Above Her Past

ONE

~***~

NADIA

DAZE IS KISSING ME.

The world where I stand has wreaked havoc. It was totally destroyed by the man who invaded my personal space. Each beat of my heart is crashing against each other. My sobbing is slowly fading away and my crying stopped due to shock.

Nagsimulang gumalaw ang kanyang mga labi—masisiraan ako ng bait sa ginagawa niya. I am not a good kisser, I've never kissed anyone before but I followed his movements sloppily. Dumiin ang aking likod mula sa pagkakasandal sa pintuan nang umabante si Daze upang laliman ang kanyang halik. Nilayasan na ako ng aking pag-iisip at tanging malakas na tibok ng puso ko ang aking naririnig.

Ang atensyon ko ay nakatuon sa lalaking nasa harapan ko—sa lalaking sinakop ang aking mga labi pati na rin ang aking rational mind.

Lumayo ito sa akin, umiwas ng tingin pero binalik muli sa direksyon ko. He has this worried look on his face. The serious and devious expressions were gone. I blinked twice, thrice, maybe four times because of his unexpected actions. I am staring at him as if he is a work of art. My breathing became stable but I was still in shock.

Daze runs his fingers through his curly hair as he stares at me with a guilty expression. It is the first time that someone kissed my lips. Naka-focus ang mga mata ko sa kanyang malalambot na labi. I touched my lips due to confusion.

Daze is known to be a flirt. He has women flocking around him like bimbos. My eyes were even more dilated when I realized that it might be his behavior towards women. Then it hit me. My rational mind has been awakened.

Pinagkiskis ko ang aking itaas at ibabang ngipin. Nagkadikit na ang aking mga kilay sa sobrang gigil. My flaring eyes are directed at him. Itinaas ko ang aking braso at sunod na namutawi ang malakas na tunog ng aking pagsampal sa kanyang pisngi.

Nahawi sa kabilang direksyon ang kanyang mukha sa lakas ng impact. Pinatunog nito ang kanyang panga at napahawak sa namumulang pisngi. It looks like he realized what he's done.

"I deserve that. Sorry."

Sorry won't bring back the magical experience of a first kiss. Bakit sa lalaking tulad pa niya napunta ang halik na iniingatan ko?

"Wh-Why did you kiss me? W-What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Pinunasan ko ang aking mga labi gamit ang palad ko. He's Kite's best friend! Even though I hate everything about Daze, I am treating him as a person who is close to us. Anong pumasok sa kokote niya para halikan ako?! How can he take advantage of a woman who's in agony?!

"It was effective though. Pinatahan kita."

Taena! Bakit?! There are other ways to calm me down other than kissing!

"Hindi iyon rason, Daze! If you did this to put me on edge—to tease me, you're a freaking jerk!" padabog kong pinulot ang drawing tube at bag ko sa sahig.

Pinihit ko ang doorknob at sinubukang buksan ang pinto. I did everything to open the door but it's not bulging. My blood started to boil again. Hinampas ko ng paulit-ulit ang pintuan dahil sa sobrang inis. Hindi ko ito mabuksan, na lock ba kami dito?!

Lumingon ako para sabihan si Daze na nakaupo sa lumang armchair. Relax na relax lang ito na parang wala kami sa gitna ng crisis. He is holding something on his left hand.