The Sub Rosa [Completed]

TSR 14

Isang buwan na magmula ng mag-usap kami ni Seleucus. True to his words, lagi siyang narito sa bahay ng mom ko o minsan sa bahay ng kapatid niya sa tuwing bumibisita ako. Nasa garden ako ngayon para magpahangin at magdilig ng mga halaman.

He is busy reading one of my favorite novel, I let him borrowed. Kagaya ko siyang mahilig magbasa ng mga kung ano-ano and I can proudly say that I influenced him in terms of history and romance books.

I'm multitasking, hawak ang hose sprinkling the water to the flowers and watching him being engrossed to the book he's reading. Pakiramdam ko ngayon ay umayos dahil kinulit niya akong lumabas sa lungga ko. Mom already met him, kagigising ko lang ay nasa sala na siya o minsan nasa kusina preparing my breakfast.

Mom doesn't have any complains of Seleucus visiting me everyday and always spending his time on me for the whole day. I asked him days ago, what about his work kasi lagi siyang nasa tabi ko.

He said. "I can work at night, so my whole day is reserved only for you." Isn't he sweet? Humiling ako sa kaniya na kung makausap niya ang tatlo, huwag siyang mag kwento sa kanila kung kamusta ako o malaman ang tungkol sa tatlo dahil ayaw ko na, tama na yung sakit na natamo ko.

Hindi ko gustong marinig pa anong mayroon sa tatlo. Gusto ko nang kalimutan lahat para makapag simula ako ulit.

In a short period of time, I've learned that you can't love someone who has hurt you so badly in the same way you used to love them. Mahal mo parin pero masakit sa dibdib tuwing naalala mo lahat.

"The roses are drowning, turn the hose in the other direction if you're watering the flowers. You shouldn't always sprinkle the water in one place because it'll drown." Nakangiting sabi niya na kanina pa sguro nakatitig sakin hindi ko lang napansin.

"Hindi pa naman lunod ah, tapos ka nabang magbasa? You can always read the whole series of that book I have in my room." Ngumiwi ako dahil ng binalik ko ang mga mata sa lupang may rosas na tanim at nalunod nga ang ilang bulaklak.

"Read the first half of the book for me? It's been so long since you've read me poems and quotes. This time a book." Winisikan ko siya ng tubig nang hinapit niya ang bewang ko palapit sa katawan nito.

"Aabutin tayo ng siyam-siyam sa gusto mo. Few pages lang po, Sir Seleucus. Tuturuan mo akong magpaint diba?" Magaling siyang pintor at gusto ko lahat ng gawa niya. Una kong nakilala ang mga paintings niya bago siya.

"Ipapadala ko rito ang mga gagamitin natin. Before I forgot, I brought some doughnuts. Let's eat it now."

Relax and light....

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay and Mom was talking to her boyfriend sa phone niya. She smiled at us then continue having the conversation with him. Wala ng kaso sakin ngayon kung may kausapin siya dahil deserve naman niyang maging happy.

Inasar ko siya one time kung kailan niya ba ipapakilala ang lalaki. Her only response to my teased is, if the man survived his treatment, oradang dalhin niya raw at ipakilala sakin. Naguluhan ako sa sinabi ni mom.

"I really love the matcha flavor! Tikman mo oh!" Tinapat ko ang isang buong matcha donut pero kinuha niya sa kabilang kamay ko ang nakagatan ko na. Sumayad pa ang daliri so labi niya.

Napalunok ako.

His dark green orbs were staring at me, piercing his eyes to my soul. Unconsciously, my attention was drawn to his wet lips, which he just licked.

He comes closer and angles his face to capture my lips. I closed my eyes as our lips met and touched each other. We move in sync, sucking his bottom lip before he enters my mouth, and our tongues fight.

I'm beginning to gasp for air as we deepen our kiss. He tasted strawberry and matcha—just how tasteful his mouth was! When we both let go, he cleared his throat, and I bit a big part of my donut!

One glance at each other, and we laughed ourselves silliness.

"You have some powdered sugar here; you are such a messy eater."

He wiped the dust of the sugar from the corner of my lips. I smile at him before continuing to eat another doughnut. Having eye contact with him while eating is a big distraction, especially when drinking a cold tea and he's watching me sip from my glass straw.

"Let's talk about how you are going to teach me to paint my not-so-big blank canvas." I lean on the chair.

"Do you have anything on your mind that you'd want to get your inspiration from? " Great question, Seleucus!

"The lakeside of my dad's house, but I doubt myself if I can do a portrait of it since pastel is my life."

He focused on me, listening to whatever I was saying.

"I'll guide you, so don't worry that much. I've seen your clouds and naked Charlotte in a pastel. It's impressive. I still have it and hang it in my room."

