Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 24

My knees are trembling the moment we finished parasailing. I am not the most adventurous person and that activity literally drained me. Pabagsak akong naupo sa boat at inis na tiningnan si Castriel na nakamasid lang din sa 'kin. I was pissed at him earlier, and I donʼt know why I still agreed to do parasailing with him.

“Is this your first time?” I gathered my hair using my trembling hands. I am still so freaking tensed.

“No! But that one is scarier!” sobrang taas ko kanina kumpara sa naranasan ko years ago. Pakiramdam ko nga ay lalabas na ang puso ko mula sa dibdib dahil sa sobrang kaba na nararamdaman.

“What are you talking about? You shouldʼve focused more on the view than the height. Itʼs not scary at all,” he said as he helped me gather my damp hair. Binitawan ko na ang sariling buhok at hinayaan siyang punasan 'yon. Hindi ko rin naman magawa nang maayos dahil nanginginig pa rin ang mga kamay ko. Binalewala ko na lang ang kakaibang nararamdaman tuwing tumatama ang daliri niya sa leeg ko.

“Should we do banana boat next?” umiling agad ako. I need to go back first and check on Myles and Zither.

“No, I need to do something.” ipinatong niya na ang towel sa balikat ko nang matapos sa pagpupunas sa buhok ko.

“Whatʼs that something?”

“Bakit ka curious?” tinaasan ko siya ng kilay pero sumandal lang siya sa inuupuan. Ang lawak-lawak ng boat dahil nirentahan niya ata 'to para sa aming dalawa lang, I guess he doesnʼt want other people to know that heʼs here.

“Iʼm just asking.”

“You donʼt ask things about me before,” I said matter-of-factly. I canʼt still stop myself from comparing his past actions to now.

“Itʼs before,” he said.

“What does that even mean?” hinarap ko na siya at patuloy na tinaasan ng kilay. Heʼs looking down at me with his still serious face. Sobrang bihira ko siyang makita na nakangiti. Tyempuhan lang, iyon pa 'yung mga oras na kasama niya ang Ludic Selcouth o kaya ay ang iba pa nilang kaibigan. Kapag kami lang, hindi naman siya ngumingiti.

“Does it matter? Iʼm trying to make it up to you now.”

“Iʼm not asking you to make it up to me. Ang tagal na, Castriel. Youʼre late.” I donʼt really know what weʼre talking about. Basta na lang lumalabas ang mga salita sa bibig ko.

“I donʼt care.” I glowered at him.

“Donʼt talk anymore. I hate your voice.”

“You still acts like a child,” he said calmly.

“No. I can already do things that children canʼt do,” matapang kong sabi habang sinasalubong ang mga mata niya.

“What things?”

“Do you really want to know about it? I can tell it to you all day,” hamon ko pa. Something changed on his expression.

“Tell me.” we continued our staring contest, no one is backing out. I smirked at him.

“Iʼve already did a lot of nasty things like what you do, Castriel. You really want to hear it? Things that I thought I will only do with you. Too bad, you pushed me away before. I learned how to do it with other men instead.” his jaw clenched. I want to hear what he will say this time.

“Itʼs better that you didnʼt do it with me in the beginning, Mackenzie. You wouldnʼt know how to look to other men if it happened. You were already crazy for me before, it couldʼve became worse.” my cheeks burned. What the hell was that?!