Kissing the Agony (Agony Series #1)

Chapter 12: Soft Spot

Hinila ko na si Cyrus palabas ng bar. Nanatili ang ibang gulat dahil sa komusyon na naganap.

"Tangina mo, Marquez! Bastusin naman talaga ang babaeng 'yan!" Sumigaw pa talaga yung gago na 'yon kaya kahit nasa labas na kami ni Cyrus ay dinig pa rin ang sinabi niya.

"What the fuck did that bastard say—" Babalik na naman sana si Cyrus pero hinila ko ang kwelyo niya para pigilan siya sa kung ano mang balak niya.

"Pabayaan mo na. Nasuntok mo na 'di ba? Nasampal ko na rin siya kanina," sambit ko para kahit papaano ay malaman niya na nakaganti naman na sa pambabastos sa akin.

He scoffed.

"As if that's enough for that bastard?! Dapat ginugulpi ang gago na 'yon!"

"O tapos? Anong mangyayari sayo? Masusupinde ka? Alam mong bawal 'yan sa inyo!" I said, trying to knock some senses into him.

He turned to me with bloodshot eyes.

"You think I give a damn about that?"

Right. Bobo nga rin pala tong lalaki na 'to.

Tinalikuran ko na siya para makapaglakad na ako at nang makalayo na sa magugulong mga tao. Hindi deserve ng beauty ko ma-stress dahil lang sa kanila!

Nakaabot na ako sa may maliit na tulay, medyo tahimik na parte ito ng club dahil palabas na 'yon. Natigilan lang ako ulit nang napansin kong nakasunod pa rin pala sa akin si Cyrus.

Sumandal ako tulay, medyo masakit na ang mga paa dahil kanina pa rin ako nagsasayaw. Ang taas pa naman ng heels ko. Huminga ako nang malalim nang makarating si Cyrus sa harap ko.

Ikinulong niya ako sa dalawang braso niya. I can smell his breath because his face is just an inch away from mine. The faint aroma of musk and mint clung to the air, catching me off guard as I drew in a quiet breath.

I saw Cyrus trying to meet my eyes, but I refused to look at him. Instead, my gaze drifted down to his veiny arms, which were tense and caging me in, as if he thought I might try to escape.

I let out a sharp breath, trying to steady myself.

"Hindi mo na dapat ginawa yon," sambit ko.

Totoo naman, dahil nakasampal naman na ako. At kaya ko rin naman ang sarili ko. Hindi naman ako nagpapabastos. Sa ilang taon ko na sa trabahong 'to, alam ko na kung paano ko ipagtatanggol ang sarili ko kung sakali man na may gagong namilit sa akin sa ayaw ko namang gawin.

His sharp eyes bore into mine, as if I'd just said something completely absurd.

"And what do you think I should have done? Just stand there and watch you get disrespected—"

"Sanay ako sa ganon, trabaho ko 'yon," putol ko sa kanya. Ipinaalala ko sa kanya na hindi naman ako birhen para mabastos lang nang ganon.

Nanliit ang mga mata niya sa akin. Umiling siya, tila hindi naintindihan ang punto ko.

"So... you're telling me... that you're used to getting disrespected, harassed, even. You're used to not to give your fucking consent just because you think it is a part of your fucking job?" He was almost in disbelief.

Umiling na lang ako at hindi na lang ako nagsalita ulit dahil mukhang wala naman patutunguhan 'tong usapan na 'to. Hindi rin naman siya nakikinig sa akin.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kawalan habang siya'y mabigat pa rin ang paghinga.

We were standing there like some freaking statues for a few minutes... until he finally let out a deep sigh.

"Look at me," he uttered in a low voice.

I didn't even move one bit. I was still annoyed with him, with everyone.

Tangina, gusto ko lang naman magliwaliw! Gusto ko lang mag girls night out kasama ang best friend ko, tapos sisirain lang ng mga bakulaw na 'to?!

Frustration surged through me, and I rolled my eyes, too annoyed to care how obvious it was.

"Hey," he called.

His fingers gently traced my left cheek before cupping my face, his touch soft but grounding.

"Look at me, Rhi." He pleaded.

Matigas ako, teh. Mas matigas pa sa biceps at triceps mo.

I still didn't move and just stared blankly.

"I'm sorry," he croaked.

Nagulat ako roon. My eyes widened a fraction. Bakit siya nagsosorry? I must have looked very annoyed, then?

"I ruined your night with Dorothy," he almost whispered.

Hah! Buti naman at self-aware ka?

But then... wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan in the first place. Ipinagtanggol lang naman niya ako.

I looked at him with my expression still the same. He licked his lips before he spoke once more.

"I never had ill intentions when it comes to you. It just doesn't sit well with me when a woman is deprived of consent. I fucking hate it." He sighed heavily.

What? My eyes narrowed at him, curious about what he said.

I mean... It's basic human decency to respect consent. But in the kind of world I grew up in—a harsh one—I rarely ever heard a man say he actually valued a woman's consent. Maybe that's because I was surrounded by assholes most of my life.

I suddenly remember my asshole teacher who almost got me raped. Then my stepfather. My eyes squinted as I shrugged off my thoughts. I don't want to remember. I am trying my best to forget those cruel memories. I am trying my best to forget them all.

"Why?" I can't help but ask. I am curious about his insights.

His eyes went to me. I stared at his eyes that looked tired... or sad... or both.

Umiling siya at mapait na ngumiti.

"Wala, ayaw ko lang. Hindi naman kasi tama 'yon."

I gave a slow nod, but my thoughts kept circling. Something about his tone didn't sit right. There was more to this than he was letting on, I just couldn't put my finger on what.

"You know..." he trailed off.

Ngayon ko lang siya natingnan nang mabuti dahil sa lapit nang mukha niya sa akin. Kagabi naman kasi ay hindi ko siya matingnan nang maayos dahil may ginawa kaming iba, at nakapikit iyon.

Now, my eyes marveled at his beauty. My lips almost twisted, trying to hide a smirk.

He had the kind of face you'd expect from a man in uniform... strong, structured, and disciplined. His jaw was sharp, like it had been carved with precision, and his cheekbones hinted at resilience, sun-kissed just enough to suggest hours under a harsh sky. His skin was fair, but not pale, clear and lightly bronzed from training under the sun.

His hair was trimmed short on the sides, but a little longer on top, tousled in a way that defied military order, dark brown with soft waves that refused to lie still. It added a boyish charm to his otherwise commanding presence.

But it was his eyes that truly disarmed people. Playful, alert, and full of mischief, they sparked with an energy that softened his soldier-like exterior. The kind of eyes that made you wonder what secrets he was hiding behind the salute.

"You remind me of my girlfriend from high school," he murmured, which made my eyes find his again.