Assuaging the Kindled Flames

Prelude

𝘼𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙

"Paula, please! Is it really that easy for you?"

I rolled my eyes, exasperated, as I focused intently on my plates, bending slightly over them to avoid his gaze. Habang umaayos ako sa pagkakatayo, hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti sa tunog ng mga yabag niya na papalapit. His presence was like an annoying fly buzzing around my head, how many hints did I need to drop to make him realize I wasn't interested?

"Paula, ano? Were you just playing with me?" Pagdiin niya, puno ang boses niya ng pagkalito na nagpasiklab lang sa inis ko.

I could feel my patience wearing thin. I had made it abundantly clear that I didn't want to talk, yet here he was, determined to ignore every hint I'd thrown his way. Napakahirap bang intindihin na sadyang iniiwasan ko siya, umaasang tatanggapin niya na lang lahat ng mga pahiwatig ko at lumayo na lang? In this crowded room, I had hoped for some peace, but instead, he seemed to have overcome my irritation.

"Can someone please get him out of here?" I nudged Ronan, one of my guy friends seated next to me, at banayad na kumilos patungo sa patuloy na nanghihimasok. Nagpapasalamat ako na napapaligiran ako ng isang grupo ng mga kaklase kong lalaki, they had a certain imposing presence that could scare off unwanted attention.

Ronan glanced at me, a knowing smirk creeping onto his lips. With just one look from him, my unwelcome visitor hesitated, clearly weighing his options. My heart raced as I felt the tension in the air shift. I quickly turned back to my work, pretending nothing was happening, hoping that this time he would get the message.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa ko, pilit na lang inaalala kung ano nga ba ang pangalan ng lalaki. Cliff? Clint? O baka naman Clit? Hindi na rin ako sigurado, to be honest, hindi na rin naman mahalaga. Wala naman kasing impact yung performance niya, parang pinagtitiisan mo lang yung effort niya. Para akong tinutusok ng battery ng remote, hindi yung mismong remote, ha, pero yung mismong battery. Oo, ganoon kaliit. Paano ko nga ba matatandaan ang pangalan niya kung wala man lang ako sa puntong mae-express ko 'yon sa kahit anong paraan? Ni hindi ko nga naiungol man lang yung pangalan niya.

Bakit pa kasi siya nag-abala na pumunta rito? I was busy, and the last thing I needed was another distraction.

"Hey, why don't we just let her be?" Sa wakas ay nagsalita si Ronan, mahina ngunit matatag ang boses. "Bro, halata namang hindi interesado si Paula." Ang kanyang mga salita ay nakabitin lang sa hangin, it become a shield to protect me.

Nakahinga na ako ng malalim nang makita na papaalis na ang lalaki na halatang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa. For a moment, relief washed over me, but as soon as I turned back to my plates, I couldn't shake the feeling of irritation that lingered.

"Ang kapal ng apug ni kupal!" Ngumisi pa si Ronan.

I knew that my indifference would only fuel his determination. The irony of it all made me chuckle softly to myself. Wasn't it ironic how the very thing I wanted, space and silence, but I seem to attract the exact opposite? It's a constant game, a dance I'm tired of leading. I just want to enjoy my work in peace, but here I am again caught in a web of unwanted attention.

There are two kinds of heat in this world, the warmth of love and the fire of lust. In the moment, it's easy to blur the lines between the two, especially when you're wrapped up in the thrill and euphoria of it all. You're sharing laughter, tracing your fingers over unfamiliar skin, and for a fleeting second, it feels like you've known each other forever. But that's the tricky part. In those intense moments, minsan malilito ka sa kung ano ang init ng pagmamahal at ang init ng katawan, magkasama na parang isang masalimuot na panaginip tapos sinusunog ka na sa impyerno.