Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“So, did you guys kissed?” 

Kaagad na sinaway ni Eleanor si Flare dahil sa malakas nitong boses. She stated those words too loud with full curiosity and excitement for Eleanor’s continuation of her story. 

“Hinaan mo nga nag boses mo!” pabulong nyang sigaw.

Binawi nya ang kamay na itinakip nya sa bibig ng kaibigan.

“Ekwento mo na kasi!” muli nitong sigaw, “Hinalikan ka ba nya? Or wait… ikaw ba ang humalik kay Fourth!?” 

Kahit nasa loob sila ng kaniyang condo ay nakakahiya paring pakinggan ang tanong nito. Lalo na’t napakalakas talaga ng pagkatanong ng kaibigan niya.

Pagkatapos niyon ay pinagpatuloy nya ang pagkukuwento habang inaalala ang bawat detalye ng mga nangyari kagabi, basi sakanyang perspektibo.

“Are you… going to sleep already?” mahinanahong tanong ni Fourth Ycarius ng pigilan sya nitong lumayo.

Ramdam ni Eleanor ang mabilis na pag-init ng kanyang pisngi. Fourth was innocently waiting for her to answer his question. Habang sya naman ay naka-awang parin ang mga labi dahil sa tanong nitong hindi nya alam kung saan nanggaling. 

Their actions created nothing, but complete silence. Na tanging tunog lamang ng pagbagsag ng tubig mula sa nakabukas na gripo ang gumagawa ng tunog sa buong dining area ng condo nya.

Fourth Ycarius really has his way to say things at the perfect timing, causing her to shut up and turn her thoughts to chaos. 

Napakasimpleng tanong lamang nito pero bakit hindi sya makasagot? It was different than earlier. Kanina’y may mga rason sya para hindi makasagot sa sinabi ni Fourth Ycarius. But right now, the vibe makes her think not just twice, but a lot of times to answer. The atmosphere surrounding them changed from calm, to something too warm for her. At ito ang nagbabagabag sa damdamin nya.

“Why?” She replied an open ended question. 

Nangmakita nya ang pagbuka ng labi ni Fourth Ycarius, naghahandang magsalita ay tila nagsisi sya sa binitawang sagot. Sana ay sinagot nya na lang ito ng oo o hindi. Nang sagayon ay natapos na doon ang usapan. 

Because Eleanor got a feeling that what he will say next will cause another episode of her heart throbbing in its irregular state.

“Do you want to watch a movie in my condo?”      

Muli syang napaamang. Her mind automatically said, I knew it. 

Hindi sa sinehan, kundi sa condo nya. Pakiramdam nya’y mas dilikado iyon kesa sa sinehan kung saan posibleng may makakilala sakanila.  

Then she remembered, karamihang malapit na mall ay sarado na sa ganitong oras. 

“Why don’t we watch here?” sagot nya, pinagaan ang tuno ng kaniyang pagsasalita. “Just like… last night.” 

She shouldn’t have added the last part. Yumuko sya at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

 When she raised her head and looked at Fourth Ycarius, her hands unconsciously covered her lips. Nagulat naman sya sa sariling ginawa. But she couldn’t help herself to feel embarrassed because of the way he looked at her lips. Kaya wala sa sarili nya itong natakpan ng kamay nya. 

 

Nagkataas ng tingin si Fourth Ycarius at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. As usual, his dark brown eyes were magnetic. It’s not a rare shade but they have something that draws her in.

“I saw your DVD last time, it’s not compatible with the ones I bought.” Kita nya ang pagngiwi nito sa sariling sagot.

Napataas ang kilay ni Eleanor. Not compatible? Lihim syang napatawa sa isipan. It was an obvious lie. Halata rin ang pagsisinungaling nito sa ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.  

Maliban sa kwarto ng mga Cristos ay wala pa syang ibang kwarto ng lalaking napasukan. The rooms owned by their enemies that she, sometimes from the past, illegally barged in, were not counted of course. 

‘Just say no!’ sigaw ng isip nya.

“I heard you love watching action movies.” Masigla nitong saad, “I bought a lot, so…”

Eleanor was about to open her mouth to reply to his remark. Ngunit nabaling ang atensyon nya sa gripong kanina pa’y bukas.

