Most Wanted (GL) [To Be Self-Published]

Chapter 12 - unedited

"Wow. Ilang araw ka bang hindi kumain at mukhang gutom na gutom ka?" Amazed na tanong sa'kin ni Sep habang pinapanood ako.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Masama bang magutom ng sobra? Alam naman niya na medyo malakas akong kumain, eh.

"Sungit talaga." Bulong niya. I rolled my eyes.

Nang matapos kumain ay napasandal na lang ako sa inuupuan at napapikit. Satisfied.

"Sulli."

Napalingon ako kay September na kakarating lang. Siya na kasi ang nagtapon ng pinagkainan ko. Pumunta siya sa likuran ko at hinawakan ako sa balikat, sinimulan na niya akong i-massage. Napapikit na lang tuloy ako. It feels good.

"Ang stiff ng shoulders mo, Sulli." Sabi niya sa'kin habang patuloy lang sa ginagawa. "Rough day?"

"Hm." Maikling sagot ko.

Busy day kasi talaga ngayon. Hindi pa ako natigil simula kanina, tapos dinagdagan pa ng makulit na Adriatico na 'yon.

She kissed my cheeks, nabigla ako kaya hindi na ako nakapag-react. "Mag-relax ka lang."

Fine.

Pasalamat siya magaling siya sa ginagawa niya.

May naalala ako. May kailangan pa pala akong basahin at pirmahan.

Kukunin ko na sana yung files na nasa ibabaw ng table ko nang biglang tapikin ni September ang kamay ko. Lumingon ako at tiningnan siya ng masama. "Problema mo?"

"Sulli, Sulli." She shook her head. "Sinabi nang mag-relax, eh."

"September Imperial, those files," Tinuro ko yung mga papeles na araw-araw yatang dumadami. "Won't read and sign themselves. Hindi sila mababawasan kung hindi ako gagalaw."

"I know." Pakantang sagot niya. "Come on," Hinila niya ako patayo at dinala sa couch ng opisina. Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi tingnan siya ng masama nang pinaupo na niya ako. "There...better."

"I told you I have works to do—"

"Yada, yada. Blah-blah-blah." She cut me off so rudely. This woman! "Alam ko nga."

"Eh, 'yon naman pala." Inirapan ko siya pero tinawanan niya lang ako. "Stop laughing!"

"Cute mo kasi." Tinulak ko siya nang sinubukan niyang umupo sa tabi ko pero wala, umupo pa rin siya. Worst, hinapit niya pa ako sa baywang palapit sa kanya. "Hindi ka naman talaga titigil, magpapahinga ka lang. Kung gusto mo tutulungan pa kita."

"Whatever." I coldly said. Nakatingin lang ako, opposite sa direction niya.

Maya-maya lang ay nakarinig ako ng pamilyar na kanta. Nagpatugtog pala si September gamit ang phone niya. Malakas yung music. I frowned when I recognized what the song is. "Middle?"

She grinned at me. "Yup!"

Staring at two different views on your window ledge
Coffee has gone cold, it's like time froze

There you go wishing, floating down our wishing well
It's like I'm always causing problems, causing hell
I didn't mean to put you through this, I can tell

We're gonna sweep this under the carpet

Ngumiti siya ng nakakaloko. "Akala mo hindi ko malalaman, ha."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin at naramdaman ang pag-iinit ng mukha ko. The song is Middle by DJ Snake feat by Bipolar Sunshine, it's an EDM na na-LSS ako these past few days. I told her na hindi ako mahilig sa EDM noong tinanong niya. Well, except for this one. I like the song, really.

I hope that I can turn back the time
To make it all alright, all alright for us
I'll promise to build a new world for us two
With you in the middle

I've been playing this song simula nang marinig ko ito. Hindi ko mapigilang i-tap 'yung fingers ko. "How did you know?"

"Tiningnan ko sa music files ng USB mo."

Pagagalitan ko sana siya pero hindi ko na tinuloy. Ngingisihan niya lang naman ako, eh. Ayoko na lang magtanong ulit.

(you in the middle)
(you in the middle)

Pumikit na lang ako habang patuloy sa pagta-tap ng daliri, sinasabay ko yung beat. Napailing ako nang sabayan ni September yung kanta. Ang sama ng boses.

"Lying down beside you. What's going through your head?" She sang before winking at me. I closed my eyes. "The silence in the air felt like my soul froze. Am I just over thinking feelings I conceal. This gut feeling I'm tryna get off me as well. I hope we find our missing pieces and just chill. We're gonna sweep it under the carpet."

"Pangit." Nasabi ko na lang.

"Yabang."

I chuckled. I bet she's pouting right now.

I opened my eyes. Napakunot ang noo ko nang makitang nakatitig lang siya sa'kin. "What?"

"Tumawa ka."

"So?" Anong problema niya?

"Beautiful." She leaned closer. She kissed my forehead, down to my nose. "I wish I can always make you laugh."

Napapikit ako nang halikan niya ako. She held my nape at ang pisngi ko. She moved her lips, ganoon rin ang ginawa ko. The kiss is gentle and passionate.

I hope that I can turn back the time
To make it all alright, all alright for us
I'll promise to build a new world for us two
With you in the middle

She gently shoved her tongue. I moaned when she kissed me deeper. I held her head and buried my hands on her soft hair. We kissed as the music plays on the background.

This feels different. The kiss is kinda rough and yet, the gentleness is still there. Walang halong pagmamadali. We're just taking our time. It's kind of different that it's making my heart race.

(you in the middle)
(you in the middle)
(with you)
(you)

(thank the children)
(just thank the children)
(you)
(thank the children)
(just thank the children)

The song ended. We parted our lips, panting. She smiled, yung nakakaloko. "You know, maybe we should play that song more often."

I frowned. "Why?"

Tinaas-baba niya ang isang kilay. "Para makahalik ako lagi sa'yo."

"Oh, shut up."

_____