The Perks of Being Heartless

Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

August 29, 2017

The Paladin Hotel

Baguio City

What does he think he’s doing? Why is he looking at me like that? And for some reason, I’m looking back at him and I can’t stop it. Oh my! His eyes! They’re like burning coals, staring at my very being. He’s really serious.

“Russell...” I muttered. His right arm leaning on the wall. And I’m stuck here – my back against the wall and his damn face just inches away from mine! And he’s coming closer. His face, his lips… God his lips!

“Russell, wait!” I said again in a much louder and shaking voice. I can’t help it! He didn’t answer me. He’s leaning towards me and his face was literally a couple of inches closer to mine. I can already feel his warm breath. I can smell his scent on his lips and I can sense his face getting close to mine.

For some reason, I instinctively closed my eyes and opened my mouth a little bit as if preparing to welcome his. I waited. I don’t know for how long I waited for his beautiful lips to touch mine.

“Eh!” And suddenly I heard him say that. I opened my eyes and see him smirk as though he’s saying, ‘yeah, you wish’. Then he slowly leaned back and stood straight while keeping his eyes on mine and smirking like he got me.

That’s when I realized he was just teasing me. The fucker! He got me!

“Well, we better prepare for dinner. It’s getting darker outside,” he said calmly as he turned back and went for his clothes.

“You….” I muttered and picked up the pillow.

“What?” He turned around to look at me then BAM! His face met Mr. Pillow! Hah! Take that you asshole! Mr. Pillow avenged me! Thanks, Mr. Pillow.

“Alex? What are you doing?” Darn! He’s so calm. He took the pillow and placed it back on the bed like nothing happened.

“You think you’re being funny!? Teasing me like that!?” Argh! I can’t help my anger and it just burst out like hot magma from a volcano.

“I wasn’t teasing you, okay?” He answered back, still in a very calm monotone voice. This guy ugh!

“So what the hell was that!? I thought….”

“You thought what?” He suddenly interrupted me. I can’t answer that. He smiled at me, just enough for me to see his teeth. What is up with this guy? What’s his deal?

“You thought I was gonna…”

“GAAAHH! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUUUT UUPP!” I kept screaming like an i***t. I don’t want to hear him say that word! I’m covering my ears as I turned away from him. Darn I have to be ready. I’m tired, I’m hungry, and this i***t is stressing me out!

I opened my bag and took a couple of clothes. My mind is totally blank. I have no idea what I’m going to wear tonight. Then I heard him open the door to the bathroom. The nerve! He’s going to take a shower before me!?

“Hey! Ever heard of ‘ladies first’?” I blurted out.

“Uhmm, yeah. But you’re still choosing what to wear; so I just thought of saving time you know…”

“Oh no, you don’t! I’m coming in first, okay? Stay there and wait for me,” as I pointed my finger at the chair in a corner beside the small cabinet with a lamp shade over it.

“Yeah sure, but just don’t take too long. We don’t want to be late,” he said as he sat on the chair.

----

First couple of hours from arriving at Baguio, and Russell just pissed me off in a matter of seconds. After we went out of the hotel, my head is in the clouds. I can’t think straight. But as we walked the uneven streets of Baguio, my attention slowly focused on the place.

I felt the wind’s is coldness as it kissed our skin. I felt like the whole city is inside a giant room with an air condition powered on. The buildings are just as you expect for an urban city; but unlike in Manila, you really can’t see any towering buildings here. The roads are wild. You go up then go down again. It’s an uphill and downhill road in every corner.

We found a restaurant just a few blocks away from the hotel. The restaurant is made of concrete but painted brown as if the walls are made of wood carvings. Hmm, good place for a selfie, I guess. There are not a lot of people inside as we go in. Kid spotted an empty table for a group. We sat there and the waiter came towards us to get our orders.

While were waiting for the food, I secretly stared at Russell. He’s being awfully silent since we went out the Hotel. What’s up with him? He’s looking outside the window glass. I looked at where he is staring at and I didn’t see anything interesting. It was just a busy street with people and vehicles passing by.

“Psst! Hey…” Letti got my attention. I just raised my brows as if saying ‘what?’; she looked at Russell then looked back at me.

“What happened?” she asked me in a very low voice. I just shrugged my shoulders.

