Taste
When Shiloh saw that I was determined to go to him, he typed a reply aggressively and told the girls I didn't hear since I glanced at my phone again.
Shiloh:
Kitchen
Oh shoot!
Pumasok siya sa bahay. The kitchen is crowded, so I chose upstairs since I familiarized the corners of the house and I know where we could have our privacy.
Ako:
Upstairs please
Alam kong ayaw niyang madisturbo kami. At baka kung may lumabas pasok sa kusina ay talagang ihahampas ko ang ulo sa pader dahil hindi kami makakapag-usap nang maayos kung nadidistract siya.
I think Shiloh did what I said. Sumunod ako at umakyat din sa enggranding hagdan, halos liparin agad iyon maabutan ko lang siya.
"Ano?" he immediately fired, his eyes glaring at me as soon as he found me.
Hinihingal pa ako kaso galit agad siya habang nakahalukipkip.
"She just wiped my face since—"
"Tumigil ka nalang kaya?" galit niyang putol.
I froze.
"Hindi ko na 'to nagugustuhan. Kung hindi ka pumuporma, pwede kang magpatuloy sa ibang mga babae riyan. Wala kang sabit..." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.
Umiling ako at lumapit. I held his elbow and swallowed hard. Fuck... Is he rejecting me?
"I swear... I didn't flirt tonight. She was the woman I met in..." I licked my lower lip when I couldn't even continue the words.
"Hindi lang si Shila..." he murmured and looked at the other side.
"I already dropped all of my girls. I swear," namamaos kong bulong.
Tumingin siya sa akin, nakakunot ang noo. My stomach was churning while the nervousness mingled with the defeaning sound of my heartbeat banging against my chest.
Iniwas niya ang tingin at itinulak ako palayo. I shut my eyes and stepped backward. Fuck. I'm really dead.
"Punch me..." I whispered pleadingly.
"Gago ka."
"I know... and punch me..." I opened my eyes and looked at him weakly.
I caught the small smile on his lips, stretching, kaya natigilan ako.
"Punch me, Shiloh."
He scoffed, but his laugh mingled a bit, and he shook his head.
"Gago ka talaga." Nanliit ang mga mata niya ngunit nanunuya ang tingin.
I put my hand back on his elbow. Nahulog ang tingin niya roon ngunit humahalik pa rin sa labi niya ang ngiti. So he enjoys it when I'm miserable, huh?
"Noong dumating ako dito, hindi ka naman ganyan ka problemado sa mga babae. Tapos ngayon..."
"Because I'm damn serious here. I don't want to lose my shot," I said, gritting my teeth.
I couldn't take it lightly. Kahit ngumingiti siya, pakiramdam ko hindi ako dapat makampante.
"Kilala mo ba 'yon?"
Oh yeah? Verena and her bloodline are fond of you! What a load of crap.
"Why? You find her pretty?" I arched my brow.
Nanliit ang mga mata niya sa akin. My hand, resting on his elbow, slipped on the side of his waist. I slowly let it crawled against his back and pulled him toward me while my chest was still banging, afraid that... he might push me.
When he didn't, I sighed heavily and rested my head against his shoulder.
"I swear... I already dropped all of the women I had in the past. And... I am serious about us. Please listen..." namamaos kong bulong.
He laughed again. Mariin akong pumikit. Tang ina. Pinagtatawanan ang pagiging miserable ko.
I slowly wrapped my arm around his waist so I could at least hug him. He didn't resist. Damn it. When he told me I could touch him as long as we weren't in the school, I didn't realize that he really meant it.
Gusto ko sanang yakapin nang mahigpit kaso baka magalit.
"Bumaba na nga tayo. May pa games daw 'yon si Angela. Sumali tayo," he said enthusiastically.
I shook my head. "This is more fun."
"Huwag na, Brent. Baka mas maaliw ka roon sa mga naka bikini. My body shot pa naman. Paborito mo."
"We could do body shots here. It would be more fun..."
"Gago ka. Umalis kana nga!" Itinulak niya ako kaya natatawa ko siyang hinila muli.
