CHAPTER 11: SNORKEL

He's an avid fan of action movies himself, so seeing that his wife's preference when it comes to the genre of the film is the same as him, he was satisfied. He still has many things to know about his wife, which is a good start.

He clapped twice, and the light in the living room turned off automatically. The sixty-inch flat screen tv is the only source of light they had. Athena sat on the floor and leaned her back on the couch. Marco followed and sat beside her. The opening scene is in black and white showing a building and a car stopped in front of it. When the fight scene appeared on the monitor, he noticed Athena's hand moved and seemed to be following what the actor was doing on the screen. She then closed her right hand tight and released it fast.

Athena felt like he was watching her, so she smiled at him. Marco smiled back and clasped her hand. She moved closer to him then leaned her head on his shoulder. Half an hour later, Athena fell asleep.

Marco heard a light snore coming from her. He shook his head and slowly positioned himself to carry Athena to their room without waking her up. She must be tired walking around all day, he thought to himself.

On the second day of their stay in the hotel and resort, Marco brought Athena to a shop selling gear related to water activities. She looked at him with confusion.

Marco was looking at the thin wetsuits hanging on the rack. He checked the size and said to her, "try this." She looked at the wetsuit and nodded.

Athena walks out of the changing room a few minutes later, and Marco instinctively swallows his saliva. 'Damn! His wife was born to seduce him,' he thought.

"How was it?" She asked without noticing the change in Marco's face.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat before he replied, "perfect," he said, then handed the snorkel and the set of fins. He steps closer to try the mask if it fits her. He was proud of himself when he got the correct sizes for her on the first try.

He also bought a mini waterproof camera and flotation gear for her.

When he got everything they needed and was about to leave the shop, the salesperson suddenly asked, "Sir, do you need an instructor?"

Marco looked at him and said, "No need." He turned her head back and followed Athena, who was already outside.

"Have you tried snorkeling before?" He asked her while they were walking on the shore.

"No, this would be my first time," she said honestly. She can swim, no doubt about it, but she hasn't done snorkeling or any water recreations or sports. She is too busy with her missions and training to enjoy nature.

Marco saw her eyes glistened with excitement. A boat is already waiting for them at the shore. Marco held her hand to guide her up the ramp to enter the vessel. He then followed, and they sat right next to each other. Five minutes later, they reached their destination. The fabric of their wetsuit is of a high Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) covering the head. Marco gave her a biodegradable sunscreen to apply to the uncovered part of the body.

"Try to breathe in and breathe out," he said. He loosened Athena's shoulders and said, "Relax and be calm. I am right beside you," she smiled and nodded. She feels secure, and without a doubt, he will never let his eyes off of her.

They move to the water, instructing her and showing her what she needs to do. "Bite the mouthpiece gently and seal it with your lips to hold it in place," Marco said while looking at her intently as she moved her lips and bit the mouthpiece. His brain went frenzy at sight. He shook his head and continued to instruct her.

"Breath slowly, breath in, and breath out through the tube," his breathing became irregular as he said it. He turned around and tried to calm himself down. He breathed in and out himself.

He then told her to breathe and hold it, then they dive down and snorkel together.

She cannot stop taking pictures at the sight of beautiful and colorful coral reefs. Small fishes are swimming around, going in and out, like playing hide and seek in the playground.

When she felt like she couldn't hold her breath anymore, she motioned to Marco, and they resurfaced beside the boat. Marco estimated that they'd been underwater for about three minutes which is excellent for a beginner like her.

They dive down again after six minutes. As a general rule, your rest needs to be twice longer when you dive. So, since they dive for three minutes, they need to multiply it by two, their rest time.

This time they went a little bit farther.

She saw a school of fish ahead. They looked like colossal fish ready to swallow you anytime. A bigger fish suddenly swam in the midst of it, and the small fishes scattered all over and joined their group again. She had fun watching them and was glad that her hands were quick to take a video of it aside from the pictures.

They resurfaced and dived down repeatedly until they were both exhausted. Marco and Athena decided to end their day and head back to their hotel room.

Marco told her to rest for a little bit before taking a hot shower, which she obeyed. They changed into comfortable clothes and ordered lunch. Marco ordered food that was high in carbohydrates to replenish their energy.

Athena set the table on the balcony to enjoy the scenery during lunch. She was so deep in thought that she did not realize Marco was calling her. The view reminds her of City B.

Marco stared at her. He saw her unsmiling face, earnestly looking at the view in front of her. Her mind seemed to be flying somewhere, leaving her body. He got up and walked behind her.

Marco put her hands on her shoulders and gently massaged them. "Tired?" He asked though he knew that tiredness was not why her mind wandered.

"Uh-huh," she replied absent-mindedly.

"Eat more and take a nap after," he said dotingly.

"Okay," she answered back. She had already lost her appetite, but she did what Marco asked her to do, and that's to eat more.

She finished her food unhurriedly and did not dare to look at the view anymore. She doesn't want Marco to worry about her or give him a reason to ask her some questions that she cannot answer right now.

She was feeling guilty all of a sudden. Marco accepted her without even knowing her background. He didn't ask about her personal life, and she is sure that he did not even investigate her.

Athena knows that Marco wants to know everything about her, and he wants to have that information coming out of her mouth directly.

She took a deep breath and contemplated if she would tell him a little about her, like her childhood or not. She cleared her mind and took a deep breath. She looked at the sky and mouthed, 'up to You.'

Marco returned to his seat and continued to eat, serving Athena from time to time. They finished their food silently.

Athena was about to clear the table when he stopped her. "Go rest. You need it." He said in a tender tone.

"How about you?" She asked with concern in her voice. She knew that Marco was tired and exhausted too. Aside from that, she wants him beside her.

"I'll be right there with you," he promised.

"Okay," she then turned around and headed to their room. She leaves the door ajar. She laid down on her left side to see Marco when he entered the room.

A few minutes later, Marco came in after calling the reception. He slowly laid down beside her. She opened her eyes when she felt the movement beside her. Move closer to Marco and hug his waist. She loves the feeling he gives her each time she is close to him like that.

Hugged her waist and pulled her closer. Marco did the same. They can hear and feel each other's breathing, which gives them a sense of peace.