IT was lunch time and I was eating alone in the cafeteria when the freak of nature that is Archer approached my table. Hindi ko siya pinansin dahil nililingon kami ng ibang estudyante doon. I was deemed the most beautiful woman in the campus. Ano na lang ang iisipin nila? Na nakikipagkaibigan ako sa weirdo?
"Uhm..." Tumikhim si Archer para makuha ang atensyon ko. Well, sorry. Kahit kailan hindi ako magkakainteres na makipagusap sa kanya. That is disgusting. Just thinking about it made me want to throw up. "I-Itatanong ko lang sana, H-Harriet, kung o-okay lang na sa bahay tayo mag-practice?"
I rolled my eyes, still not throwing him even a glance. "Do whatever you want. Wala akong pakialam. Besides, it's not as if isasama kita sa bahay namin. It might get infested with your virus. Sakitin ka pa naman."
Nakita kong natigilan siya sa gilid ko, napahiya. Pinagsiklop niya ang mga palad at yumuko. See? He can't even defend himself against a dumb-ass girl like me. He's intelligent. He should know better. How can you be the highest ranker in the batch and still be stupid? "O-Okay...s-sige..."
I snorted. "Umalis ka na nga! Nawawalan ako ng ganang kumain sa 'yo, eh."
He sighed and turned away from my table.
ARCHER guided me to the lift after his petty stunt inside the hotel room. Nagngingitngit ang kalooban ko sa galit. How dare him put me in such a low point like that? And how dare me for actually almost going there!
Jesus, Harriet!
I sucked my breath when the elevator door closed. I concluded earlier that I shouldn't be alone with Archer inside an enclosed space. It's not good for me. Kung hindi ako mamamatay sa pagpipigil ng hininga, mamamatay ako sa tindi ng tensiyon sa pagitan namin.
"Stand close to me." He commanded in a cold tone.
I was about to take a step when he grabbed me by the waist and pulled me close to him.
Fuck, Ventura! Can't wait!?
I knew objecting or complaining wouldn't take me anywhere but Archer's nerves. And I don't want to get on his nerves because I still need something from him. The last thing I want is to provoke him and change his mind about the wedding. So, I just chose to shut my mouth.
Huminga ako ng malalim. Kiniliti ang ilong ko ng kanyang mamahaling pabango. I think the one thing didn't change about him was his scent. He still smell so fucking nice I just wanna bury my face in his neck or his chest and live there.
The elevator dinged, announcing we have reached the ground floor. Fucking finally. But just when I thought I'd get out of the intense sexual tension between us, he grabbed my neck and crashed his lips against mine. Naramdaman ko ang matigas na braso niya sa likod ng baywang ko, niyayakap ako upang idiin lalo sa kanyang katawan.
Nakaliliyo. Nakakalasing. Nakakabaliw.
Ganoon ang pakiramdam ng mga halik ni Archer. Pakiramdam ko wala akong ibang pagpipilian sa tatlong 'yun. Kung hindi ako maliliyo ay malalasing ako. Kung hindi ako malalasing ay mababaliw ako. At kung hindi ako mabaliw, anong iba kong pwedeng pagpilian? Anong kasunod niyon?
Death.
This devil's kisses will be the fucking death of me.
Natauhan lamang ako nang may mag-flash na camera. Sinundan iyon ng ingay. Nanlalaki ang mga matang nilingon ko ang mga reportes na nagkukumpulan na sa labas ng elevator. Tiningala ko si Archer. I clenched my fists when I saw his lips formed into a small evil smile. It was then I only realized that he did the kiss on purpose. So, the reporters can catch it on camera.
