Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS33 Part 2

#DDMS33 Part 2

❧
FOLIE

"ARAY!"

Xantiel whinced as I applied a numbing ointment on the tips of his fingers. I dipped them afterwards in apple cider vinegar. We were back in his mansion, seated across each other on high chairs at opposite sides of his kitchen counter.

"Normal lang na may onting itch or burn na mararamdaman," bilin ko sa kaniya habang binebendahan ang kaniyang mga daliri. Especially if you hurt your fingers this badly, Vouganville.

"Bakit alam mo ang mga ito? 'Yong totoo, nurse ka ba o gitarista?" tanong niya sa akin. He raised his brow to challenge me.

Ngumuso na lamang ako para pigilan ang pagngiti. "I always hurt my fingers too when playing my guitar. Kaya alam ko ang aftercare."

While I was tending to the fingers of his left hand, Xantiel folded his right arm and buried the side of his face between his bicep and forearm, his cheek pressed and puffed.

"A-Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" I asked, a little distracted.

Without moving from his position, his puppy eyes looked up at me. "Nagpapa-cute."

"G-Gago."

Ngumiti ang gago. "Buti nagiging komportable ka na ulit sa akin. Ayos lang, tawagin mo akong gago. Murahin mo ako. I especially like it when you curse me with a beet-red blushing face. Like the one you have now."

"Gago!" sigaw ko ulit dahil sa kaniyang pagpupuna sa reaksyon ko.

"Ah . . . music to my ears," he said with closed eyes, as if savouring the curse that escaped my lips. Gago talaga itong Vouganville na 'to.

"Uhm," panimula ko. "Sorry nga pala, ha? Sa iyo ko nailabas lahat ng galit ko. Punong-puno lang talaga ako, tapos nabuhos ko sa pagsigaw sa iyo kagabi. Ikaw na nga ang tumutulong sa akin pero inaway pa kita. S-Sorry talaga."

He blinked, then smiled. "Oh, it's okay. I'm glad to be of service."

Napansin niyang kumunot ang noo ko kaya marahan siyang tumawa at nagpaliwanag. "It's actually healthy to let your feelings out from time to time, kaysa ikinikimkim mo lang lahat. If you needed some screaming and yelling, I will always be available to hear out your pain. If you feel at least a little better, if you feel a little lighter, then I'm glad I was there. You could trust me, Folie. In fact, let me be there for you during those times. If it gets too heavy, let me soak some of your pain."

Nag-init ang mga pisngi ko't nakaramdam ako ng paghagod sa dibdib. Damn it, Xantiel. You really make it so easy for anyone to fall for you.

"S-so, paano mo pala malalaman kung ako talaga si Feuille na nakilala niyo o hindi?" pagbabago ko na lamang ng usapan. "Iyon ang dahilan kaya sinamahan mo ako sa probinsya, 'di ba?"

"Ah, 'yon ba? Huwag kang mag-alala, alam ko na—" Bigla ay para siyang napaisip. "Well, kung gusto mo talaga . . . may isang sure-fire way para malaman kung ikaw ba si Feuille o hindi."

I tilted my head to the side, giving him a cue to continue.

Pumikit siya't parang lumalaki ang butas ng ilong habang nagpapaliwanag. "Well . . . kabisado ko kasi bawat nunal sa katawan ni Feuille. So . . . matatapos agad problema natin sa paraan na iyon. Pero siyempre, hindi naman kita pipilitin kung ayaw mo. Siyempre, hindi ka naman papayag. Kaya hindi naman kailangang gawin. Lalo na kung hindi ka komportable. Kung gusto mo lang naman . . ."

"Okay lang sa 'kin."

Nanlaki bigla ang mga mata niya. "H-Ha? Huy, nagbibiro lang ako! Hindi mo kailangang gawin!"

"Okay nga lang," pilit ko. Napapangiti ako dahil si Xantiel naman ngayon ang namumula. Ha-ha the tables have turned, Vouganville.

"S-Sure?"

"Sure."

"Huwag kang paasa." Naging seryoso ang mga mata niya.

"Yes, sure. Bakit?" I smiled a little to tease him. "Scared of what you'll see, Vouganville?"

"Nah. I'm not scared of a little skin, little lady."

Sabay kaming tumayo mula sa 'ming mga upuan. Naglakad ako papunta sa kaniyang gawi hanggang ang tanging pumapagitna na lamang sa aming dalawa ay isang dangkal. Tumingala ako at tinitigan siya nang diretso sa mga mata.

"Don't get too excited, Vouganville."

Hinila ko ang dulo ng aking fitted hanging shirt at nilapit ito paharap sa kaniya, niyayayang kunin niya ito para ituloy ang pagtaas.

Xantiel licked his lower lip slowly, without removing his piercing gaze from my eyes. "You have two seconds to back out."

"You have two seconds to chicken out," I nudged him.

I was feeling brave and confident, but when his fingers held the edge of my shirt, grazing my skin a little, a small gasp slipped out from my lips.

Dahan-dahan niyang inaangat ang shirt ko, at nang umibabaw ang tela sa aking dibdib, iniwan niya iyong ganoon. With only my black lacey bra hugging my white breasts.

"Last chance to back out," he warned with a deep breathy voice. "Last. Chance."

I tilted my chin up a little, braving forward. Something hot is pooling between my legs. And thank god that Xantiel chose to remove my top first, because I swear there's a fucking puddle in my undies right now.

Dammit, Vouganville. How can someone easily shift from adorably cute to fucking hot and sexy within the same time frame?!

Napadila ako saglit para basain ang nanunuyot kong labi. Nagpatuloy si Xantiel hanggang mahubad na ang t-shirt at bra na lamang suot kong pang-itaas.

"Feuille has a little dot of mole on the side of her left breast. But we could stop here if you're uncomfortable, Folie."

No, Xantiel. It would be more uncomfortable if you stop now.

"No, it's okay . . ." hangos ko sabay hinga nang malalim, humihina na ang boses at halos hangin na lamang ang maririnig sa sobrang tinis. "Go on. Please."

His fingers found the back of my bra. The air was so hot and tense. He unhooked my bra, and I felt the cool air meeting my bare skin as the bra fell on the floor. My nipples perked up. Damn traitors.

Xantiel's eyes squinted as he tilted his head to examine the little mole on the side of my breast. It was there, alright. And I fucking knew, because I always notice that tiny dot whenever I take my baths and undress myself over the years.

But I noticed a little frown between his brows. Because there's something that's not supposed to be there.

Xantiel lightly traced his thumb over it, curiously examining the unexpected mark on my skin.

A little tattoo.

Two inches below the side of my left breast, sitting just above the edge of my top rib.

Tiny cursive words in thin strokes, so small they're almost unreadable, scribbled in a faint little script.

she seizes his

#DDMS33 Part 2