Pursuing My Nemesis

Twenty Five

Chapter 25

I AM TOTALLY out of words.

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko, kung may dapat ba akong sabihin, o hahayaan ko na lang na magtitigan kami hanggang sa may maunang matunaw sa aming dalawa.

Unang matunaw talo. Ako na 'yon.

I could feel the heat all over my face, down to my neck, and to my stomach. Aniel was staring at me intently. His eyes were burning with passion and anger mixed all at once. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck rising just by looking at his eyes.

Those expressive dark brown eyes... Goodness.

"I know that I look so stupid right now... for making myself believe that we're on the same page," he said, and I almost choked on my own when I tried to stop myself from speaking.

We are on the same page, Aniel! We are! Nasa unahang linya ka lang, habang ako ay nasa hulihan pa.

"I admit, it somehow hurts knowing that you don't feel the same way as I do for you." Mapakla siyang tumawa. "I'm not blaming you, though. You don't know the history of my feelings in the first place."

"Aniel..." Napalunok ako.

"I love you, Nemesis," bigkas niyang muli. His eyes were still on me, nailing me on where I was standing. "I love you and, fuck, believe me. I tried not to."

Pinagmasdan ko lang siya habang patuloy ang pagkalabog ng puso ko.

"I tried to forget what I truly feel for you. I tried mirroring your anger towards me. I tried hating you back. But I shouldn't have tried harder. Because I'm a natural asshole. Trying to be more made me hurt you more."

My lips quivered. I suddenly felt my chest getting heavier.

His words... Why did it affect me so much?

"W-What made you... say these things now?" I tried to ask even though my voice was rough.

Nagbaba siya ng tingin. "That fucking engineer marched around the site and declared his intentions to you." He watched my reaction under his lashes. "He keeps on telling everyone that you two are already dating."

I blinked rapidly. Ibinuka ko ang bibig para magprotesta, pero mukhang marami pang sasabihin si Aniel dahil hindi na niya ako hinayaang magsalita.

"I know I shocked you, I'm sorry. But I don't think I can hold my feelings any longer knowing that there is a jackass running around and trying to make a move on you." He locked his gaze on me. "I'm not a jealous type of man, Nemesis. But when I do feel like I'm being threatened, I move faster than I should."

I gasped silently, feeling a rush of blood coming through my cheeks. "N-nagseselos ka?"

Aniel pursed his lips firmly. He cleared his throat and tried to intimidate me by raising his brow. I fought the urge to smile.

"Alam kong isusumbat mo sa akin na wala akong karapatang magselos kasi wala namang tayo," sabi niya at muling sumeryoso. "It's fine with me. I'm fully aware that there's no us. But I have a favor to ask you."

Napalunok ako. "Ano 'yon?"

Aniel took a step forward and reached for my hand. Nanatili ang tingin namin sa isa't isa, pero naramdaman ko ang pagkawit ng pinky finger niya sa pinky finger ko. My cheeks turned red and my heart went wild inside my chest.

"I know that I hurt you, and that made you hate me 'til death. So I promise not to force you to love me back. But I love you, Nemesis. And I want to ask you to let me love you despite my unworthiness of doing so." His pinky finger moved, tightening its grip on mine.