Tune of Rapture (Echoes #2)

Chapter 24

Warning: R-18

Chapter 24

Birthday

When Sergo finished with his cellphone, he returned to looking at me. I could hardly breathe from the intensity of his embrace. I didn't complain even though I was conscious of whether I still smelled good.

His calm breath brushed against my cheek as I finished closing the bracelet. Napalunok muna ako bago siya tiningnan.

He still had his chin on my shoulder, and a strange emotion played in his eyes, or maybe it was just my imagination because it quickly disappeared when he saw me looking.

"Akin na ang braso mo." ani ko.

Binigay niya naman iyon pero hindi umaalis sa pwesto. Nag tagal pa aking mata sa moreno niyang braso, noticing the veins there even though I wasn't holding or gripping it.

Perhaps it was because of the strain from working, which made the veins visible. Even his long fingers caught my attention. Lahat na lang yata napapansin ko, ah!

I pushed aside my thoughts and just put the bracelet on his wrist. The moment it was clasped, you would immediately think that he's in a relationship. It's as if that bracelet is saying that he's no longer single.

The craftsmanship was superb. The colors of our eyes, hazel brown and plain black, blended perfectly. It also matched his skin tone, and when we bring our wrists closer, it screams... we're together.

I couldn't believe I did that. And he seems happy. Even though he's not smiling and there seems to be a different emotion in his eyes, I can see and feel it, based on how tightly he's holding my waist.

"Nagustuhan mo ba?" kumpirma ko.

Matagal bago siya nakasagot dahil napatulala pa siya sa bracelet na nasa pulsuhan niya.

"Yes. It's beautiful," he breathed out.

I nodded and smiled. He looked up at me. I really couldn't decipher what was in his eyes. To dispel whatever emotion I couldn't discern, I lightly kissed his parted lips.

Lumayo ako nang matapos. I caught him still with his eyes closed. I smirked and kissed him again. This time, he responded. What started as a light kiss deepened as he reciprocated.

Our lips moved slowly against each other, but the depth of it almost made me moan.

"Thank you. Thank you for making my birthday truly special... even though I know there are so many things missing," bulong ni Sergo nang makawala.

Dinilaan ko ang pang ibaba kong labi at kahit hindi pa nakakaahon sa kanyang halik ay naintindihan ko ang sinabi niya.

Niyakap ako ni Sergo. Binaon niya ang kanyang mukha sa aking leeg.

Ngumuso ako. I immediately understood the array of emotions in his eyes that he couldn't express through actions. Palaking lola si Sergo. I still vividly remembered what Mang Artim said about his parents dying from drowning.

And who would be happy on their birthday without their parents? No one. No matter how old you are, the longing for your parents doesn't diminish with age.

It's normal to miss them. And showing that longing to someone doesn't indicate weakness.

"It's okay..." alu ko.

"I miss my parents," he whispered weakly.

I ran my fingers through his wavy hair.

"It's normal to miss them. You were young when they passed away. And now, no matter our age, it's perfectly normal to long for them."