Chapter 37: Feel the Heat
Victoria Abbel's Point of View
Hiro drove me to my place. Wala na kaming pinuntahan na iba at dumiretso na lang sa condo ko. Pero nang makababa kami ni Hiro matapos niyang ipark ang kotse ay may bumisina na lang sa may likuran ng kotse ni Hiro. Kaya sabay kaming pumunta sa likod upang makita kung sino ang bumisina ng ganong kalakas. It was none other than Nikos, riding his red convertible car. Nakababa ang roof ng kotse niya, kaya naman kitang-kita ko ang binata. Agaw atensiyon talaga ang gusto ni Nikos. Katabi naman niya si Reeve sa may passenger seat na nakasimangot.
"Why are you wearing like... that?" Sabi ko at tinuro siya. Napatingin naman siya sa suot niya. He's actually wearing a black sunglasses, a floral polo but all the buttons are open, kaya naman nakikita ko ang sando niya sa loob. Pati ang short niya ay pareho lang ang design sa kanyang polo.
"Hi, Reeve!" I waved at her and she waved back at me. Reeve is Nikos' girlfriend and I wonder why is she dating the likes of Nikos? Hmm.
"What's wrong? Didn't Elizabeth told you?" Napakunot ang noo ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong na rereceived na kahit ano mula kay Elizabeth.
"Tell me what?"
"We're going to the beach!" Nikos explained.
"I didn't receive anything from her. And if I did, edi sana nakapag ready ako."
"Hop on, you two." Sabi ni Nikos sa aming dalawa ni Hiro na mukhang nagmamadali.
"Wait! Let me just get my things." Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Nikos nang tumakbo ako papasok ng condo at naghintay sa elevator. I'm not going to the beach without even preparing for my clothes. And I'm not even wearing make-up! Hindi naman na bago sa akin na may nilalakaran kaming lahat, pero ngayon lang ako hindi nakapag handa.
"Victoria Abbel, there's no time for your things." Hindi ko namalayan na nakasunod na pala si Nikos sa akin.
"What's fun in that if you already prepare for it?" And then suddenly, I can't feel my feet on the ground. Nikos just scoop me from the ground and carry me like a sack of rice.
"Put me down! Nikos!" I shouted. Pinaghahampas ko na rin ang likod niya pero parang wala itong nararamdaman na sakit at pinapasok ako sa loob ng convertible.
"And we're off to go." I heard him muttered and started the car.
"What happened to your cheeks?" Nikos asked Hiro.
Hiro and I were both sitting on the back seat. Nakita ko ang pag-iling ni Hiro at tsaka kinwento ko kay Nikos ang nangyari sa restaurant kanina. Nikos laugh while driving while Hiro is groaning. Reeve is chuckling on the passenger seat. Hindi pa rin siguro niya matanggap ang nangyari sa kanya.
Nikos drove his red convertible without putting the car's roof. We've been in the car for almost four hours already. The sun from the horizon produced beads of perspiration along my neck. But it doesn't matter. I put my hands up to feel the fresh air while listening to the song in the radio.
"Turn the radio louder, Nik. Wooh!" Sabi ko habang sinasabayan ang kanta. It's Lady Gaga's song entitled Bad Romance and I was the only one singing along with it. Nikos and Hiro we're only shaking their heads because of my loudness. Some people are also staring at us while they're driving their car but I just ignore them.
"Pwede bang magbago ng pinsan?" I heard Hiro commented. After Lady Gaga's song, something played in the radio.
"Ohh," Nasabi ko na lang nang biglang nagplay ang kanta ni Trevor sa radio.
"Should I change it?" Akmang inenext na ni Nikos ang kanta nang hawakan ko ang braso niya.
"No, no. You don't have to. I want to hear it." I mumbled. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko kung bakit mas pinili kong pakinggan ang kanta niya.
"Okay, your wish is my command, Toring." Hindi ko na pinansin si Nikos at nag focus sa kanta sa kanyang radio.
"What's the title of that song?" I asked Nikos, trying not to sound too curious. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin bago sumagot.
"Heat on the Beat. Never heard of it?" Tumango ako sa kanya dahil ilang buwan na rin akong tumigil sa pakikinig ng kanyang kanta. The doctor told me that it was not a good idea to cling to someone that may trigger my condition. At dahil dito ay itinigil ko na talaga ang lahat ng magpapaalala sa akin kay Trevor. So far, I'm doing good on my own.
