Chapter 4

Traces of Pinot Noir

They dried their hands after fixing the bowls, plates, and utensils in the dish rack.

Nika leaned on the kitchen counter. "So saan ako matutulog?" tanong niya habang nagpupunas ng kamay.

"You can sleep in my room or sa guest room. Your pick."

"Guest room," Nika answered promptly.

Miko nodded. "All right. Sabihan ko na lang din si Andy para dalhan ka ng damit."

"Hala!" Nika's eyes widened. "Iistorbohin ko pa si Andy? Ako na lang kukuha ng damit do'n sa kanila."

Miko chuckled. It already occurred twice this evening. He couldn't help but notice how Nika doesn't want to bother people for her sake.

If she can do it, then she'll get it done on her own. It's always been that way.

"Don't worry. Pupunta naman talaga si Andy dito kasi hinihiram niya notes ko."

"Ah . . ." Nika nodded. "Sure 'yan, ha?"

"Yup," he said, reaching for Nika's hand just to encircle his arms around her waist again.

"Do you need anything else?" tanong ni Miko.

"Toothbrush. Wala akong baon. Saka makeup remover."

"Hmm, okay. May spare toothbrush ako sa cabinet. Hingi na lang din tayo kay Andy ng makeup remover."

"May cotton ka ba? Kailangan ko rin or kahit wet wipes pambura ko lang din ng makeup," tanong ni Nika.

But Miko leaned in first to give her a kiss on the lips. He's been wanting to kiss her ever since she made it inside his car. And that was almost four hours ago.

Nika couldn't help but give in, too. His kisses were her favorite, she won't deny that. But the thought of being caught by someone from their household was making her wary.

Nakakahiya pa rin kahit favorite kong pinapapak 'tong si Ser, she thought as she parted her lips so he could kiss her more. Better.

He doesn't know what's happening with him either. He never wanted to kiss anyone before as much as he wants to kiss her. All the time.

"Mhmm . . . " Her voice slipped out from their lips, and Miko couldn't help himself from smiling in between kisses when he heard it. It sounded so soft and so sweet. What he'd do to hear it again?

Probably everything, his mind whispered. And it was so baffling whenever those kind of thoughts crosses his mind. Because it was new and foreign and he couldn't seem to understand why. He couldn't seem to reason with it. To find some logic in it.

But maybe, it's supposed to feel and be that way. Maybe, some things are beyond reasoning and logic.

Maybe, some things are just inexplicable. Just like that.

Regardless, he wants it even though it makes no sense at all.

And what he'd do to taste traces of his favorite Pinot noir from her mouth again and again.

All the time.

In fact, her kisses were more easing and intoxicating than any liquor he ever had. Suddenly, whiskeys and red wines tastes better accompanied by her lips. Inhibiting and much refined. Far more delicate and exquisite than drinking them on their own.

He was mystified by the ironies.

Because it makes perfect sense to long and seek for her kisses at the same time.

Perplexing. Unnerving.

And yet, easing. Inhibiting.

All at once.

The heat on his cheek brushed against her skin and it made her whimper for the second time when he softly nibbled on her lower lip.

It made her smile. Natututo na talaga, isip-isip niya.

Nika's hands that were resting on his arms slowly snaked around his neck just as when his hands slipped down her buttocks just to scoop her up and settle her down on the kitchen counter.

Her left thigh glimmered against the incandescent light when the satin fabric of her dress smoothly revealed her skin.

Nika's hand traveled up to the back of his head just so she could play with the strands of his hair, and so she could pull him closer as if they weren't already close enough. She even anchored her legs around his waist to enclose all remaining gap.

"Kenny? Where you? I need your notes—oh my god, guys!" Andy shrieked, turning her back and covering her eyes when she saw her cousin and Nika making out on the kitchen counter.

Natigil naman ang dalawa dahil kay Andy.

Nika was unsure whether to detach from him or if it's all right to hold on to him and keep him close while catching her breath.

Miko looked over his shoulder. "Sorry, Andy."

"Are you guys decent? Can I turn around na?"

"Yes, we're decent," Miko answered.

"No more kissing?"

Natawa si Nika. "Sorry, Andy. Tapos na. Mamaya na ulit ako mamamapak."

Andy rolled her eyes, turning around and peeking through her fingers just to see whether they were telling the truth.

Nika tapped Miko on his arm. "Ser, usog ka na. Bababa ako," sabi niya.

But Miko shook his head. "No, please. Let's stay here."

"Pero nand'yan si Andy. Nakakahiya naman nakaupo ako dito."

"Can't."

"Ha?"

"I said I can't. Hindi p'wede. Plus mas nakakahiya kay Andy," he whispered.

Nangunot ang noo ni Nika. "Mas nakakahiya?"

"Where's your notes, Kenny? Pa-borrow," sabi ni Andy.

"Nasa bag ko sa kuwarto. Pakuha na lang."

"Okay."

"Also, can Nika borrow some clothes? Dito kasi siya matutulog and makeup remover if you have any," sabi naman ni Miko.

In the midst of it, Nika wondered why Miko couldn't face his cousin properly.

Paanong mas nakakahiya kay Andy? she thought to herself. She was sitting on the counter, while both of his hands were gripping the granite countertop.

His knuckles turned white from his grip.

"Okay, 'yon lang ba?" Andy asked.

"Yup, thanks, Andy!" sabi ni Miko.

"Saglit, samahan ko na si Andy. Alis ka na d'yan, Ser," singit ni Nika nang mapansing paalis na si Andy pabalik sa bahay nila.

"No, please. Saglit lang."

"Saglit lang? Bakit? Ano bang nangyayari—"

"Just until it settles."

"Huh?"

It settles? she repeated inside her head.

He nodded. They were already left alone in the kitchen again, but they couldn't move from their spot.

Especially Miko.

"Give me a minute," he said as he leaned towards her to burry his face in her shoulder.

Nika doesn't want to acknowledge the thought knocking on her mind but it was the only plausible reason she could think of.

"Miko, sinasabi mo bang—"

"Shh . . . be quiet," he said breathing deep to relax and compose himself. But her scent wasn't helping at all. Being close to her wasn't helping at all.

Nika grinned.

"Cute mo, Ser. Wala namang nakakarinig. Hina nga ng boses ko, e."

"Nika, please . . . " he said sounding so breathless.

Mas lalo namang lumaki ang ngisi ni Nika. "Bakit? Ano gagawin?"

"I don't know. I can't think," he answered. He buried his face in her neck even more just to fill his senses with her scent, and to probably distract his mind from thinking anything else.

P'wede naman kitang tulungan, sabihin mo lang, isip-isip ni Nika. But somehow, she couldn't voice it out either. She doesn't even know if he wants to go all the way with her. They haven't talked about that.

Nika bit her lip hard when his warm breath was grazing on her skin. And most especially when she could feel it within herself, too.