After the Twilight (Iska Series #1)

13

I find Enzo standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Ngayon at nahawi na niya ang kurtina, giving him the view of the city below drenched by the torrential rain. 

When he senses my presence, he turns to me and smiles. He shows me his empty mug as he walks back to the kitchen. Agad naman niyang hinugasan ang ginamit na baso. Pipigilan ko sana siya, kaso pinili ko nalang siyang pagmasdan mula sa likuran. Even when fully clothed, I can see the way the muscles in his back flexes habang sinasabon niya ang baso. 

He looks so foreign in my kitchen. Like he doesn't belong there, washing a mug. His large frame makes the space considerably smaller. But then again, I find myself developing an affinity at watching him in my kitchen. 

When he turns to me, a towel in tow to dry his hands, he smiles. "Can I change somewhere?"

I meant to point to the spare bedroom, pero ang kwarto ko ang naturo ko. Huli na ng napagtanto ko nang tinitingnan ko na siyang tinutungo ang kwarto ko, unti-unting tinatanggal ang pagkakabutones ng damit niya. 

I gave myself a few minutes to myself, enjoying a cup of chamomile tea as I listen to the sound of the assaulting rain coupled with the sound of the water from the bathroom where Enzo is probably taking a shower. 

Good thing I made sure that I didn't have any underwear or laundry na nakakalat sa kwarto at banyo. 

Nang matagal tagal ko na ring hindi naririnig ang ingay sa banyo, ay nagpasya akong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan sa barstool sa kusina at tumungo na sa kwarto. Nararamdaman ko na rin kasi ang antok, at siguro naman ay tapos na si Enzo. 

"Oh my gosh."

Napasinghap ako pagpasok ko sa kwarto. What welcomed me is the sight of a half naked Enzo, sitting on the edge of my bed, typing something on his phone. 

Halos mabitawan ko ang bag na hinablot ko mula sa couch para ipasok sa kwarto, buti nalang at nahigpitan ko lang din ang hawak para hindi magkalat sa sahig ang mga laman. Yakap yakap ko tuloy ang bag sa tiyan ko, nanlalaki ang mata sa nakikita. 

Enzo merely looks up at me with raised brows. 

"I can't sleep with dirty clothes," he says, turning his phone off as he stands up. 

Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko, my eyes instinctively scanning his body from the top down. Hindi ko napigilang mapalunok dahil parang nanunuyo ang lalamunan ko. He already looked fit when he had clothes on, now that he's only in his boxers, kitang kita ko ang namumutok na muscles sa katawan niya. 

He looks like a perfectly sculpted sculpture. 

"Do I sleep here?" he asks me, taking a few steps closer that immediately triggered a warm blush to blanket across my cheeks. 

Agad kong nilingon ang couch sa sala, seeing it filled with papers and some books. Naalala ko rin na halos kalahati ng mga damit ko ay nakatambak doon sa spare room. I guess, the only available room he can sleep in is here. 

I can't make him sleep in the couch inside my room dahil maski ako hindi kakasya doon. 

I bite the inside of my cheek and glance at my bed. Buti nalang I have a king sized bed dahil medyo malikot ako matulog, kaya kasya naman kami. . . . of course with a bit of distance. 

When I return my gaze to him, I nod my head, slowly walking around him para mailagay ko na ang gamit sa may mesa ko. On top of my couch, I see his neatly folded clothes.

"Tabi tayo?"

Napatigil ako sa tanong niya. Clearing my throat, I turn to him, trying hard to conceal the tension and awkwardness I feel in the moment.