Beyond the Beat

Chapter 20

Afternoon came, and I saw Eros already waiting outside the house. He wore a white Korean-knit polo shirt paired with baggy grey sweatpants and his black Birkenstock Arizona sandals. He always looked impeccably neat and clean, the kind of effortlessly polished appearance that made him irresistibly attractive.

On the other hand, I was wearing a white double-lined top tucked into high-waisted light blue mom jeans, matched with my white fashionable round-toe flat sandals. Those shoes were Prada, a gift from my evil mother, bought during her trip to London.

I had no idea where we were headed, but according to him, I needed to bring extra clothes and a bikini as we might go swimming.

“Ganda, huh,” he said, eyes scanning me closely.

“Tss,” I replied with a hint of sass.

“Halikan kita diyan eh,” he threatened playfully.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help widening them in surprise at his unexpected flirtation. What the hell, Eros? You’re making my heart race faster. Tang Ina mo talaga, I murmured inwardly.

“Did the cat cut your tongue, Ms. Panganiban?” Eros teased with a smirk.

“As if,” I shot back, biting my tone and rolling my eyes. But he just laughed.

“Tang Ina, ang ganda talaga,” he said, amused.

“What?” I snapped irritably. But beneath my feigned annoyance, my stomach fluttered wildly, dancing with greedy butterflies.

He.

Eros said and pinched my nose hard.

“Ouch!” daing ko, shooting him a glare, but he just laughed and shrugged casually. Then, with a mischievous grin, he blew me a flying kiss.

I locked the door behind me and grabbed my tote bag. It only contained my wallet, lip tint, and an extra set of clothes, nothing more.

“Are we going to commute?” I asked Eros, curiosity tingling.

Umiling siya. What? I thought in disbelief. Where are we going to ride this? Seriously? Were we really just going to walk? Probably our destination was close by, I reasoned.

“Nag-hiram ako ng sasakyan kay papa,” he said nonchalantly.

“Do you know how to drive ?” I pressed again, intrigued. He nodded confidently.

We began walking toward his home. Their house was a two-story like ours. Eros’s family was well-off, though not as flashy as ours. I’d heard his father was a public lawyer, that explained why Eros had chosen the same path.

“Welcome to our humble house, Lumina,” Eros announced with a proud smile as we approached.

I took a long look around. The house had a modern, sleek design, an elegant blend of dark gray and crisp white. The upper floor was adorned with large windows that bathed the interior in natural light, and a small balcony with a glass railing peeked out. Dark wood panels added warmth and charm between the windows. Below, a massive dark gray double garage door sat beside more black-framed windows, giving the whole facade a sharp, refined appearance. The landscaping was simple but gracefully maintained, the grass perfectly trimmed, low shrubs carefully arranged, and a few taller plants strategically placed. A paved walkway led invitingly to a light-colored front door. The house was impeccably balanced, sophisticated yet welcoming.

I saw this house every day, but never really noticed the details, standing here now, I realized just how beautiful Eros’s home truly was.

He opened the door for me, and we stepped inside. The exterior of their house was enchanting as well. Eros led me to sit in their living room. I looked around and truly appreciated how beautiful their home was.

“Nak!” someone called out as he appeared before us. It was Eros’s father, dressed in formal attire and carrying a suitcase.

When he saw me, he greeted warmly,

“Hi, Lumi.”

“Hi po,” I replied, offering a small smile.

He gave a nod.

“May date kayo?” Eros’s father asked.

“Pa, shut up!” Eros shot back while pinching his father’s side.

“Whatever happens to you, he’s the one who’s liable, Lumi,” Eros’s father jokes.

“Pa!” Eros shouted again.

“I’m just kidding, son. Kay Ara bonita gat El detuyu nobya,” his father teased once more.

“Kabar, inggit lang tu Kay nuway itu,” Eros said playfully in Chavacano. Of course, I didn’t understand it.