He sounds so proud of me that it makes my cheeks hot.

"Those are just pencils and crayons, but I never try paints. That's why I'm excited to be taught by a great painter from New York and Russia." Dozens of his paintings can be seen in my cousin's house.

I suddenly want to brush off his sexy smirk.

"I'm suddenly nervous. Amastrise, you're making me tremble." He chuckled and winked at me.

"You silly! As if it's true!" We both laughed, then tried to finish the second box of three doughnuts. My stomach is going to explode; why am I bloated anyways?

Damn, I consumed a lot of sugar.

Busog at tila bumigat ang tiyan ko sa kinaing doughnuts. I'm not into sweets pero minsan lang naman at favorite flavor pa ang dala niya kaya halos nakain ko nga lahat. Pumasok ako ng kwarto para makapagpalit ng damit bago magpaturo sa kaniyang magpinta.

May mga ilang brush naman ako rito kaya kinuha ko na para ilabas. Hindi naman sguro masamang mag-suot ng white shirt. If paints would spill then I guess it's fine. It's a form of art, bukod sa intentionally.

Nakikinig lang talaga ako sa mga tinuturo niya saakin.

I've seen him paint live, but it wasn't this close, like he was sitting near me. Too near that I can inhale his musk and natural scent. Not gonna lie, but his like a f*****g Greek God the way he strokes the brush; I can see his ripped muscles. Damn biceps.

He has this boyish grin whenever I try to mimic his moves, but I always sucks in the end. I sometimes wonder how dark colors fit him so well. I'm not being dramatic s**t or what, but every time I see him in his black button-up shirt, I can't help but to lip bite.

Oil paint was everywhere on my shirt. I predicted that this would happen, so I'll keep this shirt and call it my own art.

"Seleucus, can I have your shirt after our painting session?" I pouted when he just looked at me.

I hold my breath when he takes it off. b***h ain't a saint. My eyes are open, my mouth is kind of open, and I admit I'm ogling at his Greek physique.

When he throws his painted shirt, it lands on my face. I hate it; how damn does he smell so good?

I heave a sigh; stop Amastrise. Get hold of yourself. Your relationship with others just ended a few weeks ago, but that doesn't mean you can have Seleucus. Give the man a break from all the bullshit in his life.

I helped him pack the materials we used for painting. I think I did great on my first session. He gave me his naked Charlotte version. I drew this piece when I learned the truth about my parents.

It was an art form that represented the true colors of life. A woman faced herself in the mirror, where her body was colored in pastels. It's lively, but that doesn't mean it's also pure and clean. Figuratively It was me, who was actually naked. I am the naked Charlotte.

Kahit gaano ang ganda ng panlabas na anyo kung sa loob naman ay nabubulok at sira sira, wala lang rin. Maraming sekreto ang nakapaloob sa bawat kulay at hugis ng kulay ko noon.

" Penny for your thoughts?" I didn't notice that he was beside me. He really looked like his twin brothers and his cousin.

They're related. What do you expect from Amastrise?

"Marami akong nalaman na technique sayo, I have to change the brand of my brush. I want yours." Maganda talaga quality ng sa kaniya, ibang klase na nga ang gamit ko pero mas maganda talaga ang mga ginagamit niya.

"I have extra on my house, still new. You don't have to buy. Dalhin ko bukas."

Tumango ako at bahagyang napaatras nang mas lumapit pa siya sa akin. Hanggang sa pader nalang nasa likod ko. Isang mahabang titigan bago kami napunta sa.....

Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay ko sa aking ulo bago niya halos kainin ang buong labi ko. Napasinghap ako nang humagod ang malaki niyang kamay sa aking bewang.

He put my hands around his neck and deepen our kiss. Sucking my entire mouth so I did the same with him. Napunta sa magkabilang bewang ko ang kaniyang braso at isang mabilis lang na buhat niya ay ipinulupot ang aking paa sa waist nito.

When he let go of my lips, ang aming noo ay naglapat habang parehas na hinihingal sa halikan na aming pinagsaluhan. Kita ko ang nag-aalab niyang mga mata, hindi sa galit kundi sa ibang dahilan.

"I'm yours, Amastrise... say that you're mine too. Say it, baby, I want you to accept me." Humalik siya sa leeg ko pagkaupo namin sa sofa. Rumagasa saking isipan na baka may kumukuha samin ng video.

Bahagya ko siyang tinulak para makaalis at makatayo ako. Hindi tama ang ginagawa ko.

"I'm sorry." Parang hindi ko na kayang gawin kaya napaiyak ako sa bisig niya. Natatakot akong ibigay muli ang sarili ko.

Humingin siya sakin ng paunmanhin habang patuloy ang pag luha ko. Masakit parin pala at nakakatrauma.