“Really? But I heard you screamed earlier. What was that about? Lover’s quarrel huh? HAHAHA!” Ugh she’s teasing me too. I ignored her and opened my phone. Great, I missed a couple of calls from my mom. I texted her and told her I’ve arrived safely with my friends. Then, our food came and as I smelled it, I realized how hungry I am. I pigged out. Eating piece after piece of the meat and veggies, then I peeked at Russell and saw him calmly eating his food. As I looked in front of me, I see Letti slicing meat and giving it to Kid. Ugh! These two. Like seriously? As Kid chews on the food, he smiles at her and gives her a kiss on her forehead. What’s with all this sweetness?

I tried to focus on my food again. I’m almost done! Wow that was fast. It’s like a tornado just wiped out all the food on my plate. I looked at Russell again. He’s just staring blankly on his food then looks forward as he chewed the meat. Is he ignoring me? Then he caught me looking at him but his eyes just rolled back and forward again. Ugh! He’s clearly ignoring me! And these two lovebirds in front of me are like magnets. That’s it!

“Okay, I’m done,” I put my spoon and fork on the plate and stood up. Without looking at my friends, I quickly turned around then headed towards the door.

“Alex!” I heard Letti call my name as I went out the door.

I felt the cold wind again. Hmm… yes, this cold makes my head a little bit calmer. I looked around and saw some people walking by. I looked up and see lots of lights from the houses on the other side of the mountain. They’re like stars from the sky, but closer. I guess this is the beauty of Baguio at night.

I heard the door opened from the restaurant but I didn’t look back. I’m just standing on the sidewalk enjoying the view. Then suddenly, a warm jacket covered my back and blanketed my body.

“You’re going to get cold out here. Come on. Let’s go back inside, they are waiting,” Russell’s voice is still calm. I smelled his scent from his jacket. It smells manly.

“I’m still pissed at you,” I answered back and didn’t even bother to look at his smug face.

“I’m sorry, okay. I was just kidding around. This is the first time I’ve been with you this long and we are going to stay in just one room... so I just tried to make it fun, you know.”

“What? Fun! So teasing me back was fun? And ignoring me up until now was funny too?” I darted my eyes at him like a spear.

“Whoa! Chill, okay? I’m sorry I teased you earlier. I’m sorry I didn’t try to make conversations too, but I was just thinking of some stuff and I know you’re really pissed off, so I gave you some space, alright?” he explained and I can see that he’s really getting nervous now. Am I going to forgive him? Uhmm, nope! I think I’m going to enjoy this for a bit. HEEHEE! It serves him right anyway.

“You guys are taking so long; so, we decided to go out as well,” Kid said as he and Letti went out the door holding hands.

“So where are we going next?” Letti ask.

“I think it’s time for us to get some rest. We have plenty of time tomorrow anyway,” Russell answers. Kid nodded and placed his arm over Letti’s shoulders.

“Okay then, let’s go,” Letti says as we started walking back to the Hotel.

----

As we went back, I was still wearing Russell’s jacket. I hung it beside the room door after we got in. Russell went to the bathroom to check the heater and some water. I took my shoes off and placed it under the bed. I was wearing jeans and I want to change my clothes.

“Uhmm, I want to use the bathroom please,” I asked Russell.

“Yeah, sure. Go on. The water is good.” Russell stepped outside and took his shirt off. Oh my! His body no, no, NO! Don’t get distracted again. Remember what he did earlier. Anger, come back! Ugh, please come back! But my anger seemed to be hiding somewhere, so I just ignored everything and went inside the bathroom to change my clothes.

After brushing my teeth and changing my clothes, I stepped outside and saw Russell taking one of the bed sheets and his pillow. He placed it on the floor.

“Uhmm, what are you doing?” I asked him. He looked at me and his eyes just calmly widened.

“I’m going to sleep down here. I don’t want to piss you off again and I don’t want to give you more bad ideas about me,” he answered directly. I see him wearing a thin dark turtle neck long-sleeved shirt and grey-colored pajamas. His clothes really complimented his fit body.

“Hah! You want to sleep on the floor?”

“Yeah! Why not?”

“Well suit yourself then,” I walked towards the other side of the bed and sat there. I placed my feet on the bed and I can feel the smooth silky texture of the bed sheet. I pulled my blanket as I saw Russell getting down the floor as well. This guy.

“Are you really sure you want to sleep there?” I ask him again.

“Geez, I’ll be fine okay. I promise I won’t do anything to you tonight. So, sleep well Queen of Bitterness.”

Queen of Bitterness?! What?!

“Okay fine! Hmmp!” I covered myself with the blanket and went to sleep.

----

At first it was nothing. It was just some subtle movement. Then I can feel my blanket getting pulled away. My eyes are still closed. My blanket is still being pulled back. I remained still. I’m already half awake. And it happened again. My blanket is being pulled back and my feet are already exposed. I can feel the cold on my feet now.

