Kabanata 15
Fall
Sweats tickled my forehead as I stop in the wide Ayala Triangle Gardens while catching my rapid breath. Planning to do one more round, I looked down and set my smart watch to record the calories I will burn as I run again. Pang-apat na ikot ko na sa buong lugar at basang-basa na rin ang buong katawan ko ng pawis. Everytime the morning wind blows, I can't help but to shiver as the coldness embrace my skin.
Nagsimula akong tumakbo ngunit ilang hakbang pa lang ang nagagawa ko nang bigla akong mapahinto at mapaikot pabalik. My brows furrowed when I saw Alas scowling at me while holding me on my forearm.
"What?" I asked, brows knitted in slight irritation.
"I'm already hungry. Hindi ka pa ba napapagod? Nakakaapat na ikot na tayo."
"Sino ba kasi nagsabi sa'yong samahan mo akong tumakbo?"
He placed his hands against his hips and looked at me with boredom. Hindi ko talaga siya maintindhan kung bakit kailangan niya pa akong sundan dito. I never told him my schedule this morning. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa tabi ko at nakitakbo na para bang may usapan kami. Kapag tinatanong ko kung paano niya nalamang narito ako ay ngingitian niya lang ako na para bang naisahan niya ako.
"When are you going to appreciate my presence?" he said, protuding his lips like a little boy asking for some toy car.
How ever, Alas honestly stands out in this place as most of the women jogging around are looking at him. I can't blame them. His sex appeal was oozing. Litaw na litaw ang kaputian niya sa suot na itim na dry fit shirt at at short. He's all black, even his shoes and that makes him damn attractive for me.
Namumula na rin ang kutis niya, maging ang leeg dahil kanina pa kami tumatakbo. I had to stop myself from biting my lower lip just by looking at the sweat crawling from the side of his cheek down his neck.
Damn it.
"Mabuti nga at kasama mo ako. You almost sprained your feet if I didn't catch you." he rolled his eyes like he just saved my life from a near-death experience.
"Men out there would surely help me just in case that happens." I smirked. "Magkukumahog pa sila."
He scoffed. "What a conceited woman you really are."
"I'm just telling the truth. Men kneel down and beg for my attention."
"Kasi maganda ka?"
"Because I'm simply Zephania Monasterio," I flipped my hair and turned around. I was about to run when he pulled me again - this time, I almost bumped myself against him. Mabuti na lang at naituon ko ang mga palad ko sa kaniyang dibdib. "Alas! Bakit ba hila ka ng hila sa akin?"
He stared at me in the eyes, the little rise of the corner of his lips makes me think that something is going on in his playful mind.
"Maganda ka nga. Amazona ka naman," he uttered. "Under ako sa'yo niyan kapag nagkataon."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Papa-under ka naman?"
Mas lalong lumalim ang ngisi sa labi niya. "Takot ko na lang sa'yo."
"Tss. As if!"
Inirapan ko siya at lumayo na sa kaniya. Narinig ko ang paghagalpak niya ng tawa, tila nangaasar. Nasasanay na ako sa ganitong ugali niya kaya baliwala lang sa akin. Isa pa, hindi rin naman ako tinatablan ng pagiging ganito niya. It's not that I like him for me to get affected.
"Under ka kay Trish noon?" bigla ay natanong ko saka umabante na sa paglalakad. I just chose to do some walking instead of running again.
Ganoon rin naman.
"Why sudden mention of her name?"
Ako naman ang ngumisi. I felt him beside me, sumasabay na rin sa paglalakad ko.
"You want to move on from her, right? That's the first step, asshat. You have to be used to hearing her name even if you don't want to. Even if it's hurting you. Dadating ang panahon, baliwala na lang sa'yo sa tuwing maririnig mo ang pangalan niya."
"I hope that day really come fast," he uttered. "Have you finally moved on from your ex?"
Natawa ako. "I think so. I still think some of our memories but it's not painful anymore. Hindi ko siya kawalan, Alas."
"It's the other way around."
I smiled inwardly. It's been a week since Alas swore that he would finally let go of his feelings for Trish. Alam kong mahirap para sa kaniya ang umabante mula sa isang bagay na ayaw niya pang pakawalan pero wala siyang pagpipilian kung hindi ang sumuko. I just hope that one day, he will find himself free from all the heartaches and pain Trish has caused him.
Sana isang araw, mahanap niya na ulit ang sarili niya. Na hindi niya na kailangan pang ngumiti ng pilit, tumawa ngunit sa bandang huli ay mangungulila. I wish nothing but for happiness to find him again.
I maybe rude to him whenever we're together but I still want him to be fine. Back to whatever he is before. I'm already part of his story. I witnessed how he cried, how he bled until he surrendered the flag. Walang dahilan para hindi ko hilingin ang sumaya.
"Let's sit for a while, hun." Alas suddenly held my hand and pulled me on the bench under the tree.
Bago pa ako makaangal ay naiupo niya na ako sa tabi niya saka idinantay ang mga kamay sa sandalan. Kung titingnan sa malayo, akala mo siya nakaakbay sa akin. Uusod na sana ako nang bigla niya akong pigilan sa hita ko. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay niyang nasa ibabaw ng hita ko saka siya pinaningkitan ng mga mata kahit pa hindi naman niya nakikita dahil nakapikit siya.
"Get your hands off me, Trajano. Para-paraan ka." irap ko at ako na mismo ang nagtanggal ng kamay niya mula sa hita ko.
Narinig ko ang bahaw niyang halakhak dahilan para sulyapan ko siyang muli. His eyes are still close, a smirk was etched on his lips. Sumisilip ang sikat ng araw sa mga dahon ng puno na siyang tumatama ng bahagya sa balat ni Alas. It made me see his pore less skin and rosy cheeks.
