I thought I would still look stupid but my plea was quickly answered. His warm lips captured my cold lips and his tongue roamed into the insides of my mouth. Like looking for the right passage and ending up not finding any. His palm gripped my buttocks eagerly. I stopped on my own because I was running out of breath. While he was just looking so fine.
I touched his red lips and caressed his rough jaw. My mind is full but I can't figure out where to go. As long as we just remained in silence as he hugged me and I caressed his face as if I was memorizing that. The wind is blowing his hair, which makes him even more handsome in my eyes.
"I love you."
His eyes widened a bit.
My heart went wild as it was beating so fast. Those were just two words but it hurt me badly. I am so nervous about how he will react but inside I felt relieved. I know he knows that. Even the people around us know that. But coming from me is a different matter. I never thought that this would be nerve wrecking. I just felt like this is the perfect time to say it to him.
His jaw moved violently. I caressed it while there was a smile on my lips.
"You don't have to say anything. I know what's our real deal. Just let me love you, Erato."
His grip tightened on my waist and I put more pressure on his stiff body. He pressed our foreheads together and I could feel the heat and smell of wine on his breath. I smiled while my eyes were closed trying to seize the moment. I don't know when this will happen again, so I'll try.
"Come with me to Makati next month." He breaks our silence.
"Huh?" I wondered what he said.
"There's a business party." He said and stroked my arm.
I furrowed my brows. My heart was overjoyed but I was confused by what he wanted to happen.
"For what?"
My voice is hoarse, maybe because of the cold? Or his presence?
"Just ... something about the empire." My lips parted. What? Their empire?
"Why me?" I asked.
He did not answer. I opened my eyes and saw that his eyes were open and looking at me. He brushed his lips to me quickly before answering.
"You don't want to?" he asked.
"No, I mean ... it's your empire, the public will see me. Your family will see me. What will you say to them if they see me there?"
I don’t know why my heart seems to be squeezing while saying that. In my tone and own conclusion it seems that it should not be written in history. He is so far away, he is so out of reach.
"Alright." he said seriously.
I smiled lightly. There’s some emotion I can’t read in him. Is he bothered that I will not go with him? What kind of party was that and why did he think of inviting me? We stayed for more minutes until I woke up.
When we got home it was Daddy who introduced us. His face was serious as he greeted us. Did he not sleep or did he just wake up? It's already three in the morning.
"Dad." I came to him and embraced him.
He just smiled at me and his eyes bore into the man behind me.
"I'm sorry if we went home late. I had to show something to Jade so ..."
He nodded at Erato with his father figure look. Erato didn't last long and left as well. Dad didn't even get angry and didn't even ask what. As long as Erato explained enough to him.
The next few days are heaven. Erato and I earn more because of our friends of friends who always have everything. In The End, we will always meet and he will also take me home. But those days didn't last long either because I was already busy at the start of class and he was also busy for reasons I don't know. I bet he's in Manila and busy with some stuff. We don't text very often, but we do call sometimes.
"Are you alright?" Olivia asked me.
I have this big smile on my face while sunbathing in their pool.
"Yes. Why?" I wonder what the question is. He got up and sat on the sunbath bed next to me.
"Why do you seem to be having fun? Don’t you have anything to tell me?" I laughed.
"Is it bad to be happy? Come on, Olivia. Stop overthinking."
I shook my head and continued on my cell phone.
"Yeah. Maybe I'm just overthinking." I raised a brow.
"Why? Something wrong?" She went silent for some seconds before finally answering me.
"It's just ..." She cocked her head. "It's because you've been having so much fun these past few days."
My laughter exploded again.
"You know, stop vibing with Trisha’s squad. Those are just bad vibes."
I shook my head while sipping the fruit juice.
"No!" she sighed.
"How can you be so happy when there's this humor going around about Erato?"
"Huh?"
I sat up straight because of what he said.
"You didn't even mention it to me. And that's unusual."
My lips parted in confusion.
"W-what?"
"Don't tell me you don't know?"
"What do I not know?" I raised my voice to her.
She's spoiling this too much and I'm not liking it. She's always like this!
"That the Asterial will announce that Erato will officially take over his father's position." I spaced out for a bit.
"What?" I spat a raw chuckle. What is this girl talking about huh?
"Yes. I heard it from mom. And there's this hunch that they'll finally publicize the fixed marriage that'll happen between the heiress of the Li's and the Asterial." My lips parted in shock.
"You don't know anything about it?"
No! Not at all!