Kiss or Slap

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__________________Chapter Ñ

Parang nahulog ang puso ko nang humakbang siya palapit sa akin. His thumb caressed my left cheek. Kumalat ang init sa buong katawan ko mula sa kanyang marahang paghaplos doon.

"Mecho...seryoso ka ba? Kanina...kanina lang..'di ba—"

"I know, I was wrong.." parang inaantok na ewan ang kanyang boses. "My actions were filtered by my grudge. I am so sorry if I offended you."

"Pero hinalikan mo siya."

I knew I was already speaking of what is inside my heart. Kanina ko pa ito dinadala, at ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako nakatulog. I almoat thought that maybe, all these times, pinaglalaruan niya lang ako, trip niya ako ganoon kaya habol siya nang habol sa akin noon. Tapos nagsawa na siguro siya, kaya naman napagpasyahan niyang liwanagin sa akin noong humingi ako ng tawad sa kanya.

"I'm sorry. Dapat ay hindi ako nagpadalus-dalos. Sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko noon dahil sa sama ng loob. I didn't like kissing her...I was...a little...lonely and angry at the same time."

Umihip ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Sumabog ang aking buhok at natabunan ang mukha ko. He immediately fixed it, tucking the strands at the back of my ear. His skin on mine almost felt like the most comfortable thing ever. Parang hinahaplos ng isang mainit na kamay ang puso ko.

"I'm sorry if that offended you...I didn't mean to...I know, I was wrong and I am still hoping that you can give me a chance. I was just trying to be even but then I realized that it wasn't working, at least for me."

Napakurap-kurap ako sa kanya. Hindi ko na rin maipinta ang aking mukha. A part of me is mad at myself. I was feeling all sulky and couldn't sleep because he kissed another woman in front of me! Tapos...kaunting suyo niya lang...ayos na ulit..ni hindi ko na maalala pang iniyakan ko iyon. Na nasaktan ako roon.

"I'm sorry if I didn't listen to you. Though, in the first place, wala kang dapat ipaliwanag dahil ginusto ko lahat ng nangyari. I initiated it all. Wala kang responsibilidad. It was my fault for anticipating that something will gonna happen."

Wala na...bati na agad kami...

I hate it. I hate the fact that he can easily sooth me like that. Napakadali. Kaunting lambing. Ayos na ulit. Curse this.

Pinulot niya ang kamay ko at sinalikop iyon sa kanyang daliri. He gulped and pulled me closer. I landed on his chest and that's when I realized I cannot resist him no more. It was like a curse...hindi kayang pigilan ng simpleng pagpipigil. It would take courage... and I don't have that.

"I really, really like you, Isha. If you like Keith, I'm gonna make sure that it is me in the end. Hindi ko hahayaang sa kanya ka mapunta. I'll prove it to you that I am the deserving one and most importantly... sa akin ka mahuhulog. Itaga mo 'yan sa bato."

I burried my face on his chest. If you can only read my mind right now, Mecho.  Umangat ang mga kamay ko at parang may sariling isip ang mga ito na pumabilog sa baywang ni Mecho. His warmth was transmitted to me. I have never felt so comfortable with a mere hug before. Napapikit ako sa dulot noong sensasyon sa akin. I almost wished that time would stop for a while.

He leaned forward. Ipinatong niya ang kanyang baba sa aking ulo at ipinulupot ang mahahabang braso sa aking baywang. This time, my heart completely sank.

Parang kinukuryente ako sa tuwa at parang lumulutang dahil sa kakaibang karisma ng yakap ni Mecho.

"My baby..." he whispered to me like I am a treasure that he is willing to keep. "I can be someone so bad to people...but I can only be bad when they hurt you. No one has the rights to hurt you...I would even punish myself if I hurt you..."