Nights Like This

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Silence

Mabilis akong nakabawi at agaran ang naging pag-iling ko.

"I don't want to go with you," I said with equal conviction.

Dumaan ang bahagyang pagkagulat sa mukha niya. He glanced around and called for the valet. Binalik niya ang susi ng sasakyan bago ako giniya palayo roon. I wanted to protest at first but I figured it's better if we're alone. May ilang tao roon at ayaw kong marinig ang pag-uusap namin.

Normally, I wouldn't care if there's people. Iba lang ngayon dahil masyadong personal itong usapan namin at halu-halo ang emosyon na nararamdaman ko.

We stopped at the far side of the hotel's lobby. Hindi na ako nagreklamo dahil may privacy naman dito kahit may ibang tao. We're out of earshot.

Rex Niccolo helped me settle while I sat down. He fixed the hem of the dress so I'd be comfortable sitting down. He doesn't seem content with it so he removed his coat and put it over my thighs. Napairap na lang ako dahil hindi ba talaga siya titigil? It pains me just thinking about it. Hindi niya na kailangang magpanggap dahil alam ko naman ang totoo!

He sat beside me. Masyadong malapit kaya ngumiwi ako. He noticed my expression so he put some distance between us. Although not that great. He can reach me easily if he wants to.

"Hear my side?" he said after a few minutes of just staring at me. He's probably waiting for me to calm down.

"What is there to listen to? If you'll just tell lies, save it," mapait kong sagot. "Mama told me about it already. I got fooled once. I won't let it happen again."

"I wasn't lying when I said I'm not acting out of anybody's orders."

"Si Mama pala ang sinungaling kung ganoon?" I don't believe that. My parents are harsh but they're not liars.

"That's not what I'm implying," agap niya.

"Shut up. You'll just lie," sabi ko at iniwas ang tingin sa kanya. I just busied myself staring at my rings and nails.

"You have a problem with me and you don't want to hear me out."

"Because you'll just lie," I muttered under my breath. I'm sure though that he heard it still since we're basically in the quietest area of the lobby.

"I won't. Kailan ba ako nagsinungaling sa'yo?"

"During our whole relationship, apparently," I replied with so much sarcasm.

I glanced at him a bit and he still looks patient as ever. He's not even discouraged with how much I'm being difficult right now. Nakakamangha naman talaga ang galing niya sa pag-arte.

"Alright. It's true that your mom initially asked me to pursue you. Pero hindi ako pumayag doon. I told her from the get-go that I won't do it just 'cause she asked. I didn't like her idea. More so her reason for it."

"What reason?" I asked even if I already knew it and it's etched completely on my mind.

"She observed how different you were when you're with me so she told me to get close to you. She thinks that through that, you'd change even more for the better."

I've already heard it from Mama but it still hurts hearing Rex Niccolo say it. She really thought I was a lost cause and just came up with a stupid idea to have a guy turn me into a better person, a better child. In any way I look at it, that's just unacceptable.

"In exchange of a reward at work, right?" nanghihina kong banggit.

"Doktora mentioned that but the idea of saying yes to her didn't even cross my mind. I don't need to think hard about it because I'll obviously say no."