Pursuing My Nemesis

Twenty Two

Chapter 22

IT WAS THE longest seven seconds of my life. His lips on mine. His warmth spreading through my skin. His soft breath on my cheek. All of him, on me, within seven seconds.

I swear to God, I didn't want it to stop.

But unfortunately, he ended it too quickly. He pulled away from me and stared at me straight to my eyes. I was gasping for air even though the kiss wasn't rough. It was rather sweet and slow and melodic. It was singing for my soul.

"What just happened?" I asked under my breath. Nakita ko lang ang pagtikom ng mga labi ni Aniel habang nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin. "What have we done?"

He clenched his jaw and looked away. "Just forget about it."

My lips parted. He wanted me to forget about it? Was he serious!?

"Aniel—"

He faced me with his hard expression. "No, Nemesis. If you're going to lash out at me because of what happened, stop. Just forget about it. Don't make it a reason to hate me again."

Kumunot ang noo ko at saka umiling. "What are you saying?"

He brushed his hair frustratedly. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? For what?"

"For kissing you."

My lips parted. Wow.

"You're sorry that you kissed me?"

He looked at me. "I do."

Hindi makapaniwalang tumitig ako kay Aniel. Hah. Did I even want him to apologize for it? For doing something that I wanted him to do? Deep inside of me, I knew that I wanted more. I could ask for more. But then, heto siya, humihingi ng tawad dahil hinalikan niya ako, when clearly, I was not asking for any of his apologies.

"Are you really?" I asked him, trying to bring out the real words that he wanted to say to me. "Are you even sincere with your apology?"

He just stared at me blankly before sighing. "Don't be mad at me—"

"I am not mad, Aniel!" I shouted. Tinuro ko ang sarili ko. "Mukha ba akong galit? Mukha bang gusto kong humingi ka ng tawad sa akin?"

He started to blinked. He looked confused. "You're shouting at me."

"Because you're pissing me off!"

"So you're indeed mad at me."

I gaped at him. "Argh!" I hissed and pulled my own hair. Gosh! He was so frustrating!

Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga. Pinagmamasdan lang naman ako ni Aniel na parang isang batang napagalitan ng nanay niya. He was so confused. So lost. He doesn't even know what expression he must show to me.

"I'm not mad," sabi ko sa mas mahinahon na paraan. "But if you keep on apologizing for the kiss, magagalit talaga ako."

"Why? " he asked.

"Because I'm being offended by your apologies . Hindi ko alam kung bulag ka ba o sadyang manhid ka lang. But to be honest, Aniel, I like it. I like the kiss." His eyes became wide as I confess what I feel about what happened. "I like your lips on mine. I like how you feel on my skin whenever you're getting close to me. I like your—"

My words were cut off when he closed our distance and claimed my lips for the second time. Napasinghap ako sa gulat pero agad ding tumugon dahil sa init na nararamdaman ko.

I felt Aniel's hand on my waist. He gently tugged me towards him and I let my body crush on his hard chest. His lips moved in a tender motion against mine, urging me to kiss him back. And I was so happy to obliged.