Illicit Attraction

Chapter Two

"Adalira!" Atasha yelled my name excitedly. If I made it ten minutes late. I think we won't be able to see each other for she's about to leave her brother's grave. My eyes over-look her. It instantly jump on Damon's gravestone. The pink colored candle on the stone is half-way done.

"I missed you!" she hugged me as tight as she could and it feels like she doesn't plan on letting me go soon.

My hand crawl on the small of her back. I unconsciously scrape it when I heard her sob and have my shoulder wet by hear big tears. "Shh." I hush her even if I'm close to crying too. The last time I saw her. We're both crying for our bleeding hearts. Mourning for the man that we love the most. I didn't expect that after two years, we will cry again like this.

"I don't know what to ask or how to start a conversation with you." Atasha opened a can of grape fanta and place it on Damon's gravestone. The corner of my lips lift up. That's his favorite soda while Atasha and I prefer the orange.

"Tell me about Barcelona." It slip out of my mouth so casually. Atasha's eyes sparkle that's when I know that I push the right button. I know she has a lot to tell me about Barcelona and her life there.

Though it looks like I just bring up that topic to avoid making Damon our topic. I'm quite genuinely curious about her experience there. I wanna hear her story because I don't have mine to share with her in the first place.

"You really should experience the Sonar Festival. If Damon is still alive O know he'd enjoy it too." Atasha bite her lower lip after she realizes what came out of her mouth and how it affected me.

"You're not yet over him? Not that I want you to forget Damon. Of course I don't. I just think it's about time we move on. We deserve to be freed from the tragedy of his death."

I fake a smile. "I'm trying too, Atasha. Soon. Hopefully soon."

"Soon," she repeated.

The sky is already red and frosty when we decided to part ways after enjoying its tranquility. She told me she has a flight to catch and she's running late.

Atasha left the memorial garden first. Just when I was about to leave too. Something deep within me pulled me to stay for a little longer and so I sat on the bermuda grass. I earnestly watch how the candle run out as the time passed by on Damon's gravestone.

The longing I caged in my heart finally find its way out. Tear overflow from my eyes after I kiss his grave, leaving the red mark of my lipstick there.

"We once talked about reincarnation. If it's true then quickly find your way back to me. I'm tired wishing you're still with me. Missing you like this is killing me in more ways than one."

"ARE THEY HERE? Did they come?" Uiji is nervous and anxious as hell. She's find it scarier that Possilicos, specifically Pharrel most probably ditch this recital than failing with her piano performance up on the arena's stage later.

I finished re-applying a highlighter on my cheekbones. "I don't know. I'm not even familiar with their faces," I said as a matter of fact. Uiji rolls her eyes before she type something on her phone.

"This is them." She pointed the left side of the screen of her phone."This man with slick back long hair is Pharrel. The oldest one is Bishop his uncle and--- Adalira!" Uiji shouted my name after realizing that I'm no longer looking on her phone and listening to her either.

"You're obsessing on them. It's creepy. I'm gonna have to consider it a miracle that it didn't cross on your mind to show up on Pharrel's place naked."

I raise my brow at her. "Already did that. Didn't work," she confessed.

"W-What the f**k? Are you for real? Oh my... I'm gonna have to stay away from you, Jung Ui Ji you're a psychopath in the making!" I exclaimed dramatically. Uiji lightly hit my arms and start laughing.

"Ms. Ymozhen? It's your turn." Uiji squeezes my hand. She show me her handphone. "I'll take a video so you can watch your performance later," she mouthed and we both left.

I settled on the wooden chair placed in front of the grand piano. The red velvet curtain of the stage is still close.  The organizer starts counting from one to three then the curtain opened slowly, revealing me and the white piano.

Around of applause from the guests bombarded my ears. They didn't last long though.

I breathe deeply and carefully place my hands and fingers on the keyboard of the piano. For the second time I sighed. When my breathing started to calm. My fingers started to smoothly press the notes. They'll move fast then slow and fast again, depending on how the melody of the symphony should move.

While my hands and mind are focused on my performance. My eyes ocassionaly roam around. On the first raw and the finest seats. My eyes stop to meet the pools I've met once. That dark-hooded, menacing eyes.

He's here. The man from the dessert bar!

Before my fingers slips out and make a mistake. I tore my eyes off him and darted it back on the piano. My eyes didn't dare to leave the grand piano again until my performance ended.

For the second time as I stood up from the wooden white chair. The guest in the arena joyfully clap their hands.

I bow my head and smile to everyone until the big curtains close.

"Uiji can I see the video?"

Uiji give me that apologetic smile. "That. I saw Pharrel together with his uncle and cousin in the crowd. I forgot about the video."

I sighed in disappointment. "Sorry---"

"Forget about it." I countered.

"They were mesmerized and amused by your performance. I heard Pharrel teasing his cousin, Nicodemus. He said he's smitten. Love at first sight," she said.

My forehead knotted. "Nicodemus? Is he the guy with hooded eyes, thin lips and chiseled face?"

"Bingo!" she pointed me.

Uiji poked the left side of my waist. "The door of love is now opened," she announced.