Chapter 15

Maximilian Arthur's POV

The fresh, cold wind from the green surroundings caressed my face as Zyrho drove his car at a precise speed. He doesn't usually drive at this kind of speed, especially when using his Audi, but I think right now he's taking his time driving to our destination.

Zyrho and I decided to go to Sagada instead of Palawan. I don't feel like riding a plane for now, which is why I opted for Sagada, and Zyrho favored my wish. That's why we're on our way to Sagada right now!

Nakalabas na kami ng syudad kaya naman malaya kong nabubuksan ang bintana ng kotse ni Zyrho dahil wala nang mausok at maruming hangin . 

"Arth?" si Zyrho.

"Hmm?" Higing ko habang ang aking mata ay nasa labas ng kotse.

"You suddenly mentioned Zen earlier. What about Zen, Arth?"

Mariin akong napapikit at napakagat labi sa tanong ni Zyrho. I thought he had already forgotten it since we dismissed that topic at his house. God! I know my mouth sometimes spouts things that I've never thought that much about; however, the amount of carelessness I displayed earlier was just too much! I almost spilled Zen's secret!

I know they have the right to know about Zen's current situation, but I'm not in a position to tell them. I don't like this, but what can I do? I already promised Zen.

"O-oh! It's nothing, Zyrho. Na... naisip ko lang kasi na baka gusto rin ni Zen na mag-unwind. Nasabi niya kasi sa akin na tambay lang daw siya sa bahay ninyo. Baka... baka lang naman nabuburyo na siya." I inwardly praised myself for the wonderful excuse I had made.

"Zen has businesses, Arth. Don't believe him when he says he's a tambay. He isn't and will not be. It's just that he handles his time well."

Maingat akong lumingon sa gawi ni Zyrho at sinulyapan ito. His well-formed eyebrows creased and almost met at the center. He was driving with one hand while the other rested on the car's window, carefully massaging his chin.

Zyrho's side profile is absolutely striking! He looks sinfully handsome with his neatly combed hair, mesmerizing amethyst-to-almost-light-purple eyes, sharply defined nose, chiseled jawline, and sealed lips. It feels like he was sculpted perfectly.

Kaya ba napapatanong si Archi kung bakit ako nagustuhan ni Zyrho dahil sa gwapong 'to ni Zyrho sa akin ito bumagsak? I mean, I'm not bad myself. I just have a potty mouth sometimes, but all in all... I'm good too. I can keep up with Zyrho. I think.

Just as I was on the verge of tearing my gaze away from Zyrho, he spoke, capturing my attention once again.

"Your eyes were distracting me, baby," came his raspy voice.

I shifted my position. My face instantly felt hot, and my stomach was churning! Tangina! Ito na siguro ang tanginang kilig! I may not be fond of love romance, but I'm not stupid to not recognize this shit! And I'm not complaining because it's Zyrho; I like it so much! The more I spend my days with Zyrho, the more I realize and discover things about myself.

Nag-iinarte lang ako kay Zyrho pero, tangina, para nang may kumakawalang mga bulati sa t'yan ko kapag inaalo niya ako. I like it when he is gentle and sweet when it comes to me. Siguro dahil nakita ko na sa akin lang extra sweet si Zyrho. Mas grumabe ang kaartehan at katarayan ko dahil kampante akong hindi iyon tatalab kay Zyrho at mananatili lang siya sa akin. Shit! I don't know anymore, but Zyrho gave me that kind of confidence. My confidence skyrocketed because of his attention.

"Feelingero talaga!" I couldn't help but chirp with delight, biting my lips to contain the burgeoning smile threatening to spread across my face.

He looked at me and gave me his billion dollar smile. Naiihi na ako rito dahil sa ginagawa ng lalaking ito!

"What?" Natatawa niyang saad. "I felt your eyes pierce through me earlier, baby."

Kumibot ang bibig ko. I was almost at a loss for words to retaliate and burn down his cheesy words. Really, the butterflies in my stomach make me deaf!

"W-what? Is it wrong to stare at you? I just found you handsome while driving!" Nahihirapan kong untag pero nakaraos din naman.

My heart was already pounding so hard against my ribcage. I hate how Zyrho makes me feel like this. He makes me lose my logic when it comes to his words. Tanginang wala pa siyang ginagawa n'yan!

Zyrho's jaws tightened, emphasizing their prominence.

He suddenly pulled the car over to the side and took a hasty break.

"Oh!" Nausal ko sa gulat.

"Come again, Maximilian Arthur."

My eyes widened as I turned to Zyrho. Shock and confusion washed over my face.

"H-huh?"

"The thing you just said," he breathed.

"A-alin doon." ako na naguguluhan dahil sa inaasal niya.

Pumikit siya at huminga nang malalim bago nagsalita, "You... you said that I'm... h-handsome?"

