Until you are mine

16. His lips

Santorini, Greece

Yllak and I arrived at the airport eighteen hours later. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit kailangan niyang sumama sa akin. He was happy – I could tell for he was always smiling widely. Tuwing kausap ko siya ay ngingitian niya ako. His boyish smile and seductive eyes – yes there is such thing as seductive eyes. Iyong mga mata ni Yllak – nang-aakit. Iyong titingnan ka pa lang, manlalambot na ang tuhod mo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito – but I never felt things like this before. These things are only applicable in books and movies. Kuya Hector once told me that love – or whatever it is that resembles that thing – makes a Santillan weak. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na mahal ko si Yllak – mahal ko siya bilang kapatid – pero ang mga nararamdaman ko sa kanya ay kakaiba.

Voltage of electrons, twitter pottering sensations, lip biting acts – those things only makes me weak. Kapalit ng lahat nang iyon ay confusion. I don't want to be confused.

"That flight is fun!" He exclaimed after exiting the Thira National airport. I looked at him. He already took his jacket off. He was only wearing that white v-neck shirt he had on. Mukha pa rin siyang fresh kahit na eighteen hours kaming nasa byahe. His hair was a bit disheveled. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ba hindi ako mapakali sa tuwing titingnan ko siya.

"Saan tayo ngayon, Yna?" I took a deep breath. Parang naiinitan ako. The weather is fine in Santorini. It is sunny and hot but not too hot for me to feel this way. Parang gusto kong pagsisihan ang pagsuot ng corporate dress ko samantlang si Yllak, fresh na fresh sa sa shirt and jeans niya. I took a deep breath again.

"Sa bahay." Sabi ko. "We'll be waiting for the service, ihahatid tayo sa port and from there, we'll be travelling by boat. Two hours tops." Nakita kong dumating ang service na sinasabi ko. Tinulungan ako ni Yllak sa gamit ko at sumakay na kami. Mainit sa loob ng service. Sisksikan sa loob. Yllak was beside me, tapos may isang European pa sa tabi ko. Nakagitna ako sa kanila at dahil bumpy ang daan ay tumatama ang katawan ko sa European na nasa tabi ko. He looked at me.

"You okay?" He asked with his nangangapal na British accent. I nodded and smiled back.

"You're a tourist?" I stared to make small talks.

"Yeah. I am. I wanted to spend my vacation exploring the ruins of this country. I'm Matthew, by the way." Inabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin pero naunahan ako ni Yllak.

"I'm a devil and if you touch my girl's hand, I'm going to hunt you and kill you and feed your guts to the dogs."

My eyes widened. "Yllak!" Binitiwan ni Matthew ang kamay ni Yllak at nag-iba ng tingin. I stared at him. "What the hell?"

"No one can ever touch you lalo na kapag kaharap ako." Malumanay na sabi niya. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. Napalunok ako. Nakahawak ang isang kamay ni Yllak sa arm rest habang ang isa ay nasa baywang ko. Hinahatak niya akong pilit – hindi pa siya nakuntento, he put my two legs on his and almost hugged me. Masyado kaming malapit sa isa'tisa. I can almost smell his breath.

"Damn, Yna..." Nakangising sabi niya. Napatingin ako sa mga mata niya. He was looking – desire – I'm not sure if that's what I should call it, but I can see desire in his eyes.

Huminto ang service, nagbabaan ang lahat. Inalalayan naman ako ni Yllak pababa. Siya pa rin ang nagdala ng mga gamit namin. Nakasunod ako sa kanya. Hinubad ko ang sapatos ko at saka lumakad muli. Lumapit ako sa isang boat driver at nakipag-usap sa kanya.

"Take me to Thira." I politely asked him. He gave me a smile. Tiningnan ko si Yllak. Parang at ease na siya sa lugar. Tuwang-tuwa siyang nagpapalinga-linga. Inalalayan ako ng driver na bumaba sa bangka. Yllak followed. Magkatabi na naman kaming naupo.