"At baka may CCTV dito!"
"Wala. Nasa ibaba lang. Ang ibang CCTV dito nasa itaas na floor. There's nothing really here..."
"Kabisado mo ah? Bakit? May dinala kana rin ba dito at dito niyo sa hagdan ginawa?"
I rolled my eyes. "Let's just go downstairs. Baka ibang away na naman ang maimbento mo rito..." I grabbed his arm and pulled him downstairs.
"Ah... so meron?" He tilted his head and watched me carefully.
"Wala. Why would I do it to my friends' house?"
"Pero kung hindi 'to bahay ng kaibigan mo, meron?"
Tang ina. Kahit 'yon nailusot niya pa? Kaya siguro ang haba ng pasensya ko dahil may ibibigay sa akin na katulad ni Shiloh.
"Hindi rin..." I said while taking my hand off him as soon as we were walking back to the pool area.
May mga tao rin sa living room pero mas marami sa pool. Malawak doon at may mga naliligo rin kasi.
"Hindi sa hagdan kasi idederitso mo sa kuwarto?" si Shiloh.
"You and your judgmental mind..." I rolled my eyes but smiled.
Well, the important part here, he wasn't mad because he's being playful. I'm quite relieved. I'm really willing to explain. I'm not being defensive here, but it's better if I told him everything instead of letting it expand in his mind because I wasn't doing anything about it.
Pagkarating namin sa pool, mukhang nagsisimula na yata 'yung sinasabi niyang games lalo na't may nakalapag nang inumin sa malaking table at naroon ang lahat.
Lumingon si Sadie at nangingiting hinila si Shiloh saka niya ipinasiksik sa harap. Namulsa akong tumayo sa likod ng mga girls kaso hinila ako ni Ronan nang makita ako.
"Damn dude! You got Verena's cousin, but you didn't get Verena herself?" Halakhak niya.
Gusto ko sanang sikusin sa panga ngunit inakbayan niya ako at nakihiyaw nang may umupong lalake sa upuan at sila ang may karapatang mamimili kung sino ang gagawa ng body shot.
"S'yempre Verena!" agarang hiyaw ng lalakeng umupo.
Everyone looked at Verena, who was now arching her brow. Verena walked to the front. Everyone shouted, but as soon as Verena took the shot and gulped it down, the girls laughed. The man got rejected.
"Malalasing 'to si Verena ngayong gabi kaka pass," iling ni Connor.
Hindi na mabilang ang ilang lalakeng pumili kay Verena. Lagpas sampo na 'yon ngunit sa tuwing may mga lalakeng tumatawag pa rin sa kanya, talagang ang shot lang ang iniinom niya. Coldhearted. This is really Shiloh's counterpart.
"My turn!" si Mavric na umuupo na.
I folded my arms. I'd really invite him for an every day sparring if he choose Shiloh.
When Mavric mentioned a woman's name, I smelled that he wasn't into Chloe anymore. It seems like he lost his temper with that woman.
"Lick the nips, baby!" sigaw ni Tyler kaya naghagalpakan kaming mga boys.
Naiiling akong nakipag-apir kay Ronan habang hindi kami magkamayaw sa pang-aasar kay Mavric na nakangising tumitingala.
"Dude! The boner!" si Ronan.
"Masarap ba, Mav?" si Rick na tawang tawa rin.
"Miss, for your information, he didn't take a bath today..." pambabasag ni Connor kaya mas lalo kaming humagalpak.
But it seems like the woman was enjoying her time while Mavric just showed his middle finger to us and squinted his eyes a bit. Gago. Ayokong sumali rito. Palanguyin niyo nalang siguro ako sa dagat ng apoy kaysa sa nagbabagang galit ng bulkan diyan sa gilid.
After Mavric, some of my friends were now eager to join. They weren't choosing Verena at all. At alam ko kung bakit.
"Sino nang sunod? Oh si Brent na!" hiyaw ni Angela.
I squinted my eyes when the girls cheered and shouted like I was an actor as if they were waiting for me to come out.