Gwapo rin talaga ng isang ito.
"Hindi ka pa ba napapagod?" tanong niya.
"Makakailang ikot pa ako kung hindi mo lang ako pinipigilan."
He chuckled. "Sama ka sa akin sa gym sa isang araw-"
"May sarili akong gym na pinupuntahan-"
"Saan? Ako na lang ang lilipat sa'yo."
Kumunot ang noo ko at salubong ang kilay siyang tinitigan. Nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata niya, halatang nagpapahinga.
He looks tired... emotionally.
"Bakit ba kailangang magkasama tayo palagi? As far as I'm concerned, si Zadriel ang kakambal ko at hindi ikaw."
Humagalpak siya ng tawa dahilan para magliparan ang ilang ibon mula sa punong sinisilungan namin. He unlocked his eyes and stared at me. He seems amused by my words like he finds it funny.
Ano ba ang nakakatawa sa sinabi ko?
"What's wrong with wanting to be with you, hmm? I'm actually comfortable being with you, Ania. Kahit na palagi mo akong dinadarag."
Natawa ako. "Ang tanga mo kasi minsan."
He rolled his eyes. Idinekwatro niya pa ang mga binti niya dahilan para makita ko kung gaano siya kabalbon. I keep my eyes off from there and just anchored it into somewhere else.
"Don't worry. Idiocy was a temporary condition specially on my case."
"Tss. Permanent na 'yan! I bet you will let your guards down and accept her again once she comes back to you."
Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin, literal na dumilim ang mga mata.
"Not gonna happen. Napagod na ako-"
"Napagod ka lang-"
He groaned that made me shut up. "Why are you contradicting me? Aren't you happy that I'm finally learning to accept that we are done? Thought you'd be proud of me."
My brow raised. "Parang lumalabas pa na inuudyukan kitang sukuan na siya. Fyi, Alas! You are not born to follow someone else's opinion. May sarili kang utak na dapat mong sundin-"
"And my mind ordered me to follow you. Dahil tama ka, kung mahal pa talaga ako ni Trish, hindi niya ako hahayangan magpakatanga sa kaniya," he smiled sadly. "Fuck. Why are we still talking about her anyway? Ang aga-aga, Ania."
"My fault?" I cocked my brow.
"Siyempre ako na naman..." aniya na pilit ang ngiti saka hinaplos ang pisngi ko.
Tinabig ko 'yon bago siya mabilis na kinurot sa bewang. He moaned in pain but a sexy smile was still plastered on his lips. He suddenly lifted his shirt that made me see his full packed abs. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin ngunit hindi ipinahalatang biglang nailang sa nakikita.
Sweet mercy.
"Nagkakaroon na ako ng pasa dahil sa'yo. You should pay for this."
Kusa akong napatingin sa katawan niya, partikular sa bewang. May parte roon na namumula na at meron namang halos nagkukulay ube na. Nanglaki ang mga mata ko dahil alam kong doon sa parteng iyon ko lang siya kinukurot ng madalas.
I unconsciously bit my lower lip and looked at his eyes. Nakaangat ang isang kilay niya na para bang ipinamumukha niya sa akin na dapat akong humingi ng pasensya. Imbes na gawin iyon ay inirapan ko pa siya.
"Serves you right." I even answered.
He laughed in a hoarse tone. "Nagugutom na talaga ako, Ania."
Hinaplos niya pa ang tiyan niya ng paulit-ulit na ikinabuntong hininga ako. Why do I feel like I owe this monkey an apology for giving him those bruises? Biro lang naman 'yon. Hindi ko inasahan na magkakapasa siya. I guess I pinched him too hard.
"Fine. I'll treat you as my way of apology. Nakakahiya naman sa mga pasa mo. Baka ikamatay mo pa 'yan"
Ngumisi siya, mas nakakaloko pa kumpara sa dati.
"Saan mo ako ililibre?"
"It depends. Ano bang gusto mong kainin?"
Lumalim ang ngisi niya sa labi. "Ikaw."
Nanglaki ang mga mata ko sa tinuran niya. Astang kukurutin ko na naman siya nang bigla niyang hulihin ang kamay ko habang tatawa-tawa. He even pulled me closer to him as he tilted his head and crouched over my ear.
"No more painful pinch from you, baby."
"You and your mouth, Alas. I badly want to make it bleed."
"By sucking it? Would love that."
"Tang ina..."
"Damn. That curse sounds so seductive when you're the one saying it." he chuckled as his warm breath made love with my skin.
"Don't try to flirt with me, Trajano. Hindi ka uubra sa akin."
"I'm not. You are not my type, remember?" He emphasized those words like it's meant for me to understand it. "This is how I really am, Zeph. The Alas before Trish."
He's a playboy. That's for sure. But I'm not surprised anymore. He has no difference from my twin and even Dashiel.
"You don't expect me to believe that you're a good boy, do you?"
He chuckled softly. Bahagya siyang lumayo sa akin at mariin akong tinitigan sa mga mata. Lumamlam ito na tila ba napakaraming emosyon ang lumalangoy roon.
"Not a bit," he replied. "Zeph..."
"What?" I asked, wearing cold tone while looking at him.
He breathed a sigh while eyeing me intensely.
"Let's have a deal."
My eyes rolled skywards. "Deal again?"
He nodded. Bumuntong hininga ako, hindi maintindhan kung bakit parang ang dali para sa kaniya ang papayagin ako.
"About what?"
Gumuhit ang tipid na ngiti sa labi niya bago tumungo at huminga ng malalim. Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin ay bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkailang.
What he said next made me literally speechless.
"Let's not fall with each other, please."