Undress For Me, Athena

Chapter 6

[ 'Rhie! Oh, ghad! What happened? Where have you been?' Nari asked in so much concern.

'I'm fine Nari. Ok? I'll tell you everything soon. Let me take some rest first.' I asked her to understand first that I am still really tired from the tragedy a week ago.

' What? Seriously Rhie? You've been gone for a week? No one knew whether your alive or dead.' Nari said almost shouting.

I do understand why she's acting like this because she was the only person I had when I suffered from my first nerve-wrecking tragedy.

'Ok, calm down! I'll just take a bath and I'll tell you everything. And—'

I wasn't able to finish when cold looks from those deadly eyes of my father met mine. The look I have been trying to avoid since that nightmare day.

'Get in Frhiemelly. We need to talk.' He motioned.

I got stunned for a second before giving a 'what-was-that-all-about' look at my very good friend, who suddenly turned white.

'Nice.'

'Sorry, Rhie. It slipped out of my mind.'

'You'll pay!'

I walked with heavy footsteps inside to the living room.

If I am this scared from my father's look, it's twice with my mom's.

'Sit!' my mom just said.

Yeah!

'Frhiemelly, we have learned what happened last week,' my father started with his arms crossed in his chest.

'Father, I just…t..tried to…maybe…get on a date with someone. I …never intend to bring shame to our family. I just didn't expect he knew about me that much.' I stuttered in fright.

Please, save me, I looked at Nari but there she went in the kitchen to prepare something. Great way to escape. She's at fault too. I cannot just bear all the burdens myself.

Argh! Nari. You and your crazy ideas.

'Of course, he'd know that much.' My mom spoke. My body trembled and felt like passing out. Her words are way more venomous than any creatures out there. 'Do you really think someone would be out of his mind to truly like you given your damn situation? You're wasting your time and energy.'

Oh, short but really cuts through the bones.

'Actually, I knew that. In fact, I have known that for a very long time. But since, I just thought, maybe…maybe someone out there would somehow see me more than just my unluckiness.' My voice almost broke but I cannot just satisfy them for showing my weakness.

'Hi.' A voice cut in from behind.

Shoot, I forgot about him.

Geez, how could this day be unluckier?

'And who are you?' my father asked without even accepting this man's hand who seemed to be genuinely happy to meet them.

'Ah. I'm Mr. Grinch.' He said seriously.

Both of my parents got puzzled and confused.

I suddenly wanted to laugh. He really knows how to lighten up my mood.

Then he blurted out laughing. So, did I.

'Frhiemelly!' my father hushed me but I just couldn't stop myself.

That is a good one.

'I'm so sorry. I really do. It's just that your daughter just amazed me so much with her words and humor. She's so amazing, I couldn't help but want her near me all the time. It's a perfect timing though, I heard you are her parents so, I'll take this chance to ask for your blessing to let me formally ask your daughter to prove my worth as her husband in the future. I can't let her marry someone else. By the way, my name is Dustin Hill.'

And everyone, including me, was dumbfounded by what he just said. Nari, almost collapsed in happiness? I don't know.

'We won't be staying long. We'll try to block all news from spreading out, so we expect you to do your part. Try to avoid any problems (mom looking at Dustin) that could damage the family. We are not expecting so much from you.' She firmly said and stood up without hesitation to ignore Dustin's hands.

I heard the door slammed and I finally got to breathe properly. I felt like choking.

'I want to be alone.' I said sadly as little tears started trickling down my red face.

Nari's still in shock, so I turned to go to my room.

I immediately ran because I might get naked in front of this man I was with a whole week, who…I decided not to know the name to keep things naturally unknown.

But before I get to open the door of my room, I felt everything vanished.

I just couldn't hold it anymore.

It's just so painful. Felt like, the pain I tried to keep myself from feeling from the past.

My shoulder shrugged from a touch.

'Wear this, you'll be cold.' He gently whispered and assisted me inside.

He walked me to the room and he sat on my bed. I walked to the bathroom but he stopped me and pulled me to him. I sat on his thigh, backwards.

He hugged me from behind and leaned his head on my back.

'It's ok to cry. It's okay to get hurt.' His voice broke into a cry.

His touch calms everything in me. His voice. His warmth. His gentleness.

I faced him and cupped his face with my two hands.

'I wanted to be angry from your craziness but then you managed to get your way out again, huh!' I said smiling in tears.

'You needed someone to save you, right?'

'Hm. Yes. And thank you.'

'My pleasure.'

I heard a knock and saw Nari standing there by the door.

