Love and Cigarettes

Chapter Twelve

I remember Sir Lars telling me before that aside from kindness, thin lips also make him weak. Even though he currently suffers from selective amnesia, I guess the things that turn him on still remain the same.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but we've kissed before, haven't we? Because there's no way I could have resisted those thin lips, Moya."

Somehow, that makes my heart flutter.

Hindi ko na talaga kayang pigilan.

"If, by any chance, we did kiss..." My lips quivered as I spoke. "How would you feel about that, Sir?"

"I don't mind." He smiled lazily. "I already told you, you're quite my type. I wouldn't be surprised if I really made a move on you. I find you pretty."

I have to tell him. It's now or never.

"What if I tell you that we're lovers?"

Sir Lars remained unfazed by my question. He kept his gaze on me, his eyes still and unreadable like a blank page. It felt like my heart would explode anytime, but I did my best to calm down.

After a moment of silence, he let out a chuckle.

"That's a different story. Are we?"

"Yes. We're lovers." lakas-loob kong sagot.

"I thought you had a boyfriend?"

I panicked. "That was you. We never broke up!"

"Then prove it to me, Moya." Sir Lars rested his chin on the back of his hand. "You can't just claim that we're lovers when I don't even have any memory of who you are. You're a total stranger to me."

A spasm of pain crossed my face.

I know that he's only telling the truth, but it still hurts to hear it from his own mouth. To think that I'm the only one who remembers all the meaningful times that we spent together.

Napayuko ako. "I don't have any proof."

"Sorry, but I can't believe you easily. I've had a bad experience in the past when some random chic claimed to be my girlfriend." kwento ni Sir Lars at napanguso sa kanyang alaala. "Well, I am close to perfect, after all. I have the money, the looks, the brains... so it can't be helped. Of course men and women would go crazy for me."

Tila nawala ang sama ng loob ko sa mga sinabi ni Sir Lars. Napangiwi ako. Wow. He wasn't like this when I met him. So he was a bit vain and pompous, huh?

"I'm sorry. Just pretend you didn't hear anything." pagsuko ko na lamang.

Where did I get the confidence that he'd believe me, anyway? Dapat hindi na lang ako nagsalita.

"Aww, you don't have to look so dejected." Sir Lars crossed his arms. "How about we do this, then? Try to seduce me, Moya. Make me love you again."

I shot him a horrified look. "Please, no."

"Why not? You said that we're lovers." It seemed like Sir Lars was enjoying this. "Giving up already? Don't you love me? Ipaglaban mo naman ako."

My jaw dropped in disbelief. He's teasing me!

"Since I lost my memories, you'll have to work harder to steal my heart." He mockingly patted my head with a grin. "Let me warn you, though. I'm presently more interested in men, so good luck."

I too stunned to speak when Sir Lars leaned closer to my ear. His ticklish breath aside, the words that he whispered left me flustered.

"Make me lust for tits more than balls, Moya."