“The f-faucet.” Nautal nyang turo.

“Oh.” Ani Fourth Ycarius ng maalala iyon. He hurriedly turned back ang turned off the faucet. 

“Shit,” he cursed, looking down the mess he made. “I’ll just clean this-“

“Wag na, it will just drain out after some minutes.” Mahinahon nyang pahayag.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”

Not just his though, may kasalanan din naman sya. And it’s just a small accident. Too trivial for them to discuss deeper.

“It’s fine, you don’t have to be sorry.” She assured. Lumapit sya sa lababo. “Look at the water. It’s draining quite fast.” Turo nya sa tubig na naroroon.

She heard a laugh.

Mabilis nyang inangat ang kaniyang tingin at nakumpirmang si Fourth Ycarius nga ang narinig nyang mahinang tumawa. He’s covering his mouth with the back of his hand. Trying not to show his smiling lips.

Did he just?

“Are you laughing at me?” nagtataka nyang tanong.

May nakakatawa ba syang sinabi? O ginawa? She believes there’s none, kaya bakit ito tumatawa?

Patuloy itong tumawa na nagpakunot ng kanyang noo. Her expression didn’t stop him from laughing, contrary to her threatening look, he laughed more.

“Stop it.” Pinatigas nya ang boses, but it didn’t stop him. “Last warning, Mr. De Salvo. Stop laughing!” tumaas ang kaniyang boses. 

She never used that kind of voice before. She can feel her cheeks beet red.

“Roger that, my Mrs. De Salvo.” Taas kamay nitong pagsuko.

She won, but he didn’t have to call her that! Her pride as the Empress of Scarletti felt like its melting. Or maybe, she’s the one who’s melting. Lalo na sa maamo nitong mukha habang tumatawa. 

His Mrs. De Salvo? They’re married after all. Kasal sila, Ngunit sobrang nasanay na sya sa Scarletti na hindi nya minsang naisip na isa na rin pala syang De Salvo.

And his…

Napatigil sya sa pag-iisip ng maglakad si Fourth papalapit sakanya. Literally near. Dahil sa pagkabigla at ilang ay napahakbang sya papalayo, pero napigilan sya ng hawakan nito ang parehong braso nya. 

He grabbed her gently. Pero hindi sya makawala dito. Napaisip si Eleanor. Where did my years of strength training go? 

“How did the water drain again?” he teased and let go of her arms. 

Akala nya’y makakawala na sya. But his hands landed on her face and pinched her cheeks gently.

“I didn’t see,” dagdag nito, “Can you say it again? How did the water drained?” he laughed.

He laughed because of that? He’s currently pinching her cheeks for that? As she remembered it, she perfectly said it in a normal way with a normal tone.

Anong ikinatatawa ng lalaking to? She’s starting to get irritated with the embarrassment she’s feeling. 

If only he’s not her husband, she would’ve killed him the moment he laughed at her. 

“One more laugh and I’ll-“ Natigil sya, what will she do?

“And you’ll?” panunukso pa nito. Mas lalong nagbaga ang mga mata ni Eleanor, “Ok, ok, I’ll stop.” Suko nito.

“And stop pinching my cheeks!” she exclaimed.

Fourth bit his lip while looking at her face. She may be mistaken, he saw his eyes turned a little darker. 

 “Say yes to my invitation first.” May kumpyansa nitong saad.

She wasn’t planning on turning him down anyway. Now she can feel the regret. She should’ve just answered immediately earlier. 

“Yesh.” She answered. 

Tumawa pa ito bago bumitaw na syang pinandilatan nya ng mga mata. He raised both of his hands on the air, surrendering.

“Then?” excited na tanong ni Flare, “Kailan kayo naghalikan?” putol nito sa kuwento nya.

“We didn’t!” tangi nya, “We watched the movie he said and I returned to here after. That’s it.” She ended.

“Sus! Segi na ikuwento mo na!” pamimilit nito.

Madaling tumayo si Eleanor, “Wala nga! Kukunin ko muna yung hinihingi mong notes.”

Hindi nya na ito hinayaang makapagsalita at kumaripas na papasok sa kanyang kuwarto. 

She closed the door and held the knob, facing her back at the closed door while touching her lips. 

And remembering not only the single kissed they shared that night, but all of it.