My eyes are half open. What is this? Why is my blanket being pulled back? Is it Russell? What the hell is he doing? Oh wait! Is he going to sneak up to me!? Is he going to do something to me? No s**t! He promised me earlier. But then again, were stuck here in this room together. Nobody would know what’s going to happen here.

Then the blanket was pulled once again and I just had enough! This guy is already getting on my nerves! I quickly sat up and held the blanket.

“Damn it, Russell!” I almost shouted. But I didn’t see him. The room may be dark but I can still see what inside because of the light from the moon illuminating through the windows. I see the blanket moved again. That’s when I hear a soft moan.

“Ugh…” Russell is moaning. I slowly crawled to the side and peeked. I see him lying on his side against the bed in a fetal position.

Most of the blanket is already covering him. And I see his body trembling. He’s getting cold! Oh God!

I quickly opened the lamp shade beside me and walked towards Russell.

“Hey, wake up! I shook his shoulder.

“Ugh…” he is still moaning.

“Russell, come on! Wake up!” I shook his shoulder again but this time I did it much stronger than before.

“Wha–” I woke him up. Good!

“What? What’s wrong?” he asked me.

“You’re shaking and moaning. Are you cold?” I touched his hand and yes I’m surprised by how cold it is.

“N-no I’m fine… just go back to sleep, okay?” His voice is trembling. I can hear his teeth clattering a bit.

“No, you’re cold Russell. Come on, you can sleep on the bed. Come on.”

“I’m fine Alex. J-just go back to sleep.”

“Don’t be stubborn okay. Come on, you can sleep on the bed with me. And I needed that blanket too. We can share that blanket if you want.” He didn’t answer back. Poor guy, he’s so cold.

We went up the bed. I covered our body with the blanket. I laid down on my sides as I stare at him. “Are you sure you’ll be okay with me here?” he asked.

“Yep! I’ll be fine.”

“Okay…” he turned back and lay down sideward against me. I closed my eyes but I can feel him shaking. Literally, the bed was shaking. He got it bad. Oh my! I touched his shoulder and shook it as I move closer to him.

“H-hey, what are you doing?” He’s surprised with what I’m doing. And what am I doing? I’m hugging his body. Yes I did that. He turns around to face me. Our faces are inches away once again. “What are you doing?”

“Shut up. I’m trying to use my body heat to heat yours, okay?” I move closer to him. I could feel him getting a bit embarrassed. Damn it! I should be the one feeling that but here I am embracing this man. His head is just below my neck and breast.

“Hey, don’t touch my breasts okay?” I warned him. I heard him giggle a bit.

“Sorry,” he said in a dry, soft voice.

“Just relax. Take your time and feel the heat. I don’t want you to catch a cold here, okay?” I am already hugging him completely. Our bodies are like intertwined branches. His feet are over mine, my arms over his. I can feel his warm breath brushing over my clavicle. Hmm… I can smell his scent again. Somehow it’s making me feel warm too. I closed my eyes. And as I started to drift off, I heard him whisper something to me.

“Thank you….” Those words… so calm… and then he fell asleep. I can’t help but smile. I don’t know why but I found myself stealing a kiss on his forehead as I muttered good night. Oh, Russell.

----

As I opened my eyes, I saw the light. I checked my phone and it’s almost seven in the morning. I sat up and pulled the blanket off me. I looked at Russell and he is still asleep. He’s in supine position and his legs are spread apart. And then, oh God! I see it! My eyes are locked on to it, like missiles targeting a plane. His manhood! Erected! It’s like the leaning tower of f*****g Pisa!

“EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!” I let out a scream that could shatter ear drums!

“Whoa!" Russell almost jumped off the bed in surprise! He stood up swiftly and covered his morning stiffness with the pillow.

“Hey! It’s seven in the fuckin morning!” I heard someone shout back from another room. Then, I heard a knock on the door.

“Alex! Are you okay?" Kid shouted outside our door.

“We’re fine Kid! Don’t worry!” Russell answered.

“Okay see you in a bit.”

I was frozen. I couldn’t move! What the hell! I didn’t expect that. I can hear Russell talking to me. I can hear him apologize but I couldn’t react. It was big... My God! It was so damn big!

----

A couple of hours passed. We went directly to the market. We tried on some clothes and shoes. We even bought souvenirs too. I bought some for my mom and my sister. I was still trying my best to forget the incident earlier. I was just talking with Russell like usual.

