Wicked Games (An Epistolary Novel)

054

I laughed when I saw Julian right in front of me. Again.

I was seriously laughing now like a damn crazy woman because the universe must be playing tricks at me. Because, really, why do we always see each other in unexpected places? Hindi ko naman inusisa kay Xylene kung nasaan sila ngayon. Baka mapagkamalang stalker na talaga ako nito.

"What's funny?" Nicholas asked with a confused look. Literal na kapapasok lang namin sa high-end lounge na napagkasunduan naming puntahan. He must think I am crazy, laughing at reasons only I knew about. I mean. . . the situation is hilarious already. Iniisip ko lang siya kanina.

Did I conjure him from my mind?

Is this. . . fate?

Or maybe delusions.

Yeah, that's more probable.

"Nothing. I just remembered a joke," I casually shrugged, smiling at him and tugging his arms to come along with me toward the bar counter.

Come to think of it. . . he's proving me that he's really an alcoholic. Kasi bakit lagi rin siyang nasa bar kahit na mukhang ayaw niyang makipagkapwa-tao? Those ain't occasional drinking. Well, hindi ko naman siya ija-judge. I enjoy drinking, too, and no shame with that as long as you're a responsible drinker.

"Care to share?" Nicholas prodded as we took our seats.

"It's really nothing," I chuckled, caressing his arms. "Let's buy a drink?"

I was still damn tired from the week that passed—and I'm sure he was, too, since he's a doctor in training—so we just wanted to chill and unwind. And by chill, it meant not our usual 'tugs-tugs-tugs-jump-jump-jump' moments. Just chillnuman.

"You keep on staring at him."

"Huh?" I turned my head to Nicholas.

"You've been looking at that man since we got here. Crush mo?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya habang nakatingin din kay Julian.

I chuckled. "Yes."

"Ouch," he said, feigning hurt and clutching his chest part.

"You'll move on," natatawang biro ko habang tinatapik ang balikat niya.

"Why don't you make a move on him if you're interested in him?"

"Well, for one, I am helluva tired."

"That didn't stop you before."

Natawa ako. "Fair point." Tiningnan kong muli si Julian. He was interacting with someone. A friend, perhaps.

I took two shots of tequila before I decided to stand up and approach him. I normally don't rely on alcohol for a confidence boost—I can do things sober. But like all general rules, there's always an exception. And he's that. The guy just unnerved me for reasons I still yet to know.

I took a deep breath, straightened my back, and put on my sultry smile before I walked to where he was.

"You know what. . . I keep on seeing you unexpectedly. This must really be fate," I said as I slid into the vacant bar stool near him.

Hindi na siya nagulat na nakita niya ako. Baka sanay na rin siya.

"This must be stalking," he retorted with his usual deep, cold voice.

Natawa ako. "Funny. I didn't even know you're here."

Hindi siya sumagot sa sinabi kong iyon.

"So, you enjoy drinking, too? Based on my observation, you frequent bars," panimula ko kasi, duh? As if siya ang unang makikipagusap sa akin.

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

Ang suplado, Lord.

"Hey! I was just being friendly, okay?" I feigned offense.

"And I said I don't need a new friend."

"Lover, then," I said, smirking at him while looking straight in his eyes.

Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa akin. Those black orbs were piercing. He really was intimidating, I must admit.

I stood up from my seat and closed the very small distance between us. I was now standing on his side and him, still sitting on his bar stool. I could feel the shift in the air; could feel his body heat sipping through the thin fabric of his black sweater that made his biceps looked prominent and his shoulders broad.

"Why do you keep on resisting me?" I whispered, leaning a bit closer to him. I raised my hand, my fingers gently trailing from his arms to his chest.

"Do you hate me that much?" I asked, voice still low as I looked at him eye to eye. I fought the urge to quiver as I touch him because I swear, I felt electricity jolt up my fingertips when I first laid my fingers at him.

We were so close that I could smell him—a combination of fresh soap and light wooden musk—and feel the heat radiating off his body. I looked up at him as our lips were only inches apart.

Will he allow me to kiss him? I wonder if he tastes as good as he looks.

I mentally smirked when he made no move to shoo me away. My hands automatically found his face and I closed my eyes as I leaned into him, ready to feel his very inviting lips on mine, when I felt strong fingers wrapped around my wrist.

Mabilis akong napamulat ng mata, bahagyang nagulat sa ginawa niya. His hold on me was not that tight enough to bruise, but I could feel the force in it.

"Can you stop?

Like an idiot, I was only able to mutter a breathless, "Why?"

We were still so close that I noticed his pupil dilate for a minuscule of seconds. His jaw was tensed; his eyes now looked colder than ever. He looked scary, alright.

My heart beats faster.

I blinked, holding my breath.

"It's making you look pathetic." His words were so sharp and so emotionless that I was too stunned to speak for a good ten seconds.

"Oh, wow."

I didn't know what to say.

"I mean. . . I hope you do understand the concept of consent."

I was about to say something smart in return when he speaks again. "But I may be wrong. What am I expecting from a woman who gladly offer herself to anyone she finds exciting and challenging? Couldn't even take a hint that she's being annoying and unwanted."

My jaw clenched in annoyance. A cold feeling washed over me for a fraction of seconds before it slowly turned into ire.

I wanna slap him so bad.

Was I insulted? Not in the slightest because there's no truth on what he said. How dare he say something when he didn't even know me?

I was livid in the way he was so casually cruel to someone who was just trying to flirt with him. Flirt! You're not supposed to take someone seriously when they're flirting or trying to have fun with you!

Must he be harsh and judgmental?

I opened my mouth to speak, but I decided against it. What for, right? I shouldn't defend myself from people like him.

He's good-looking and a hotshot, alright. But he's an ass—that, I was able to confirm now. He's judgmental. And I've been judged a lot already by how I choose to live my life so why would I add people to the list? I don't need those kinds of people in my life.

I chuckled humorlessly. "Eh, 'di sorry," I said with all the sarcasm I could muster then bowed to him in princess style. "You didn't need to be an ass."

I could have sworn he suddenly looked apologetic, but maybe I was just imagining it.

I did not look at him when I walked past him back to where Nicholas was sitting. There was worry in his eyes as he must have seen what happened back there.

"Let's go. I was suddenly tired," I mumbled when he stood up to meet me, leaving the bar with a head held high and never looking back.