Deceret Series #1: His Lips On My Neck

Chapter 9

TRIGGER WARNING. Please be guided.

Chapter 9

"We can sit here!" Shantel announced happily. Kinuha ni Philodemus ang kaniyang bag at tamad na ipinatong sa kaniyang hita. Nac-conscious ako na sinunsundan niya ako ng tingin kaya bahagya akong nagtago sa likod ni Shantel.

"I'll buy some plastic forks for us..." ani Shantel tsaka nilingon si Philodemus. "Hindi ako masyadong maalam sa lugar na 'to eh. Will you come with me?"

Philodemus stared at her. Nakatitig lang din ako kay Shantel bago ko ulit nilingon si Philodemus. Then he nodded. He slapped his palms lightly on his kneecaps before standing up.

"Meron dun sa kanto." Aniya sa malalim na boses.

"Great! Let's go..." nag-isang sulyap sa akin si Shantel at ngumiti. "Pakibantay muna ng mga gamit natin, Stormie, ah? Saglit lang kami ni Elton..."

I nodded my head and sat down, watching the two of them go. May sinasabi si Shantel kay Philodemus. She laughed and Philodemus nodded. I chewed my lower lips and dragged my gaze away.

My chest hurts. Must be because I'm really tired. Yumuko nalang ako at tahimik na naghintay.

After a few minutes, they came back with three plastic forks and even a knife. Hindi ko alam kung saan sila nakakuha ng kutsilyo at hindi rin naman ako nagtanong.

"Hindi ba magagalit sa atin si mommy na late tayong makakauwi ngayon?" tanong ko kay Shantel.

She shook her head and smiled. "Hindi yun. Ako na ang bahala sa atin." She winked.

Kinuha ni Philodemus ang kutsilyo mula sa kamay ni Shantel, dahilan upang mapatuwid ito nang tayo. He silently sliced the cake with his brows furrowing, as if he's solving a difficult math problem. I've seen the same expression when he was preparing tea for me that day in his flat.

Napangiti ako sa sarili.

It seems like he's giving it all in everything he does. He's a guy with endless passion. I wonder how it feels like to be dedicated in every little thing, even simple things such as slicing a cake?

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Shantel at nanunuod sa kaniya na parang bata. Nang matapos nang i-slice ni Philodemus ang cake ay kinuha niya ang paper plate na binili din nila at nagsalin ng isa. Iniabot niya ito sa akin.

"T-Thank you..." I mumbled.

Shantel stared at me before she turned to Philodemus, too. Nilagyan niya din ng slice ng cake ang paper plate niya at iniabot ito.

"Thanks, Elton!" she chirped happily.

Tango lang ang isinagot niya at ipinagpatuloy ang pags-slice ng cake para sa kaniya. Then he sat down across the two of us and forked his cake with a serious face.

"Baka hindi ka mahilig sa sweets, ah?" ani Shantel. "Hindi ko kasi alam kung anong ibibigay sa iyo kaya cake nalang ang napili ko."

"It's okay." Came his frugal reply as he shoved a piece of cake inside his mouth. Pumula ang buong mukha ko nang titigan niya ako habang ginagawa iyon, para bang pinapaalala sa akin kung paano niya minsang kinain ang sandwich na inalok ko.

I swallowed.

"Mahilig din sa sweets itong si Stormie." Ani Shantel at bahagya pa akong siniko. "Palagi nga siyang napapagalitan ni mommy noon kasi kain nang kain ng matatamis." She giggled.

The cake and every little thing I do. My mom hates it. I know, Shantel.

"Really?" the corners of his lips lifted up in a smirk.