Kiss Me, Cole (Book 2) [ONGOING]

Cole (53)

Naabutan ko sina Theo at Orpheus na kampanteng nakaupo sa magkabilang gilid ng kabisera ng mahabang dining table. Sa gitna nila ay ang Bauhaus Chess Set na katas ng impulsive at emotional online shopping spree ni Orianna last semester. Shopping spree gamit ang card ko.

"I hope no one touched that," sabi ko. Magkasabay naman silang nag-angat ng tingin at pinanood ang paglapit ko. "If you did, we wouldn't hear the end of it from Orie."

My kiska has been practicing her chess gambits for weeks. She is set to play Theo in a month before he enters a tournament to earn his grandmaster title in chess composition. Kaya nga rin hindi na ako umimik kahit ang mahal ng Bauhaus Chess Set na binili niya. Anything to take her mind off the latest chess problem Theo had assigned her that she couldn't seem to solve.

She can either play chess against herself or dance herself to death. And since she doesn't dance alone, it's no surprise that I was willing to spend a lot on her chess set. Anything to make her stay away from her dance partner is worth it in my book.

"I wouldn't have known it was chess if it hadn't been for the checkered board," sabi naman ni Orpheus. "You suck at chess, my friend, tapos bumili ka pa ng isang chess set na hindi mo alam kung ano ang alin? Ano, hindi ka na lang ba sa dasal ngayon naniniwala kundi pati na rin sa mirakulo?"

That comment deserved my middle finger. The older guy just laughed it off.

Pinaraanan naman ako nang mapanuring tingin ni Theo mula ulo hanggang paa. Nagtagal ang mga mata niya sa T-shirt na suot ko ngayon at sa pantalong hindi ko pinalitan kahit na sinabi kong magpapalit ako. Umarko ang isa niyang kilay, humalukipkip, at humilig sa upuan habang matiim lang na nakatitig sa paghila ko nang upuan sa kabisera ng mesa.

Hinintay niya lang akong makaupo nang maayos bago ako nilaglag.

"Sa tagal mong bumalik, akala ko lalabas kang naka-gown," pangungutya niya. "And yet, here you are, wearing the same clothes as before."

I stared at him with hate while Orpheus looked at me properly this time.

"Oo nga, noh?" sabi niya. "Akala ko ba magbibihis ka?"

Hindi na naman ako sumagot at sinama ko na rin siya sa matalim kong tingin. He just chuckled, totally unconcerned.

"What I would give to become a fly and sneak into that room and see what you have there behind that wall."

"Curious flies have their necks snapped." Pinaraanan ko ng tingin ang leeg niya. The top end of what I knew is an intricately designed lyre tattoo was visible. "Like the pest that they are," dagdag ko.

Siya naman ngayon ang napa-arko ang kilay. "There might be two of you, bratva brats, but I'm not part of the garduna for nothing. I could take you on. Nalimutan niyo na ba kung kaninong building 'to?"

Binalingan siya ni Theo at dahan-dahang nginitian. My bestfriend's serious face transformed into something I can only describe as stunning perfection.

"You're a piece of shit, Andreyev," mura ni Oprheus. Binato niya pa si Theo ng nilamukos na paper towel at sumapol iyon sa mukha ng kaibigan ko. "Huwag mo akong nginingitian nang ganyan. Baka makalimot akong babae ang tinitira ko."

"Must you be crude?" Theo said, mildly. "This might be your building, but we've lived here for more than a year now. You and your brothers wouldn't survive testing us. And even if you do, better pray to all the saints you know that the garduna can hide you well from him, and, since we're a packaged deal, me, too."

"Pumupunta si Orianna rito minsan, de la Garza," kalmado kong paalala.

Inabot ko ang black queen piece na nalihis nang kaunti at inayos iyon, bago siya muling tinitigan. "Don't ever threaten me with something that has the potential to harm her. I will destroy you and everything that you hold dear. It wouldn't be pretty. At walang matitira sa inyong puwedeng dasalan."