Forever Trapped

Chapter 8

"Are you planning to drown yourself?!" Napakunot ang noo niya while asking me a question.

I am still surprised and still unsure if this is the fruit of alcohol, my imagination, or if this is really Phoenix in front of me. Hindi pa nga nawawala iyong gulat ko and my heart is still trying to recover from the shock.

"No!" I said as soon as I realized he was real because after blinking a few times, he was still here, standing in the pool with me. "But at this rate, I'm going to die of a heart attack!" I screamed back at him.

I stood there frozen, figuratively and literally. Parang isa-isang pumasok sa isip ko ang mga tanong like 'Why the fuck is he here?'  and most of all, how did he get inside the house? I was swimming naked, for crying out loud!

"Fucking hell," I told myself as I realized that.

I knew sending him a message would be Pandora's box, but I didn't realize that the evil that box stores are at this level. I'm standing in the water, near the poolside, with a man. Most of all, my breasts, my nipples, in particular, are freely pointing in his direction! Damn my luck.

I closed my eyes, wishing this was not happening because I had no idea what to do now. I don't even know what to feel. Should I be embarrassed and angry, or should I just be careless and be horny instead?

I saw his eyes scan me for a second. He literally just took a glimpse of me, and his eyes blinked faster than usual.

"For the love of God," he silently said. He was tightly closing his eyes before he looked at me again. This time, he just stared at my face.

I doubt if we can keep a serious conversation in this situation. I'm not sure about him, but I'm not in the right state of mind, and the longer we stay here in the water, the more I want to make it fair and remove every piece of clothing in his body too. Obviously, that is not the right call.

Without saying anything, umahon na ako sa pool. I let myself walk around almost naked. Wala naman na akong magagawa. I don't even have a robe or a towel with me. What's left of the alcohol in my system also tells me it's okay... whatever this is, I'm doing.

Umahon na din si Phoenix, also not saying anything.

We need to be fully covered before we start any conversation. I need that to happen.

Sinuot ko ang shirt na suot ko kanina. I'll just quickly grab the robe inside so I can finally ask him why he is here, inside our house like a creep.

"Zahara-"

"I'll quickly get some robes." Putol ko agad sa sasabihin niya.

Christmas suddenly felt like a holiday with these surprises all of a sudden.

I turned around to let him remove the clothes he had and wear the robe. Alam kong kanina pa ako mukhang baliw, but I'm really trying my best to make the decision that makes the most sense after my self-prep talk while getting the robes.

I'm still in my robe right now, not even thinking of showering or changing. He is crazy for jumping into the water, but I can't leave the poor man freezing outside. I did tell him to come over, but I still have to ask how he came over.

"Done?"

"Yeah," he answered, so I turned around.

My head was full, but I still reserved a few seconds to admire his chest exposed by his loosely tight robe.

"Can you please explain to me why you are here?" His lips parted in amusement na para bang pinagbibintangan ko siya ng ano, "Okay, fine. I told you to come over, which, based on my very clear memory too, I told you just to ignore, so why are you here?"

I want to be calm. Ayaw kong sumobra sa emosyon ngayon. I just want to ask him why he's here. Apologize if needed and ask him to go home and end this conversation as fast as I can. After this, maybe I can finally stop whining about the holiday being so dull and get that sleep.

"I was worried. I asked Thea how you are, and she told me you are alone. Sending me a message... I just didn't see that coming, and I was really just worried. I wasn't expecting I'd come here and see you swimming- if you fucking call staying underwater for more than a minute swimming, barely wearing anything."

He also wasn't raising his voice, but his gaze was so intense I could almost feel his anger or whatever that intense emotion was. Naguluhan tuloy ako. He's the one trespassing here, bakit parang kasalanan ko pang nang-iistalk siya? I can't believe this guy.

"This is my house, Phoenix. I can wear anything; if I want to, I can also wear nothing. I should be the one getting pissed that you just suddenly barged into our property like a creep."

I wanted to scream, but I wanted to control my breathing at that time.

Finish this conversation and make him go away. I need to stick to the plan.

"I understand, but if only you could've replied to the multiple messages I sent or answered my calls, then I won't get worried. But I'm not blaming you for any of that. That's on me. You are not required to answer any of my messages or calls." 

I was swimming, you asshole! I wanted to interrupt him, but he seemed keen on explaining why he was there, so I just let him talk. When he's done, I'll make sure to curse at his face.

"I asked Thea to contact you, but she can't, and she said you just ended the call earlier. You did ask me to come over, and even if you retracted that invitation, I thought I could just quickly check if you're okay. I'm good with just that, so I went here and rang the doorbell, for I've lost count already but enough to make me get worried sick. I was supposed to wait outside and ask Thea to come here and check on you. I tried one last time, rang the doorbell, and knocked on the door only to notice that it was open. Zahara, it's not even closed properly. I just literally pushed the door."

"What?"

"You can surely do whatever you want, but for the love of God, just one piece of advice, please lock the door, especially if you are alone and-"

I didn't let him say more. I get what he wants to say, and all I can see right now is his lips moving.

I want those lips to touch mine. I just... I want him so badly right now.