H, The Abductor [Zendguge Series 2]

H E I G H T S

CHAPTER 36

“It’s okay. Now, open your eyes” mahinahong utos ni Lavion kay Yosh pagkatapos alisin ang kamay nito na nakatakip sa mga mata nito.

Yosh who’s all nervous and was like about to burst in fear, opened his eyes after capturing Lavion’s hand for support.

He directly felt nauseous as soon as he opened his eyes and his vision is spinning. He bit his lips to stop feeling dizzy.

Lavion watched him sweat in fear while looking down to the city underneath them. They are in the rooftop of Zednguge mansion that only consists of three stories and he already is feeling unwell.

Since they are living in the top of a hill, even if it isn’t that high, it might look higher because the mansion is above the whole subdivision.

“Do not look down.” Hinawakan niya ang baba nito at pinaangat ang ulo nitong nakatingin sa baba.

“Look straight and see how good it looks.”

Nakita ni Lavion ang pagliwanag ng mga mata nito na napagpangiti sakaniya. Napabuntong hininga siya. She had never been serious in treating someone like this. This isn’t even her real job but she is trying her best to make everything possible by reading non-fiction and scholar books.

Kiniliti niya ito kaya agad naman itong natawa at napalayo sa kaniya. She wanted to make fun of him. It’s been a week since he didn’t become cooperative of her because of their first kiss. Dahil sa paghalik niya rito ay palagi nalang itong nadidistract at nahihiya kaya walang nangyareng session sa loob ng isang linggo.

“You keep playing with me” Yosh backed down.

She chuckled, “Why not? You’re cute.” Nilapitan niya ito para kilitiin muli pero tumakbo na ito palayo sakaniya.

“Stop it, Ms. Gauge.”

Tumatawa siyang hinabol ito hanggang sa naghabulan na sila sa rooftop ng mansion. Lavion really likes playing with Yosh. She likes watching every expression he makes. Every fear, every weakness, every disappointment, every sadness… and every joy his face makes… as if she could see Tashiel laughing like that.

Tumigil sa paghabol si Lavion sakaniya at tumatawang tiningnan ito. Habol habol nito ang hininga niya dahil sa pagod.

“Alright. I’ll stop,” she chuckled as she walked to their picnic blanket and sat there.

“Come here” utos niya rito at tinapik ang katabi niya.

Lumapit naman ito sakaniya at umupo sa tabi niya na may limampung metrong layo sakaniya na nagpatawa na naman sakaniya. Naiiling niyang kinuha ang picnic basket nila at kinuha ang cupcakes na dala nila. Binigyan niya ito ng isa at kumain na din siya.

Habang kinakain niya ang cupcake ay napatingala siya sa langit habang dinadama ang hangin sa paligid. Her eyes were sharp but… it’s sad like she is about to tear up.

“Mom doesn’t like to have picnic in public," she started talking.
"She rather stay at home and have picnic here in the rooftop and she would force Dad to have picnic with her,” she laughed in the last sentence, remembering how her father looks distressed when her mother demanded to have picnic in the rooftop.

“Dad is opposite with mom. Mom likes private while Dad likes to show off in public. He likes showing how he loves mom and how he loves us, his children. Dad spoiled us so much but he didn’t forget to remind us every time that life would not be forever at ease” her voice lowered down every sentence as her head looked down.

So then, she blinked her eyes to stop her tears after reminiscing how their life f*cked up and everything faded in a snap.

“Loyalty…” she uttered and looked over Yosh who was shocked to see her being weak for the first time.

“Our parents taught us to be loyal to our partners. And it is not only about loyalty. They mean sacrificing- to the extent that your life is on the line. They mean being selfless – with no trace of pride” her tears fell.
“I didn’t take that seriously not until now, Shua.”

“I’ve been disregarding that since they passed away because I was thinking that being selfless is just like you are killing yourself. They died because of becoming selfless. They died because of being too emotional and decisive. And now,” she paused, her tears were falling non-stop.

