Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Before Anything Else

" So you think it was better?" I laughed. " No way!" umiling-iling ako at pinandilatan siya ng mata. Nixon tried to stare at me for a longer minute but I dodged him off. We were talking about their band. I asked him if he could tell me something about it and now we're talking about how they got their name. It was obvious that it was a kind of bar liquor. Ang hindi ko lang alam ay kung bakit iyon ang ipinangalan nila.

" I think Crithos' suggestion was better than mine so we settled for Absinthe. Guess we could make everyone drunk by our music…" he shrugged and smirked at me. Ngumuso ako at tiningala ang madilim na langit.

After he we ate dinner at a vegetarian restaurant, he took me to an empty field. I guess it wasn't a private area since there's no sign that it was a private property. Nasa kalagitnaan kami at nakaupo sa hood ng kaniyang sasakyan at dito nagplanong mag-usap nang kahit ano. I think it was a leverage for us to know each other. And I like the idea that he was making an effort to know me too. We would both share something about ourselves.

He was playful and at times serious. Alam ko namang ugali na iyon ng mga lalaki but he was more interesting than them. Nixon was the kind of guy who never settles for something personal. Kapag nararamdaman niyang hindi ako komportable sa usapin ay iibahin niya. I think it was more wonderful to think that a guy could actually do that. He was sensitive with everything about me because he was observant. We don't really have the most things in common. Pero kahit ganoon ay nagkakasundo kami. He would tell me things that I could relate.

" It's getting late, I think we should go home." He suddenly blurted. Inilipat ko ang tingin sa kaniya at ngumisi. " You think?"

He smirked. Pushed himself off the hood and stood before me. He leaned himself towards me caging his muscular arms on both sides of my body. It was the same feeling again now that he was staring at me fondly. Nawala ang ngising aking suot kanina at napalitan ako ng kaba. Sa tuwing malapit siya ay kinokontrol ang aking paghinga. It was like we're sharing the same air but I was out of control. Everything seems to be absorbed by him. Siya ang enerhiyang inuubos ang akin upang mapalapit ako sa kaniya. He was a predator trapping his very own prey.

" I think we need to go home before I lose control, Zepporah." he whispered controlling the anger in his voice. Napalunok ako at napatitig sa kaniyang labing tikom at namumula. I absentmindedly bit my lip as I stared back in his eyes.

" Why are you losing control, then?" I whispered to him, leaning closer so that I could feel his warmth. I felt his arms moved caging me a little bit in this small distance. Lihim akong napangiti habang nakatitig sa kaniyang mga mata. It was turning darker than the usual lightish blue.

He groaned almost like a wounded animal. " Baby, please…" in his controlled voice. Sumusukong lumayo ako at napahalakhak. He watched me languidly, his eyes almost drooping. Hindi ko alam kung nagmamakaawa ba talaga o pagod.

" What the hell! Baby mo mukha mo!" I told him. Hinampas ang kaniyang dibdib at pabirong itinulak siya. He languidly obliged letting me out of his sturdy cage. Hindi siya lumayo at nag-aabang sa aking pagbaba. Iniwad ko ang tingin sa kaniya at buong pwersang ibinaba ang sarili mula sa hood ng kaniyang sasakyan. It's a good thing my legs are long enough to reach the ground but Nixon held me on my waist to steady me.

Kumapit ako sa kaniyang leeg at natatawang ibinaon ang mukha sa kaniyang dibdib. I felt drunk even without drinking alcoholic drinks! Ito ba ang epekto nang nababaliw sa titig lamang at mainit na presensya? Is it even a valid reason?

" Bakit? Ayaw mo?" I heard him muttered. Umiling-iling ako. Ayaw kong tawagin niya akong ganoon! Ayaw kong kapag tinatawag niya akong ganoon ay namumula ako at hindi na maintindihan ang iniisip. Nanghihina ako kapag ganoon ang tawag niya sa akin dahil ibig sabihin lang nun ay hinahayaan ko ang sarili kong mahulog pa sa kaniya.