The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 10

Kabanata 10

Taste

My heart went to my throat as I stared at Atlas' grey eyes. Seryosong-seryoso ang mukha niya kaya bahagya akong natakot na magsalita. But when I realized what he said, I immediately took a step back and pushed his chest with my palms.

Napabitaw siya sa bewang ko ngunit wala pang isang segundo'y nilapat niyang muli ang mga palad niya sa tagiliran ko. I braved his hypnotic gaze. Ang kamay ko'y nasa dibdib niya pa rin.

"Stop flirting with me," I said with gritted teeth.

He wetted his lower lip with his tongue. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya niya 'yon upang madarang ang sistema ko pero hindi ko 'yon nagustuhan.

Dahil oo, nadadarang na naman ata ako.

"Why not? May magagalit ba?" Umismid siya bago tumingin ulit sa 'kin, malalim na ngayon ang mga mata. "Perhaps, your boyfriend?"

I scoffed. "Boyfriend!"

"Then why... can't I flirt with you?" I might be wrong but he sounded sulking.

"Are you an asshole? You have a girlfriend! Don't tell me, you're going to make me your side-chick?"

Umigting ang panga niya. "Do you really think I could do that to you? Huh, princess?"

"E a-ano 'tong ginagawa mo?"

"I'm flirting with you!"

"Yeah, but I said you can't kasi may girlfriend ka nga!"

"Bakit, sinasagot mo na ba ako?"

Nangapa ako ng ibabato sa kaniya. Sinuri ko ang nakakunot-noo niyang mukha at napagtantong kahit siya'y gulong-gulo rin sa inabot ng diskurso namin! So what's this? Ba't parang 'di kami nagkakaintindihan?

"Maeve Sandoval," mahinang sambit ko at saka umiwas ng tingin. "Isn't she your girlfriend?"

Ilang sandali kaming binalot ng katahimikan kaya mas lalong naghuramentado ang puso ko. Akmang kakalasin ko ang nakagapos niyang kamay sa bewang ko nang bigla niya akong pihitin palapit sa kaniya. Mahigpit niya akong niyakap. He chuckled softly against my ears.

"Damn. So this is why you're throwing a fit? Akala mo may girlfriend ako?"

Uminit ang pisngi ko. Gusto ko siyang itulak ngunit sa higpit ng yakap niya'y imposible atang magawa ko 'yon.

Tumango ako. "Well, isn't she?"

He unclasped from the hug and stared at me indulgently. He feathered the back of his palm against my cheek before cupping it. Isang sinsero ngunit mapang-asar na ngiti ang kumurba sa labi niya.

"She's not. In fact, I've never had any ex nor girlfriend," he lagged to tuck some strands of my hair behind my ear. Tinitigan niya ulit ako sa malalambing niyang mga mata. "But you're here now. And I want you to be my first and last, your highness."

"I don't believe you..."

"Ano na namang ginawa ko?" tunog nang-iinis 'yon.

"You gave Maeve a bouquet of flowers! Tapos may damit ka pa niya sa Cadet Barracks niyo at binibisita mo pa siya sa LFU!"

Napakurap-kurap siya. It was too late before I realized that I sounded like a jealous girlfriend! Paano ba nama'y hindi kapani-paniwala ang mga sinasabi niya? Atlas Ysaguirre, no girlfriend since birth? What kind of a scam is that?

He sighed. "Look, the bouquet was from Douglas. Hindi siya pwedeng bumisita sa LFU noong kaarawan ni Maeve dahil may inutos sa kaniya ang isa sa mga Major namin. So being a good friend of him and Maeve, I did it instead."