Forbidden Pleasure

Chapter 14

"There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable."
─ Mark Twain

∞

Chapter 14

Tahimik lamang ako habang nakatitig sa lalaking nakaupo sa pang-isahang couch at umiinom ng kanyang champange. Mahigpit ang kapit ko sa strap ng aking bag habang nakatitig sa kanya.

"A-anong pag-uusapan natin?" I asked in a low voice.

Binalingan niya ako gamit ang walang buhay niyang mga mata at muling binalik ang titig sa baso. "Let's talk about what happened between us."

Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at mariing pinikit ang aking mga mata. I tightened the grip of my bag's strap as I opened my eyes and answered, "What happened between us was a sin, Mr. Imperial. That shouldn't happen."

He chuckled as if I said something amusing. "A sin..." Uminom ito sa hawak niyang champange at tinignan ako. "Was it?"

"It was," mariing tugon ko. "Baka nakakalimutan mong kasal ka sa ate ko, Mr. Imperial."

Muli itong ngumisi na para bang sobrang tanga ko para maniwala sa bagay na 'yon. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa 'kin. "Am I the only one who forgets?"

Napalunok ako. Brain cells! Where the fuck are you?! "I-I was drunk, Mr. Imperial."

""I said call me Kaius!" He roared and pulled me up by my arms. His firm arms immediately captured my waist to keep my balance. "It's not just me who liked what happened that night."

I took a step back but his arms are holding me still. Napalunok ako. I think I'll lose my breath. "A-ano bang pinupunto mo?" nauutal kong tanong.

Mas hinapit niya pa ako palapit. "You moaned as I ate you. You screamed my name. Tell me, Alexis. Am I the only one who's still into what happened that night?"

Napalunok muli ako. No, I'm not just still into what happened that night, but I'm also into you. "I told you I'm in the influence of alcohol! Please, Kaius. Stop pursuing this. Mali ang ginawa natin. Maling-mali. I was drunk. Let's just forget what happened."

I saw how his jaw clenched. "Forget?" he asked, chuckling nonchalantly. Who am I to fool, Alexis? When all I can do is reminisce about that moment we shared and I'm fucking confused why."

Napahawak ako sa dibdib niya nang mas idiin niya ako sa kanya. "Kaius..."

Pinagdikit nito ang mga noo naming dalawa. "I don't want to commit a sin to your sister. But I hate the thought of you with someone. I hate the thought of you acting like we never shared each other's skin. I hate you," he whispered, and I almost forgot how to breathe. "But you know what's worse"

"What?" kapos hininga kong tugon.

His head moved lower and his lips touched the sensitive part of my neck. "I want that to happen, again."

--

"Hoy, tulala ka?"

Napakurap-kurap ako nang pumitik ng daliri si Claire sa harap ko. We're inside a coffee shop together with Hiro, Claire, Ren and another male friend, Dave.

Agad akong umiling. "Nothing."

Biglang nanliit ang mga mata ni Ren habang nakatitig sa leeg ko. "Ano 'yan? Bakit pula?"

I immediately covered that certain part using my hair. Damn you, Kaius. "This is just nothing."

Tumango si Ren at hindi na nagsalita pa. I forced myself to smile and just took a sip of my coffee to ease the tension I'm feeling at the moment. Si Hiro at Dave ay nag-uusap, may sariling mundo. Ren is busy reading another book, and Claire is just staring at the horizon. Habang ako ay nakatutok sa aking cellphone. I'm scrolling through my feed when a post comes into view.