Aphrodisia | 18+ (Written In Filipino) ✔️

ika-29

Ikadalawampu't-siyam

Walking on a dangerous path

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Iyon ang uri ng kaba na hinay-hinay na sinasalakay ang pagkatao ko. It was different when I was facing other people, different when I knew it's family. 

   I almost didn't want to blink as I stared at the long lashes that deepened the look in my eyes. I didn't have to wear makeup because of the already bewitching features of my face. The midnight hair and dark brown eyes. Parted red lips, as if it was smeared with blood that was tattooed for life. 

   That color. 

   I saw it in my dreams many times. My blood, their blood. The price of a beautiful face was an ugly existence. 

   Biglang umangat ang tingin ko sa repleksyon ni Duke na lumalapit. 

   I felt my fear when he stopped right behind me, eyes interlocked with him while feeling his front brushing my back. "What's in your mind?"

   I couldn't understand it. You. 

   That was the current fear I recently discovered.

   Inakma kong umalis ngunit dumampi ang maingat niyang mga kamay sa magkabilang balikat ko upang manatili akong nakaharap sa salamin, his fingers brushing that sensitive part of my neck. 

   Duke's equal expression worked to life the same time my pulse spiked under his touch. 

   Air blocked my throat with a pressure I knew wasn't palpable but were all feelings. I couldn't let him see this part of me, knowing well how much the things we dangerously did together. Ngunit parang hindi ko na iyon kailangang itago dahil tila nawawala rin siya sa mga tumatakbo sa sarili niyang isip. 

   "He's in jail now," dahan-dahang sabi ni Duke. "We're only meeting your family, and they will never dare think about hurting you."

   Kumawala ako ng hininga. I was not thinking about Anselm anymore. "They want me back home. Paano kung mas malala ang parusa sa'kin ni Dad kahit na hindi niya alam na ako rin ang dahilan kung bakit nakansela ang pagtatali namin ni Anselm at nakulong siya? Paano kung itapon niya muli ako sa isang tao upang pagplanuhan muli ang isang kasal, at may mas malala pa siyang maisip kesa doon?"

   "He can try." 

   Pinanood ko siya at ang direksyon kung saan bumaba ang mga kamay niya. 

   "I don't want another problem. That makes me a brat but I don't want another repeat situation of everything. This wasn't the life I could wish on anyone. At kung puede ko lang itong bitawan at magsimulang muli ay gagawin ko."

   "If I can find a machine that does just that, I'll immediately call you." Duke mindlessly fingered the dark cloth of my plum dress and brought his dark eyes back to mine. My side, my hip. "We'll cross the bridge when we get there. Sa ngayon, ang gagawin mo lang ay ang paniwalaan ako." 

   Humarap ako sa kanya at tiningala siya mula sa ilalim ng mga pilikmata. "I don't know. I'm scared, Duke."

   "You shouldn't be," malumanay niyang sabi, itinaas ang daliring iyon sa hibla ng buhok ko at marahan iyong pinasada doon na halos nakapagpikit sa'kin. 

   "I don't think I'll have enough distraction to do that."

   Lie. I was already distracted with the way he was touching me even if it was so featherlight. 

   An unwelcome image of his hands on my swung hips came across my mind just as Duke's eyes cut through me as if snaring me with those guilty thoughts.