The Accused (A Series #1)

Chapter Fifty-Four

It was late in the evening when Calev arrived home. Tulog na ang mga bata.

Noong una ay nakipag-debate pa siya sa sarili kung hihintayin ito at makipag-usap. Sadyang hindi mawala-wala sa isip niya ang sinabi ng ina. There's a lot going on her life, and she had been through worse. It's definitely tiring. Gusto nalang niyang mabuhay ulit ng mapayapa. Gusto nalang niyang mabuhay na walang naiiwang sakit at bangungot sa nakaraan. Gusto niya na kung magpapatuloy siya, wala na ulit siyang pagsisisihan.

Kaya andito siya at kinakabahan dahil narinig na niya ang ugong ng sasakyan ni Calev. Mas dumoble ang kabog ng puso niya nang maramdaman niyang papasok na ito.

Nasa living room lang siya at makikita siya agad nito dahil bukas pa ang mga ilaw. And true to what she thought, agad siyang nahagip ng mga mata nito. Nakita niya pa ang gulat sa mukha nito na mukhang hindi inaasahang andoon siya.

Ilang segundo silang nakatingin lang sa isa't-isa. Hindi ito gumalaw sa kinatatayuan at parang hinhintay siyang unang gumawa ng aksyon. Her presence might have shocked him. Kanina lang ay parang hangin sila sa isa't isa. It might occurred to Calev that she was avoiding him or more so, mad.

After a long deliberation, she came to understand some of his points earlier that's why she wanted to talk again in a manner that they both have spaces to compromise. Palagi nalang silang nag-uusap ng masinsinan pero parang paulit-ulit lang din sila. Hindi natatapos dahil hindi lahat umaayon sa mga gusto niya. Nakakapagod.

She heaved a deep sigh and smiled at him a little as she stood up. She wanted to start this clean and calm. She's tired but she had to get this done or maybe halfway, basta gusto nalang niyang umusad ng mapayapa at masaya.

"It's late," sambit niya.

Hindi ito sumagot. Mukhang tinatansya ang mangyayari habang nakatitig sa mga mata niya. His face was void of emotions.

"We have to—"

"It's late," paggaya nito sa sinabi niya.

"I know, but we have to talk."

"It's late," ulit nito. He looked stiff and his voice was laced with finality.

She knew it's late, at paniguradong narinig nito ang sinabi niya kanina. Sa tono nito, nasisigurado niyang nakuha na nito ang gusto niyang mangyari, na makikipag-usap siya rito tungkol sa nangyari kanina. The way he acted, mukhang hindi ito sang-ayon sa balak niya.

"We have to talk, and you know that."

She did not take her eyes away from him as well. She wanted to let him know that she was determined and she won't budge again this time.

"Not now..." He said those words almost like a whisper, and that's when she noticed how his eyes looked so weary. "I don't think I can bear with what you are going to propose." He shook his head as if to emphasize his point. He spoke as if he knew what she was planning. But just before he could walk away, she spoke.

"Why did you do it?"

Halatang natigilan ito sa naging tanong niya. There was no time to stop now. Emotions should be dealt with quickly especially if it concerns your well-being.

"Do you love me?" She finally asked what she had been meaning to know when he remained silent. He did not look surprised by her question. He just looked at her, eyes void of emotions.

She just had to ask what made him do it because she was confused and distracted, and it was not helpful now that she wanted to leave and cut the all ties that bound her with him.

She had to know why he kissed her. There was surely no time to stop. She had been on halt for a long time now, she needed to press the play button again.