Rendezvous in August (Astrology #1)

IX

RIA 9

Sinalubong ako ni Ryne na may dalang tuwalya nang makababa ako sa hagdan.

Cold air brushed against my skin—- seeping through the thin fabric of the dress I'm wearing. I bit my lip when I felt it slightly tremble. I felt the bits of water from my drenched hair dropped at my bare feet. Hindi na ako nag-abala pa na magsuot ng sapin sa paa dahil may mat naman na nakalatag sa sahig ng set.

"Wow. Grabe yung sexual tension n'yo ni Sir Aries, Ri." Ngisi ni Ryne sa akin. "You two looked like you were fucking each other in your minds."

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata at mabilis na kinuha mula sa kanya ang tuwalyang inaabot n'ya sa akin kanina pa.

"Bibig mo." Saway ko.

Ryne's grin grew wider. "Bakit? Kahit itanong mo pa kila Sir Gio, ganun din ang sasabihin nila!"

Damn it. Are we that obvious?

I was frowning while looking for Aries. Agad ko naman siyang nakita— kausap si Sir Ian, ang CEO ng La Bonita. Wala pa rin siyang suot na pang-itaas at hindi alintana ang lamig—- hindi gaya ko na halos mangisay na.

His eyes caught my gaze. He shot me a playful look and lifted his hand. Before he could even wave his hand at me, I immediately averted my gaze from him. Umismid ako at naglakad papunta sa dressing area.

"Ano, hindi mo na ba titingnan pa yung mga shots?" Untag ni Ryne mula sa likod.

I shook my head. "Hindi na. Magbibihis na ako."

"Okay, sabihan ko na lang sila na i-email sa'yo ang mga photos na mapipili nila." Sabi ni Ryne bago ako nilubayan.

Pinihit ko ang seradura ng pintuan ng dressing room ko at pumasok.

Instead of removing my makeup, I went to the changing area to change first. Hindi ko na kasi kaya yung lamig talaga. Nasilipan ko pa yung sarili ko kanina sa salamin at nakitang nagsisimula nang mamutla 'yung mga labi ko.

Right after I removed my makeup, I went out to go to the parking lot to go home.

Masyado akong nabitin sa food trip na ginawa ko kahapon kaya ngayon ko itutuloy.

Buti na lang at wala akong schedule bukas at sa makalawa. Pati rin sa gig ko sa bar, wala muna dahil nasa Manila 'yung banda. God! I can't wait to eat until I'm knocked out!

"Psst. Date tayo?"

I halted in my tracks. My breath hitched and my chest thudded in excitement.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at nilingon si Aries na nasa likuran ko.

Suot na n'yang muli ang damit n'ya noong bago kami mag shoot. Aries tilted his head and amusingly grinned at me right after he ran his gaze from my head to toe.

I heard him chuckle when he saw me look around first before answering him.

"Saan?" I asked—— ignoring his chuckles.

Aries cleared his throat and straightened up. He put his hand in his pocket.

"Saan mo gusto?" Aniya.

"Can we talk about it inside?" Ininguso ko ang sasakyan ko.

Aries shrugged. "Keys?"

Inabot ko sa kanya ang key fob. Agad namang pinatunog ni Aries ang sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan bago siya umikot papunta sa driver's seat.

"So?" He probed as soon as he closed the door.

I blinked at him.

It feels odd to sit here on the passenger's seat while a man's sitting on my usual spot. Aries was occupying a big space inside the car. His thick thighs were deliciously pressed on the leather seat, his back was leaning on the back rest, and his left brawny hand rested on the steering wheel while the other was resting on the headrest of my seat.