Zephyr Strings

Kabanata 9

"Why am I seeing Casimir?" I murmured.

I held his arm as he was about to stand up straight, puckering his lips. His brows knitted, and he looked at me through prickly eyes. Ngumiti ako.

"I really am seeing you," masayang sambit ko.

"Of course, you're not blind," supladong anas niya.

"Suplado ka pa rin hanggang dito?" I chuckled.

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. I heard a phone ring, but I was too amazed by the person in front of me. Unti-unting humina ang tunog ng phone hanggang sa nawala ito. Naging tipid ang ngiti ko.

"Velarde, I need to..." He stopped talking when I grabbed his face.

He blinked twice.

"You look so handsome," I whispered, looking into his eyes.

Inangat ko pa ang isang kamay upang haplusin ang kaniyang buhok. Papikit-pikit na ako at hinihila na ng antok ngunit hindi ko puwedeng palagpasin ang kung ano mang nilalang ang nasa harapan ko ngayon. He looks so real!

"Will you shout at me if I kiss you right now?" I asked in a bedroom voice when his red lips caught my gaze.

I'm curious.

Kahit na hindi siya totoo, parang hindi ko magagawa iyon. The thought that he has a girlfriend is enough to push away that thought. Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang kilay at ngumiti. I gazed at every part of his face. Namungay ang kaniyang mga mata habang nakatitig sa akin.

"You need to change, I'll call Grecia," sa namamaos na niyang boses.

Pumikit ako at hindi namalayan ang paligid. Napatalon lamang ako at naistorbo nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na bagay na dumadampi sa aking mukha at lumipat sa aking leeg.

"Hey! That's... cold..." I mumbled.

Dumapa ako upang maiwasan ang malamig na bagay na iyon. I heard a heavy sigh. Kumunot ang aking noo at halos tumalon sa kama nang maramdaman ko ang pagbaliktad ng sikmura ko. Pagewang-gewang akong pumasok sa banyo at naupo sa sahig. Pikit-mata akong sumuka sa inidoro.

"Fuck!" I moaned out of frustration.

Muli akong sumuka at halos yakapin ko na ang inidoro. I coughed, and my throat hurt. I felt someone scoop my hair. I sighed.

"I don't want to drink again," I whispered.

"Stand up," a man's voice muttered.

"I want to die." I laughed a little.

"Tss..."

Wala akong imik nang itayo ako ng lalaking kasama. Narinig ko ang pag-flush ng inidoro. Nilingon ko ang lalaki na nasa likod ko at halos matigilan nang makita ang seryoso at madilim na mukha ni Casimir.

"Are you really here?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

He pulled me towards the sink instead of answering my question. He turned on the tap water, and I almost punched him when he washed my face, and my nose hurt.

"Masakit!"

"If you can't handle too much alcohol, don't fucking drink!" he said in an annoyed voice. 

"Who are you to say that? I can do whatever I want, dick head!" I screamed and shut my eyes.

Inabot ko ang umaandar na gripo at sinalod doon ang kamay. Nagmugmog ako nang hindi dumidilat. My head is throbbing, and I feel so dizzy. Hinawi ni Casimir ang aking kamay at naramdaman kong pinunasan niya ng tuyong tela ang mukha ko.

"Where's your boyfriend, anyway? Bakit hinahayaan ka niyang magliwaliw nang wala siya? Kung sino-sino pa ang isinayaw mo."

Kunot-noo akong nag-angat ng tingin sa salamin na nasa harapan namin. I cocked my head. Hindi ko alam kung lasing lang ba talaga ako o si Casimir talaga ang nakikita ko. Madilim ang kaniyang ekspresyon at nagtatagis ang panga. His hoodie was familiar, I think that was his attire in Xylo. Kumikinang din ang suot niyang hikaw.