Illicit Love

Kabanata 18

"I'm not riding that, Zariah! I'm not a kid anymore!" she snapped, eyeing the slide with a raised brow and a look of stern disapproval.

Habang naglalakad kami pauwi kanina, nadaanan namin ang park na 'to. Maaga pa naman kaya hindi ako nagdalawang isip na hilain siya papunta dito kahit na hindi ako sigurado kung magugustuhan niya ba o hindi. This is the last time I am going to be with her, so I will make the most of it.

"May sinabi bang pang bata lang ang park, Ma'am? Ano naman? As far as I can remember, hindi lang pang bata ang park. Come on, tara na!" nakasinging sabi ko.

"Shut it. Look at those teens—they're judging us! This is so cringe. We're literally the only people here. Tell me you aren't serious about playing on something meant for toddlers," she complained, her expression souring as she directed a cold stare at the group whispering on the bench nearby.

"Bakit? Hayaan mo lang silang tumingin. Huwag mo silang pansinin, inggit lang 'yan sila..."

Dahan-dahang tumaas ang kilay niya at seryosong napatingin sakin. "What are you talking, Zariah?"

"Inggit sila. Alam mo kung bakit?"

Kanina pa talaga ako nagpipigil ng tawa dahil halata sa mukha niya ang matinding kuryusudad at inis..

"What? Stop being so weird, Zariah," aniya saka ako inirapan.

Hindi ko na napigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. Naging weirdo pa talaga. "Kasi akin ka," nakangising sabi ko.

Hindi siya umimik o nagreact. Nanatili siyang seryosong nakatitig sakin. Naiilang na tumawa na lang ako at umiwas ng tingin sa kanya. "Biro lang. Ginaya ko lang talaga 'yong lines ni Rico Yan..."

"Yeah, right... So, where do we ride?" mahinang sabi niya.

She reached the slides first, and I followed a few paces behind, silently admiring her. There was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes at first, but it vanished the moment she tried it. After that, she was having the time of her life. The kids around her were laughing, clearly charmed by her presence. Her face was a picture of pure delight. I kept my distance, standing quietly by the edge of the playground, watching as she became the center of the kid's world.

How could she possibly claim she doesn't want to bond with Rahim? Looking at her now, she seems like a child herself, completely immersed in play with those kids who look to be exactly Rahim's age.

Perhaps she simply hasn't grown accustomed to it yet. It is evident that she loves Rahim deeply, but there are clearly barriers holding her back. It's possible she is just too shy or inhibited to openly express her affection toward her brother.

Watching her smile and laugh as she played with those children, it felt as though she was tenderly healing her own inner child. I found myself captivated, savoring every second of her unbridled joy. I wanted to memorize the sight of her this happy—to cherish every fleeting moment we had left. Suddenly, time seemed to decelerate the moment her eyes met mine. For the first time, I understood what people meant by 'slow motion.' Even though my heart feels as though it is being torn to pieces, every ragged beat is still, and always will be, for her.

The world seemed to decelerate into a blur, leaving only her and her radiant smile at the center of my universe. With every frantic throb of my heart, my eyes remained anchored to hers. That smile—so perfect, so effortless—never once left her lips. I found myself wondering how a woman could be so breathtaking. Her beauty is truly beyond comparison. I imagine even the goddesses themselves would bow in reverence before a smile as divine as hers.

Hindi ko namalayang nasa harap ko na pala siya. Nakatitig na siya ngayon sakin ng seryoso habang nakataas ang kilay. Nanatili akong tahimik at nakatitig rin pabalik sa kanya. Damang-dama ko ang pagbigat lalo ng dibdib ko habang pinagmamasdan ang maamo at napakaganda niyang mukha.