Never Descending

Chapter 4

Matalim

He didn't bother giving me another glance after what he did.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa paghakbang niya pabalik sa pwesto niya. 

Hindi pa siya tuluyang umupo sa cable row at bagkus ay inabot ang itim na tumbler sa tabi. Pinanood ko siyang buksan ang takip noon bago dinala palapit sa bibig niya.

My lips slowly parted in astonishment at the view in front of me. It almost seems like I was watching some sort of TV commercial and he's not even trying! His posture was just effortlessly attractive.

His well-built arm was perfectly angled to his slightly tilted head. His adam's apple was moving sexily as he gulp his drink.

I felt my throat getting dry as his eyes unconsciously darted to me. His brows slowly furrowed as he caught my shameless stares.

That didn't make him stop from what he was doing though. He continued drinking while keeping his eyes on me. He was gazing straight into my eyes while he was sucking the mouth of the jug. Supping and quaffing from it with relish. 

In my eyes, it was almost as if he was engulfing something else with his lips as the tip of his hair and his skin steamily shine with some drips of sweat. It's stirring up something inside me. It made me suddenly feel an odd increase in temperature.

What's worse is that he was just plainly eyeing me! His looks were just blank and I know that he doesn't have any hidden s****l innuendo in mind right now-- or atleast that's what it seems. Sadyang marumi lang ang utak ko.

Bahagya akong napalunok nang ibaba niya ang bote at sinara iyon. Umangat ang kilay niya sa nakaabang kong mukha habang iniikot niya ang takip ng inumin.

I cleared my throat to save myself from humiliation. 

"You seem to enjoy your drink so much.." I slyly remarked. "It must have tasted really good,"

I looked at him expectantly with my lifted brow to see how he would react at my cunning statement and while also waiting for him to match what I said.

He averted my gaze as he proceeded on positioning himself on the machine. I saw his forehead creasing.

"It's just water," he muttered using his deep voice. "It doesn't have any taste."

Mas lalong umarko ang kilay ko habang tinitignan siya na ngayo'y hindi na nakaharap sakin.

I shrugged. 

"Well.. may lasa pa rin naman ang tubig. Me.. I can easily distinguish different types of water based from its taste," I subtly bragged.

He's kinda hard to grasp. I'm still not certain whether he's the f**k buddy type or not.  Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako sigurado kung magiging bukas ba siya sa mga naiisip ko. That's why I'm torn between walking on egg shells around him or being the on the square person that I am.

I still tried to keep the conversation going by babbling some not-so relevant stuff just for the sake of activating our connection. It's difficult to get him engaged in the talk, though. He just opens his mouth whenever I'm asking or if it's necessary. Aside from that, he doesn't bother giving unsolicited remarks.

His whole routine seems longer than mine. Nauna akong matapos kaya't dumiretso muna ako sa counter pagkatapos mag-ayos. 

I made sure to fix and transfer the billings on my account which was previously charged on Caleb's since he's the one who registered us here. Now that I already ended the things between us, there's no reason for things to keep on being how it used to be.

After getting everything done, I then sat on one of the couches in the lounge area. Sa huling sulyap ko sa loob kanina ay nakita kong tapos na rin si Ace. He's probably getting changed right now. 

I patiently waited with an unopened hydrating flavored drink on my hand. I took this from the same vending machine where I first saw Ace. I got two of this but the other one which I drank from is now already inside my gym bag. And I guess the purpose of the one I'm holding is probably obvious by now.

Napaayos ako nang upo nang matanaw ko na ang paglabas niya. His steps gradually decreased its pace when he caught a glimpse of me but it was just a passing moment. He was quick to turn back on his urgent and busy state as his stride eventually became unruffled. 

Hindi na ko nagdalawang isip pa at agad na sinabayan ang dire-diretsong lakad niya.

"Wala man lang hi?" I kidded. "Grabe parang hindi naman tayo magkakilala niyan,"

He doesn't seem to be the type who rides with these kinds of statement but I don't know what else to say. I was talking as if we know each other for so long and he might find it ridiculous so I quickly thought of something to add.

I raised my hand and offered him the drink.

"I got this for you, by the way." I said with a smile.

Unti-unti siyang napahinto sa paglalakad kaya't ganun din ako. I fixed my eyes on him. His expression was unreadable. 

He matched my gaze.

"You don't have to." he stated in a monotone.

