Waves
"Alright. But how should I speak to you though? Padabog ba?" He laughed.
Pinagmasdan ko siya sa kabila ng pagkairita at isinaisip ang maliliit na detalye.
His laugh starts at the corner of his eyes then melts slowly into a deep baritone that reverberates at the back his throat. It was deep and somehow blended perfectly with the sound of the waves.
I stopped and the furrow on my brows slowly eased.
"Just casually." Hindi ko na rin namalayan na rumahan na rin ang boses ko.
"You're funny, Laurent."
His laugh earlier remained as a grin on his lips as he starts fixing something on my surfboard and his.
Napakurap ako sa paraan ng pagbigkas niya ng pangalan ko. This is the first time I've ever heard anyone aside from my family, pronounce my name so perfectly and right.
Laurent. He pronounced it the French way. And there was something definitely earth-shattering about it. I don't know if it was the husk of his voice or just the intensity of the French pronunciation of my name.
"I am not trying to be funny though. But you can laugh if you want."
Ginawaran ko siya ng ngisi para lang mabalik ang huwisyo.
He just shook his head at me, an amused expression dancing on his eyes and splayed out on the corner of his lips.
Why does it seem like I am starting to take note of every little thing he does including his mannerisms? Ang utos lang naman nila Ate ay alamin kung ano ang mga hilig at gusto niya.
"It's done now. Come closer, please," tawag niya nang natapos sa kung anong kinalikot sa surfboard namin at napansing may distansya pa rin sa pagitan naming dalawa.
Wala sa isip akong lumapit sa kanya. Hindi ko na tuloy napigilan ang kaonting pag-igtad nang naramdaman ang mainit at malapad niyang mga kamay na marahang dumapo sa magkabilang balikat ko.
Saglit niyang ibinaba ang kamay bago sinulyapan ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko. I noticed how suddenly he made an effort to keep our distance this time.
"Wait, before we start, alam kong pumayag kang turuan ko. But is it okay if I touch you to show you the right stance?"
He stared at me longer as if weighing my thoughts and I cleared my throat. Napansin niya yata ang pag-igtad ko kanina.
Damn it. Am I flushed right now? What is happening to me? It's not as if this is the first time a man is this close to me. Am I too nervous that he'd find out about my real agenda here?
Bago pa man siya makapag-conclude na ayaw kong humahawak siya sa akin ay kaagad ko na siyang sinagot nang sunod-sunod na tango.
"Of course! Paano mo naman ako niyan tuturuan ng maayos kung hindi mo ako hahawakan 'di ba?" I tried to keep my usual demeanor.
"Hmm... just tell me when you get uncomfortable," he mutters before closing the distance once again.
This time, I braced myself, anticipating the warmth of his hands on my shoulders. It was gentler this time. Malaki at malapad ang kamay niya pero kahit papaano ay sobrang gaan noon sa mga balikat ko, tila ba iniiwasan niyang ilagay ang buong bigat noon sa akin.
"As I've said, I saw your form when you surfed and one thing I noticed is that your stance is too stiff."
His voice is much closer to my right ear now. I held my breath and almost shut my eyes tightly. I can feel the intensity of his presence behind me, his warm and minty breath, and the expanse of his shoulder that covered my small frame.
BINABASA MO ANG
Earthquake (Disaster Series #3)
Romance(CURRENTLY ON-HOLD) Standing firm and with head held high has always been the way that Laurent Donatella Damartin has lived her life. Unyielding and unfazed, that's what she strives to be. For her, it will always be principle, above all else. But...
