressed her lips together so she could hold it in but a tiny sniffle worked against her favor. 

Marty tried to contain her craving and frustration and tears and sniffles, but she hadn't noticed her shoulders shaking when he groaned. She hitched her breath to muffle her cries, afraid that she woke him up.

"Bee?" he called for her in a hoarse voice.

"Hmm?"

"Okay ka lang ba?"

"Oo," she answered.

"Talaga? Akala ko umiiyak ka kanina kasi parang may umaalog."

She sniffed. "Hindi. Okay lang ako." But her voice eventually wavered on the last word.

"Bee?"

"Sige na, matulog ka na ulit."

But Harley pulled himself up, opening the night light beside him, making her squint from its sudden brightness.

"O? Sabi mo hindi ka umiiyak. Bakit? May masakit ba sa 'yo? Okay lang kayo ni beebie?"

She nodded, sniffing. "Okay lang kami ni beebie."

"Promise?"

Her lips quivered. Pinipigilan niya ring mangimi. But Harley already caught up with her familiar expression.

"Bakit?" he asked, cupping her cheek and wiping hee tears with his thumb.

Napasigok si Marty. "Kasi kanina ko pa gusto ng grilled nectarine na may burrata tapos honey."

"Ha?" He smiled. "'Yon ba 'yong pinanonood mo kanina?"

She nodded. "Oo."

"Bakit hindi mo 'ko ginising, bee?"

"Sinubukan ko kanina kaso ang himbing na rin kasi ng tulog mo. Matutulog na rin sana ako ulit kaso naiisip ko pa rin."

"Sana ginising mo pa rin ako, bee."

"Mahimbing na nga kasi tulog mo! Kulit ka, ha!"

Natawa si Harley. "Oo na, sige na. Labas na lang ako saglit. Subukan ko maghanap."

"'Wag na. Para kasing ang hirap hanapin no'n. Wala naman atang nectarine o peach sa convenience store. Wala na ring bukas na grocery ngayon."

"Try ko maghanap ng night market. Baka meron do'n."

She felt her conscience kicking in. It's almost 2 a.m., her husband should be sleeping. "'Wag na. Bukas na lang."

"Sure?" he asked.

Pero hindi rin nakasagot si Marty.

"Hindi ka ba iiyak kapag hinintay mo hanggang bukas?"

"Bee, naman . . ."

"Sige na, lalabas na ako. Saglit lang naman. Balik din ako agad."

"Okay . . . pero kapag thirty minutes na tapos wala ka pa ring nahanap, balik ka na samin dito ni beebie, ha?"

He smiled, nodding. "Opo."

***

Looking for nectarines and peaches was harder than he thought. May bukas na night market pero wala rin siyang nabili doon. Wala ring canned peaches sa tatlong 7/11 at dalawang ministop na nadaanan niya.

"Bee, sige na, okay lang," sabi ni Marty. Lalo pa kasi halos isang oras na ring naghahanap si Harley ng gusto niya.

His last resort was to ask the hotel if the ingredients were available in their kitchen.

"May donut peach po kaming available and burrata. Pero wala po kaming mint leaves, parsley lang po available for garnish and 'yong honey," sagot no'ng nasa reception.

Tumango si Marty habang nakikinig. "Okay na 'yon, bee."

"Sige po, okay na 'yon. Paki-charge na lang po sa room namin tapos okay lang po ba makigamit sa kitchen?" he asked on the phone.

"Guests are not allowed in the kitchen po. Si Chef na lang po magpe-prepare no'ng food ninyo. Ihatid na lang po ng room service mamaya."

"Hala, sigurado po ba na okay lang kay Chef? Nakakahiya rin po kasi ang late na rin."

"Yes, sir. It's okay po. May other guests din po na may food order din at this time kaya okay lang po."

"Sige po, salamat," he said before putting the phone back on the cradle.

Marty's lips quivered again when she inched towards him for a hug.

It's already past 3 a.m. and they're still awake.

"Thank you, sorry," sabi ni Marty.

"Ba't ka nagso-sorry? Ayos lang, bee."

"E dapat kasi natutulog na tayo pero lumabas ka pa. Ang tagal mo pang naghanap kanina. Hindi na tayo lalabas mamaya. Matutulog lang tayo all day dito."

He smiled, gently rubbing his hand on her back, and Marty felt at ease when he did that, she could almost melt in his arms.

"All day? Sure ka? Hindi na tayo papasyal ni beebie? P'wede naman tayo gumising ng alas-onse tapos labas tayo ng lunch."

"Ha? Kulang tulog natin."

"Hindi naman? Kung matutulog tayo ng mga 4 a.m., may seven hours pa rin tayo."

Marty pressed her cheek on his shoulder. "Sure? Okay lang ba? Hindi ka ba napagod?"

"Oo. Okay lang. Maluwag naman daan kanina saka wala gaanong tao."

"Sorry . . ."

"Ba't ka na naman nagso-sorry?"

"E kasi nakokonsensya ako okay? Paulit-ulit ka, ha? Anong oras na kaya tapos lumabas ka pa para hanapin 'yong food na gusto namin ni beebie. 'Wag mo na ipaulit sa 'kin 'to, senior citizen ka na talaga! Kasasabi ko lang kanina e sasabihin ko na naman?"

He laughed, pulling her closer. "Nakokonsensya ka pero nagsusungit ka pa rin?"

"Ano ba!" she exclaimed. Her forehead were creased. Halos magsalubong na rin sa gitna 'yong dalawang kilay niya.

"Punta tayo grocery bukas bago umuwi. Ilista na natin lahat ng gusto mo para wala tayong makalimutan."

"Honey!"

"Honey? May honey pa ata sa bahay."

"Baka maubos. Bili tayo ng marami! Tapos apples, grapes, peach, banana, watermelon, tapos guava."

"Guava?" he asked, confused.

Tumango si Marty. "Oo, guava! Parang masarap din 'yon sa honey."

"Sure ka, bee?"

"Oo nga!"

"Okay, okay. Sige na, ililista ko na," sabi niya. Harley was about to detach from their hug, but Marty stopped him from reaching for his phone.

"Mamaya na. Yakap mo muna kami ni beebie. Tagal mo nawala kanina, e."

"Gano'n"

"Oo, gano'n."

"Okay," he said, smiling.

"Ay, oo nga pala. Sabihin mo kay Chace sa bahay siya bukas, ha?" sabi ni Marty.

"Si Chace? Bakit?"

"Kasi gusto ko sabayan niya ako kumain."