Unveiling the vile behind

25

25

"Huh?!"

He was about to turn away when I spoke causing him to look at me again. Nagkasalubong ang dalawa niyang makapal na kilay at napuno ng pagtataka nang tumingin ng diretso sa aking mata.

"Paano mo nalaman?"

Pinaglapat niya ang kaniyang labi. "Gazing into your eyes, I know you so well."

As his words reached my ears, a delicate sensation of fluttering warmth slowly enveloped my stomach. I was petrified in the same spot. I couldn't move even a finger because I'm still trying to digest in my head what I heard.

Simple lang naman 'yong mga salita na binitawan niya, pero bakit gano'n? Bakit gano'n 'yong epekto sa'kin? Bakit natigalgal na lang ako at hindi nakaimik kahit marami akong gustong sabihin?

Fuck, this guy always drives me crazy... everyday... in different ways.

Umiling ako, binabalik sa reyalidad ang sarili. "Know me so well? Talaga lang, ha? eh, kahit nga pangalan ko, hindi mo alam-"

"Okay, then, Cid Acosta?"

Natigilan ako. The weight of his statement settled heavily on my chest, and a bittersweet smile slowly drew to my lips.

He knows me as Cid Acosta. But in reality... I'm Cassee Acosta.

Wala siyang alam na detalye kahit isa sa'kin... And even if I disappear suddenly, he won't be able to find me because he only knew Cid.

Nakakainis, bakit ba ako nalungkot nang maisip ang mga bagay na 'yan?

"At saka, paanong hindi kita kiala? Eh, ang bilis mo ngang matandaan," His eyes lit up a bit as his Adam's apple moved like a wave. "Bawal sa tamarind at itlog pero paborito ang lasa ng alak at amoy ng sigarilyo."

Tanging lunok ang nagawa ko habang pinanonood ang paggalaw ng kaniyang labi.

It was like music when those words played in my ears. Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang pag-gaan ng loob ko at ang marahan na pagtanggal ng bara sa'king lalamunan.

Awtomatikong gumuhit ang maliit na ngiti sa aking labi. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napalitan ang lungkot sa aking puso. All of the negative feelings I had earlier vanished because of how he comforted me. It was so satisfying to hear.

"Ayon lang?" Mukhang gago pakinggan pero I want to hear more from him. I want to satisfy myself more.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko at marahan na nag-salubong ang dalawang kilay. He pursed his lips and tilted his head, arms crossed comfortably. Matagal niyang pinasadahan ang mukha ko kaya pinilit kong ihulog ang ngiti sa aking labi.

"Ano 'yon?" Takang tanong ko.

"Did you just smile?"

"Huh?!"

"Ngayon lang kita nakitang ngumiti," Inosente niyang usal.

Dumagundong naman ang dibdib ko kasabay nang pagiinit ng aking pisngi kaya mabilis kong inilagay ang takas kong buhok sa likod ng aking tainga nang maramdaman ang pagkaila na bumalot sa sikmura ko. I swallowed the nervousness that gathered in my throat and looked at him again.