For The Stars Have Sinned

I don’t know how I got home after our kiss in that alley.

I got up when my phone rang again. I reached for it and opened the inbox. The message was from Levi. He informed me to get dressed because he planned to pick me up. I bit my lower lip and squeak in excitement.

That’s right. We’re an official couple now and I want to introduce him to my parents. I quickly climbed down the bed, ran to the bathroom, and took a shower.

“Mama!” I called.

She looked up and frowned when she what I was wearing. “Where are you going?”

My smile grew wide. “My boyfriend and I are going on a date.”

“Boyfriend?”

I smiled and nodded. Mama’s eyes narrowed. “Husea! Call your Sir and tell him to come back here! He hasn’t gone far yet! Hurry up!”

I scratched my cheek. I don’t know if it’s right to introduce Levi to them now?

In less than ten minutes, Papa’s back home. Mama is already dressed and the food is ready on the table. Papa kissed Mama’s cheek and looked at the delicacies prepared by the maid.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“Talk to your daughter. She has a boyfriend now and she’ll introduce the guy to us later.”

“Boyfriend?” Papa frowned and looked at me. “You have a boyfriend that I don’t know about?”

“Actually, Pa, he just became my boyfriend yesterday.”

He stared at me intently before taking his seat at the dining table. “When will he come? I still have work to do.”

“He’ll be here in a minute, Pa.”

We waited a few minutes before an assistant came. “Sir, someone is looking for Miss Rishel. The man said he is Miss’ boyfriend.”

“Let him in.”

The servant left and later returned with Levi. I stood up. I was about to cater him when Papa stopped me. “Sit down, Rishel.” He stood up and greeted Levi. He asked him to sit across me in the dining table. Levi obeyed. We looked at each other and I slightly smiled at him. So was he.

After some pleasantries, Papa started his interview.

“What’s your job?” he asked Levi.

“I’m the band’s vocalist, Sir.”

Papa raised his eyebrows. Glancing at me before turning his gaze back to Levi. “Can you support my daughter with that job?”

“I’m not just busy with the band right now, Sir. I have business.”

“What business?”

“Entertainment agency.”

Papa nodded. “That’s good. I won’t agree if only a band vocalist becomes my daughter’s husband.”

Lyndon smiled. “I understand, Sir.”

Papa turned to me and nodded. “I’m not against your relationship. Just don’t cross the line. You two understand me?”

“Yes,” said Lyndon.

“Yes, Father.”

I smiled and looked at Levi. He was staring at me. I felt something crawling up my leg under the table. My forehead creased and I was about to peek under but I saw Levi’s winked at me. I thought for a few seconds before getting what he wanted to say with that wink.

“Rishel.”

“M-Ma?” I looked at my mother, a little uneasy.

“Are you listening?”

“Ah, yes.” I smiled before looking at Levi again. He had a big smile on his face. Maybe he enjoyed being mischievous. I felt his hand crawling up my leg so I caught my breath.

“Let’s eat,” Papa announced.

Levi pulled back his hand, before raising both hands and grabbing the spoon and fork. I cast my gaze down and hid my smile from my parent’s eyes.

We ate in silence for a few minutes. Papa and Levi talk from time to time, and it’s only about business so I couldn’t relate. Mama was also quiet and occasionally interjected in the two men’s conversation.

Papa said goodbye first because he said he was chasing a million contract with his partner. Mama took him outside. Levi and I continued to eat and when my parents were gone he got even shameless. He held my thigh under the table.

Both my cheeks burned hot and I looked away. The smile on his lips only grew wider.

After eating, we said our goodbyes to Mama. He opened the car door for me. Before going around the front and sitting in the driver’s seat.

“We have a lot of things to do, Rish.”

“Alright,” I said with a smile.

He glanced at me before starting the car and driving away.

WE FIRST went to Boljoon Church in Poblacion. Then, we went up to Ili Rock which is just a few meters from the church.

“W-Wait,” I gasped. Levi, who was walking leisurely ahead, stopped walking. He looked back at me and I smiled wryly. “I’m going to rest for a bit.”

“Sure.” He sat on the step of the stairs and stared down at me. “Hydrate your self, Rish.”

“Thank you!” I grabbed the water bottle from the body bag and sat down. Then, I started walking up Ili Rock again. Fortunately, Levi waited for me so we went up again together.

“You’re not used to this,” he said with a smile. He put his hand on my back, around my waist, to support me.

“Yeah.”

A few more minutes and we reached the flat part above Ili Rock. I gasped and breathed in the fresh air from the vast sea in front.

I walked to the edge. I don’t need to sit on the edge because I can see the sea even when I’m standing on the border. The endless blue ocean in the distance is astonishing. My lips parted in surprise when someone hugged me from behind. “I’m sweating,” I said and laughed nervously.

“Does it matter?” he whispered in my ear.

“Y-Yes.”

“You shouldn’t. Don’t be shy to me, Rish. I’m your boyfriend.”

My gaze casted down on his hand clasped on my stomach. “Levi?”

“Hmm?” He pulled me closer.

“Thank you.”

His lips came to my ear and I felt it curling upwards. “You’re welcome.”

