Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 19

Hindi ko na hinintay ang reply niya dahil pinatay ko na ang phone ko. Bumaba na ako at nagtungo na sa labas ng gate ng bahay para hintayin siya.

Halos hindi pa nagti-ten minutes ay naaninag ko na siya. Nakasakay siya sa isang motor at siya ang nagda-drive nito. Teka, marunong siya magmotor? That's new.

A small scooter stopped in front of me. Agad akong lumapit sa kaniya nang patayin niya ang makina. A manly, yet sweet scent immediately entered my nose.

Archein took off his helmet before facing me. I bit my lower lip as he eyed me from head to toe. His smile eventually grew bolder and bigger.

"You're... pretty." he softly mumbled, almost sounding like a whisper. But despite the volume, those words did not escape my hearing.

I tilted my head as I tried to stifle a smile. Ngayon, ako naman ang pinagmasdan ang postura niya. He was wearing a white Abercrombie polo shirt. It was tucked inside his brown pair of pants. His wavy hair stayed as is. Maayos at hindi magulong tingnan.

I must say, he looks so good despite his simplicity.

"Sa coffee shop lang naman tayo pupunta, ah. Bakit pormado kang masyado?" I teased.

Napakamot siya sa kaniyang batok. May maliit na ngiti na sumilay mula sa kaniyang mga labi. Humarap siyang muli sa akin at nagsalita.

"Are you free until eight?" he lowly asked.

My brows furrowed. "Oo." I answered.

"Extend tayo." he smiled apologetically, asking for my permission.

Marahan kong kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi at pinag-isipan ang kaniyang sinabi. "Hanggang six lang ang paalam ko kay Mama." muli akong humarap sa kaniya.

"Ipapaalam kita."

My eyes widened as I heard what he said. You mean, he's willing to meet my mom just to borrow me and ask her to extend our date for a while?

"Wala pa si Mama." I reasoned out. "Tara na, ako na lang ang magpapaalam. Ite-text ko siya." dagdag ko pa at naglakad na palapit sa kaniya.

The truth is, I think I'm not ready to introduce him to my family yet. It's not because I don't want to, it's because I can't. Gusto ko rin naman siyang i-legal. But given the situation, I know my mom would never approve of him, kahit gaanong panliligaw pa iyan.

Mom doesn't want us to venture into relationships yet, at alam kong kapag ipinakilala ko si Archein sa kaniya bilang manliligaw ko ay itataboy nila lamang ito.

Gano'n rin siya kay Chelsea. Kaya nga noong nakita nito ang mga pulang marka sa leeg ni Chelsea ay para siyang nag-anyong dragon dahil sa galit.

"Helmet." Inabot niya sa akin ang isa pang helmet pagka-upo ko sa likuran niya.

I took the helmet from him and immediately wore it. We wouldn't want to violate traffic laws, 'no.

"Hold on tight." Pagkasabi niya no'n ay agad akong humawak sa kaniyang damit, hardly grasping it from both sides. I was seated sideways on the scooter dahil nakapalda ako. Kailangan ko talagang humawak ng mahigpit.

Hindi na ako nagsalita ngunit nagtaka ako nang kahit nakahawak na ako ay hindi pa rin siya umaandar.

I heard how he sighed softly. Nagulat ako nang kinuha niya ang parehong kamay ko at tuluyan itong ipinulupot sa katawan niya. I was a bit shocked but I didn't make a sound.

I just sighed before clasping my hands together wrapped around his body. I could also feel his stomach against my skin. Kahit may saplot pang pumapagitna ay ramdam ko ang tigas niyon. It was probably his abs.

Damn, my face suddenly felt like burning.

"That's better. It'll be safer." iyon na lamang ang naging saad niya bago pinaharurot ang kaniyang scooter.

During the short motorcycle journey, he kept being talkative. We engaged in little conversations and chit-chat, making sure to not bore me out. Kahit nasa motor ay hindi niya talaga pinapayagang magka-awkward silent moments sa pagitan naming dalawa.

He likes talking to me that much, huh? Well, it's okay. I do too.

"We're here." saad niya bago pinahinto ang kaniyang scooter sa isang parking spot. Una akong bumaba mula roon at hinubad na ang helmet. Iniabot ko iyon sa kaniya pagbaba niya mula sa scooter. Kinuha niya ito at isinabit sa handle ng motor, sa kabila naman ang kaniya.

I faced the coffee shop and noticed some people leaving it. Ang iba naman ay komportableng kumakain sa labas at ang iba naman ay pumapasok pa lang.

"Oh." Napaharap ako kay Archein dahil sa pag-imik nito. "Your hair's a little messy." he giggled.

Hinawakan ko ang aking buhok at pinakiramdaman iyon. At tama nga siya, medyo magulo na ang mga ito. I pouted as I realized a didn't bring anything today except for my phone. Wala akong suklay at wala akong gamit pang-retouch.

"Here." Nagulat na lamang ako nang inabutan ako ni Archein ng isang suklay. Sa'n galing 'to?!

"Why do you have a hair brush with you?" takang tanong ko. Inabot ko mula sa kaniya ang hair brush at takang pinagmasdan ito. It was black and it looked new.

He smiled. "I figured you might need it at some point so I brought one just in case." tugon nito. "It's new, you can use it." dagdag pa nito.

Sumilip ako sa nakabukas na compartment ng kaniyang scooter. May maliit na bag doon at mukhang doon niya kinuha ang hair brush.

Napakurap-kurap na lamang ako. Ngunit agad ko ring ginamit ang hair brush upang ayusin muli ang buhok ko. Just as he said, it felt new. The hair brush worked smoothly and greatly. Did he just buy this? For me?

"I also brought a hair clamp, I've seen you use it before so I bought another for you. I'll give it to you if you need it."

Napatigil ako sa pagsusuklay at muling napatingin sa kaniya nang dahil sa narinig. I just calmed my racing heart as I took it lightly. He's naturally thoughtful, I think I've got to get used to it.

"Ano pa'ng dala mo? Make up?" I teasingly asked. Umiling ako bago muling ipinagpatuloy ang pagsusuklay.

Muli akong bumaling sa kaniya nang hindi siya umimik. Nadatnan ko na lamang siyang kumakamot sa kaniyang batok habang kagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

"A-ano pa'ng dala mo?" mahina kong tanong, napagtanto kung bakit gano'n siya umasta.

He faced me before smiling sweetly. "F-foundation at lip balm lang naman." he softly chuckled, sounding like a little child who was caught doing something naughty.

I can't believe what I just heard. May dala talaga siya no'n? How? And why?!

"I-I bought the same brand I saw in your backpack last time. I-I just thought I'd let you use it if ever you don't bring your own." he explained.

I just sighed as I shook my head sidewards. I was a bit shocked but deep inside, I was overwhelmed with joy. Gayon na nga at hindi ko napigilang ngumiti.

"Tara na nga lang." naiiling kong saad.

"I-I'll give them to Liz if you don't want it."

I chuckled. "'Wag na. Para sa'kin mo binili 'yon, 'di ba?" I trailed as I stood beside him. "Thank you." I smiled at him. Matapos ay tumingkayad ako upang halikan siya sa pisngi.

How thoughtful could this man be? He even brought those girly things just for me just in case I didn't bring my own. Tss.

Pansin ko ang pagkurap ng kaniyang mga mata. Matapos ay muling sumilay ang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi.

"You're welcome, Harley." he answered.

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。