Unexpected Desires

CHAPTER 11: Unveiling Emotions

Chapter 11: Unveiling Emotions

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

As Riley's voice broke the stillness, I turned to face him, his words lingering in the air like an unspoken invitation. "Not sleepy yet?" he asked, a glimmer of intrigue in his eyes.

"No, not yet," I replied, my words escaping between the drags of my cigarette. Nags-smoke lang naman ako kapag I feel stressed. Ewan ko ba pero nas-stressed ako.

Nas-stress ako kasi hindi ko maintindihan 'yung sarili ko kung bakit hinahayaan ko si Riley na kontrolin ako. Bakit hinahayaan ko siyang masunod sa gusto niyang gawin sa akin?

"You're smoking again," he reprimanded, his eyes narrowing as they landed on my half-finished cigarette. I glanced at him nonchalantly, offering a shrug in response.

Anyway, I'm still here at his condo dahil nga ayaw niya akong pauwiin unless I spend the night here. Tinawagan ko naman agad sila Ashley upang i-inform sila kung nasaan ako para hindi sila mag-alala sa akin.

Katatapos lang namin mag-you know, at talaga namang hindi ako tinigilan ni Riley hangga't hindi kami bumabagsak sa pagod.

"Pangtanggal stress lang." I added, preparing to draw another breath of nicotine, ngunit biglang inagaw ni Riley sa akin ang sigarilyo at siya na ang umubos nito.

"What the..." I muttered, my cigarette stolen from my grasp. The real surprise, though, was that Riley himself indulged in smoking.

"Do you smoke?" I queried, bemused. Pinatay muna nito ang sigarilyo sa ashtray bago siya umupo sa tabi ko.

"Yeah, but not often. I'm more of a drinker than a smoker," he disclosed, earning my disapproving gaze. It was evident.

"Nags-smoke ka rin naman pala tapos kinuha mo pa 'yung sigarilyo ko. Sana nagsindi ka na lang ng sarili mo," I commented, my tone edged with reproach. Riley met my gaze squarely.

"I didn't want to smoke. I only took yours because I didn't want to see you smoking," he declared with a seriousness that caught me off guard. I found myself momentarily speechless, our eyes locking in a shared moment of intrigue.

Hindi ko ma-gets kung bakit ayaw niyang nakikita akong naninigarilyo. Hindi ko alam kung concern lang ba siya sa kalusugan ko o talagang inaasar lamang niya ako. Atsaka hanggang ngayon palaisipan pa rin sa akin 'yung sinabi niya na ganito lang daw siya sa mga babaeng mahahalaga sa buhay niya. So, am I one of those women na mahalaga sa buhay niya? Pero bakit? Like kakakilala pa lang naman namin.

"Baka matunaw ako niyan, Mayari." Riley's voice broke the silence, returning us to the present. I scowled at his jest.

"Tss. Whatever, Middleton," I scoffed, rolling my eyes at his whimsy. Umiwas na ako ng tingin habang naririnig ko naman si Riley na tumatawa.

Pagkatapos ng tawa ni Riley ay panandaliang katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin ni dalawa. We both turned our attention to the distant horizon, our thoughts wandering.

Palihim kong tinignan si Riley and I saw him gazing far away. He stood there, his hair tousled gently by the caress of a cool breeze. I know how handsome Riley was pero ngayon ko lang siya natitigan sa ganitong anggulo. Napakagwapo niyang pagmasdan. It was as if perfection had been sculpted into his features. His sharply defined nose invited the touch of my fingertips. The plushness of his lips, tinged with a delicate rosiness, beckoned to be explored. And then there were those ash-gray eyes, framed by long, inviting lashes. How could one man possess such a flawless face?

I marveled at the intricate details of his visage, something I'd never paid such close attention to before. It was, in a word, flawless. I couldn't help but wonder how many hearts had been swayed by his mere presence.

"Sabihin mo lang kung nag-gwapuhan ka sa akin at gusto mo kong titigan, Mayari. Haharap naman ako sa'yo eh para hindi ka na mahirapan kakatitig sa akin." Riley's voice startled me out of my reverie. I blinked and saw him grinning at me.

