In Between Calms and Storms

Chapter 24

Mahigpit akong kumapit sa t-shirt niya nang magsimulang gumalaw ang mga labi namin.

Fuck. So this is what they meant by intoxicating... considering this is my first time. Or sadyang magaling lang talaga 'tong kahalikan ko?

Ramdam ko ang gigil sa mga halik niya. What started soft and slow became wild and hungry. He even bit my lower lip and sucked on it.

Hindi ko pa nakikita pero alam kong namumula na ang labi ko.

I kissed him back with the same intensity—mukhang dito lang pala kami nagkakasundo, e.

"You can tell me to stop if you want," he whispered in between kisses. Ramdam ko ang ngiti niya kaya hinampas ko agad ang braso niya.

"Stop teasing me."

He smirked playfully. He placed his hands beside me to carry his weight as he hovered over me.

Namumungay ang mga mata niyang tumingin sa 'kin. His hair was messed up, and his lips were red as hell.

"I'm not?"

"Nakakainis ka."

"Uh-uh."

"Seryoso nga."

"I know."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

"Doon ka na—"

Napatigil ako. Umawang ang labi ko nang marealize ko ang sinabi niya. He was looking at me seriously, gone the teasing smile and mischievous glint.

The fuck... on this exact date? E 'di Happy Valentine's Day?

"You don't have to answer now. I just really want you to know that I'm serious about... this. Take your time, bubba." His voice softened. "I can always wait—"

"Yes."

Napakagat ako sa labi nang makita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya. Then his gaze softened as what I said sank in. He rested his head on my neck and hugged me tight.

"R-really?"

"Oo nga," maldito kong sagot.

"Fuck... Happy Valentine's Day..." he whispered, and I chuckled as I hugged him back.

He cupped my cheeks and kissed me again. Wala akong nagawa kundi halikan siya pabalik. We'd stop in between kisses just to look at each other and giggle—then he'd kiss me again.

Surprisingly, it wasn't scary anymore. Whether it's because I'm finally ready, or because it's him, I don't know. Pero ang sigurado ko—I'm never going back to what I once was.

I've finally... overcome my fear.

Nagising ako sa malakas na ingay sa labas. I sat down and squinted my eyes. Napatingin ako sa kama at napansing ako nalang mag-isa.

I hurriedly stood up and went to the door when I realized the noise was because of the knocks at the door.

"Hoy! Kakain na!"

"Sino ba'ng nand'yan? Si Xiel? Umuwi na ba si Ryx?"

"Gago, nand'yan pa 'yung sasakyan. Tingnan mo nga sa kabila."

Inaantok ko pang binuksan ang pintuan para sa kanila. All four of them were like gossipers on the door.

"Ano'ng oras na ba?" Antok ko pang tanong habang humihikab at nags-stretch.

Pero kumunot lang ang noo ko at dumilat nang hindi sila sumagot sa 'kin.

Reis even blinked a lot of times as if he was trying to check if what he was seeing was really true.

"Bakit?" Takang tanong ko.

Koen cleared his throat. "A-anong nangyari..." then he suddenly looked down. Pati ang tatlo ay naroon din ang tingin.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka. Ano'ng tinitingin-tingin niya sa leeg—

Until-unting nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may mapagtanto.

As I didn't want to see it, but still had to confirm, I slowly looked down as I gulped... and saw a lot of hickeys on my chest.

"A-ano, a-ang dami kasing lamok—"

Just in time, Ryx went out of the bathroom. He was busy drying his hair, with his lower body only being covered by a towel.

His chest and neck mirrored mine. Full of hickeys, red and freshly marked.

Napapikit ako nang mariin.

Halos mahimatay na si Koen sa gulat nang makita siya, Reis looked like he saw a ghost sa paglaki ng mga mata niya, while Dmitri was slowly smirking habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin. Renzo looked unbothered, but there's a glint of surprise in his eyes.

"Tang-ina. Ang laking lamok naman pala."