Minsan Pa

Chapter Twenty Seven

"What is it that you really need, Drake?"

Drake turned around to look at the woman, hawak sa isang kamay ang isang bote ng sparkling water. He decided to help himself into her fridge while she was getting dressed.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang sariling hagurin ng tingin ang babae sa kanyang harapan. She was wearing pajama bottoms and an oversized t-shirt, she was barefaced at nakayapak. Gaano man kasimple ang gayak nito, for him, she still looks like the same goddess that haunted his dreams countless times.

"...well?" Untag ni Cali. "And who told you that you can touch my stuff?" may iritasyon sa tinig nito, na ang tinutukoy ay ang pakikialam niya sa fridge.

"Oh this?" he chuckled, "you didn't even bother asking me if I wanted anything to drink, so..." itinaas niya ng bahagya ang boteng hawak sa kamay bago iyon buksan at lagukin.

"You are not welcome here. I am not sure why I have to spell it out for you, Mr. Lustre!"

Inilapag niya ang bote sa mesa bago muling tinitigan ang dalaga. "Why the hostility Calista? Hindi ko maintindihan? The way you treat me...it's not like wala tayong pinagsamahan, hindi ba?"

Drake heard her heave a sigh, na para bang pinipilit timpiin ang galit. "Look, kung wala ka namang makabuluhang sasabihin sa akin, makakaalis ka na." She pointed at the door.

Mahina siyang natawa sa nakikitang reaksyon ng dalaga.

Cali used to be a very patient person. Kahit pa nang halos ipagtabuyan ito ng kanyang ina noon ay wala siyang narinig na imik o galit sa dalaga. But looking at her now, she almost seems to be a different person. He was fascinated even more by these changes. Is it really possible for someone to change in a span of 5 years?

He casually sat on one of the dining chairs surrounding the small dining table. He grabbed the bottle of Perriere and without taking his gaze off her, brought the bottle to his mouth to sip.

"What happened to us... Cali?"

Nakita niya ang pagkabigla ng dalaga sa tanong na iyon. He's not sure if he was imagining things or there was really a flash of hurt that briefly crossed her eyes.

"Umalis ka na..."

"I need to hear it from you..." Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan at nilapitan ang dalaga. "...I need to hear it from you...exactly what happened to us."

Naging mailap ang mga mata ni Cali, as if deliberately avoiding his gaze. "Matagal na iyon, Drake...there's no use in crossing a bridge that has long collapsed," iniangat nito ang mukha at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. "I've moved on...and it was the best decision I ever did in my life," said she in a cold voice, emphasizing the word "best".

Her harsh words echoed in his ears, bago pa niya namalayan ay mabilis niyang nahawakan ang braso nito. "What did you say?"

Nagulat man ang babae sa naging reaksyon niya ay pinilit nito iyong itinago. Matapang nitong sinalubong ang mga mata niya. "Ang sabi ko, that was the BEST decision in my life. My life became so much better without you!"

He chuckled without humour, hawak pa rin ang braso nito. He must've held her arms tighter than he wanted because she flinched for a second.