MONTE COSTA SERIES #1: Shore Of Hearts [Published Under PSICOM Publishing Inc.]

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

"ARE YOU saying that you want to kiss me?"

Teissa didn't know where she got the courage to ask Armani. Siguro ay nahihibang na siya dahil sa sinabi nito at kusa nang kumilos ang kanyang sistema para klaruhin ang nais nitong iparating. Or maybe she knew what he said will just bug her for nights and she doesn't want that.

Armani leaned against the backrest of his seat, his fingers tapping on the glass table while his other hand was on his jaw. When he started massaging his lower lip with his fingers, she felt the temperature around them increase in a way she wasn't sure if she's going to like. The air felt sultry all of a sudden and the flesh between her thighs became too sensitive.

Tanging paglunok lamang ang nagawa niya habang nakatitig sa mga labi ni Armani. What's going on with her? Why is she being tempted to kiss him, too and find out if his pair of thin lips are really soft?

"I think we both know the answer by now, Teissa," sa wakas ay sabi nito.

She inhaled a silent breath and tried to look away because God knows if she wouldn't, her sanity will finally leave her body. Baka kung saan humantong ang almusal na iyon.

"A—Alam din nating pareho na may asawa ako, Armani. I am . . . off limits." The words came out bitter, yet she knew those were the right words to say. 

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ni Armani. "Of course you are." Tumikhim ito at dinampot na lamang muli ang tasa ng kape. "Kumain ka na. Forget what I said."

Mahina siyang tumango bago dinampot ang tinidor ngunit nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay dala pa rin ng kakaibang init na hindi pa napapawi sa kanyang katawan. 

Armani must've noticed that she was a bit trembling. Tumikhim ito saka siya tinulungang himayin ang tocino sa mas maliliit na hiwa. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable around me, Teissa. I shouldn't have said that."

Matipid niya itong nginitian. "Ayos lang, Armani."

Umaliwalas ang mukha nito at gumuhit ang matipid na ngiti. Hindi na rin ito nagsalita pa. They both ate their breakfast while secretly glancing at each other. Kapag nagkakahulihan ay halos sabay ring iiwas ng tingin.

 He pushed the fresh orange juice near her. "Drink it all up. Palagi mong palakasin ang katawan mo para hindi ka basta magkasakit sa Maynila. That place is very polluted and you can catch diseases easily if your immune system isn't strong."

Napatitig siya rito habang marahang tumatango. She didn't know why but it feels good to be taken care this way. 

Dati ay sa mga palabas niya lang nakikita ang ganitong pag-aalaga kaya tumataba ang puso niya kahit na alam niyang may kakaiba sa pakikitungo sa kanya ni Armani.

Teissa knew she shouldn't enjoy it in the first place because she's married, but it just feels so good. 

Napaisip tuloy siya. Will Andres be this way kapag maaari na itong magpakilala sa kanya? Aalagaan din ba siya nito gaya ng ginagawa ni Armani?

She doesn't want to keep her hopes up but she's wishing that Andres is a good man like Armani. Dahil kung hindi, alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi niya maiiwasang ikumpara ang mga ito.

AFTER SPENDING some time with her friends at her parents' graveyard, Teissa asked them to give her a moment alone with her grandpa. Nagpaalam naman ang mga itong bibili lamang ng pagkain sa kabayanan at babalik din. Teissa agreed and waved at them. Nang makaalis ang mga ito ay tuluyan siyang naupo sa damuhan at hinaplos ang lapida ng kanyang lolo.