Mercedez 3: Wildfire Games

6

Standard

Hindi ako mapakali habang nasa loob kami ng elevator. Damn it! I'm supposed to be used to this. Being left alone with a guy and do god-knows-what. This is not my first time kaya bakit ko nararamdaman ito?

My heart pounded and I could almost feel my ribcage breaking when our eyes met at the elevator's mirror. Reflection lamang namin iyon pero kakaiba na kaagad ang epekto sa akin.

Lima kaming nasa loob ng elevator. The exclusive elevator was under maintenance kaya sa regular kami sumakay. Two of which is a senior citizen couple and the other one is a high school boy with his dog. Mukhang kakagaling lamang sa park.

Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Hadzri nang bigla itong tumabi sa akin. My world stopped spinning when he took my hand to intertwine it with his. Literal na nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Saka ko na napansin na may sumakay palang tatlong lalaki at panay ang tingin ng mga ito sa akin. When they noticed Hadz' moves, they shifted their gazes away.

Nilingon naman ako ng katabi ko na nakataas na ang kilay. He was looking down on me because of our height differences. Matangkad naman ako pero sobrang tangkad din ng isang 'to eh. Tantiya ko nasa six-five feet siya eh.

"Problem?" He asked. Mahina iyon at sakto lang para marinig ko.

I immediately shook my head.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay nakarating na kami sa floor ko. Sabay kaming lumabas na. Nang makarating sa pinto ng unit ko ay saka lamang niya binitawan ang aking kamay.

It felt weird how the cold suddenly coated it when his hand left. A proof that the warmth I have felt was from him. In contrast to how this night felt warmer than my usual cold and lonely nights in my haven.

Pinapasok ko siya.

"Feel at home. I'll just clean myself," sabi ko habang hinuhubad ang sandals. "The kitchen is there," tinuro ko iyon.

"Sure. Take your time."

Hindi ko na siya sinagot. Isang beses ko lamang siya nilingon at nang inassure niya ako na magiging okay lang siya ay saka ako umakyat na para maglinis ng katawan.

Kaya lang, habang nasa shower ako ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung gaano ka weird ang nangyayari ngayon.

It felt weird thinking of THE Hadzri Arculli, cooking in my kitchen, while I'm here, taking my time under the shower. It also felt weird to know that I am currently not alone inside my own condo unit. Mas sanay akong mag isa rito. Tahimik na gumagalaw. Walang kausap. At ramdam ko talaga ang laki ng space nito.

Lihim akong napailing saka ginawa na lamang ang mga dapat kong gawin. Pagkatapos magbihis ay nag blow dry na ako ng buhok saka tinalian iyon into a messy bun. After that ay nag skincare na ako.

Pagod ako pero hindi ako tamad. Hindi pupuwedeng hindi mag skincare!

Nang makatayo sa vanity area ko ay bigla na lamang akong humikab. Bumibigat na ang talukab ko kaya panandalian akong nagstretching. However, my sleepiness didn't go away. I felt more drowsy despite the awareness of having a visitor downstairs. I know it's rude to just let him be there all by himself. But then his reassuring smile flashed in my mind kaya napanatag rin ako kaagad.

Just a nap. I'll just take a quick nap. Five minutes.

I chanted it inside my mind.

I groaned as I dove onto my bed, falling into the cloud of dreams. It felt comforting for a while until... the eye of a storm suddenly hit me.

It was dark. The lights were on but it felt so dark and suffocating. My chest tightened as the scenes seemed to time lapse. It went like a blur... until it steadied.