My body stiffened when I heard a group of girls whispering behind us.

“Girl, is that Levi?”

“Is he?”

“He looks like him.”

I cleared a throat. “Looks like we have to go, Levi.”

He turned me around and made me face him. He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the Ili Rock.

Our third destination is Ablayan Peak. From Poblacion, Levi and I traveled to San Antonio. We stopped over at a fast food before continuing our journey.

I just experienced a sound trip with Levi.

I smiled and glanced at him. His voice was undoubtly beautiful. I joined in the chorus until the end of the song. A few more minutes passed by and the car stopped.

We climbed to the top of Ablayan Peak hand in hand. Fresh air greeted us and the place was surprisingly quiet. There was even a bench where you can sit and observe the 360 ​​degree view of the summit of Boljoon.

“Please take a picture of me, Levi!” I shouted excitedly.

He accepted the camera I handed over and took a few shots. I approached him and was about to pick up the camera again when he grabbed me by the waist and kissed me on the lips.

*CLICK*

“Levi!” I scolded blushing. He just laughed and showed me the picture. He is handsome in the side view.

We spent some time on top of the peak. The sun does not stand still. In fact, when we’re still at Ili Rock it was already quite cloudy. Levi invited me to have lunch before going to Dayhag Falls.

“Have you been to Ablayan?” I asked, taking a bite of a burger.

He shrugged and looked around the fast food for a moment, before staring at my face, “One time, with the team.”

“When?”

“Just… recently.”

“Oh.” I reached for the cola and took a drink before asking again. “How are you and Nicole doing? Won’t she be angry?”

“Rishel.” He held my hand. “Don’t mention her again. I want you to enjoy this day. Don’t worry, darling.”

“Okay.” I smiled.

Levi first bought a spare dress and bathing suit at a department store before we traveled to Upper Becerril. The car went straight to Sitio Ylaya, and throughout the ride, I kept my eyes on Levi. He didn’t complain. In fact, he just let me stare at his face.

“You really love to stare at my face,” he commented.

I smiled. “I can’t believe you’re my boyfriend. Back then, you were far away. But now, I’m close to you.”

“I love you, Rishel.”

My heart skipped a beat. I’m still not used to him saying “I love you” to me. It’s just… too good to be true.

“I-I love you too.”

“Why stutter?”

I looked away. I turned my gaze to the front. “I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be.”

“I will.” I smiled gently.

A few more minutes and the car stopped. I gasped for air. “Is it the last place to visit? It’s almost 2 p. M.”

“Are you tired?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

“Just tell me if you’re tired. I’ll drive you home.”

I smiled, shook my head, and turned my attention to his eyes. I reached for his cheek and gently caressed it. “You’re not wearing your contact lenses.”

“I forgot.”

“That’s why people have been looking at you for a while now and doubts if it’s you.”

He smirked. “Just let them be.”

I just shook my head at his rudeness. We got out of the car together. He had his arm around me as we made our way down to the Falls. Wild grass and a few trees were growing on the side of the road.

Levi let me go first and I obeyed. I slowly stepped down the concrete steps of the stairs. There was a handle on the side but I didn’t use it.

“Be careful, Rish.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Thanks! You too.”

Soon we reached the Falls. There’s no one around. The tour guide who came with us and Levi and I were the only people at that time.

Levi held my hand. “Let’s change clothes.”

I nodded and went with him to a hidden part. The tour guide seemed to know so he went to the other side, far from where we were.

I looked at him as he opened the backpack. “This is where I get dressed?”

“Yeah.”

“And where are you going to get dress too?”

He looked up at me. “Here,” he said. He stared at my face for a few seconds before laughing out loud. “Get dressed. I’ll wait for you there.”

He handed me the bathing suit he bought for me. He smiled before leaving, carrying the backpack. I got dressed quickly. I even hugged the dress I was wearing earlier so it wouldn’t get wet.

I went out to the secluded area and looked for Levi. But he is not there. I looked for the tour guide but maybe he was already upstairs to give us privacy. I scratched my cheek. Where was Levi?

“Levi!” I called and looked around.

After a while, I heard movement on the water. Someone came up. When I looked at the lagoon, I saw that Levi was there. I was stunned for a moment while staring into his eyes. The dominant color in his eyes was green. He seemed to think the same way because he kept staring at me.

I blinked and lowered the dress on top of the backpack. I slowly walked towards the water while staring into Levi’s eyes.

I yelped a little when my feet hit the water and snorted when Levi laughed.

He raised both arms as if inviting me to come to him. I slowly dipped my foot in the water. I closed my eyes from the cold. I might froze before even reaching Levi.

I bit my lip as I crossed the distance between us. When we were only a span away from each other, and the cold water almost reached my chest, Levi acted right there.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to his body. I released a sigh. The warmth of his body eased the coldness I felt. I hugged Levi.

“Better?” he asked.

I nodded. I felt his palm rubbing my back. And I did the same to him. I rubbed his back while hugging him.

He blew out air and crouched down. He kissed my shoulder up to my lips. I responded to his kiss. He suddenly picked me up so I wrapped my legs around his waist and held onto his shoulder.