A flush of embarrassment immediately tinged my cheeks. He had caught me ogling at him again. Tss. Paniguradong iniisip na naman ng lalaking 'to na nagagwapuhan ako sa kaniya.

"Nag-gwapuhan my ass. Mr. Egotistical Riley, where on earth do you conjure up such arrogance?" I teased him, and he chuckled.

"Well, there's evidence to support my confidence," he remarked, even striking a pose. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I couldn't suppress a laugh at his antics. There was an endearing charm to the way he carried out these playful gestures. "Sa wakas ngumiti ka rin." Anito sa akin. Tinignan ko naman siya.

"What do you mean?" I queried, my puzzlement evident. Riley's response was a nonchalant shrug.

"I rarely see you smile. You always have this scowl on your face when you're around me." Aniya sabay tingin sa akin habang nakanguso na animo parang isang bata na nagtatampo. "Feeling ko tuloy kasima-simangot akong tao." He added.

Sandali akong napatitig sa kaniya hanggang sa hindi ko napigilan ang mapabuhanglit ng tawa. Agad na napakunot noo naman si Riley habang pinanonood niya akong mamatay-matay sa kakatawa.

"What's so funny?" he inquired, his playful pout now etching his features.

"Nothing. It's just that..." I struggled to complete my sentence as laughter enveloped me.

"What?" he pressed, his forehead creasing in mild curiosity.

Eventually, I managed to regain my composure, a genuine smile gracing my lips as I gazed upon Riley. "It's just that you're so wonderfully silly yet incredibly endearing," I confessed, my candid appraisal rendering Riley momentarily speechless. Well, minsan lang 'to kaya sulitin na niya.

"Damn it," he muttered, averting his gaze. Kinagat ko naman ang ibabang labi ko upang pigilan ang sarili kong ngumiti. His cheeks bore the blush of embarrassment, and I couldn't help but savor the moment.

"Bakit ka umiiwas ng tingin?" I teased, savoring the delightful exchange. It's my turn para asarin ang lalaking ito.

"N-nothing," he stammered, his blush persisting. I chuckled, thoroughly enjoying our playful banter. Nakakaaliw pagmasdan si Riley sa ganitong anggulo niya.

"Don't tell me nahihiya ka dahil pinuri kita?" I taunted, pushing the teasing a bit further. He swiftly shielded his face from my view. Pero siyempre makulit ako kaya pinilit kong sinilip ang kaniyang namumulang mukha.

"N-no, not at all. Stop it, Mayari," he rebuffed, though his embarrassment was evident. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, well, well, it seems Riley Middleton has a shy side," I commented playfully. He shot me a sidelong glance, and in response, I flashed him a broad, mischievous grin.

"Shut up," he muttered softly. I let out a light, amused laugh. This was the other side of Riley Middleton, and I found it rather enchanting.

"You're blushing," I noted, continuing to revel in our teasing.

"No, I'm not," he protested, yet his reddened cheeks betrayed his words. I grinned playfully, my gaze never leaving him.

"Yes, you are, Riley," I declared, the mischievous gleam in my eye unmistakable. He met my gaze and heaved a deep sigh, conceding defeat.

"Fine," he admitted, and I celebrated my playful victory with a triumphant smile.

"See! You couldn't even admit it," I teased, poised to continue my playful banter. However, before I could utter another word, Riley acted on impulse, enfolding me in a tight embrace, drawing me close to his bare chest.

"I don't understand what's happening to me, Mayari Calleope Guevarra, but damn, you're the only woman who's ever stirred these emotions in me," Riley whispered, his arms securely encircling me.

"R-Riley," I stuttered, lost for words. His confession had caught me off guard, my world momentarily suspended in uncertainty.

"I can't fathom these feelings, but you're driving me to the brink, Mayari Calleope," Riley confessed, leaving me hanging on the precipice of uncertainty, our hearts inextricably linked by the enigma that bound us.