This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Masakit?"

Marahang iling ang naging sagot ko. Whilst I felt very beautiful earlier, wearing the heels for the prom, I am now paying for its consequences. Parang tinutusok ng isang malalim ng kutsilyo ang mga paa ko sa bawat tapak. At palalim nang palalim ang tusok na ito habang tumatagal.

"Are you sure?"

Binalingan ko si Zeus. Seryoso ang tingin niya sa akin. I nodded slowly. I could never tell him that it hurts because in the first place, it was my choice and I wanted to look good for him that night.

"Ayos lang..." panggatong ko pa upang tantanan na niya ako.

Imbes na kumalma at hayaan nalang ako ay mas lalo pang lumalim ang kunot ng kaniyang noo. I almost yelped when in one swift move, he made me sit on the red-cushioned seat and was crouching in front of me.

"Zeus anong..."

"Stay still, Naia." He said in a firm voice. My eyes widened. Hindi na ako tinantanan ng malakas na pagtambol ng puso sa seryoso niyang mukha na ngayo'y ini-inspeksyon ang namumula kong mga paa.

"Do you mind?" he asked quietly, lifting my dress a bit to see more of the swelling skin.

Nahihiya akong umiling. Gusto kong bawiin ang paa ko mula sa kaniya, kasi nakakahiya. But I also liked the way he's holding my left foot right now. Ramdam ko ang gaan ng kaniyang haplos, even though he has big and calloused hands. He's holding my left foot as if he's holding the most fragile vase in the world. Parang nanglalambing ang bawat hagod ng mga daliri niya sa pagod na pagod kong mga paa.

"I think we danced too much..." he chuckled under his breath.

Namumula akong tumango. We did. We danced as if nobody's watching us, when in fact, most of the girls are now gossiping about us seeing that Zeus had spent most of his night with me. And the fact that he didn't ask any girl for a date. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang kanta ang sinayaw naming dalawa, pero alam kong kahit na sumasakit na ang mga paa ko'y patuloy pa rin ako sa pakikipagsayaw kay Zeus. I was just really happy earlier.

Kahit ngayon.

"Marunong ka pala..." I bit my lower lip and complimented him as he expertly massaged my feet. My sore muscles that tightened because of the dance are now starting to relax. Kanina ay halos naninigas pa ako sa simpleng paghawak niya sa akin pero ngayon ay nagiging komportable na ako. Nariyan pa rin ang dagundong ng dibdib ko pero ayos lang naman. Hindi ko maalis ang paningin sa kaniya.

"I should take you home after this... I promised your Baba to bring you back safe and sound before 11 pm."

Tumango ako. I gently pulled my foot away but instead of letting it go, mas lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa aking paa. I stared at him. He finally lifted his gaze at me to meet my frosty eyes.

Without breaking his gaze, Zeus lifted my foot and brushed his lips with my cold skin. My pulse leapt to my throat. The way he kissed my feet was so humbling, so pure, and so... unexpected. It was his submission. And in that fleeting moment, I thought my soul would leave my body due to extreme shock.

"Zeus..."

He smiled a little and tapped my foot, before he gently put on my heels again. Hindi pa rin ako makagalaw sa kinauupuan ko. Tulala lang akong nakatingin sa kaniya, pero ang puso ko... parang sasabog na.

Like a 90's film in black and white, my life played in front of my eyes. I could see my younger self when she first fell in love with Zeus. That prom night. That very moment of our prom night. I know I couldn't forget about it.