Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 17

When I rubbed my eyes to see a clearer vision of a paradise, I automatically smiled when I saw the sun peeking cutely in Alexius' room. It was another sight of an epilogue of dawn, blessing my morning with new hopes and aspirations.


I did some stretching first before I get off the bed. Nakabukas na ang balcony sa gilid ng aking kama kaya sa tingin ko, gising na rin si Alexius. The windows were opened too. Lumabas ako saglit para pagmasdan ang kagandahan ng paligid bago ako pumunta sa banyo para gawin ang mga ritwal tuwing umaga.

I am tired of this place, I hope people change
I need time to replace what I gave away
And my hopes, they are high, I must keep them small
Though I try to resist I still want it all

"To make the best shot, use math to predict where the ball will go if you hit from various angles and distances. A simple way to visualize and estimate cut angles is to imagine an analog clock face..." Alexius said and pointed something at the billiard table.


"I'm not good at Math," I whined and quizzically looked at the table.


Nakakalat ang mga bola at siya ang nakakapasok magmula kanina sa mga pocket. While me? I can't even hit the ball properly with the cue stick. Kanina pa niya ako tinuturuan pero ni isa wala akong maintindihan. He said, billiards can help me understand Trigonometry and other mathematics easily.


"You don't have to be good at Math. It will just help you. You can use one of your hands to calculate the angles. Place it here, imagine the lines and impact point," aniya at kinuha ang kamay ko para ilagay iyon sa mesa.


My eyebrows furrowed. What lines I'll image? What's the impact point? Gosh! Parang mas mahirap intindihin itong tinuturo niya. Or maybe it was just easy, but I'm distracted? Paano ba naman kasi! Alexius is... well-spoken, and I was amazed by how he talked while teaching me.


He looked smart, alright!


Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin habang may tinatantiyang anggulo gamit ng kamay ko na nakapatong sa mesa. He's just wearing his usual shirt and trousers but why he's oozing with appeal? It's unfair!


I must be honest again, only for now.


He looked better than any sunsets. He's much breathtaking than any skies. That's all I can say.


"When a ball gets a direct hit from the white ball, the angle is known as 0°. If your impact point is to the right, then your angle is to the left. In practice, the cutting angle is 0° to 90° right and 0° to 90° left. You got it?"

I see swimming pools and living rooms and aeroplanes
I see a little house on the hill and children's names
I see quiet nights poured over ice and Tanqueray
But everything is shattering and it's my mistake

I tilted my head to see him closely. Sa aking gawi, nakatagilid siya at kalahati lang ng kanyang mukha ang nakikita ko. It only made me severely aware of how long his eyelashes are, how pointed his nose is, and how cute the dimple in his left cheek is.


"Solaire, are you listening?"


Napangiti ako nang magsalita siya ulit at lumalim ang dimple niya. Damn. It was so cute and aggravatingly seductive! Parang hindi mapakali ang daliri ko kung hindi ko iyon matutusok.


"Solaire..." Alexius called.


"Hmm?" I absentmindedly said while staring at his dimple.


Humarap siya sa akin at binitawan ang cue stick na hawak. Kinuha niya rin ang cue stick na nasa isang kamay ko at inalis ang pagkakapatong ng isang kamay ko rin na nasa mesa. Pagkatapos, humalukipkip siya, kumunot ang noo at napasinghap nang tumitig pabalik sa akin.


He chuckled and peered down a little. Nilagay niya ang isang kamay sa top rails ng billiard table na nasa gilid ko.


"What are you daydreaming about?" he asked, tilting my chin with his finger. Parang bumalik ako sa katinuan nang mapagtanto kung gaano kalapit ang kanyang mukha sa akin. I gasped and pressed my lips. Tumagilid ako, sinandal ang puwetan sa mesa at binalik ang iniisip kanina tungkol sa isang bagay.

Only fools fall for you, only fools
Only fools do what I do, only fools fall
Only fools fall for you, only fools
Only fools do what I do, only fools fall