Muli kong inilapag ang baso ng tubig sa lamesa matapos ko iyong inuman. I sat across from Icen, doing my absolute best to appear composed, na parang hindi na naglalaro sa aking isipan ang lahat ng napanaginipan ko kani-kanina lang.
The private dining room he reserved was elegant and intimate, with floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the view of Moalboal's white sand beach, glistening even under the night sky. Doon ko itinuon ang aking atensyon, tahimik na pinanuod ang bawat hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan, tuwing matatapos ang isa'y may kasunod agad. I kind of wondered if the waves ever get tired of coming back to the shore.
It was picturesque—like something out of a movie.
But no amount of scenic beauty could distract me from him.
Icen sat relaxed on the other side of the table, one hand resting on the arm of his chair, the other tracing the rim of his wine glass with lazy precision. Hindi ko man gustuhin ay kusang dumadako sa kaniya ang aking mga mata. His dress shirt—crisp and perfectly fitted—was unbuttoned just enough to give a glimpse of his tanned skin and the slight curve of his collarbone. The sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong forearms with veins that stood out in just the right way, like they belonged to someone who could move through the world with ease and control. Kunsabagay, bakla siya. Natural lang na may finesse ang bawat kilos niya. Hindi na rin ako dapat magulat kung mas maarte at metikuloso siya sa akin.
Icen looked expensive. Not in a flashy way—there were no loud logos or over-the-top accessories. His elegance was subtle, effortless. Tailored perfection. Every detail of him screamed wealth and refinement.
And damn it, I kept glancing at his fingers.
I tried not to, really. But my mind refused to let go of the dream—or the reality it had been born from. I could still feel those fingers trailing down my skin, pressing inside me, curling in ways that had left me breathless. Now, every time his hand moved, my gaze involuntarily followed, drawn to the way his fingers drummed lightly on the edge of the table or curled casually around the base of his wine glass. Those fingers. They looked so elegant, and all I could think about was how expertly he had used them.
"You're awfully quiet tonight," Icen said, his voice smooth and teasing as he leaned back in his chair, studying me with those sharp blue eyes. "Something on your mind?"
I blinked, realizing I'd been caught staring. Bigla akong tinamaan ng hiya dahil nagtagal nga sa kaniya ang aking mga mata ng husto sa nararapat.
"Just... taking in the view," I replied quickly, hoping the dim lighting would hide the blush creeping up my neck.
His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Which one?"
I shot him a look, hoping to keep things light, but the weight of his gaze made my stomach flutter. He knew exactly what he was doing. Kung panong ganoon rin siya nang gabing iyon.
"The beach," kinuha kong muli ang baso ng tubig at uminom na naman kahit hindi uhaw, para lang may magawa. "It's beautiful."
He chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass.
"It is," he agreed, though his eyes never left mine. "But I'm not convinced that's the view you've been focused on."
"Don't flatter yourself." Irap ko para lang maiwasan ang pagkapahiya pang lalo.
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make my pulse race. "Too late."
Hindi ko na pinatulan pa ang panunukso niya at desperadang iniba na lamang ang usapan nang hindi pa rin makatingin sa kaniya ng diretso.
