Milena (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER XVII: Craving

What’s the use of forever, if you and I cannot be together

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May 2016. Sunday at 7 AM.

I decided to have a general house cleaning today. I stepped on a ladder and stretched my arms to reach the ceiling and our chandelier to remove cobwebs. I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio, titled, “A weeklong love story”. I sang along with the lyrics. Feeling every word. The song is about a love between two people that easily ended before it began.

It’s like Azil’s love. One moment, it’s there. Then it’s gone.

Last month, she insisted on texting and calling me even when I’m busy. Boldly declaring she’s the only one worthy of my attention. Popping in and out of my life. Making efforts to gain my attention, getting me hooked, then without warning, she’s nowhere to be found. She’s missing-in-action for three weeks now! Yet, my pathetic self again, continuously sending morning and evening quotes to her hoping for a single response

Singing with my hearts out, someone suddenly spoke beside me,” Hello”. I almost fell off from the ladder. She quickly grabbed my waist and hold the ladder to stop it from moving. I abruptly turned my head to the source of the voice.

I yelled, “Whoa! What the potato, Eliza! You scared the hell out me! My heart almost popped out of my chest!”

She playfully said, “Don’t worry, baby. I will always catch you when you fall. So, fall in love with me again! And don’t you like it? I still got your heart racing!”

“Oh, shut up! I will fall out of love instead! How did you even get in here? I locked the gate after my brother went out. You’re like a mushroom popping out of nowhere!”

She helped me down the ladder. My heart’s still beating fast. Not from the scare but because Azil is near me.

She winked and seductively said, “Potato? Mushroom? What’s next? Do you see me as a food? Are you craving for me? Well, baby I cannot blame you. Only blind people will not crave for a body like mine. You know, you can peel my clothes like peeling potatoes. Then you can consume me like a mushroom! I met your brother on my way here and he lent me your gate key.”

“Stop winking like that! Being a seductress doesn’t suit you! If you wanted me to peel you, I will peel your skin off literally! Gosh! You are cute, but you are such a pain in the neck!”

She put her hand over her chest dramatically, “Ouch! You’re being harsh again! Is that how you treat your guest? Still happy to hear I’m cute though.”

“I treated my guests nicely, but you are uninvited, so I’ll be rude! What did my brother ask you in exchange of the key?”

“He didn’t ask me for a bribe. He gave the key because he’s my little brother too. Am I not allowed to visit you here? I miss you so much, Mimi. I’m so stressed out last week. Hectic hospital shifts. So toxic! Don’t you miss me?”

“Nope. I don’t miss you.”

I didn’t miss her. I didn’t even notice that she’s gone for almost 480 hours, 25 minutes, 56 seconds and 2 milliseconds! I swear, I am not thinking of her or missing her that much!

I went to the kitchen to prepare some juice for my uninvited guest. She followed me to the kitchen. “Here. Juice for you my beloved uninvited guest.”

She pouted and take the glass, “Thanks, Miss You-Are-So-Rude-To-Me!”

“Wait up for me here. I’ll just shower and change clothes. I felt so sticky and dirty from cleaning the house!”

“I’ll go with you. We can shower together. Or I could wait at your bed with my clothes on or off. Your choice! Oh! I almost forgot! Mom made you this! She’s happy to know that we started bonding again.”

She opened her shoulder bag and pulled out a Tupperware with my favorite spicy dish, Bopiz! It’s a Filipino dish with beef lungs and heart sautéed in tomatoes, chilies and onions.

'Wow! Say thanks to Mom, I mean, to Auntie. She didn’t forget my favorite! I really love this specialty of hers”

“Auntie? You can still call her Mom. She’ll be mad at you if you change that!”

“I am shy to still call her that! We never talked after a decade.”

“Silly! Even if we are not in talking terms, she still asks me about you. She treats you like her child. I think, even if she knew we are a couple, she still likes you. You are her favorite. She loves you more than me and my siblings! I got scared because of Dad. That’s why I needed to keep you as a secret.”

“Stop opening about our past. I don’t want to remember the reason why we broke up. I’ll take a shower. Can you please start cooking rice for us?”

She smiled and nodded. Her aura became gloomy when she remembered her father.

Her father is an architect in Australia. She’s a Daddy’s little girl like me. But for her, she’s constantly pressured to meet her father’s standard and attention. If her father found out about us, it will surely destroy their relationship.

My parents are both busy working but they always make sure they have some quality time with me and my brother. But Azil’s parents were different. They just spoiled her with gifts in exchange of the time they should spent with her.

When I got out the bathroom, I saw the stubborn brat on my bed, lying on her back in a spread-eagle position.

I quickly shook my head to remove the pervert image formed in my mind! This girl is really testing my urge to control my lust!

If she met me during my time with Carly, and position herself like this, Azil will know that making snow angels are not limited to snow only. We can make snow angel on my bed, on the floor or in the shower with soapy bubbles!

Good thing I wore clothes inside the bathroom! Or else I don’t know if I can still control my urge to ravish this innocent girl!

“Hey brat! I told you to wait me at the kitchen! So why are you here?”

“I got bored. You took so long. I already cooked rice. Come here let me brush your hair.”

She stood up and let me sit on the edge of the bed. She took the hairbrush from my nightstand and started brushing my hair.

“Your hair is now longer than you usually have, Mi. My hair? I keep it longer than my preferred haircut because you liked me having long hair, right?”

Azil liked her hair short but it is not allowed in their religion. She’s always the stubborn one but when I said that I liked her hair long, she obliged. From then on, she kept her hair waist-length.

“Oh, really? I cannot remember saying that. I liked short-haired girls. Remember Riz? Her hair length is above shoulder.”

“Is that the haircut you want now? Don’t worry I’ll go to salon tomorrow and make my hair shorter.”

“Actually, I like any hairstyle. But when it applies to you? I don’t think I’ll like it.”

She harshly pulled my hair with the brush. I felt like my hair has been removed from my scalp.

I grabbed the hairbrush from her hand before she could think of another way how to murder me with that.

“Ouch, Eliza! Why are you always hurting me?” Pun intended.

She annoyingly said, “Let’s go back to the kitchen! Your face irritates me!”

I laughed out loud. She’s cute too when she’s mad.

I grabbed her arm before she got out of my room. I made her sat on my lap, her back facing me. I buried my face unto her back. I touched her hair and sniffed.

Her unique lemony scent was gone. I smelled something new. A hint of flowery scent, like roses.

“I am just teasing you! You know how much I love your long hair! Wait, did you change your shampoo or perfume? You smelled like the flowers you gave me on our first date.”

She slowly turned around, facing me. Her cheeks flushed.

“I changed perfume to remind me our first date night together.”

She gently cupped my face and brushed her nose to mine. I gulped. Our lips are almost touching. My hands started to sweat. I could hear the pounding of my heart.

She smiled knowingly. She realized that she still have the same effects on me.

Her fingers started to trace the outline of my lips. I stared at her lower lip as she seductively bit them.

Oh, my goddess! The temptation is too strong!

I pushed her gently to the bed. I wanted to get over her top and show her that it’s not nice to tease someone like me. But my self-control won. I rolled to her side and hurriedly walked out of the bedroom and told her that we needed to eat our dinner before the food gets cold.

I felt hungry. Like I’m craving for something.

I am 101% sure that I am not craving for food!