Midnight Rain

Nine

I gesture with my hand para sabihing mauna na sila sa venue. Tumango naman silang lahat at sumakay na sa bus. Coach look at me, bakas sa mukha niya ang pag-alala if okay lang ba ako.

Nag thumbs up naman ako, kaya sumakay narin siya at umalis na. Ganun rin ang ginawa nung lima. May dala silang sariling sasakyan. Kaya nauna na sila sa venue.

Pinadaan ko muna ang mga tao sa paligid namin, nang kunti nalang ang natira ay nilapitan ko siya at hinawakan sa braso.

"Bakit ka galit?" Tanong ko sakaniya. Hindi parin nawawala ang galit na expression sa mukha niya.

Inalis niya ang kamay ko at nag lakad papunta sa parking space ng arena. Nilagay niya sa hood ng kotse niya ang kanang braso at sumandal ng bahagyan.

He's facing the opposite wall, nakatagilid siya saakin. I can clearly see his jaw clinching. I swallowed the lump of my throat.

I turn and move toward him, covering the wall behind me as I stop in front of him. He looked up at my eyes.

He's glaring with rage in his eyes. Napakuyom siya ng kamao at kitang-kita ko ang mga ugat na namumuo sa mga kamay niya. His jaw clinched as he stared at me.

Shit! Did I provoke him that bad? Halos umiwas na ako ng tingin sakanya. I took the courage and sigh heavily.

"Nag seselos kaba?" tanong ko. Mariin niya parin akong tinitigan. Walang kahit anong salita ang lumabas sa mga labi niya.

He looked away for a split second and tried to compose himself as he look at me again.

" Can I kiss you?" Napaawang ang labi ko sa tanong niya at bago pa ako maka sagot, he gently tilt my chin and pressed his lips against mine.

He aggressively bit my lower lip, causing my mouth to open. Our tongues twined for numerous seconds before he removed himself.

Halos mawalan ako ng hangin dahil sa mga halik niya. Even in the brief moment between our kisses, I could feel his madness as he gently bit my lips, making them bleed.

" I'm marking you mine, Keocea..." the jealousy from his voice arose.

He's driving me nuts with this behavior, and I'm not sure how to respond. How could I have fallen for this domineering man?

Umayos ako ng tayo at ngumiti ng malapad sakanya.

"Isa pa nga! Para plakado!" I stated just to ease some tensions.

He averted his gaze once more, displaying no response to my words. His lips soaked as he wiped them with his tongue.

"Stop playing with me, Keocea.." Something hurts when he speaks. His rage weakens him, I could tell.

"I-I'm not, Timothy.." I said, getting him to kiss me once again. I could sense the cloud nine in between this time since it was gentler.

I swear, it's not butterflies that flatter my stomach. It's a wave in the ocean. I feel cherished, comfortable, reassured, and safe. I feel nothing but peace.

Does it have to be this way? I mistakenly believed that butterflies, chills, and sparks were everything.

My heart skips a beat whenever I see him. Not that his presence confused me or overwhelmed me. It seems pure to me. With him, everything feels just right.

He gripped my face, and we both parted our lips.

"Would you try risking things with me?" mahinahong tanong niya, wala na ang galit sa mga mata niya. Kundi namumuong pag-alala.