Itinulak ako ni Tyler at Ronan sa harap. When I stepped in while the buttons of my polo shirt were still open, instead of walking to the chair, I walked to the table and gulped the shot for the girl.
They shouted "ohhh" out of disappointment. I raised my hands and smirked, trying to find Shiloh who was watching me curiously. Lumapit ako sa mga boys na agaran akong pinagsusuntok sa dibdib at pinagkaguluhan kaya tumawa ako.
"Sabi na hindi 'yan sasali," si Mavric.
"Oh sino pa sa boys!" si Angela na ngayon ay namimili na.
"Si Shiloh!" the girls shouted.
Mabilis na napawi ang ngiti ko habang hiniheadlock pa ako ni Ronan. Kumawala agad ako at pilit hinanap 'yung sumigaw kaso sunod sunod na ang sigaw ng mga girls at iisa ang gusto.
Our circles were now asking Shiloh if he wanted to try it. And Shiloh, the one who looked game while laughing, nodded and walked to the front.
Calm down, Brent...
Take the shot, please...
When he passed at the table, I bowed my head and shut my eyes. Fuck. He's really playing.
Well right. This is just a game. No malice. He can choose Sadie. Or Angela.
Or... me?
Well, that's impossible.
Dumilat ako at nakita siyang umupo. The girls were now eager to be chosen. Nakita ko pa ang malawak na ngisi ng pinsan ni Verena sa akin at lumingon sa kinaroroonan ko. I locked gazes with her while she was beside Verena, who also glanced at me.
"Sino, Shiloh?" Angela asked while grinning.
"Uh... si Verena."
My shoulder loosened. He had the guts to choose Verena.
I swallowed hard, but I know I won't make it. I'll snap.
Damn it, Brent. Calm the fuck down. I repeat... calm the fuck down.
Inakbayan ako ni Mavric. "This is just a game."
Gumalaw ang panga ko habang sinusundan ng tingin ang paglapit ulit ni Verena sa gitna. Noong nagtungo siya sa mesa, medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Ngunit nang kumuha siya ng shot at naglakad patungo kay Shiloh, halos hindi ko namalayan ang sarili ko.
"Brent. Calm down," si Mavric na hinila ako, at halos doon ko lang napagtantong humakbang na pala ako.
The boys laughed at me. My jaw clenched. I couldn't even crack a smirk as everyone was shouting.
"Take this off," ani Verena nang iniluhod ang kanyang tuhod sa nakaparteng mga hita ni Shiloh, ang isang kamay ay naitukod niya sa gilid ng upuan habang yumuyuko kay Shiloh.
"Kaya pangarap ko 'yang si Verena!"
"Whoo! Ang hot mo!"
"Verena!"
I licked the side of my lips while the boys were screaming out of jealousy and the girls were screaming because they found it so hot.
Nailing si Mavric at hinigpitan ang akbay sa akin.
Shiloh, who seems game, pulled his tshirt out. I heaved a sigh. I couldn't finish this. I'll snap. And I don't know what I would do right now while watching.
He wanted to join the fun, right? I knew he wasn't happy earlier when he laughed. Did you mean this? Are you purposely hurting me? It's working. So please... stand up and go back to the girls, Shiloh.
Verena put the lemon against his lips. When she crouched down and sipped the lemon while pouring the shot on his body, my temper finally snapped.
I took Mavric's hand out of mine. He groaned, and I realized I wasn't being gentle anymore.
"Dude... what the hell? Calm down," aniya habang iniikot niya na ang braso at hinawakan ang likod.
But instead of ruining the fun, I walked to Angela. Kinalabit ko ito habang nalalaglag ang panga.
"Angela..." my voice cracked while my jaw kept on clenching.
Sobrang lakas ng tilian. Ayoko nang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari dahil baka mabasag ko lahat ng mga inumin sa harap. First, this isn't my party. Second, he was having fun. And third, I was... courting him.