“Heh. Taki oh,” Eros’s father replied, handing him the car keys.

Eros took the car keys from his father, and now all of his dad’s attention was on me.

“Bye, Lumi, mag-iingat kayo ha. If something happens to you, my son is liable. I will definitely sue him,” his father jokes, winking playfully.

“Pa! Umalis kana nga,” Eros said, pushing his dad away with a laugh.

Watching their easy back-and-forth, I couldn’t help but smile softly, but beneath that smile stirred a pang of envy. Their teasing, the warmth, the casual affection, it was all something I longed for but never truly had. I wished I could share that kind of closeness with my own parents, to joke around like Eros did with his dad.

But reality hit me hard and cold. My family wasn’t like that. We weren’t close. I couldn’t tease or joke with my parents because they were often absent in more ways than one. Even when they were physically around, it was as if they didn’t really exist, always caught up in work or their cases. And when things didn’t go their way, the frustration somehow settled on me.

“Hey, are you okay?” Eros appeared in front of me, concerned about lacing his voice.

“I’m okay,” I answered quietly, not wanting to reveal the ache I felt inside. But in my heart, I knew that their simple, loving family moments were what I craved most.

“Let’s go,” Eros said, his voice calm but with a hint of concern.

He noticed the change in my mood, but didn’t push me for answers. Instead, he just stayed quiet, offering his silent support.

We stepped outside their house, and Eros locked the front door just like I did earlier. Then, without a word, he left me standing by the door and went to the garage.

A few moments later, I heard a car engine start up. A sleek, black Ford Ranger Raptor pulled up smoothly in front of me.

Eros opened the door and stood beside it.

“Tara na,”

he said again, his voice soft but warm.

I followed him, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. He opened the car door for me like a true gentleman, and I slid into the front seat. The car smelled clean and comforting.

A small detail that made me feel safer instantly. Soon after, Eros got in beside me.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.

“Secret,” he answered with a playful smile.

I scrunched my forehead, giving him a teasing look.

“Are you planning to kidnap me and then kill me afterwards?” I joked, trying to break the tension.

Eros laughed, a genuine, warm laugh that made the moment lighter.

“Para ka namang tanga, Lumi,” he teased, chuckling deeply.

In his laughter, I found a little relief, a brief escape from everything weighing on me. It reminded me of even the simplest moments. Teasing and shared smiles, could bring a spark of light during my darkest days.

“How can I trust you if you won’t even tell me where we’re going?” I asked again, narrowing my eyes in confusion.

“Secret nga! As if alam mo naman. Turista ka dito, remember?” he shot back with a teasing smirk.

“Tss,” I replied tersely, crossing my arms.

He shrugged and said, “I will never hurt you, Lumi. Besides, my dad’s a lawyer. He can sue me if I do.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right. Like that would stop you.”

Eros leaned closer, voice serious. “Honestly, I’d rather have you convict me for loving you criminally than accuse me of murdering you.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “You’re really going to lawyer up on me now?”

He laughed. “Mag-aabogado pa ako, Lumi. Gagawa pa ng kaso para sa ‘love crime’.”

I couldn’t help but laugh too, shaking my head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

He grinned. “And you love every bit of it.”

I smirked, deciding to play along. “Well, Mr. Lawyer, if you’re going to file a case, I hope you’re ready for my defense, because I’m going to argue that your ‘love crime’ is actually a kidnapping of my heart.”

Eros raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, really? And what evidence do you have to support that?”

I crossed my arms confidently. “First, the undeniable charm and good looks as the motive. Second, stubbornly refusing to tell me where we’re going, classic signs of a criminal mastermind. And third, pinching my nose like a kidnapper before an escape.”

He chuckled. “You’re trying to win the jury with charm now?”

“Exactly,” I replied,

Eros shook his head, laughing. “Looks like I’m going to need the best lawyer after all.”

“And I’m ready to defend my case,” I said with a grin, “so bring it on, Counselor.”