3 - Desperate

Soleil glanced at the approaching vehicle and, in a desperate attempt to escape her overwhelming reality, she ran towards the street, aiming to stage her death. But before the car could reach her, she lost consciousness.

She awoke to a strange sensation on her neck; her vision blurred. The overwhelming realization that she was still alive confused her. Napahalinghing siya ng mahina at humarap sa isang lalaki na naglalapit ang mukha sa kanya.

“Just kiss me; you’ve been holding yourself for, uh, I think for three minutes, sir,” panunukso ng dalaga sa binata.

As Soleil's lips brushed against his, she felt a strange thrill and smirked slightly. The man, startled by the kiss, quickly adjusted his position and ended up on top of her. Soleil's heart raced as she looked into his eyes, desperately hoping he would be her savior.

The man, Lysander, snapped back to reality and stared at her, his expression a mix of shock and bewilderment. He took in the scene before him—Soleil gasping for breath, her eyes wide with a mix of hope and desperation.

“Now that you’ve kissed me, marry me,” Soleil said with a sense of urgency, her voice trembling with desperation. She clung to the hope that Lysander might be the answer to her troubles, the one who could rescue her from her miseries.

“You’re insane,” Lysander commented as he stood up, clearly bewildered by the situation.

Lysander left the room, his mind reeling from the unexpected turn of events. He headed straight to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Once inside, he leaned against the door, his hand lingering on his lips, where he could still feel the lingering sensation of Soleil's addicting kiss.

“What is she thinking?” Lysander muttered angrily to himself. His frustration was evident as he raked his fingers through his hair, the disheveled strands reflecting his inner turmoil. Naglakad-lakad siya mula sa isang dulo ng kwarto papunta sa kabila, ang kanyang mga hakbang ay sumasalamin sa kaguluhan ng kanyang isipan.

How could he have responded to Soleil’s kiss like that, especially when he had a girlfriend? The guilt and confusion of the situation weighed heavily on him.

“Am I cheating?!” he questioned himself in disbelief, the reality of the situation hitting him hard. The thought of being unfaithful, even inadvertently, gnawed at him. His emotions were a tangled mess of anger, guilt, and confusion as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Hindi nakatulog ng gabing iyon si Lysander dahil sa gulong-gulo ito sa nangyayari. Habang si Soleil naman ay sobrang himbing ng pagkakatulog, lalo na nang maramdam nitong kahit paano ay nagkaroon siya ng pag-asa.

At dahil hindi nakatulog si Lysander, ay nagluto nalang ito ng agahan nilang dalawa. Nagluto ito ng chao fan, sunny-side egg, bacon. Nagtusta din ito ng tinapay at gumawa ng vegetable salad.

Nagising si Soleil nang makaamoy na masarap na pagkain. Kaagad siyang dinala ng kanyang pang-amoy at ng mga paa sa kusina kung saan nakita niya ang binata na suot ang itim na apron habang nakatalikod ito sa kanya.

Soleil’s eyes drifted to Lysander, taking in his lean, athletic build. Unlike Jared’s bulkier frame, Lysander’s was more refined—strong but agile, with broad shoulders and a tapered waist that gave him a balanced, effortless strength. His movements were smooth and confident, each shift highlighting the toned muscles beneath his shirt.

His lightly tanned skin seemed to catch the light just right, accentuating the contours of his chest and arms. The way his shirt fit—snug but not tight—offered just enough of a hint to keep her curious. There was something about his presence, a quiet confidence that drew her attention, making it hard to look away.

Soleil muttered a curse under her breath as her heart skipped a beat, realizing that the man she had been quietly observing was now facing her directly. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. Ramdam niya ang bigat ng titig nito, na para bang binabasa nito ang bawat iniisip at nararamdaman niya.

“Done checking?” the man asked, his deep, husky voice slicing through the silence. 

It was a voice that carried a weight of authority, one that demanded attention and respect. Parang humaplos sa kanyang kaluluwa ang tinig nito, nagpapadala ng kakaibang kilabot sa kanyang katawan. She was caught off guard by the unexpected timbre of his voice—commanding, yet with an undercurrent of something darker, something that made her pulse quicken.

Napakunot ang noo ni Soleil nang marinig niya ang boses nito, dali-dali niyang nilinaw ang kanyang lalamunan at inayos ang sarili. This was not the time to be swayed by his presence.

Taking a deep breath, Soleil met his gaze head-on, her expression firm and unwavering. “About what I’ve said earlier,” she began, her voice steady and resolute, though her heart was pounding in her chest. “Marry me.”

The words hung in the air between them, bold and unyielding. Walang bakas ng pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang tono. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she wasn’t afraid to ask for it. “I may sound desperate,” she continued, her eyes never leaving him, “but please, marry me.”

Wala nang pakialam si Soleil, kahit tapakan pa niya ang kanyang pride, basta makalayo lamang siya sa mga pagkadismaya, at kahihiyan na kanyang dala. Desperada na siya, at handa niyang gawin ang lahat, kahit pa ang magmukhang tanga, para lang makahanap ng paraan upang takasan ang kanyang sitwasyon. Ang kanyang isip ay punong-puno ng kaguluhan, ngunit alam niya na ito na ang kanyang huling baraha.

“Baliw ba siya?” bulong ni Lysander sa sarili habang pinagmamasdan ang babae. 

Kung talagang ganito na ang kalagayan nito, dapat siguro ay dinala na lang niya ito sa mental ospital imbes na sa kanyang tahanan. Wala siyang maisip na dahilan kung bakit gagawin ni Soleil ang ganitong bagay, lalo na sa isang tulad niya na halos hindi niya kilala.

As Soleil waited in desperate silence, her anxiety was palpable. She tapped her feet on the ground repeatedly, the sound a reflection of her frantic heartbeat. Her hands were busy biting her nails, unable to stay still.

Every second felt like an eternity, and each subtle movement the man made seemed to bring a new wave of fear and hope. Her eyes remained fixed on him, feeling the cold sweat trickling down the back of her neck while her breathing grew heavier and slower.

With each passing moment, her desperation deepened. Her mind raced through countless scenarios—what if he said no? What if he refused to help her? But despite the storm raging inside her, she forced herself to maintain control, trying to mask her worry with a determined expression, even as she felt like she was on the verge of breaking down under the weight of waiting for the answer that would determine her future.

“No.”