'I don't know what's happening but this thing I'm seeing, I feel at ease. But still, you owe me one week.' She grinned before leaving.

'I'm taking a bath. Help yourself here.' I said, removing his hands from my waist.

'Ahm, maybe you need help?' he asked while grinning in his most naughty looks.

'Fine! I know you'd keep pestering me if I declined.'

'Good!' then he walked first as he removed his robe.

He got nothing inside. It's been a week, I have seen that body for a week, but still my heart flutters with all his magnificent features.

Yes, we've seen each other naked all week, but then, I don't know. He always brought me that feeling of getting shy like it's always the first time.

I stopped there looking mesmerized to this handsome creature in front of me. Still asking if this is still a part of me being unlucky. Or I am safe to assume, that somehow, I already found that one percent luck I am entitled for being a human.

'What? Why do you keep on looking more beautiful ha? Quit standing there and let's take a bath.' He smiled as he walked to me and scooped me up to his arms.

I just smiled as he carried me to the bathroom.

If this is just a dream, please world, don't wake me up. Because, I may really fight my way just to get unlucky with him.

He turned the shower on and as he stood there at my front, waters dripping down his smiling face, he whispered to me, 'I know it's late, but, hi, I'm Dustin by the way. And I'll be here with you no matter how you get unlucky.'

Then he gently pressed his lips on mine.

It's a short kiss but it meant a lot to me. 'I'm Frhiemelly.”

I took his hand for a shake.

'Welcome to my unlucky world.'

We went out from the bath and while he offered to dry my hair after insisting so much that we share in one robe, I scanned through my phone.

Then, I saw something that shocked me. I heard footsteps coming, hurried footsteps, it's Nari's for sure.

Her eyes widened from what she saw upon entering the door. Dustin happily drying my hair inside in one robe with me while I looked dreaded holding my phone.

'You two, should really take things slow. But there's something you should know. And, it's really important that you know this. I'll wait you downstairs.'

Before we head downstairs, Dustin held me.

'Whatever that is, please, choose to stay with me.'

We went downstairs, and all I know, the man I had a date last week and a man, looking older, stand before us and hit Dustin down to the floor.

'You! Shameful bastard!'

I never saw Dustin so weak and terrified. So, in a flicker of a second, I slapped that old, wrinkly man.]

***

“Ok, that's it. Thanks again for…wait! Ang…dami niyo naman ngayon na nanood.“ Wala sa sarili kong sabi nang mapansin ang bilang ng nanonood.

Maya-maya nga ay sunod-sunod na ang mga notification sa akin.

'Di ba ikaw yong nasa vlog ni DenverJCTV?'

'Siya yong cute na baliw.'

'Ok. papaubaya ko na si JC sayo. Pero pag siya sinaktan mo, may kakahinatnan ka. Kakainis, ang ganda mo kahit wala kang make-up.'

“Ano?“ takado kong usal sa sarili ko dahil wala akong kaalam-alam sa nangyayari.

Narinig ko na lang na may pumasok sa bahay, at pagbukas ng kwarto, bumungad ang pagmumukha ni Jali.

“Sikat ka na boy! Waaah!" bulalas ni Jali na nakapamewang sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

Lumabas ako para sa salas kami mag-usap kasi kakain pa ako ng umagahan. Namalengke ngayon sina Mama at Fria.

“Mamaya, kakain lang muna ko.“ Sabi ko.

Kaso, parang kung anong kirot ang naramdaman ko nang may makita ako sa table na invitation letter.

Hindi ko na muna binuksan kasi ayaw ko talagang nakakakita ng ganyan.

Inabot na kami ng gabi ni Jali sa pag-stalk don sa vlogger kaso di naman pa nagri-reveal ng face kaya di ko na lang sineryoso.

“Hoy, ayusin mo 'yong pag-tutor mo ha.“ Sabi ni Jali bago umalis ng bahay.

Nang makatulog na sila Mama, don ko pa lang binuksan ang invitation, and as expected, naiyak na ng ako.

Sakto naman na nagtext na naman tong si Unknown number.

[How are you today?- Uknown number]

Ang ganda ng timing.

[Today, I am sad. I feel so incomplete. I already accepted it but why does it still feel so heavy? - Sent]

Tutulog na sana ko nang mag-vibrate ulit phone ko.

[Let go! Or, maybe, stop denying it. It'll get lighter.]

Napangiti na naman ako.

Siguro, talagang inaabangan ko na tuwing gabi to. Pero ang hirap, baka masanay ako.