Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

40

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

A gust of hot air from the sidewalk struck me. My nose tingles when I inhale the restaurant's aroma. The combination of onion, garlic, meat, pepper, and spices was delectable. For a little while, I held my breath as I stood here with a blank mind. I'm curious how the folks who work inside the stores can tolerate the aroma without being famished. Perhaps they're used to it. But all of that aroma in the air didn't erase the nicotine that still lingered around the two of us. 

I could feel his eyes making a hole in my face, but I avoided making interaction with his piercing eyes. I looked at the massive crowd that has a life by itself; the colorful garments sparkle in the dawn light, and the people could move like captivating bodies of water. There is chit-chat among customers and retailers, old acquaintances catching up, and new connections created. It's hectic, to be honest, but the hustle and bustle added a vibrancy to the city that I wouldn't trade for anything.

I was the girl who could compose herself even in tough situations. Well, I wanted to believe that I was still that girl. But right now, I couldn't find that girl. Not when I was with him. Not when I'm with Atlas. 

"We need to talk."

Do we?

His big warm hands wrapped around my jaw tilted my head to face him. But even though my head was facing him, I still refused to look into his eyes. I knew... I knew what lay in those eyes. I could feel the danger radiating from them.  

"Look at me, Baby Girl." every word he said was laced with danger.

My mind was shouting, warning, warning, warning! With those emergency red lights. Parang gusto ko bilgang tumakbo para mailigtas ang aking sarili, pero sino ba nag may kasalanan at nandito ako sa situation na ito? Ako syempre. Sino pa bang sisisihin? Ako ulit.

"Now, let's not try my patience, don't we?"

As I sensed him getting impatient, I immediately looked at him. And when my eyes met his, parang gusto ko ulit iiwas. His eyes were screaming danger. I never thought that blue eyes could become dark, but the living proof was the eyes I was looking at now.

"Atlas, I'm sorry..." I whispered.

"Save your apology later. Let's talk somewhere appropriate, not outside the restaurant when you just had a date with another man." he darkly emphasized the word date and another man as he glared at me.

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ay tumango na lamang at nagpahila sa kaniya. Huminto kami sa tapat ng kaniyang motor. Inabutan niya ako ng helmet. Saglit kong napagtanto na ito 'yung helmet na ginamit ko noon. Our memories together when we ride his motor bike suddenly came rushing to my mind. It bought bittersweet feelings to my heart. I definitely missed riding his love, and I missed the warmth of his body against the cold air of the city as we ride. But I think this helmet wasn't for me. Sino ba ang nag mamay-ari ng isa pang helmet ng mga lalaki? Hindi ba ang mga girl friend nila? 

This was Beauty's helmet and not mine. 

Agad kong ibinalik sa kaniya ang helmet na inabot niya. Kunot noo niya akong tinignan.

I gulped as I said, "I won't wear things that aren't mine."

He lifted a brow, "This is yours."

"That is your ex's... you bought it for your girlfriend before, right?"

He closed his eyes and licked the bottom line of his lips, "I bought it for you years ago."

"What?" I said dumbfoundedly.

My eyes went wide, and my heart thumped fast. Atlas bought it for me? So it was mine all along? Ako lang ang gumamit no'n at wala ng iba? My heart melted at that thought. I still couldn't get over the fact that he bought it for me. That helmet was the first gift he gave me then.