Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 35

Kabanata 35

Before Anything Else

Eion is here! Kailan siya dumating? Kanina pa ba siya diyan?

My insides were screaming while I stared at him. He looked ready to kill with his serious face. Lumayo ako kay Exodus. The other had a confused expression on his face when he tried to look at me.

"Eion?" tanong ni Exodus. Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Exodus.

"I..I'm sorry. It's just that he's here." Sinulyapan ko si Eion. Wala na siya sa kaniyang kinatatayuan ngunit ang kaniyang apartment ay may liwanag sa loob. He was inside, I guess. Nasa labas pa naman yung kotse niya.

"Well, I guess it's my cue to leave." Exodus said awkwardly. I apologized to him one more time because of it. Okay lang naman sa kaniya. Umalis naman siya agad after a few minutes.

Sumulyap ako sa apartment ni Eion. The windows and door was close pero lahat ng ilaw ay bukas. I am sure he's not going to bed. Sobrang aga pa para doon.

Huminga ako nang malalim. I stood outside my apartment for a few minutes before I found myself dragging my body towards his house. Ang iilang kapitbahay ay nasa kanya-kanya ng bahay at tanging ang mga nag-iinuman lang sa malayo ang nakikita ko. I stood in front of Eion's house.

Mula sa aking kinatatayuan ay rinig ko ang mahinang rock music na tumutunog. Itinaas ko ang aking kamay para kumatok ngunit agad ring bumukas ang pinto kaya tumama lamang sa ere ang aking kamay.

Eion stood in his glory wearing a black v-neck shirt and pants. His hair was damp and his masculine scent already enveloped my nostrils. Natulala ako at nabigla sa pagbukas ng pinto. Kumunot ang kaniyang noo nang makita ako doon. He loosely opened the door to let me in.

Pumasok ako and I had the chance to roam my eyes around. Mas malaki ang apartment niya kaysa amin. Bakante at walang masyadong laman. I reckoned Eion is not going to stay here for long thus the lack of things.

Narinig ko ang pagsara ng pinto. Kaagad ko siyang nilingon na nakatayo malapit doon at nakamasid sa akin. Lihim akong napalunok dahil sa lalim ng titig niya. I felt uncomfortable for being watched.

" You're going somewhere?" mahina kong tanong. I chose to stay rooted to where I was while I watched him move.

" I am just going to grab dinner." aniya. He eyed me again. " You're out on a date?" tila wala lang na sabi niya.

My heart squeezed tight. He was nonchalant when asking. It made me guilty. Kaya ba narito ako at nasa harap niya para magpaliwanag?

"Hindi. That was Adina's cousin. He offered me a job at the municipal hall. I just started today and well, hinatid niya ako pauwi." I was like a child explaining to her father because I was beyond my curfew. Tumango si Eion, his hawk-like eyes were trained to me. Lumapit siya sa akin at marahang hinila ang aking palapulsuhan.

My heart pounded. Nasa kaniya lang ang tingin ko habang hila niya ako paupo. He sat like a king and he pulled me to him. Napaupo ako sa kaniyang mga hita.  I gasped. The action was so intimate that I forgot why I was even here.

" It doesn't look like he was just there to drop you off." bulong niya bago naging sawang pumalibot sa akin ang kaniyang braso.

My gut twisted in a fluttering way. Hindi ko maipagkakaila na naging komportable ako sa posisyon naming dalawa. I tried shifting. I heard him groan like he was on protest. Sinubukan ko ulit and this time he warned me.

"Stop moving, Zepporah. You're just making it difficult for me." aniya. I didn't know what he was talking about until I felt something poking my jeans. Suminghap ako at aalis na sana nang mahina siyang tumawa at niyakap ako nang mahigpit.