It slowly dawned on me that I had no right to get mad at all. I have no right to stop him from being playful with the others. I have no right to demand any. I have no right to beg him to choose me.
"Ano Brent?" si Angela nang bumaling sa akin at distracted pa.
"I'll use the room upstairs."
"Brent! Ayokong makalat doon kaya please lang! Kung sino mang babaeng dadalhin mo, sa kama lang kayo!" Natatawa niyang sabi.
"I'll just sleep."
"Sus!" Humalakhak siya ngunit unti-unti ring napawi ang ngiti nang may mapansin.
"Uh... sige. P-Pero hindi pa tapos ang game. Two hours pa 'to..."
I nodded. "It's fine. I'm not really feeling well. Matutulog muna ako."
She nodded while her brows were knitted.
"May medicine kit doon. Inom ka ng gamot..."
I nodded. "I'll join your next celebrations. I'm sorry."
Umiling agad siya. "Ayos lang!"
Hindi ko na dinugtungan pa at umalis doon. They were so distracted with the game that no one noticed me. Or Mavric knows that I walked out since he was putting his hand around me earlier.
Deritso ang akyat ko. I was determined to sleep. Two hours. It's just seven. They're ending the party at three. I set an alarm good for two hours so I could wake up and go back to the party later.
I also typed a reply for Shiloh while laying down on the bed as soon as I went in.
Ako:
I'm sleeping. Text me if you need anything.
As soon as I sent it, I tossed my phone to the bed, and it even jumped out until I heard it banging against the floor. I took my polo out of me and tossed it to the floor,pulled the pillow, and I hugged it.
What if he got into trouble? Nah... Everyone knows he's part of our group. The varsities. Sa laki ng mga katawan namin, walang magtatangkang gagalaw sa mga nasa grupo namin dahil alam nila na sira talaga ang pagmumukha ng mga mangangahas.
And the boys are there. But I also texted him, saying he would just text back if he needed anything.
Kaysa naman nanatili ako roon at baka masira ko lang ang buong gabi. Shiloh might really be disappointed in me since I don't like the game at all.
What's the fuss, Brent? It's a game. Nanliligaw ka ah? Psh. At least I have the nerve to decline because I know I'm serious about this. I'm seriously courting him. Kaya kung sign iyon na irereject niya ako, o sign iyon na ipinapakita niya sa akin na kaya niyang kunin ang babaeng gusto ko noon para saktan ako, then he won.
But did he really mean that to hurt me? I shut my eyes and sighed. I wanted to shower so bad, but at the same time, I wanted the alcohol to consume me so I wouldn't be sober and would doze off to sleep at least.
But with the heavy feeling, I felt like I wouldn't even sleep a wink.
Tang inang buhay 'to.
I heard the creak of the door opening as it mingled with the silent sound of the air conditioner. I kept my eyes close. Kung si Sadie ito at guguluhin ang gabi ko, itatapon ko talaga siya sa bintana.
I heard it close until someone familiar cleared his throat. Napadilat ang mga mata ko. That's Shiloh. I know that's him.
Kahit gusto kong lumingon, nanatili ako sa pwesto. Seconds later, I saw his shadow standing behind me.
"Brent..." tawag niya.
What? Tsss.
I pretended I was asleep. You think you'll always have your way with me? Bumalik ka doon. Finish your fun, Shiloh.
He crouched a bit and touched the side of my neck. I swallowed hard while I froze. Angela told him that I was sick, huh?
"May sakit ka ba? Ba't mainit ka?"
Of course, because I drank some shot. But yes, I'm really sick. I saw you and Verena playing that fucking game.
Hindi ako nagsalita. I'm just extra hot when I'm drunk, but I don't have a fever.
Tumikhim siyang muli. "Nauuhaw ako."
Really? Damn brat. Dumaan kana sa kitchen bago rito pero umakyat ka pa talaga huh?
I pulled myself out of the bed. "What drink?"
Nagulat siya sa biglaang pagtayo ko na parang patay na nabuhay.
"S-Shake..."
A shake. Whew.
