Langit ng Kasalanan (SSPG)

Nasa gilid ng kama si Camila, nakaupo habang sinusubukang ayusin ang kanyang buhok. Ngunit kahit anong ayos ang gawin niya, hindi niya maalis ang tensiyon sa loob ng silid. Marcus was standing a few feet away, leaning against his desk, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her like she was the only thing that mattered. "Camila," he finally said, his voice low and husky. "You drive me crazy, you know that?" Napatingin siya sa kanya, ang mga mata niya puno ng pagtataka at pag-aalinlangan. "Ano na namang kalokohan 'yan, Marcus?" He took a step closer, and then another, hanggang sa naramdaman ni Camila ang init ng katawan niya sa bawat hakbang. His eyes, dark and intense, bore into hers, and it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. "Kalokohan ba sa tingin mo 'yung nararamdaman ko?" tanong niya, his voice dropping lower. "You think this is just a game for me?" "Ano pa nga ba?" she shot back, pero ramdam sa boses niya ang bahagyang panginginig. “You flirt with everyone, Marcus. Ano ang pinagkaiba ko sa kanila?” He chuckled softly, pero halatang may halong frustration. "Ikaw ang pinagkaiba, Camila. Ikaw." She was about to retort, pero bago pa siya makapagsalita, Marcus closed the remaining distance between them. He knelt down in front of her, his hand brushing her knee lightly. She gasped at the contact, pero hindi siya umatras. Instead, she found herself holding her breath, waiting for what he would do next. "Camila," he whispered, his voice like a plea. "You don’t see yourself the way I see you. Kaya siguro ang dali mong i-dismiss 'yung nararamdaman ko. But I see you, every inch of you. And it’s driving me insane." His hand moved, gently tracing small circles on her knee, sending shivers up her spine. “Tigil mo ‘yan, Marcus,” she murmured, pero hindi niya magawang alisin ang kamay niya. "Tigil?" he teased, his lips curving into a smirk. "Gusto mong tumigil ako, pero bakit parang hindi ka naman umaalis?" She opened her mouth to answer, pero bago pa niya magawa, Marcus leaned in closer, his face just inches from hers. His scent—fresh, masculine, and intoxicating—filled her senses. She felt her pulse quicken, her heart hammering against her chest. "Gusto mo ba talaga akong tumigil, Camila?" His voice was a whisper now, his lips so close to her ear na halos maramdaman niya ang init ng hininga niya. Her hand instinctively reached out, pressing against his chest to push him away, pero ang tigas ng dibdib niya, parang hindi siya makagalaw. And then she made the mistake of looking into his eyes. Those deep, smoldering eyes that seemed to see right through her, stripping her bare of all pretenses. “Hindi ako tulad ng mga babaeng nilalaro mo,” she whispered, pero kahit siya mismo ay hindi kumbinsido sa sinabi niya. “Hindi kita nilalaro, Camila,” he said firmly, his hand moving up to cup her cheek. “Ikaw ang laro ko, ikaw ang taya ko, ikaw ang panalo ko. And it scares the hell out of me.” Her breath hitched. Before she could respond, Marcus leaned in, his lips brushing against hers lightly, as if giving her a chance to pull away. Pero hindi siya gumalaw. Instead, she closed her eyes, letting the moment swallow her whole. The kiss started soft, tentative, pero nang hindi siya tumutol, Marcus deepened it, his other hand moving to the back of her neck. She felt herself melting into him, her fingers clutching at his shirt as if he was the only thing grounding her. "Marcus…” she breathed when they broke apart for air, her voice barely audible. “Yes?” he asked, his forehead resting against hers, his lips curling into a smile. “Sabihin mo, Camila. Ano na?” “Ang kulit mo,” she said, pero hindi niya napigilan ang bahagyang ngiti na sumilay sa kanyang labi. "Oo na, makulit na kung makulit," he said, pulling her closer. "Pero ikaw ang dahilan. So deal with it." And just like that, the space between them disappeared, and for the first time, Camila allowed herself to stop thinking, to stop doubting, and to simply feel.