Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

25

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I've always thought that kissing someone dear in your life would always be magical, like how books and movies described it. They said it was like a drizzle on a summer night. Everything comes together in perfect harmony, giving a taste and feeling unlike anything else you've ever experienced. It felt like you're wandering in another galaxy, it's as if you're no longer in your own body. When you're with someone, you feel you could lose yourself in them for the rest of your life, but you're uncertain how.

It wasn't all bluff.

It definitely felt like all the stars from the universe came crashing down on my soul. Like there was a whole damn zoo on my stomach as Atlas's lips pressed into mine. Like, all the warmth of the sun crept into my heart. It was indeed magical and world stopping. However, the magical feeling wore off like how Cinderella's fairy godmother's magic wore off when the clock strikes twelve. And the world stopping feeling suddenly continued working again like the world doesn't care if it would leave you behind.

Why do books and movies never tell us the feeling after the kiss? If I only knew the magic of kissing was only present while kissing and not after, I would have thought more before I acted recklessly. But I'm not really sure if I would change how things happened. I would probably kiss him again and again. I knew it was wrong...now, but how could I? If I never knew, he had a girlfriend?

"Come on, Little Slut, tell me... Did my boyfriend's lips taste good?"

Atlas's girlfriend said mockingly to me, as she looked at me from my head to toe like he was assessing how filthy I was. Atlas called her Beauty. That must be her name and If I would be honest, she really lived up to her name. She has short straight brunette hair. Her eyes were like a fox—the way she looked at people can make them tremble — it was brown, almost golden. It was mesmerizing. Her perfectly heart-shaped thin lips were painted in scarlet red lipstick. It was also smiling arrogantly at me. And her high cheekbones and small chin made her beautiful.

"Cat got your tongue, bitch?"

Beauty walked towards me, but Atlas stopped her by grabbing her arms. My stomach was now feeling like there was a hollow inside it... cold, dark, and big hollow. Like, they poured a drum of cold water on me. I wasn't able to move nor form a word from the shock of discovering that Atlas has a girlfriend. The man I like has a fucking girlfriend, and what was worst? I kissed him. I fucking kissed someone who was already committed to someone else.

I am the worst.

"Beauty, don't talk to her like that." Atlas managed to say even though he was so shocked too.

Beauty rolled her eyes and violently removed Atlas's hands on her arms, and mockingly said, "Why wouldn't I talk like she is a little dirty slut when she is one?" then, her gaze went to me again. She was looking at me sharply. "What? Can't move? Talk? I certainly saw you a while ago move to kiss Atlas."

My breath hitched as she started walking towards me again. My fingers started fidgeting at my side and my palms started sweating, too. I don't want this. I never wanted this to happen. My mouth opened as I tried to talk, but that was all I could do — open my mouth.

Beauty laughed darkly, without humor. When she reached me, there was only an inched away. She caught some of my loose strands from my messy bun and curled it to her finger. My heart drummed nervously as I watched her closely. Then she mockingly copied how I stupidly opened my mouth and closed it as no words came out of my lips.

"Beauty..." Atlas said warningly at her. 

Hindi naman niya ito pinansin at na natili lamang ang tingin sa buhok kong pinaglalaruan niya. Isang ngisi muling ang pumorma sa labi ni Beauty bago magsalita.