teMPTATION
At home, Sophia climbed up the stairs to her room, then she took the first pill of iron supplement. Enzo had been too caring, paying all the pharmacy charges, and bringing her a take-out order from McDonald’s.
Massaging her neck, she burst with shock to see Jericho leaving Nadine’s room. Deep-rooted, Sophia’s breath came out in a rush. She shook her head to make believe it wasn’t real but Jericho was, indeed, standing right before her. He was staring at her straight to the eyes, then passed a dirty look from her head down to her toes.
She hurried inside her room, avoiding him, but Jericho, on impulse, chased her, and was strong enough to stop her from closing her door.
“Avoiding me?” Jericho dared as he made her lean against the wall—shaking—not facing him. He was acting strange, far too strange as he moved his body closer to her. “Just so you know, I picked Nadine in school today. But she fell asleep in my car so I carried her to her room.”
Where’s mom and dad? Where’s everyone? Sophia was asking herself, still avoiding those look daggers of him.
“So, your boyfriend brought you home, huh?” Jericho talked again. He saw the two in the pavement a while ago and couldn’t admit he was excruciatingly jealous. But watching Sophia closely, he was back to the perilous thought that he was madly in love with her, after all this time. He slid a childish look at her, who was about to cry, and then he rested his head over her chest, a surprising thing that startled Sophia. “Why did this happen to us, Sophia?” He cried and held her tighter, refusing to let go of her as she tried to stop him.
Watching a man turn into a boy, Sophia did not know, then, what to do. “Jericho, stop,” she said, after what seemed like ages. Although she struggled to push him away, her heartbeat said she loved him, too.
“Sophia…”
“What…?” Sophia caught her breath, and moreover, when he narrowed his eyes, she felt him pass this sharp look like a lion about to attack.
“You are irresistibly, undeniably, and dangerously in love with me, Sophia!” Jericho pressed her harder against the wall, and rushed to catch her lips. It was too fast so Sophia had no chance to, at least, even react. But his kiss was so good.
Buried under him, Sophia felt some refuge again.
Jericho lay her on the bed. Her skin flushed hot and cold, yet he appeared very attractive, and there was this aching for his touch. A dense intake of breath came from her as he knelt over her, intensely, and began scattering those warm kisses over her neck down to her breasts.
“Jericho…” A stream of hormones seemed to control Sophia now, who couldn’t help but yearn to climb into his manliness and melt him down into her feminine softness.
Then, a sudden outflow of tears came from her, as her face was pressed unto his broad masculine shoulders, dampening his navy blue polo. Her emotions poured out more and more, and she suddenly clung to him powerfully, not knowing where to hold tight to liberate the fulfilling sensation caused by his touch.
They tasted each other’s tears as they almost lost control, while holding each. Now, Jericho leaned back and fixed his eyes between her legs, driven to make his way inside of her, as Sophia struggled to catch her breath. He started loosening her blue-striped miniskirt when a roar suddenly cracked through Sophia’s ears, (was it her conscience?), and she sobbed while peeling his hands off her thighs and immediately ran to the bathroomshe felt like she would throw up.
Watching her bend over the sink with on-and-off retching, at that spur of the moment, Jericho now realized how wrong they were, particularly himself.
Then, Sophia fell to the floor, disgusted with herself. Another cry broke from her, and Jericho was wrapped with boundless guilt.
A punch on the wall was all he could do to silence the dragons inside of him. “I’m sorry, Sophia! I’m sorry!” Jericho cried too, not knowing what to do next. It was a pleasure turned into suffering, and he grew weaker and weaker, as he felt like tearing his hair out.
Nothing but the sound of weeping echoed from the two of them. “Oh, God!” Jericho yelled. “Why?” He yelled harder, as he was blinded by his own tears. He kept apologizing to Sophia who seemed frozen on the floor. Jericho couldn’t leave her. He was scared of what she could do to herself. Then he looked up at the ceiling and let out another groan. “God, I’m sorry. Forgive us.” His tone was low and trembling.
A sound of a car came from the outside, and they knew the rest were home now. Right awaycome what mayJericho would admit his mistakes and he already prepared himself to be condemned by everyone.
Philippe and Elizabeth, who escorted Grandma Lucy to the airport back to Forest Green, were talking as they walked along the corridor to Nadine’s bedroom.
“Nad, sweetie,” Elizabeth was calling. “Where are you?”
“Jericho, son! Why are you there?” Philippe was calling, too.
As for Jericho, he put his hands on his nape and waited for the door to be opened.
The lengthy silence made Philippe and Elizabeth wonder, and they hurriedly went to Sophia’s room. Although they were avoiding all negative thoughts, they just couldn’t help themselves…
There stood Jericho, looking untidy, his hair a complete mess, and they were terrified for Sophia.
“What are you doing in my daughter’s room?” On the dot, Elizabeth freaked out and rushed to check Sophia’s room. And as she looked over the bathroom, she saw her daughter lying on the floor, shuddering, with tears and an unbuttoned blouse.
The couple panicked even more, and Philippe impulsively gripped Jericho’s polo and interrogated him. “What did you do?” His eyes clouding with tears.
Jericho manned up. “I’m sorry!” He couldn’t look at his father straight.
“How dare you?” Elizabeth rushed to slap him in the face.
“How could you? She’s your sister!” Philippe couldn’t help himself no longer but thump Jericho in the face, and then do it repeatedly to his gut.
Then, Elizabeth ran to Sophia as Jericho willingly received those physical hits from Philippe.
Moments of shock passed. Philippe couldn’t believe his own negligence. But Elizabeth came back to slap Jericho over and over.
Jericho shut his eyes and ignored the blood pouring from his nose. “Forgive me! I was tempted.” He was down on his knees. “I tried to fight it!”
“If something bad happens to my daughter…” Elizabeth was quivering with fury and fear. It was the scariest moment of her life.
“No, that won’t happen!” Jericho tried to reassure them.
Somehow, it relieved Elizabeth, for otherwise, it would be a repeat of history. Just like what happened to Francheska.
“But still she’s your sister!” Philippe shouted.
“I can’t let go of her! I can’t forget her… I can’t! Because she’s my everything!” Jericho lost control of himself, too. “You can’t blame us! You can’t blame me! You can’t blame her!” Jericho yelled louder, with a howl. “We are victims here, victims of your lies and secrets!”
A flash of pity went through Philippe and Elizabeth. With seemingly impossible effort, they listened to him. He had a point, and he was undeniably right.
“It’s not that easy to let go…” Jericho continued. Silence met him. No single muscle moved. Then in a flash, he approached Sophia and kissed her on the forehead, not caring if Philippe and Elizabeth were watching him. “I love you so much, and I’m sorry.” He whispered into Sophia’s ear, and left rapidly.