"Ano'ng pag-uusapan natin?" was my first sentence when we're finally ready to talk. Nasa veranda kami ngayon ng kanyang penthouse, tinatanaw ang kalakhan ng siyudad. We're both leaning against the railing.
"Bakit ka galit sa'kin?"
"Hindi naman bago 'yon." I said and puffed a smoke. I need to smoke to calm myself. I don't think I can survive from this if I'm not doing anything other than talking to him.
He sighed.
"Bakit nga? Why do you hate me so much?"
I glanced at him. Unlike me, he's facing towards me. Kaagad kong binalik ang tingin sa mga mabababang gusali sa harap. I was met by the warm wind. My forehead furrowed with the discomfort it gives to me. Kaagad kong naalala ang lugar na pinapatayuan ng bahay ni Harvey. Hindi kagaya rito ay malamig ang hangin doon. Mas maganda ang tanawin.
"I just hate you by nature." I shrugged and clenched my cigar in my teeth. I want to be honest as much as possible pero may mga bagay talaga na alam kong hindi ko masasabi sa kanya. Isa na roon ang pagkakagusto ko sa kanya noong mga bata pa kami. That's the root cause of my hatred on him.
"Tss."
"You don't believe me? Galit ka rin sa'kin 'di ba?"
"I have my reasons why I hated you."
"And that is?"
"Your men. Kahit nasa ibang bansa ako, rinig na rinig ko ang mga lalaking nakakasama mo..."
It's my time to hiss back at him. Of course, you have me followed. I almost blurted out.
"Alam mo namang lalakero ako–"
"But you're married to me." sinsero niyang ani na ikinatigil ko. I am always caught every time he said that line. Na sa ano mang sitwasyon ay tama siya't mali ako dahil kasal kami. Being in this marriage was at his advantage.
I placed my forearms on the railing to relax a bit. I glanced at him. "Bakit ikaw? Babaero ka rin naman."
"I was once a womanizer but when I married you, I became a one-man woman, Step. Hindi ako magsasawang sabihin na ikaw lang ang tanging babae ko."
I snorted. Shaking my head, I sipped my cigar.
"Hindi ka naniniwala?"
Natatawa akong lumingon sa kanya. "Hindi."
"Bakit?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. Do I need reasons for that? Kailangan bang may rason kung bakit galit ako sa kanya? Kung bakit ayaw kong maniwala sa pinagsasabi niya? Marahil ay may mga rason ako. Pero hindi ko 'yon sasabihin sa kanya.
"Bakit gano'n? Ang hirap mong maniwala sa mga sinasabi ko pero kapag ikaw, paniwalang-paniwala agad ako." he faced the city and let out a chuckle.
Yumuko ako at marahang nagpakawala ng hangin at muling pinuno ang baga ng hangin. Kanina pa ako kinakapos sa hangin at ngayon ay dumagdag pa ang paninikip ng dibdib ko sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. This is more awkward than I expected.
"Do you know that you're being unfair to me?"
I tapped the stick onto the railing. Pinanood ko ang unti-unting pagkahulog at pagkawala ng mga abo. Kung titingnan ay parang hindi ako nakikinig sa mga sinasabi niya dahil sa mga ginagawa ko at pinagkakaabalahan. Pero ang totoo ay halos ayoko nang huminga at maging ang pagtibok ng puso ay pigilan ko na, huwag lang makalikha ng anumang ingay.
BINABASA MO ANG
Watch my Step (Friend Series #4)
RomanceStatus: Completed Step, a stone-cold playgirl, had finally met her match when she intended to stomp her feet on the notorious playboy of St. Joseph. Never in her wildest dream had she ever dreamt that a match she started to play with will only burn...