Anyway, this song must included in their album: THE CODE. And the lyrics started like this:
You dance in the moonlight across my bedroom
Humming along with that silly R&B song
You dressed lightly, showing your perfect body
Throwing dirty glances, my attention is on you
Napahawak ako sa aking bibig habang pinapakinggan ang kanyang boses. Memories filled my head and seems like I was back inside his studio room. I remembered calling his name, when I was amazed by the moonlight reflecting on the glass walls on his room. And then I hummed a song inside my head and dance with it. I know I looked silly but I saw him smile a little that time.
Move your body against mine
Baby, I'll fill you for a while
If it hurts just think of me
Look at my eyes, what can you see?
Move closer and feel my heat
Taking turns, it's so sweet
Hairs tangled everywhere
Skin to skin, it's so much better
Ramdam ko ang pagkapula nang aking pisnge. What the heck! It's not like I'm trying to assume about this but did he just made a song about us making love? Napakunot ang noo ko habang nilalapit ko ang mukha ko sa may radio. I know we're both virgin when we did it. But it's been fourteen months, lagpas isang taon na rin ang nakalipas. Did he made love with someone else?
You put words in my mouth with honey
You rolled in the bed sharing your dreams to me
We'll stay up all night and talk about love as if it does exist
Doesn't it?
Move your body against mine
Baby, I'll fill you for a while
If it hurts just think of me
Look at my eyes, what can you see?
Move closer and feel my heat
Taking turns, it's so sweet
Hairs tangled everywhere
Skin to skin, it's so much better
Give up your worries baby
I'll hold you tighter baby
For this night I'll own your body
And make love to you
Move your body against mine
Baby, I'll fill you for a while
If it hurts just think of me
Look at my eyes, am I the one you see?
Move closer and feel the beat of my heart
You are all that I want so please stay still
I'm coming for you and I always will
After the song, the four of us become silent. Another song played in the radio and my head is still spinning around. I just remembered our body perfect in sync to each other.
"Okay, are we not going to talk about how good that Trevor guy is?" Hiro said breaking the silence. Hanggang ngayon ay parang wala ako sa sariling napatango.
"His voice is really soulful. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang may kaibigan si Nikos na sobrang sikat." Reeve said agreeing.
"You just hurt me, sweetheart. What do you even mean by that? I'm also quite famous, y'know." Nikos countered his girlfriend, giving her a boyish grin. Reeve rolled her eyes.
"He is. Indeed." Bulong ko na parang wala sa sarili. I don't know if Hiro is talking that he's good as a singer or in other... aspect.
I saw Nikos kept on glancing at me secretly but didn't give him much attention. Another hour of driving, Nikos finally parked his car.
"Where are we?" I get off the car while tying my red hair into bun. I dyed my hair one week ago. I'm getting tired of my natural color hair so I've decided to dye it red.
"Just like what I said, in the beach." And I can see that. I can even taste the sea on the air. Medyo hinahangin na rin ang buhok ko at lumulubog sa buhangin ang paa ko. Ang pinagtataka ko lang ay kung bakit walang masyadong tao.
The four of us walked inside the beach and I saw Elizabeth waving her hands at us. I waved back at her even she's meters away. Nasa likuran niya si Alexander Coben III—her boyfriend.
"Bakit ang tagal niyo? Kanina pa kami dito." Ito ang bungad sa amin ni Elizabeth. Nilapitan ko ito at binigyan ng mahigpit na yakap.
"Duh! You didn't even bother texting me that we're going here!" I pouted my lips. She paused and check her phone.
"Did I? Oh no, I forgot to click the send button. Si Alexander kasi nagmamadali." May matitipunong mga braso ang yumakap sa maliit na katawan ni Elizabeth.
"You're just getting forgetful, skinny." The white-haired guy said and give Elizabeth tiny kisses on her cheeks.
"No!" Hiro and I groaned from their public display of affection. Nikos and Reeve only chuckled. Elizabeth face looked flush. Pabiro niya rin kinurot ang tagiliran ng kanyang kasintahan. All Alexander did was to laugh.
"Marsh! Hi! I didn't know that you're here." Sabi ko nang makita ko si Marsh na may suot na cardigan. Of course, Marsh will be here because Kalev is here too.
"Hi, Tori." Sabi niya sa akin pabalik na parang nahihiya. Marsh is really a quiet girl and so shy. She always looked afraid of her surrounding.