I nodded and went straight to the door without even glancing at him. Bumaba ako at nakitang may naghahalikan sa living room. Dumeritso ako sa kusina at ginawa agad ang kailangan kong gawin.
What kind of shake, anyway? I wanted to check on him, but my phone wasn't with me. Binuksan ko ang fridge, and luckily, I saw a pack of strawberries.
Iyon ang ginawa kong shake para sa kanya. I could hear the sound coming from the pool area and their screams. It took me half an hour until I went back to the room.
Nakaupo na siya sa kama at hawak ang phone ko.
"Nabasag ang screen..." Inilahad niya iyon sa akin.
Inilahad ko sa kanya ang shake niya, noong tinanggap, ay muli akong pakulob na humiga at hindi na tinanggap ang phone.
I hugged the pillow again and buried my face while he was still sitting at the side of the bed.
Why? You didn't have fun there? Verena didn't suck the lemon enough that you left? Tss.
Sige nga, Brent. Sabihin mo? Nevermind.
"Bakit pula 'yang mga mata mo?" he asked.
Hindi ako sumagot.
"Hindi yata naka full blast 'yung aircon."
I sighed and pulled myself up again. Nilapitan ko ang aircon at nilakasan iyon lalo. I went back to the bed without looking at him, avoiding even touching him.
I lay again on the bed and hugged the pillow. I'm really pissed. But not pissed enough to ignore him. But I'm pissed.
"Dapat sumali ka rin kanina," he conversed.
"You can't force me to do the things I don't like," I murmured coldly.
"Lalake ako kaya bagay sa akin ang babae," he whispered.
My chest clutched.
"Then reject me," I demanded.
Hindi siya nagsalita. I laughed and shook my head.
"Why? You purposely did that to hurt me? To slap me that you were into girls, huh? Reject me, Shiloh. You're unfair," namamaos kong bigkas, halos kontrolin ang galit na gustong kumawala sa akin kahit gusto ko iyong isigaw lahat sa kanya.
"Bakit? Sa nakita mo... gusto mo pa ring manligaw—"
"If that was your test to see if I was serious with you, then even if I was breaking, I'd still court you in a heartbeat," giit ko sa mahinahong tinig, sinisiguradong hindi iyon pasigaw.
Natahimik siya. I licked my lower lip.
"Go down. I'll go downstairs later. I'll just calm myself. Masisira ko lang ang gabi mo," matabang kong sabi, halos bulong lamang.
Ilang minuto siyang tahimik. Ayoko ring lumingon dahil talagang galit ako. If I were him, he'd just go downstairs and spend time with the girls.
"Hindi ka pa nakakatikim ng strawberries, 'di ba?" he conversed again.
Hindi ako nagsalita.
"Masarap 'yung gawa mong shake..."
I gritted my jaw. He really knows how to twist my emotions! Damn him!
"Hoy! Humarap ka nga!" Irita niyang sabi.
I rolled my eyes and flipped my head to his side. Lumingon siya sa akin. Nagkatinginan kami sa dilim.
He scoffed as soon as he saw my face. I rolled my eyes again and was about to flip my head when he crouched.
When his face neared mine, I swallowed hard when I knew what he was planning to do. My lips parted when he stopped midway and drank the shake I made for him, letting it get into his lips, until he crouched more.
As soon as the cold shake touched my lips when he brushed his lips with mine, just enough for the shake to transfer to my lips, he pulled himself up.
My senses were blocked. My stomach was churning, and even the heartbeat of my heart was banging louder than earlier. It was an uncontrollable emotion that I tried to control because I didn't want to cross the boundary.
"Tikman mo."
I licked my lower lip until I got the taste of the shake. The sweet taste spread in my mouth while he sipped another shake. I was bracing that... he would do it again, but I guess he just let me have a taste of it.
Tumingin siya sa akin, namumula. "Gusto mo pa?"
I nodded slowly, looking at his lips.
Shiloh sipped again and crouched down. When his lips landed on mine, I parted it.
"Slip your tongue in. I want to suck to taste it more," I whispered dizzily.