Deceret Series #1: His Lips On My Neck

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I stared hesitantly at his massive back. Walang lingon-lingon siyang naglalakad. I could ditch him and he wouldn't know. Mukha namang walang pakialam ang isang 'to sa akin.

The black guitar case keeps on gently bouncing on the hard muscles on his back. Isang beses nitong pinasadahan ang itim na itim na buhok at sa banig ng dilim na inilatag ng gabi ay sumidlak ulit ang kaniyang piercing.

"San tayo?" I managed to squeak, after what seemed like forever.

Huminto sa paglalakad si Philodemus. Good thing I've kept a good distance between the two of us otherwise I would've crashed into his back. He smelled of mint and... I don't know, wood? Sobrang panglalaki ng amoy niya na palaging nanunuot sa ilong ko sa tuwing nagkakalapit kaming dalawa.

He rose one thick brow at me, as his soulful eyes danced with amusement.

"Was it your father earlier?" Philodemus asked in his raspy voice. Parang inaantok at kakagising lang. The same voice he used when he sang the song earlier.

"Uh..." I trailed off. I am forbidden to speak of my holy family's name when in public. For them, I ceased to exist three years ago. Ni hindi nga ako pinapakilala sa kung sino.

"Forget it." Tumitig ito sa akin. He licked his lower lips before turning his gaze to the empty road that would lead the exit of our high school. "Nakapunta ka na ba sa Le Point Bar?"

"Hindi pa. Magagalit ang mommy—"

"Perfect." He grabbed my arms, making me jump back a little. The direct skin contact between the two of us is just so strong that I couldn't move for a bit, before I regained my senses. Hinila ako ni Philodemus, marahas at walang konsiderasyon.

I followed him religiously, trying to catch up with his long strides. He is very rough and uncultured, I noted inside of my head as I stared at his clothed back once again while we're walking or running.

From a distance, I could see a naughty-looking motorbike waiting for him like that of a loyal dog. It gleamed in black and silver as it stood proudly on the grassy grounds of our school. Tinitigan ko ang motorbike. Doon kami papunta dalawa ngayon.

"Uhm..." nagdalawang-isip ulit ako. Was his name really Philodemus? Should I call him that or should I resort to the name he'd introduced himself to the public? Elton Treveron?

Saglit niya akong nilingon, bahagya nang nakakunot ang noo. I licked my lower lips nervously and looked away. Hawak niya pa rin ang braso ko at sa totoo lang, nanghahapdi na ito at namamawis dahil sa higpit ng kaniyang hawak.

"I-Is Philodemus..." I trailed off and swallowed. "Is it really your name?"

"Hmm..." came his lazy reply. He closed the distance between us and the motorbike with three long strides before he finally stopped walking. "What do you think?"

Nag-angat ito ng kilay sa akin. Kung tutuusin, para akong batang nakatingala sa kaniya dahil sa sobrang tangkad niya. I swallowed hard and then looked away.

"What should I call you then..." halos pabulong ko ng wika sa kaniya.

"Whatever you feel like it," he shrugged and then placed his guitar case on his torso. Marahas siyang sumampa sa kaniyang motorbike at nilingon ako. Blessed by the lamp post's yellowish light, I could see trails of sweat running from his temple down his neck. Siguro'y sa pagperform niya ito kanina.

I shifted my weight on my school shoes. Ibinaba ko ang tingin, balisa at hindi alam ang gagawin.

"Shortie, are you riding with me or not?" he said, and I could hear the impatience in his raspy voice.