Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Forty-three

43.

I was currently sitting on the couch and playing with Xerxes' hair while his head is rested on my thighs. He's using his phone with his earphones on, and he seemed pretty focused on whatever he is looking at his screen. What is he even doing?

"Are you watching porn?"

Nabitawan nito ang telepono niya at sumakto ang paglaglag noon sa kanyang mukha. He looked at me unbelievably. "What the hell, doll? I'm just playing!" he showed me his phone.

"Then why do you need to use your earphones? Tapos ayaw mo pa ipakita sa akin ang screen," panguwestyon ko at pinagkrus ang dalawang braso.

"Dahil noong naglalaro ako kahapon, sabi mo ay naririndi ka sa tunog at nasakit ang mata mo sa graphics," sagot niya. "Arleigne, you're acting really weird lately. Isang linggo ka nang ganiyan na laging naiirita kahit sa mga simpleng bagay."

"I'm weird?!"

"No!" bawi niya. He placed his phone down on the coffee table before embracing my tummy. "My doll's not weird," he murmured and kissed my stomach. "Love you."

He only kissed my tummy but why is the effect so grand? Parang may sumabog na fireworks sa aking kaloob-looban at parang nagtatatalon na sa tuwa ang aking puso. What's so special about that little kiss?

"More please." He took my hand and placed it back on his hair. "You know that I like it when you play with my hair," he said in a kittenish manner.

I continued playing with his soft hair. Aliw na aliw ako sa lambot ng kanyang buhok kaya hindi ko lang iyon kinapa-kapa't sinusuklay. Ginugulo ko rin iyon at nang hilahin ko naman ay bigla siyang dumaing.

"Easy, baby," asik niya. I apologized and continued stroking my fingers into his hair when his phone suddenly beeped. Umalis ito sa pagkakahiga sa akin at inabot muli ang teleponong nasa coffee table.

Binuksan niya iyon nang hindi ipinapakita sa akin kung ano ang kanyang tinitignan. Nagsalubong ang aking kilay nang mapansin pa ang pagngiti nito ng malawak habang nagtitipa roon.

"Who's that?" I asked curiously.

Mukhang nagulat pa ito sa akin at naglaho ang kanyang ngiti. "Nothing, baby. Just Rave."

"I didn't know Rave can make you smile that way?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"He just said a joke," he replied.

"What joke?" I excitingly asked. "May I hear it? Is it very witty?"

"It's a dirty joke, you don't need to know it," he said. He stood up from the couch and fixed himself. "By the way, I need to get going."

I gazed at the clock. "It's just 3 PM, you usually leave at night."

"Yeah, but… Satina… she's not feeling well, I'll look after her," patigil-tigil nitong pahayag. Nakagat nito ang sariling labi at lumapit sa akin para halikan ako sa noo. "I'm going now."

"Tell her to get well soon," I told him worriedly.

"Uh, I will," he gave me a sly smile. "I love you."

"Drive safely—" I didn't get to finish my words because he already got out and closed the door. "I love you too," I murmured and sighed heavily.

I decided to chat Aleezah in Messenger and before I could click on our conversation, my eyes flew to Arlszent's My Day. I clicked on it and saw his picture with Aleezah in Sta. Rosa. And he just posted it an hour ago.