The Day She Walked Away

Chapter 4

Chapter 4.

Advantage.

Troy's dark brows were furrowed deeply, and his eyes blazed with anger as he glared at me.

"Ayus-ayusin mo 'yang ugali mo, Kailene. Hindi ko nagustuhan kung paano mo tinrato si Gunner kanina," he snapped, his voice dripping with disdain.

He paused, as if struck by a sudden realization, then let out a humorless chuckle. His eyes grew distant and cold, and his jaw clenched repeatedly.

"Sabagay, mula noon hanggang ngayon, ganyan ka na. There was no hope for you to grow up," he said bitterly, his words cutting like a knife.

My brows knitted together in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, feeling disoriented by the unexpected confrontation.

"I didn't do anything wrong," I defended myself, my voice trembling slightly under his intense scrutiny. His gaze was full of accusations, making my skin prickle.

"You came here to talk nonsense. If you want to say something, diretsuhin mo ako, Troy," I said as calmly as I could manage, though my heart pounded in my chest. Matching his anger would only lead to another heated argument, and that was the last thing I wanted today.

I should be the one who's angry. He was the one who did something unacceptable to me and to our marriage. Bakit parang nababaligtad nanaman yata? The injustice of it all made my blood boil.

"Sabihin mo sa akin ng harap-harapan, hindi 'yung salita ka ng salita pero hindi ko naman maintindihan," I demanded, my frustration clear in my tone.

"Explaining it to you would be nonsense, anyway," he retorted dismissively, his eyes narrowing with contempt.

"How can we solve this if we aren't going to communicate? Ang simple-simple lang, Troy... Gano'n ba kahirap para sa'yo na makipag-usap sa akin, ha?" My voice was rising, frustration making my words sharp and brittle.

"Bakit? Pag sinabi ko ba sa'yo... Maiintindihan mo? Tatanggapin mo?" he challenged, his gaze piercing, as if daring me to refute him.

I pursed my lips and sighed deeply, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over me. This was a conversation we had had too many times before.

"Hindi, 'di ba?" he answered his own question, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Eh, hindi mo nga sinasabi," I replied, my patience wearing thin. "Ikaw ba ako? Bakit parang mas kilala mo pa ako kaysa sa sarili ko? Bakit ba ang hilig-hilig mo akong pangunahan?"

"Because that is the truth," he replied, emphasizing each word with a slow, deliberate clarity. "I know more about you than anyone else, Kailene. Kahit pa sa sarili mo."

"What's the purpose of this conversation, anyway?" I asked, my confusion mounting. Nananahimik ako sa isang tabi tapos bigla siyang magsasalita ng kung ano-ano... Tapos wala rin naman pala siyang balak sabihin ang dahilan niyon. If he wanted me gone from his sight, from this house, he should tell it to me directly.

"No, Troy. You don't know me," I said, shaking my head repeatedly. My voice trembled with the weight of suppressed anger and sorrow. "Because in the first place, you didn't give me a chance."

How could he possibly know me? When has he taken the time? Where has he shown any understanding? How could he even claim such a thing? I wanted to laugh at the absurdity. The audacity he has to say he knows me better than I know myself is almost laughable. Why does he think that? Does he know the thoughts that race through my mind? The dreams, the fears, the memories that shape who I am? How could he, when he's never bothered to truly listen or see me for who I am?