“Do you know why did I abduct you?”

Umiling ito.

“It is because I want you to be selfish with me. I want you to know me better. I want you to see how I really live, Shua. And I want to… I want to fulfil your dreams.”

Nilapag ni Lavion ang cupcake na hindi pa niya nauubos at kumuha ng tissue para punasan ang kaniyang luha.

“O-Okay lang po ba kayo?” hahawakan na sana nito ang kaniyang likod ngunit tumigil ang kaniyang kamay ilang sentimetro lang ang layo at binawi niya ito.

“I’m fine” ngumiti ito sakaniya at nagsimula na namang kumain na parang walang nangyare.

Tiningnan lang siya ni Yosh at pinagmasdan kung paano ito nagpinta ng pekeng ngiti sakaniyang mukha. Napayuko siya. He is feeling like a coward again. Bakit ba sa tuwing may gusto siyang gawin ay hindi niya ito magawa?

“I… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?” Napalingon sakaniya si Lavion.
“It’s fine. I’m fine” pagpapatuloy niya dahil nakikita niyang nag-aalala ito.

“I…” kinagat nito ang kaniyang labi at ang kaniyang mga mata ay tumitingin kung saan saan.

“I really wanted to comfort you… pero…” tumigil itong magsalita at tumingin sa ibang direksyon.

“n-natatakot po ako na baka masaktan kita.”

Nakunot ang kaniyang noo sa sinabi nito.
Maya maya ay pinaglalaro nito ang kaniyang mga daliri habang nakatingin ron.

“Sinabi sa’kin ni mama na… h-huwag daw akong humawak ng babae… dahil…” tumingin ito sakaniya, “Totoo po bang nasasaktan kayo kapag nahahawakan kayo ng mga lalaki? Sinabi po niya sa’kin na mahina ang mga babae at hindi sila pwedeng hawakan—

Hindi natuloy ang kaniyang sinabi dahil sinunggaban siya ni Lavion nang halik kaya napahiga ito sa sahig habang nakapibabaw sakaniya si Lavion. He was  frozen to that moment … he couldn’t move his body, feeling how their body clasped… and how her lips moved into his mouth. His heart is beating fast that he could barely breathe.

Tumigil si Lavion sa paghalik sakaniya at tiningnan siya sakaniyang mga mata habang nakapibabaw parin sakaniya.

“Can you see that I’m hurt?”

Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata sa tanong nito.

“Can you see that I feel disgusted? I got no scratch and you can feel that I’m enjoying it. So remember Shua, women aren’t weak. They can be vulnerable as glass but it is not men who hurt us. It’s our expectations and standards," she paused. "Tell me what you feel when I kiss you. Tell me.”

Napalunok siya at nagsisimula nang pawisan. Hindi siya makapagsalita. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin-

“G-Gusto ko po kitang h-halikan p-pero… h-hindi ko kayang g-gumalaw- hindi ko po maintindihan. Malakas po ang tibok nang puso ko. Hindi ko po maigalaw ang mga binti ko – pero g-gusto ko  po-

Hindi natuloy ang kaniyang sinabi nang muling nilapit ni Lavion ang kaniyang mukha sakaniya at ang kanilang mga labi ay malapit nang magtagpo.

“Pull me” utos ni Lavion na ikinagulat ni Yosh.
“Pull my head close until our lips met again. You like us to kiss right? Then do it.”

Napalunok si Yosh dahil nakaramdam siya nang matinding kaba sa mga mata  nito. May ngisi ito sakaniyang mga labi na para bang intesyon niyang bigyan siya ng iisang pagpipilian kundi ang gawin ang gusto nito. Napakagat siya sa kaniyang ibabang labi at dahan dahang nilagay ang kaniyang kamay sa likod ng ulo ni Lavion.

Tiningnan niya ang mga mata nito bago dahan dahang itinulak ang ulo nito palapit sakaniya. Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata bago magkapalapat ang kanilang mga labi.

***
ZS2 Ch. 36
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