I smelled a familiar scent, which was a mixture of mint and lavender. I feel dizzy because I'm moving or the chair is moving? So I move my head and force my heavy eyelids to open, where the dashboard is the first thing I saw; I'm inside of the car. I glanced at the man who's driving beside me.
It was Jackson, seriously driving that it feels like there's a threat on the road. Lumingon siya sa akin.
"Were almost there, matulog ka muna ulit." There he goes his soft voice again, who's very unlike to his... rough features.
"What time is it?" sumandal ako sa upuan, ramdam ko pa rin ang panglalambot ng buo kong katawan, nalalasahan ang ininom kanina.
"I don't know, maybe eleven o'clock?" I saw my bag in the back seat, I adjusted my seat and tried to grab my bag.
"Roseanne, mamaya na 'yan."
"No, I need my bag, I need to check—"
"Mamaya na, malapit na tayo. Sit down, please." he firmly said, napaayos ako ng upo at sumandal sa bintana.
How in the world am I sitting with him inside his car? Did I black out because of being stupid? Dahil lang first time maka inom?
I tried to sleep dahil wala rin akong interest na makita sa daan pero hindi na ako makatulog. His car is... nice inside, hindi ako maalam sa kotse pero alam kong maganda ito. Malinis ang loob, walang nagkalat na tapon na baso ng mga kape 'o kaya mga resibo, malinis, at mabango. There is a soft background song in his speaker. Hindi gaano malakas at hindi gaano mahina.
"Can I open the window?" I glanced at him, he nodded and put his hand on my toes, squeezed it.
"Go on, open it." I open the window and the cold wind slapped my face, even my bangs move every now and then because of the wind. Tahimik kami, kaya hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako ulit.
I felt one finger poking my cheek, I opened my eyes and saw Jackson's stare.
"Were here." Siya na mismo ang nagtanggal ng seatbelt ko at inayos ang aking bag sa kaniyang braso bago nilahad ang kamay sa akin, inaalalayan na makalakad. As soon as I stepped out to his car, my toes suddenly curled, and before I fell to the ground, he quickly caught me, his strong, firm arms wrapping around my waist.
Naglakad siya papunta sa gilid habang nakaalalay pa sa akin. Ramdam ang panglalambot ng buo kong katawan, at kung hindi niya ako mabilis nahigit kanina pa ako bumagsak. Nilagay niya ang dalawa kong braso sa kaniyang leeg para makakapit ako doon, pinikit ko ang mata at naamoy ang kanina pang mabango sa kaniya.
"Why do you smell so good?" hindi ko makontrol ang sariling bibig, alam ko kahit siya nagulat sa kanina ko pang kadaldalan.
"Naligo ako kanina, remember? Hinintay mo pa nga ako."
"Huh? Eh kanina pa 'yon? Bakit mabango ka pa rin?"
Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa, sadiyang dumulas ang mga braso ko pababa sa kaniyang leeg pero mahigpit ang pagkaka hawak niya sa likod ko. Dinilat ko ang mata at tinignan siya. Tahimik kaming nagtinginan na para bang hinahayaan na lang namin ang mga mata na magsalita para sa amin.
Sinubukan kong kumala sa paghawak niya dahil may naalala.
"Stay still, Roseanne, mahuhulog ka—" I tried to push him. He even smell so good kahit ilang oras na ang nakalipas ng naligo siya... what about me? Baka kanina pa niya naamoy ang amoy ko... nakakahiya.
He held my back tightly like he was holding his dear life. My arms in his chest again and when I looked at him the light above us illuminated his eyes and handsome features.
BINABASA MO ANG
Thorns
RomanceThorns tells the story of a woman who had given up on the idea of love. She had seen too much heartache and disappointment in her life to believe that it was real. But one day, unexpectedly, she met someone who changes everything. He challenges her...