Natigilan ako ngunit agad ding tumikhim. Nagkibit-balikat ako.

"Just take it. This is nothing. I just feel like giving you a drink," I said in a laid-off tone to assure him.

He remained staring at me. There was something in his gaze which was making me feel unsettled from within.

His brow slightly lifted.

"Why?" he hoarsely asked. "Why do you have to give me a drink?"

My lips parted at his question. Wow. He has this habit of making everything a big deal, huh. His brow kept shot up on me.

Pinantayan ko ang mapanghamon na tinging iginagawad niya. I turned my chin up and nearly crossed my arms in front of my chest if only I didn't stop my self from doing so.

"Does everything need to have a reason?"

I arched my brow at him.

"How about you, then? Why do you have to give me a drink last time?" I countered. 

I confidently tilted my head at him.

"Why did you?" I emphasized.

His stares were unwavering but I caught something flashing in his eyes. Sinubukan niya pang tagalan ang bahagyang nanunuya kong tingin ngunit kalaunan ay iniwas niya rin ang mata. I even saw him clenching his jaw while looking away. I don't know what it is for. Hindi naman siya mukhang galit sakin.

Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay kusang gumuhit ang ngisi sa labi ko. 

"You know what? Just take it. Isipin mo na lang na... pasasalamat ko 'to sa pag-ayos mo ng cable row na ginamit ko kanina." wika ko.

I lightly shrugged my shoulders.

"Also.. who knows what that douchebag from earlier could have done to me if it weren't for you?" I sighed. "I might have been harassed if you weren't there. Your presence saved me so... I'm just.. really thankful," I softly said.

This time, I'm sincere. Although I can always find ways to save myself against any motherfucker because I am the Iris Everleigh, that bastard from a while ago was huge as hell. For sure he won't be easy to deal with.

Bahagya siyang natigilan marahil dahil sa pagbabago ng tono ko. His gaze eventually went back to me. Tumagal ang titig sakin ng mga mata niya hanggang kalaunan ay nakita ko ang munting pagpungay ng mga ito.

Napaawang ang mga labi ko sa natunghayan. Hindi pa man ako nakakabawi ay nilipat niya na ang tingin sa hawak ko at marahang kinuha iyon.

I was still in daze while looking at him as he strikingly open the bottle.

"Babe?"

It didn't fully register at first.

But I stiffened when I recognized the familiar voice. Kumunot ang noo ko bago binaling ang tingin sa pinanggalingan ng tinig.

I was welcomed by a swift one-hand hug and kiss from Caleb. My mouth turned agape.

"Hey.." he released me just to look at my face. "What took you so long to get out?"

Saglit pang lumipat ang tingin niya kay Ace na nasa tabi ko bago binalik sakin ang mata.

Laglag pa rin ang panga ko ngunit hindi na naiwasang magsalubong ng kilay sa pagkagulo.

"Caleb," I sternly said. "Didn't you.. read my text?"

His forehead knotted in puzzlement.

"I forgot my phone at home." he said. "What is it about?"

Mas lalo lang akong napanganga sa sinabi niya. s**t. I can't help but shut my eyes close in frustration.

"Babe, what's wrong?" I heard Caleb asked. "Let's go grab something to eat,"

Naramdaman ko ang pagdausdos ng kamay niya papunta sa palad ko. I automatically brushed away his hold before turning to Ace.

The bottom half of my body suddenly felt cold as I look at him. His face remained stoich. It was expressionless and I honestly don't know if it was a good thing or not.

"H-hey," I awkwardly said. I cleared my throat.

"I think I have to go for now. See you tomorrow though.." I said in a small voice. I can't believe I just stuttered. Why the f**k, Iris?

He didn't answer. He continued giving me that same look on his face. That freaking blank stare. He's f*****g good at this.

I flinched when I felt Caleb reaching for my hand again.

"Iris, let's go." he demandingly said.

Hindi na 'ko muli pang naka-alma nang wala na siyang sinayang na oras at hinila na ko paalis doon. I was still feeling lost while he was pulling me. Nang matauhan ay gumuhit ang kunot sa noo ko.

Winaksi ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. He turned to me in confusion while I looked at him with evident irritation.

I heaved out a frustrated breath. 

"Let's talk." I hissed.

Binigyan ko siya nang matalim na tingin bago galit na nilagpasan.