"I don't believe in magic," I breathed.
"I'll make you," he said in a half-whisper.
The boy lifted his mask slightly, revealing his lips, and then he leaned down and brought his mouth onto mine.
SEVENTEEN
He pulled me closer to him, one hand on my waist and the other caressing the back of my neck. Shocks, minomolestya na yata ako ng mapansamantalang 'to ah.
Ugh. Hindi ko na rin alam, actually. All I know is his lips were warmer and softer than anything I could have ever imagined, delicately sliding against mine. He kisses me so deeply that I didn't know who is breathing for who anymore, like he's been dying to do this for ages.
Grabe lang, chills ran over my skin nang ma-realize ko na I am freely allowing this unidentified young man to snatch my beloved first kiss away from me. Ni hindi man lang ako nagprotesta eh. Geezus.
Well, ayon sa mga bali-balita, dahil wala pa naman akong first-hand experience sa halikan – not until now, at least – parang may hindi raw maipaliwanag na pagsabog kang mararamdaman when kissing. Like your stomach is being turned into a tingling, erupting volcano.
Pero ewan, hindi, iba eh. The feeling I'm getting now isn't some explosion; it isn't fireworks. It's more like fire, slowly burning and consuming me from inside out. Hindi ko maipaliwanag, but there's something about this masked stranger that feels so pleasant, so comfortable, so... familiar.
He's outlining the nape of my neck with his fingers as he kisses me.
And then he stopped.
Whoa. Wow.
Wait, what? Ew, no. No, no, no, no! Ilang beses akong umiling at huminga ng malalim para malinawan 'yung isipan kong clouded with ill, uh, thoughts. Crap.
Pagkamulat ko ng mga mata ko, mag-isa na lang akong naka-upo dito sa momentous na sofa. Ang nakita ko na lang was a glimpse of the boy's back habang naglalakad siya palabas ng pinto.
Uhm, o-kay, what just happened?
My senses got ahead of me at lumakad-takbo ako unconsciously hanggang makarating sa pintuan saka ko dali-daling ini-scan ang kapaligiran: No signs of life sa dark, empty hallways.
Goodness, can someone please tell me na hindi lang ako nagdedeliryo ngayon? Hindi pa naman siguro ako ganun kadesperada! And I am pretty sure that I was just kissed by a mysterious boy na inabandona lang ako pagkatapos niyang ma-accomplish ang kanyang maitim niyang balak. Darn, I feel so harassed.
Lalo lang sumama ang pakiramdam ko eh. Tsss. I slumped back to the couch, distraught, habang party-party mode na ang lahat sa may gym. Loud dance songs resounded from the roaring speakers, dinig hanggang dito sa office 'yung ingay eh.
Oh well, it's good to know na ako lang ang miserable sa lugar na ito ngayon.
"There you are."
Umikot ako para harapan 'yung pinto sa side ko to see who just spoke. I had to squint my eyes pa dahil hindi ko maaninag ng maayos 'yung katauhan ng dark form na nakatayo sa may pintuan. I kind of recognize the clothes he's wearing though, I've seen them earlier.
"Key?" Tanong ko in an uncertain tone.
"Prez," he acknowledged. Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin saka siya umupo sa recliner na katabi ng inuupuan ko, kung saan umupo si Tuxedo-less Mask kanina bago kami nag, erm, MOMOL – Make Out, Make Out Lang.
"Uh..." I mumbled, struggling to keep my composure. I feel dizzy, crap. Nasusuka yata ako.
Key was, of course, still in his sharp and perfectly pressed three-piece suit at nakasuot na siya ng silver Titan half mask.