After the market, we went to Burnham Park. We saw a lot of people there. Walking, having picnics, riding on bikes, eating foods, and enjoying the view. But what’s really the eye-catcher was the large pond at the center where you can see small, rowing boats. Couples and families are riding the boats, enjoying the moment.

“Hey Alex, can I ask you something?” Letti sneaks up on me from behind as we walked along the side of the road.

“Yeah?”

“Uhmm, what happened earlier? We heard your scream,” she asked.

“It’s big...” What the hell did I just say?

“It’s what?” she’s surprised. I see Letti’s face a little bit shocked and then...

“OH MY GOD! DID YOU GUYS…. mmnhggh!” I covered her mouth! Oh no Kid and Russell heard her and they’re coming closer.

“What’s going on, Letti?” Kid asked her. I tried to stop her but she pulled my hand away.

“She said it’s big! Hahaha!”

“Geez! Letti!"

“What’s big?” Kid asked, very confused. Kid looked at me and Russell. It’s like he’s picking up a puzzle’s missing piece. Then I saw his face brightened up with total surprise!

“Holy jiminy crickets! You guys did it! You guys did it last night didn’t you?” Kid teased us.

“NO! WE DID NOTHING OKAY!” I answered back and I started to panic.

“OHHH MY GOD! HAHAHA! Hey Russell, how was Alex last night?” Kid asks Russell who looks deadpan serious. Does this guy have no idea what’s going on?

“How was she?” and Letti too.

“She was… HOT,” Russell answered with the seriously dumbest double meaning answer ever!

“Wooohooo!!! Oh yeah!!!! My man!” the two idiots did a high five in front of us!

“God!!! Assholes! I’m out of here!” I walk away. This is the worst! The worst vacation ever!

“Hey, Alex. Come on! We we’re just kidding!!!” Kid shouted but I’m a couple of meters away already. I just kept walking. Then I felt a hand landed on my right shoulder. I shot a look at my left and saw Russell.

And all of a sudden, my hand just slipped away. Smacking his face hard! s**t! What the hell happened!? Russell’s cheek is so red, and my hand is still tingling. Oh God! He just stared at me. Then he held my hand – the hand that I slapped him with. He placed it back to his cheek where I had hit him.

“I’m sorry. That was dumb. That was stupid of me,” he said.

“That was embarrassing you know. If you’re going to keep doing that, then I might as well just go back home.”

He didn’t answer me. Instead he showed me some tickets, I think. Tickets for the boat ride?

“I uhmm… I was kind of looking for a good timing to ask you for a boat ride. Sorry, I said something without even thinking.”

“Okay… just don’t do it again, you hear me?”

“Right,” he smiled.

Kid and Letti stayed on the park while Russell and I rode the boat. He volunteered to row the boat so it’s just the two of us inside. We’re sitting on the boat facing each other as he was rowing slowly. I can’t look at him in the face. I looked away, just to get this awkwardness out of my system. But I know he’s still looking at me. Gosh! I just can’t look! I tried peeking at him and he caught my eyes.

“You know, you look beautiful positioned like that. It’s like looking at a good painting.”

“S-shut up!” I peeked again. s**t! He’s still looking! “If you keep staring at me like that, I might melt okay,” I told him. The atmosphere is so thick and heavy that I can hardly breathe. Seriously!

“Hehe, sorry I just enjoyed looking at you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I want to treasure this you know. I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life.”

“Where did that come from?” I asked him like I have no idea what he is saying.

“From the heart, Alex,” he said as I slowly looked at him in the face. His smile is calm and sincere. My heart is thumping like a drum, like horses racing.

“What do you mean?” I asked him. My voice is dry. I just swallowed my saliva and it felt heavy.

“Alex… I… well…uhmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

He inhaled deeply and sighs. Then he looks at me again. My God, he’s going to say it. “Alex...I...lo…” but suddenly our boat rocked! I saw Kid and Letti from the other boat. They bumped their boat to ours.

“Hey! What’s with the serious face guys? Haha!” Kid with a wide grin and looking at us like we’re fools.

“Man! You have some serious timing you know that!” Russell just blurted out to Kid. Wow! He looks serious – a bit embarrassed but serious.

“Okay, sorry. Hehehe, see yah!” Kid rowed away. Letti waved at me with a smile. I smiled back.

“Um Russell…what was that you were about to tell me?”

“Nothing…”

“Nothing?”

“Yeah... the mood just shifted, I guess.” He’s still serious. Or rather pissed off? I’m not sure. But his breath is a bit heavy.

“Hmm, okay.”

(To be continue)