In Between Stars

Chapter Forty: Side B

It was my first kiss, so I didn't know what to do. I just stayed still and kept my lips pressed against his. Mukhang tama naman ang ginagawa ko dahil hindi ko rin naramdaman ang pagkilos ni Zeno.

My heart was pounding so loud in my chest. Sa excitement, sa kaba, sa saya. A wide range of emotion swirled inside my chest, taking over me completely. All because of a kiss.

I lost track of the time. I wasn't sure how many seconds passed before I finally moved my head back to break the kiss. Nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata ko at may parte sa akin na takot na idilat ang mga mata at makita ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

Nang magkaroon ng kaunting lakas ng loob ay bahagyang ibinukas ko ang isang mata para silipin si Zeno. His eyes were already open, and he looked stunned... or appalled?

Agad kong tinakpan ang mukha ko gamit ang dalawang kamay sa sobrang hiya. "Sorry!"

Bakit ganoon ang reaksyon niya? Hindi niya ba nagustuhan? Hindi niya ba gusto? Mali ba ako ng akala? Did I assume that he was doing all these for me because he still feels the same?

Naputol ang mga iniisip ko nang may humawi sa mga kamay ko. It was replaced with Zeno's hands, cupping either side of my jaw. I briefly saw his grave expression as he inched his face close to mine that my eyes automatically closed.

I stopped breathing when his lips firmly planted against my lips. Unlike our first kiss, his lips slowly moved, as if he was trying to get a better taste of my lip.

Akala ko ay mabilis na yung tibok ng puso ko kanina pero may ibibilis pa pala ito.

I was startled when I felt... his tongue? His tongue swiped between my lips, as if he's trying to part my mouth with it. Just like a complete slave, I willingly obliged and parted my lips. His tongue entered my mouth, and my mind instantly turned hazy.

His kisses were slow, slowly taking his time to taste every inch of my mouth. He guided me until my back hit the sofa. His languid kisses turned into impatient yet passionate kisses. He angled his head and his tongued probed in my mouth deeper. I've always been fast at learning choreographed movements that I found myself copying the movement of his tongue. Zeno grunted.

I heard a familiar beeping sound. Pamilyar dahil ganoon din ang tunog ng pinto ni Ate Kaia kapag bumubukas. Ibig sabihin ay kasalukuyang may pumapasok sa unit. Zeno must have heard it, too, because he suddenly broke the kiss and pulled himself away from me.

He looked at me with a drunken expression. He licked his lips which brought my eyes to it. Pulang-pula ang mga labi niya.

"Okay?" I watched his lips moved.

Nang hindi ulit gumalaw ang labi niya ay pinilit kong iangat ang tingin sa mga mata niya at napansin na mukhang hinihintay niya ang sagot ko.

I blinked, still in a haze from the kiss.

Ano ulit ang sabi niya? Okay? Tinatanong niya ako kung okay lang ba ako.

I absentmindedly nodded.

After getting that response from me, he stood up and turned his back on me to welcome the person who came in. Hindi ko makita kung sino 'yon dahil nakaharang sa akin si Zeno.

"Oh. Zeno," rinig kong sambit ng boses ng lalaki. "And you're with..."

I heard Zeno let out a heavy sigh. He stepped to the side, and I could finally see who he was talking to. The person who joined us was a really good-looking guy who seemed to have Japanese features. May kahabaan ang buhok niya at mukhang nakatali pa 'yon sa likod.

"Rei, this is Hadeon's friend, Kuya Takumi," pakilala ni Zeno. Nahihiyang ngumiti ako at kumaway. Siya yung may-ari ng unit na sinabi ni Zeno kanina.

"Kuya Takumi, this is Rei. My girlfriend."