"Why are you wearing cardigan? You're in the beach. Aren't you supposed to show some skin?" Takhang tanong ko dito. Tumingin naman si Marsh sa may likuran niya at nandon si Kalev na nakatayo.
"I get it. You don't have to explain." Binigyan niya lang ako ng tipid na ngiti. Gosh. Some of my cousins are already dating and I'm not used to their public display of attention!
Because of the sun, I'm profusely sweating. Kahit nakataas na ang buhok ko. When I checked the clock, it's almost three in the afternoon.
We're now in this little cottage, Marsh is now putting the platter of cookies on the table. I get one cookie and take a bite. Nikos didn't even bother bringing me in the hotel, so I was stuck here in the cottage. Elizabeth and Alexander are making vegetable salad right now. Si Hiro naman ay hindi ko alam kung saan nagpunta.
"Do we have water here, Marsh? I'm really thirsty and sweaty." Napatingin sa akin si Marsh.
"Wait, let me che—," hindi na natapos ni Marsh ang kanyang sasabihin nang may nagbaba ng cooler box sa may gilid ko. My face lightened. Finally! My throat feels really dry because of the heat. At kanina pa rin ako naghahanap ng maiinom. Napaupo ako sa may tapat ng cooler box at binuksan ito. There are a lot of beverages inside, but I only get one bottled water.
"Thank you!" I smiled and looked up to see whoever the one who brought the cooler here. The first thing I can see is his masculine hands, some of his veins are showing. Maybe because he just carried a heavy thing. Wow! What a pair of hands! It demonstrates strength and skill. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbow and his white polo is unbuttoned at the top portion.
And when I finally met his gaze, I stopped. Unti-unti na rin nawawala ang ngiti sa labi ko nang makita ko kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng kamay na kanina ko pa tinitingnan.
"Trevor," I paused and turned away. Halos mapaupo ako dahil sa pagkagulat. Trevor is looking down at me and gave me a nod. His eyes is glimmering with interest. He wasn't a male model but he should have been one. People were commenting that his feature was his entrancing face value. I know, I shouldn't say this. Siguro ay nagulat lang ako dahil kaharap ko siya ngayon. I didn't really expect that he will be here. I thought this will be for Stanislaski only. Why am I still giving him compliments inside my head?
"Hey," bati niya sa akin. His lips curved into a smile. His hair is different now. Kung noon ay madalas matabunan ng kanyang buhok ang kanyang mga mata, ngayon naman ay kitang-kita ko na ang mata ni Trevor. There's clarity on them. No, it's his hair that looked him more desirable. He used to have a curtain hairstyle, that's why his hair strands are hanging on the side his face. Ngayon ko lang napansin, the side of his hair is cut short and only part that is left longer is the top portion. His hair is brushed on the side, but some strands are still hanging on the forehead. Hindi ko alam kung ilang weeks na ang nagdaan noong huli ko siyang nakita. Probably at Kelvin's wedding, but he doesn't look like this.
At dahil sa gulat ko dahil kinausap niya ako ay bigla akong napatayo at naglakad palayo. No, I didn't imagine that this will be our first interaction with conversation.
"Tori!" Rinig kong tawag ni Marsh sa pangalan ko pero nagpanggap akong hindi ko siya naririnig at lumayo. I'm trying to look for my cousin Nikos. Oh my! I was caught off guard. I was sweating and I'm not even wearing a make-up.
"Nikos! There you are!" I shouted his name. Mabilis akong naglakad sa pwesto niya na ngayon ay nakahiga sa may duyan. Nasa lilim din siya ng mga puno kaya siguro enjoy na enjoy siya ngayon sa pwesto niya.
"What? Bakit ba ang lakas lagi ng boses mo?" Lumapit ako sa kanya at nag cross arms.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi na nandito si Trevor!" Nikos was the one who told me that Trevor is a sadist! And then what's is he doing now?
"Because I know you won't care."
"Don't tell me all your friends are here?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
"Yes. Nasa byahe na papunta si Raven at Severus papunta dito. Don't worry Toring, it will be fun." He waved his hands as if this isn't a big deal.
"Who else will be here?"
"Your brother Cainn is also on his way."
"Tell me this isn't happening." I frantically said.
"It is happening." I narrowed my eyes at him. Nikos is such a little devil! I know behind that duplicitous smile that he's hiding something. I can't trust him.
***
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