Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 27

I sighed as I forced myself to stand. Natigalgal ako nang pakiramdam ko ay parang gelatin sa sobrang lambot ang mga binti ko. I held on the bedside table as my legs weakly tried to support my whole frame.

"Lavy, you alright?"

Dinaluhan niya ako sa kwarto. Nakatitig lang sa akin si Etienne nang maabutan akong hindi pa rin nakakaalis sa pwesto. He even looked amused because his eyes lingered on my legs.

"Sorry," he shyly confessed. "Na-excite lang ako kagabi."

His cheeks were burning red. Kitang-kita ko ang paggalaw ng adam's apple n'ya. It was as if he was swallowing his pride by stating that.

"Bakit naman damay ako sa excitement mo?!" I hissed at him upon remembering my situation. "Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako makakalakad nang maayos."

Tinawanan lang n'ya ang reklamo ko. Tumulis ang nguso ko ngunit napawi rin dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi ito ang magiging huling beses.

Next time. . . Pipigilan ko na rin ang sarili ko. It was seriously too much for the first time. Napalunok ako nang makita ang pamilyar na bakas ng kamay sa kan'yang bintana.

Not me. That's not me. Naaalala ko pa lang ay namumutla na agad ako.

𐂴 ৫ ⧉ꕤ

"Kaya mo ba talaga?" Etienne asked upon watching me from behind. Kitang-kita ang iika-ikang posisyon ko.

I glared at him. "Wala naman akong choice?"

"We can always cancel —"

"And be left with you in that room where my handprint on your window is still visible?" I scowled at him, remembering what I saw on his window.

He chuckled. "Remembrance 'yon. I might even engrave it on my window. I'll put a label on it, Lavender Reverios' handprint."

Agad na tumayo ang gitnang daliri ko para sa kan'ya. "Kita mo ito? Para sa iyo ito. Oh tingnan mo, dalawa pa." I raised both of my middle fingers.

Pumasok na kami sa sasakyan n'ya. I fell asleep on our way to meet our friends. Hindi ko pa rin maalis ang pagod sa sistema ko. I can feel Etienne's hand squeezing my hand whenever the traffic lights are red. He would fix my hair and my position. Hindi n'ya siguro napapansin na nagigising ako sa tuwing ginagawa n'ya 'yon.

But I smiled.

The little things weight more when you do them unconsciously. It tends to show that you care even when no one's watching. You tend to do it because it is part of your system. The person is part of your system.

"Lavy, you have to wake up. We're here," malambing na sabi ni Etienne. He was playing with the tips of my hair by curling it using his fingers.

"Hm? Agad?"

My eyes opened and his beautiful face was the first thing that I saw. I unconsciously smiled and kissed him.

Natigilan naman si Etienne pero agad n'ya rin na binalik ang paghalik ko sa kan'ya. His mouth was devouring my own, hinawakan n'ya ako sa aking mga pisngi. His hands gradually held my face with tenderness.

"Oh," I gasped when he moved back. Nakita ko ang pamumula n'ya.

"Is it okay?"

"Na?"

"My car's not tinted so. . ." namumulang saad ni Etienne. "Fuck, I should have use the other one."

Humalakhak ako. "Malas mo naman."

Bahagyang nagulat kami dahil paglingon namin sa harapan ay nakita namin si Euan at Snyder na nanglalaki ang mga mata.

My lips parted apart.