Never Descending

Kabanata 15

Glorious

"I'll drive you there,"

Napahinto ako sa pag-aayos ng buhok nang marinig kong magsalita si Ace. Bumaling ako sa kanya at naabutan siyang binubutones ang cuffs ng polo niya.

"Won't you be late for your morning schedule?" tanong ko bago kalaunan ay binalik ang tingin sa salamin.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang suot ko. Pina-dry clean ni Ace ang damit ko kagabi kaya't nagdesisyon akong ito na lang ulit ang suotin. Nagising na lang ako kanina na malinis na ito at nakahanda na. I seriously wonder how early he woke up considering the fact that we were both so spent up last night. He's unbelievable.

"Greenbelt is not far away, Iris. I'd still arrive on time for sure," I heard him say.

Napag-usapan namin kanina ang tungkol sa firm na tinutukoy ko kaya't alam niya na rin ang lokasyon noon.

Nang makuntento na ko sa itsura ko ay dinampot ko na ang clutch at tinanggal ang tingin sa salamin.

I shrugged at what he said as I turn to him. "Well.. if you say so. Pero kung out of the way, ayos lang naman na mag-book na lang ako ng cab. I can take care of myself, don't worry."

Mukhang tapos na rin naman siya nang damputin niya na ang nakahandang itim na suit. He them turned to me and gazed straight to my face.

Umangat ang kilay ko nang medyo tumagal ang tingin niya.

He sighed.

"I don't think I can let you commute at your state,"

Unti-unting kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya bago ako napahalakhak.

"What?" I chuckled. "Why? What's my state?" I mockingly countered.

He doesn't seem to find the humor from it as he remained serious while looking at me.

"You're.." his eyes subtly scanned downwards. "..sore."

Dahan-dahang nabura ang kurba sa labi ko kasabay ng munting pag-init ng pakiramdam ko. I rarely blush and I'm not even sure about the reason behind it right now.

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa mata ko. He stared directly into my eyes.

"I feel liable for making you feel that way, Iris." he said. "Let me take responsibility,"

His formality over something so steamy provided distance between my lips. I want to think that it's absurd. That he's just overreacting. But that's not what's on my mind right now. That's not what I am feeling.

Because deep down inside, there's this ticklish sensation inside my stomach that seems to relish the situation.

His words were enough to pipe me down. I fell a little silent while we were on our way down the building to go to his car.

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa kotse ay agad na tumunog ang telepono ko para sa isang tawag. Binagsak ko muna pasara ang pinto bago iyon kinuha sa loob ng clutch ko.

Sage Alonzo calling...

My questioning eyes stared at it before I decided to swipe the screen and answered it. Nilapit ko sa tainga ang phone at hinintay na magsalita ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Iris?" he greeted.

"Yes?" I asked.

My eyes unconsciously flew to the rearview mirror and I saw Ace habitually taking a glimpse of me. Sinimulan niya na rin ang makina ng sasakyan at pinaandar ito.