Ilang beses akong napapikit-pikit bago nakuha ang lakas upang tagpuin ang naghihintay niyang titig. Ang makapal niyang kilay, na kung saan may hiwa ay agad umangat, naghihintay ng sagot sa kaniyang katanungan.
I cleared my throat with sudden uneasiness. "Why are you here?" I managed to utter. My throat felt dry so I sipped again.
He shook his head as he heaved a sigh. He placed his arms on the sand behind him as he let his bottle stand between us. "I should be asking you that. Why did you go here? Alone? Only with your sundress and a bottle of vodka?" Mula sa kaniya ay nalipat ang mata ko sa hawak at inangat iyon. Hindi ko alam na vodka 'to. "And that's Devil's Springs for goodness' sake. That should be mixed with other drinks for a better taste and not drunk up straight."
"Masarap naman siya kahit hindi naihalo..."
He let out a hoarse chuckle it gave me tingles. "Are you trying to get wasted tonight? In this open area where people can easily spot and attack you? You're being careless, little fire."
"Plano kong mapag-isa ngayong gabi... and I am not being careless!" Halos isigaw ko iyon dahil sa biglaang pagkairita.
"Oh c'mon, you don't know when danger knocks on your door."
Napairap na lang ako at bumalik sa pagtanaw sa dagat. "I guess, he just knocked right now."
I heard him laugh a bit. "You and your little mouth of fire." Ramdam ko ang kaniyang pag-iling.
Hindi na lang ako muling nagsalita. Dito pa lang, sira na ang plano kong katahimikan at pag-iisa. Malay ko bang nakatambay pala siya rito? Eh nasa loob siya ng cottage kanina kaya't 'di ko nakita!
Bahagyang umalon ang paningin ko kaya't agad akong napaikot ng ulo, hinihila ang natitirang katinuan. Hindi pa man ako nakapagsisimulang mag-emote, nauuna na akong nilalason ng alak. I placed my bottle beside his and folded my knees, caging them inside my crossed arms as I put my chin on top of it.
My eyes fell down to the little waves that were trying to reach my feet. I silently giggled when they finally reached my toes.
"It is my first time to see you dress that short," Conrad blurted out after a few minutes of silence.
Nagnakaw ako ng sulyap at kita siyang nakatanaw na rin sa kalawakan ng kadiliman. "Mahaba pa rin naman," mahina kong sambit.
"Uh-huh."
May agad pumasok sa aking isip at bago ka pa mapigilan ay naisatinig ko na. "So, did you already confirm it?"
"Confirm what?" Sumulyap siya sa akin.
Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil sa pag-iinit ng pisngi. Bakit ko pa ba natanong 'yon?! Gaga, Winona!
"Wala," agad kong pagbawi.
"Ah," he laughed out loud when realization hit him like I just asked him something funny. "Why are you always making me laugh?" natatawa niyang patuloy.
Napalabi ako at kinurot ang sariling balat dahil sa kahihiyan. "I am not. You're just good at making fun of me!" Inis kong turan at ramdam ko ang pagsalubong ng mga kilay.
Really, was I a clown to him?!
"Okay, okay!" May pahabol pa siyang tawa bago itinaas ang mga kamay, kunwari'y sumusuko. "Kidding aside, you look great tonight... and fine, kinda... sexy," he said almost in a whisper but my ears were attentive enough to catch them.
Saglit akong natigilan bago siya marahang nilingon. He was already pinning me using his eyes so intense it wobbled my folded knees.
I could feel my chest, thumping real hard it hurt to stop. "A-am I?" parang bata kong tanong, naniniguro.