My lips parted in surprise. I don't know what he's trying to catch here, but he acted as if it was the first time he received such a compliment.

"Yeah," I affirmed.

"Repeat it, baby."

Nagusot na ang mukha ko. Ginagago ba ako nito?

"Are you playing with me, Zyrho? Dahil kung, oo, baka hindi na tayo matuloy sa pag-a-unwind nating ito."

He sighed.

I looked into his eyes, but I couldn't fathom even a single emotion lying there. It was overflowing, yet I couldn't grasp even a bit.

"No, just repeat it for me, Arth. Please, baby," he pleaded.

At para matigil na kami ay sumuko na rin ako. Naaantala na kami rito sa gitna ng daan dahil sa paandar niya.

"Fine," suko ko. Tumingin ako sa kanya na talagang seryosong-seryoso. "I just find you handsome, Zylander Howell. I cannot help but stare at you because you're just too handsome. And I wonder why someone like you fell for someone like me," I repeated, with a concise explanation.

Kumunot nag aking noo nang pikit matang ngumiti si Zyrho, parang timang lang. Sumagi ang aking mga mata sa tenga niya at doon ko nakita ang pamumula ng kanyang mga tenga.

Nalaglag ang aking panga nang mapagtanto kong... kinikilig ang feelingero! I was about to tease him when he covered his face using his big hands.

"Fuck!" He uttered against his palm.

"Zyrho," I called him.

Nang ibaba niya ang kanyang kamay ay namumula na pati ang kanyang pisngi.

Nais ko siyang tawanan sa kanyang naging reaksyon dahil tingin ko parang OA siya kaso hindi na ako naka-galaw nang kanya akong kabigin upang mayakap.

Yumakap na rin ako dahil ang bango niya! I missed his scent. Iyon kasing long sleeves niya na naiwan sa akin ay matagal nang nawala ang bango.

"Parang timang, first time mo bang masabihan ng gwapo ka?" Anang ko habang nakayakap pa rin siya sa akin.

"Hindi,"

"Iyon naman pala. Bakit ang OA nang reaksyon mo?"

"It comes from you, of course
It's special... very special."

Tinapik ko ang balikat nito. "Tama na. Drive na ulit."

Kumalas siya sa aming yakapan at dumistansya ng konti. Ilang pulgada lang ang layo ng mukha namin at naaamoy ko ang mabango niyang hininga!

"Papaano ito ngayon, Arth?" anito at bumaba ang mata sa aking mga labi.

"Huh?"

"Ikaw na ang gusto kong imaneho." His minty breath fanned my lips.

"Gago!" ani ko sabay tampal sa kanyang dibdib, kaso ang tigas naman no'n.

He chuckled seductively before capturing my lips with his own. Hindi na naman ako nakaangal pa nang kanyang angkinin ang aking labi at nagpaubaya na ako. Hinayaan ko na ang sarili kong tangayin sa kanyang masasarap at mabagal na halik. Tila ba, nilalasap niya ang bawat lasa ng aking dila at ginalugad ng mabuti ang aking bibig sa pamamagitan ng kanyang dila.

Before any of us could get lost in the translation of the lustful world, Zyrho pulled away and kissed my forehead.

"Thanks for the energizer, baby." aniya at bumalik sa pagda-drive!

Tangina! Energizer daw! Timang din talaga!

When we reached Sagada and pulled up to their farmhouse, I was utterly awestruck by the expansive vista of lush green grass stretching out before me.

Zyrho opened the wooden gate, iniwan lang namin ang kotse labas ng farm kung nasaan din ang parking lot ng mga sasakyan. It was a safe place naman para sa kotse niya dahil may tarangkahan naman ang pinaglalagyan niya sa kanyang sasakyan.

As we walked inside the farm, I couldn't help but admire the very fresh air, the green surroundings, and some of the livestock. A well-tended garden and big, tall trees dotted the entire land. In the middle of the land stood a two-story house primarily made of wood. It looked classic yet so fancy.

"Sa inyo ang buong ng lupain na ito?" tanong ko kay Zyrho na dala-dala ang lahat ng gamit namin. Ayaw kasi akong pagbuhatin kaya ayan, nagdusa bitbit niya ang lahat.

"Hmm, dad bought it back then." He answered.

"Ang ganda rito."

"Hmm, and we lived here." Mangha akong napatingin sa kanya. Umiling siya. "Hindi rito. Sa ibang bahagi ng Sagada pero matagal na naming iniwan ang lugar. Naiwan na lang doon si Papa Owell."

"Papa Owell?" Ang dami naman nilang Papa.

"Kapatid ni Papa Pike." si Zyrho.

Tumango na lang ako sa kanya.

