Deceret Series #1: His Lips On My Neck

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Happy Birthday, Stormie..."

I stared at Ylona. Nakangiti siya sa akin. She stepped gracefully and engulfed me in a hug. Hindi ko siya niyakap pabalik. Tumikhim siya at kaagad ding bumitiw.

"Your gown is pretty..." anito sa akin, sabay nginitian ako nang matamis. "Sana ikaw rin..."

Hilaw lang akong ngumiti sa kaniya at kaagad nang tumalikod. She whispered the last part of her sentence, probably assuming that I wouldn't hear it, but I did. On my way out, I grabbed a glass of wine from the serving waiter and proceeded towards the infinity pool.

Nang matapos ang sayawan ay nagsalita ulit ang MC. I don't know what he's saying, because I'm out of the door by then. I eyed the piles of gift on the table. I'm sure all of it are for Shantel. Sino namang magbibigay sa akin ng regalo?

Sighing to myself, I took a sip of the liquor and winced when it burned the back of my throat. I glanced at the faint yellowish liquid and then took a sip again. It tasted better the second time around but the burning sensation never left.

Sana ako din... maganda, Ylona?

I chuckled bitterly to myself. Yes, how I wish too. Sana kasing-ganda din ako ni Shantel. I bet life would be easier. Everyone will love me. Everyone would like to be my friend and to be seen with me... because I am pretty.

Pretty girls always have it easy, huh?

Walang tao sa infinity pool pagdating ko. Matapos akong isayaw ni Philodemus ay inanunsiyo ng MC na kakanta pa sila nang isang beses upang i-entertain ang mga bisita. Hindi na ako nakatiis sa loob at lumabas na matapos akong batiin ni Ylona.

Inilapag ko ang wineglass sa marbled tiles at naupo sa gilid ng pool. I let the water soak my dress, like blood spilled on the water. Lumutang ang kalahati ng ball gown ko sa tubig. The cold water soothed my sore feet from wearing heels since this afternoon.

Tumitig ako sa kawalan. No one would miss me inside, anyway. So why bother socializing with them? Tonight is Shantel's night, not mine. And I'm sure, with the glaring look of my mother when Philodemus danced with me, mapapagalitan na naman ako mamaya.

"What are you doing here, birthday girl?"

Napaigtad ako sa gulat nang biglang may magsalita. I squinted my eyes at the shadow, even though I know exactly who he is. Philodemus stepped out from the dark, a red apple in his hand. Seryoso itong nakatitig sa akin.

"What are you doing here?" pagbabalik tanong ko sa kaniya.

He shrugged and then took a bite from his apple. I watched his lips move, the juice of the fruit sensually dripped on his lower lips, which he wiped with the back of his hands. Philodemus' adams apple moved when chewed and swallowed the apple, all the while lazily walking towards my direction.

"Philodemus...?"

"Tapos na kaming mag-perform." Huminto siya sa tabi ko at naupo na rin. He placed his feet on the water, too, not caring if it would soak the lower part of his pants and his converse.

"So you're Memento Mori, huh?" I wondered out loud.

"Uh-huh."

I licked my lower lips, and remembered what my sister once told me about them. Nilingon ko si Philodemus. Tumutunog ang bawat kagat niya sa apple at sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay naaakit ako sa tuwing naririnig ko iyon. I wondered, all of a sudden, how can eating a single apple be this sensual when it's Philodemus doing it?

"Gusto ka ng kapatid ko." I said, my chest aching with dull pain. inilipat ko ang tingin sa tubig sa harapan namin.

"So?"