OBSIDIAN ISSUE #2 : WOUNDED

SIXTEEN

Inulan ng masigasig na hiyawan ang buong bar. Buong akala ko ay susunod na si Angelov sa stage pero nanatili ang madilim na paninitig niya sa akin, nakapako sa aking harapan.

I glanced for a good three seconds in front and found the other members were already settled. To ease the crowd's impatience, one of them kicked off an ice breaker. Tawanan at iba pang mga reaksyon ang sunod na bumaha sa lumipas na mga segundo.

Naigtad ako sa isang mabilisang galaw. Without warning, in his usually dark, patronizing and smoldering gaze at me, Angelov stole half a step until distance lost its heartbeat.

Hindi ako umatras. I merely blinked while in my head is a replay of what I have just done. Hinihile man ako ng hiya, pero wala nang bawian kaya ano pa ang silbi ng pagsisisi? Nga lng, sa tingin ko ay mas nakakapanatag ng loob kung umakyat siya sa stage at nang sa ganoon, maari niyang kalimutan ang sinabi ko. With the presence of the hotter girls around in here, for sure he would forget about it. And once he does, then we can both move on! Especially on his part, it would be so much easier.

So what was the purpose of braving it out on him, Samara, if you will just wish for him to forget about your straight out admission? Stupid.

"Punta ka na. Ikaw na lang hinihintay--"

Angelov tilted his head until his summer breath melted the sound of the youth's rapture in my ear.

"Mag-usap tayo mamaya," he whispered with a bold promise that is giving me obscene glimpses of a punishment.

Sinubukan kong itakwil ang kumakalabit na reaksyon sa aking mukha ngunit bigo pa rin sa nanunulak na kalabog ng puso ko.

He was starting to slowly pull his face away from mine, ngunit mabilis ding ibinalik ang kani-kaninang lapit para ihabol ang sasabihin. "At hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang kasunduan natin. You lose, I'd mark you."

To put the finishing touches on his words, he brushed his lips on one part of my cheek where his breath had reached it. Napapikit ako nang marahan habang dinadama ang paninindig ng aking balahibo. I could feel my gut turned into the most shallow ocean with the biggest wave that my intestines could surf in.

My lashes fluttered as I followed Angelov's shadowed face pulling away until I found the darkest sunrises in his eyes again.

I wonder how I was able to look at him straight in the eye with my effortless blank front. Boys and their false promises. What makes him any different from all of the other? But still, here I am, becoming more and more attached to him.

Bumalik ako sa grupo nina Charlie. Agad kong napansin ang mga nadagdag na inumin sa mesa at dinig ko rin ang pago-order nila ng pulutan. I could easily tell how Lemuel is the bigger man here, but once Angelov hops in into the circle, his kingpin energy just shakes better than a woman's hips dancing!

Umuugong pa rin ang lamay ng kaba na pinaramdam sa akin ni Angelov kanina. I tried, so hard I tried not to lift my hand and wipe the trace of his lips on my cheek. To hide my ever living emotions, I attempted to strike a conversation which I don't normally do. I could see my past self congratulating me for this achievement.

"Galing ka pang school?" tanong ko kay Charlie matapos sulyapan ang itim na bag na kinakandong pa rin niya.

"Oo, e. Seven na kami natapos. Kapagod ang business class! Pero okay lang, yayaman naman ako sa future." He smiled cheekily. Medyo nawala ang mga mata pero mas kumapal din naman dahil sa mabibigat niyang pilikmata.

"You know what? You can apply in our company after you graduate," I offered like I basically tried to manage it, kahit hindi kailanman ako inalok nina Mom at Dad tungkol sa pamamahala niyon.