Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 8

Pareho kaming natawa dahil sa pinaggagagawa namin.

Nagka-cut na kami ng iba't-ibang shapes ng cookie dough gamit ang ibat-ibang shapes na cookie cutter. I was using the star and square shaped cutter while he was using the heart shaped one and he was making unbelievable amounts.

"Ang dami na ng hearts!" natatawang ani ko. Isang buong tray kasi ang nilagyan niya ng heart shaped cookies. Malaki ang tray at halos twelve ang puwedeng ilagay. Samantalang ang tray ko naman ay halo-halo ang shapes ng cookie na nakalagay.

"Bakit? Heart means love, 'di ba?" he gaze landed on me. "More hearts, more love. I'll share my heart shaped cookies with you so I can share my love for you too." ngumiti ito at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniyang ginagawa.

There he goes again, casually and unconsciously making my heart thud heavily. Agad kong iniwas ang aking tingin para alisin sa isip ang mga sinabi niya. Alam kong hindi ko dapat binibigyan ng malisya ang mga sinasabi niya dahil para sa kaniya ay wala itong... laman. He could even act casually afterwards. Like he did not just paint my face crimson.

Nang matapos ilagay ang lahat ng cookie dough sa dalawang malaking tray ay nilagay na rin namin ito sa mainit na oven. Siya ang pinagbukas ko ng oven dahil na-trauma na yata ako sa pabigla-bigla. Ayoko nang mapaso ulit 'no! We set the timer before washing ourselves up.

"Hey, stay here. May kukunin lang ako." paalam niya sa akin  nang makarating kami sa sofa ng living room nila. Tumango ako sa kaniya at pinanood siyang maglakad pataas ng hagdan, patungo sa ikalawang palapag.

Umupo ako sa isang mahabang sofa na nasa gitna mismo ng malawak na sala. May dalawa pang sofa sa kaliwa at kanang banda ng main sofa.

I sat there comfortably as I waited for him. Nang makabalik siya ay nagulat ako nang makitang may dala na siyang gitara. I blinked multiple times as I stared at him. He was smiling as he walked towards me. Matapos ay umupo siya sa tabi ko, sa sofa.

"We have free time, right? I can show you my guitar skills now." marahan ang boses na saad niya.

I just sat there, in front of him, staring at how attractive he was with just merely holding his guitar. Ano pa kaya kung tinutugtog niya na ito.

He fixed the capo of the guitar first before strumming it carefully. "Listen." saad nito at napatango na lang ako.

He started to strum his guitar, it was slow, a strum at a time. Ilang segundo pa ay nagsimula na siyang kumanta.

"Oh, leaves are covered in snow. And the water's frozen. Oh, I long for you to be the one that I'm holding. And warm me down to my bones. As you lay beside me, hold me close."

Natulala na lamang ako na para bang hini-hele ako ng malambing niyang boses. His voice felt soft, it felt hypnotizing, it felt warm... hot, rather. My heart was raging as I stared at him, busy singing, with his eyes closed.

"Oh, leaves are starting to fall and the sun goes cold. And my heart might break from the way of it all. For all that I know, you could be holding somebody else as close."

His soft and warm voice almost made my eyes well up. Ang kaninang mabilis na pintig ng aking puso ay mas lalong bumibilis. I kept my eyes on him, loss for words. Para ako ngayong nakadungaw sa bintana at tinatanaw ang isang binatang hinaharana ang aking puso.

"When I'm home, I'll hold you like I'm supposed to. Yet I know that I have never told you. Darling, we could fall in love 'neath the hills of Aberfeldy."

I felt my mouth agape as he opened his eyes. I could see the glimmer in his pair of green orbs. My heart skipped a beat as our gazes locked. I could feel his voice passing through my whole being, penetrating to my heart.

He strummed his guitar freely before looking down to focus on it. He then continued to sing the lyrics of the song.

"Oh, the ground is slowly mounting. And the sun beats strong. And I feel like my feet may have wondered too long. And I will remain here alone, 'cause I fear that you may have found someone."

My sanity was slowly fading. I swallowed the big lump on my throat as he opened his eyes again. It landed on me, as if my eyes were the ones it was looking for. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso sa pagpatuloy niya sa pagkanta, ngunit ngayon, ang titig ay nakapako sa akin.

"When I'm home, I'll hold you like I'm supposed to. Yet I know that I have never told you. But, darling, we could fall in love 'neath the hills of Aberfeldy."

He kept staring at my eyes. And as daring as I was, I played brave and strong to keep out gazes locked. The warmth of his voice travelled to my whole being like it was serenading it. Like he was serenading me.

"Darling, we could fall in love 'neath the hills of Aberfeldy."

The rasp in his voice made me feel all the emotions he was trying to convey. Yet I never dared to name any of those. I bowed down and closed my eyes shut to feel the rage of my heart.

He was also making me feel it. Like the song he was singing was solely dedicated to me. But it couldn't be, right?

He stopped singing as he strummed his guitar freestyle. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kaniya at nakitang hinihintay niya lang palang magtamang muli ang aming tingin. His eyes were heavy-lidded, yet I could sense all his emotions from them.

I swallowed hard as I saw him opening his mouth to sing again.

"Wherever I go, I will always find another stranger to share in the weight of my crimes. And I know you will never find another heart that wants you more than mine."

I was already mesmerized with his sensational guitar skills, he's good, really good, yet his angelic voice was making me fall for him harder.

The moment he stopped strumming his guitar, our gazes locked. Ang malamlam niyang mga mata ay nakatitig sa akin. I saw how his adam's apple bobbed up and down as he started to lean closer... and closer to me.

Halos maputol ang aking hininga nang maramdaman ang paglapit niya sa akin. Yet, I never pushed him away. My heart was raging as I swallowed the big lump on my throat.

I could feel his breathing as to how close his face was to mine.

"A-ang galing mo, A-Ar—" naputol ang aking sinasabi nang maramdaman ko ang kaniyang daliri na nakadampi sa aking mga labi. I was beyond shocked.

"Shh." he hushed me. Ang malamlam niyang mga mata ay nakatitig pa rin sa akin. I was slowly losing my sanity, my knees felt like it would tremble anytime. Mabuti na lang at nakaupo ako ngayon sa sofa.

"Harley, I-" ang namamaos nitong boses ang tanging tunog na rumehistro sa aking sistema. "I—"

"Fuck!" narinig ko ang mahinang boses na parehong hindi galing sa aming dalawa, kaya't agad kong itinulak papalayo si Archein.

My heart was thumping fast as I looked for the one who possesses that familiar voice. My gaze trailed the entrance to the living room and there, I saw him, eyes panicking, mouth agape.

"B-Brent!"
  
  
  

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。

Hills Of Aberfeldy - Ed Sheeran