Pagdating namin ni Zyrho sa bahay ay giniya niya ako sa isang kwarto. Walang aircon sa bahay pero mahangin naman ito dahil sa hanging nagmumula sa labas. At napagtanto kong ang mga silid lang pala ang may aircon.

Separate ang kwarto namin ni Zyrho and I'm not complaining at all. Hindi rin naman kami magkatabi matulog sa bahay niya.

"Wala tayong kasama rito?" tanong ko kay Zyrho nang ibaba niya ang gamit ko.

"Pansamantala ko munang pinauwi ang namamahala rito sa farm."

"Wala tayong mga kapit-bahay dito, Zyrho. Natatakot ako."

"Nandito ako. As long as I'm here, walang mangyayaring masama sa'yo." He swear.

Feelingero talaga!

Zyrho made some food for us before we decided to take a nap after the long ride.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nakatulog pero pagkagising ko ay nagtatakipsilim na. Hinanap ko si Zyrho sa buong bahay hanggang sa matagpuan ko ito sa ground floor na kaharap ang kanyang laptop at may kausap sa telepono. May kinakalikot siya sa kanyang laptop pero abala rin siya sa kanyang kausap sa telepono.

"Yes, I need the reports... good... Please, tell Evren that I need the comprehensive plan about the G.Es anniversary event and its progress..."

Ngumuso ako at hindi na siya inabala pa. Akmang tatalikod na ako nang tawagin naman niya ako.

I turned to face him.

"Baby," itinaas ko ang aking kilay. "Need anything?"

Umiling ako. Tinuro ang labas ng bahay. "Sa labas lang ako."

"No, wait for me I'll just finish this call." Tinuro niya ang teleponong naka-distansya sa kanyang bibig.

Winiwasiwas ko ang aking kamay. "Hindi na. Kaya ko naman. Titingin lang ako doon sa mga isda ninyo sa pond."

Humingang malalim siya. "Susunod ako."

Tinanguan ko si Zyrho at lumabas sa bahay.

Kanina kasi habang hinahanap ko siya ay nakita ko itong pond mula sa second floor ng bahay. Hindi pa totally lumulubog ang araw pero naka-bukas na ang mga ilaw na nasa mga puno ng kahoy.

"Hoy! Sino ka!?" sigaw ko nang maaninag ko ang isang tao na may sinasaboy doon sa pond.

"M-magandang gabi, sir!"

"Sino ka!?" Ulit ko.

The boy looks so scared habang naglilikot ang kanyang mga mata. May sipit pa itong isang maliit na balde.

"A-anak po ako ng caretaker nitong farmhouse nila ni Sir Zyrho." Basi sa tono ng kanyang boses ay nahihimigan ko ang kanyang takot!

Lumapit ako rito pero dumistansya naman siya sa akin.

"Sabi ni Zyrho sa akin pinauwi raw niya ang nangangalaga ng farm. Bakit nandito ka?"

Yumuko ang lalaki. He seems so scared at his so-so body. Mas malaki pa nga ito sa akin pero parang takot na takot.

"Nakalimutan pong pakainin ni Papa ang mga isda rito sa farm kaya pinabalik niya po ako. Napag-utusan lang, Sir."

Ngumiwi ako. Sir siya nang sir sa akin.

"Arth,"

Ngumuso ito at tiningnan ako.

"Arth ang pangalan ko, ikaw?"

"Mason po, sir ay Arth pala."

"Ilang taon ka na?"

"Twenty-four po."

Ngumiti ako rito. I'm not really friendly pero mukhang mabait at mahinhin naman itong si Mason.

"Nice to meet you, Mason." Inilahad ko ang kamay ko para kay Mason. Bumilog ang mga mata niya sa aking ginawa at ngumiti ng malapad.

Akmang tanggapin na niya sana iyong kamay ko nang biglang umeksena ang malakas na boses ni Zyrho.

"Mason!"

Sabay kami ni Mason na napatingin sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Kita kong halos liparin na ni Zyrho ang konting distansya namin. May bitbit pa itong jacket.

"Magandang gabi, sir Zyrho." Bati ni Mason kay Zyrho na nagtatagpo ang kilay.

Hindi pinansin ni Zyrho ang bati ni Mason sa kanya.

Kinapa ni Zyrho ang jacket sa aking balikat. "You shouldn't go out na walang jacket. Malamig ngayon." anito bago bumaling kay Mason sa aming harapan.

"What are you doing here?"

"P-pinakain ko lang po ang mga isda, s-sir. Nakalimutan po kasi ni Papa."

Tumango si Zyrho. "Kung tapos ka na, umuwi ka na dahil gumagabi na."

"Opo."

"Ikaw naman, let's get inside." si Zyrho at saka kinawit ang kanyang braso sa aking baywang bago ako hinila tungo sa bahay.

***
Thank you for reading, Engels!
꧁A | E꧂

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A/N: Mason pronounced as (mey-son)