Demon's Obsession

Seventeen

Dean

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THOUSANDS of flickering lights illuminated the cityscape as the sun took its rest. At a distance, the streetlights and gleams from high-rises and residential houses almost looked like fireflies that lit a beautiful garden in the darkest of the night. They are like a beacon of hope in times of despair; the reason that I love them.

There was a dream so close to me. It was so vivid, it almost felt like a memory. I was in a garden, in a tenebrous night, even the moon with its stars hid their light behind the ruthless clouds.

The cold violent wind whirled and
I almost tripped on a branch if not because of the light from hundreds of fireflies that lit the garden. But when I closed my eyes, images flashed like a morph. It was that dream again. I kept on running in the dark, careful not to make any noise. I sat to hide my self, bringing my knees to my chest. It was the safest place... until those little lights appeared. What was once magical lights became a nightmare. I was exposed. Then a large silhouette overshadowed me.

Gulat akong napadilat nang dumampi sa aking pisngi ang mainit na hangin. His breath was a mixture of mint and liquor. "What were you thinking?" he whispered while his arms slowly encircled around my waist.

"Fireflies," wala sa sariling sambit ko.

"Why?" he asked. He's probably thinking about how much of a weirdo I am.

"Ah... W-wala," nauutal kong sagot kaya't napaiwas ako ng tingin nang makita ang pagkunot ng noo niya. Gayumpama'y nanatili siyang tahimik at sa halip ay kinintalan ng halik ang gilid ng aking ulo. I stayed silent too. Sa totoo lang ay medyo naiilang pa rin ako sa pagkakaroon namin ng physical contact. Hindi ako sanay. I've lived for the past years not being around guys so much.

"Anything you want for dinner?" he asked after a while.

Marahan akong umiling. "Wala naman," nilingon ko siya at agad akong nalunod sa mga mata niya. Hindi na yata ako makaaahon. "B-basta luto mo." A smirk slowly crept on his lips. I could feel the heat rising up to my cheeks. Geez, what did I just say? I really wanted to slap my stupid self. "I mean l-lutong bahay."

He shrugged but a ghost smile settled on his face before walking out the door. Nang mapag-isa na ako, hindi ko napigilang tampalin ang magkabila kong pisngi, patuloy ang pag-init ng mga ito. I walked back and forth.

Nakahihiya! Ano bang pinagsasabi ko? Close ba kami para mag-request ako na ipagluto niya?

Napapikit ako sa sobrang hiya sa sarili. Pagdilat ko ng mata ay huminga muna ako nang malalim bago nagpasyang pumasok na sa loob.

Wrong move.

Napasigaw ako at kasabay ng malakas kong pagbagsak ang sakit na ininda ng aking paa. Mariin akong napapikit nang sinubukan kong igalaw ang paa upang tumayo ngunit mas matinding sakit lamang ang aking naramdaman. Kinagat ko ang labi upang pigilan ang pagsigaw.

Ilang segundo pa ay narinig ko ang nagbagsakang gamit, mga metal, na galing yata sa kusina.

Sinubukan kong muling gumalaw. Sa pagtulo ng aking luha ay biglang bumukas ang pinto at mula roon ay pumasok siya.

Confusion was written on his face upon seeing me sprawled on the floor. But he quickly went to me when he saw the tear on my face. I knew I am looking silly at the moment. He sccoped me up and put me on the bed.

"What happened?" he asked gently. I looked away. Paano ko sasabihing dahil tanga lang talaga ako?

"Uhm, h-hindi ko nakita y-yung... threshold," pahina nang pahina ang aking boses. Yumuko ako at pinaglaruan ang aking mga daliri. This is embarrassing.