Out of Reach (On Stage Casanovas #1)

Chapter 3

S C A R L E T T

A moment of silence for the departure of my soul. And also sa very awkward na atmosphere na namamagitan sa aming dalawa ngayon. Ilang seconds na ba kaming nakatayo pa din at nagtititigan lang?

I began to mindlessly scratch the back of my hand, a habit kapag kinakabahan ako, at alam kong napansin niya ito.

Nang hindi ko na makayanan ang awkwardness, ibinuka ko na ang bibig ko para magsalita pero walang lumabas sa bibig ko nang bigla siyang naglakad papalapit sa akin and within seconds, I am enveloped in his arms.

And it felt so good. So right. Hinayaan kong mag-relax at yakapin siya pabalik which in turn made him hug me tighter. As if any minute now, mawawala ako.

And I might do just that.

Pero give me a few minutes muna.

I closed my eyes, buried my face in his chest - his very broad chest - and breathed him in. Gosh, he smells like mint and pure manliness. I felt him inhale through my hair, at unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pag-move ng mukha niya. I felt his light breath at the crook of my neck and buried his face there. Another inhale from him, instant goosebumps and mini-heartattack from me.

"Why did you give up on us, Scar?" I felt my heart shatter into pieces from the hurt tone and crack of his voice. Naramdaman ko ang pamamasa ng mga mata ko. Not good, kailangan ko nang tapusin ang mini-reunion na ito.

Gathering all my strength and willpower, I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him. Pero siyempre, dahil naging isang taong pader na yata siya, napa-atras lang siya ng kaunti.

Huminga ako ng malalim at cinompose ang aking sarili.

"Well, it was nice seeing you again, Vincent." I looked at him in the eyes at nakita ko doon ang halo-halong emosyon pero masyado akong nagmamadaling umalis para i-decipher kung ano ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad at nang malapit ko na siyang lagpasan, I said, "Welcome back, Vin."

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at nang nakalapit na ako sa aking sasakyan, narinig ko ang malakas niyang pagtawa. Yung tawa na hindi ka makapaniwala sa nangyayari ngayon. A humorless laugh.

Binuksan ko na ang pintuan ng aking sasakyan at sumakay nang bigla siyang sumigaw.

"I won't let you run away this time, Scarlett!"

Pumasok na ako sa sasakyan at sinarhan ng malakas ang pinto. Fuck him and his sexy English accent. Argh!

I started the engine and started to drive off. Sinilip ko ang rearview mirror at nakita kong nakatayo pa din siya sa pwestong iyon at nakatingin sa aking papalayong sasakyan.

"Why did you give up on us, Scar?"

Napatawa ako ng mahina at namalayan ko na lang ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko.

It was not me who gave up on us, Vincent.

You might not be aware of it, but it was you.

You gave up on us first.

"Oh my gosh! So ano?! Mas gwapo ba siya in person kesa sa TV?! What does he smell like? What did he say to you? Did he kiss you? Did he rip your panties off? Please tell me you made him rip your panties off. Hmm, unless... wala kang suot na panty?"