Lost in the Maze: Elias de Marcel

Kabanata 2 (Holy Water)

KABANATA 2

Atasha's POV

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT!

"Elias, where are you?" I kept calling him repeatedly but no one answered; his phone just kept ringing. He had many missed calls from me but he didn't return any of them.

Since he left last night, he hasn't come home. He's been gone all night. I asked Alphonsus for information about Elias's whereabouts, but he didn't know either because they weren't together last night. So now, I can't calm down; I don't know where he is. Maybe something bad happened to him?

I called him again, and I heard two rings before suddenly someone open the condo door. Elias finally arrived. Dumeretso siya sa sofa at doon naupo. Tumigil ako sa pagta-type sa laptop at lumapit sa kanya.

Tumayo ako sa harap niya, kamay sa bewang at tumaas ang kilay. "Saan ka galing, Elias? Bakit hindi ka umuwi kagabi?" Tanong ko sa kanya, halata ang pag-aalala.

Dahan-dahan siyang dumilat at tumingin sa akin. "Nag-bar lang kami," sagot niya na parang hindi big deal sa akin.

"Nag-bar? Sino kasama mo?"

"Si Alph," sagot niya, na ikinatitig ko sa kanya.

Sinungaling. Gusto ko sanang sabihin, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Umiiwas ako ng tingin, kumurap ng dalawang beses, at buntong-hininga. Nagsinungaling siya sa akin. Paano siya kasama ni Alphonsus kung sabi nito kanina, hindi sila magkasama ni Elias? Gusto ko sanang itanong ang totoo, pero parang may nagsasabi sa akin na huwag na lang.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang dumating?" Tanong ko, pilit itinatago ang tunay kong damdamin.

Matagal bago siya sumagot. "Nag-stay ako sa condo ni Alph," sagot niya, na nagpatawa sa akin nang palihim. Hindi totoo.

Tumango ako. "Ah, ganoon ba? Sige," mahina kong sabi. "Dahil andito ka na, kailangan ko nang umalis papuntang restaurant," casual kong sabi bago ako tumalikod. Pero sa pagtalikod ko, mabilis na hinawakan ni Elias ang aking kamay, pinipigilan ang aking pag-alis.

Hinarap ko siya nang seryoso bago ko ibinaba ang tingin sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin. Ilang sandali pa, tumayo siya sa aking harapan at bigla akong niyakap. I didn't expect what he did because it was unlike him. I smelled a mix of alcohol and cologne on his body. Did he get drunk last night?

Although I was puzzled, I tried to act naturally in front of him. "Is there a problem?" I asked.

He let go of the hug and stared at me. "Shang..." he seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn't. "I'll take you. Just wait, I'll just take a quick shower," he said before leaving and heading straight to the stairs.

I was filled with confusion at Elias's behavior, and I couldn't understand why he needed to lie. What was his reason? I thought of a possibility but quickly dismissed it. I didn't want to think that he did something wrong last night.

I know Elias, I know he wouldn't do that to me. In the fourteen years we've been together, it's impossible. Pigs would fly before that would happen.

Elias and I finally finished and went down to the condo to go to the parking lot. While we were in the elevator, I felt Elias squeeze my buttocks, causing me to look at him. My eyebrows rose at what he did, but all I saw was a meaningful smile on his lips.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked.

"Shang, every time I see you wearing this kind of outfit, it's like my body heats up. You look so sexy in that outfit," was his flirty response, coupled with a kiss on my shoulder.