All Of You

Chapter 3 ( 2 fo 2 )

Dinala ni Ivan ang dalawang mangkok ng umuusok na lugaw sa coffee table.

He sat across her from her on the carpeted floor and promptly started shoving spoonful of porridge into his mouth. 

She stared at him beneath her lashes, noting his drawn brows and coiled muscles. The guy was so tense, the ridges of his muscles standing out in sharp relief.

"What is it?"

Tinapunan siya ng madilim na titig ng binata. "What?"

"You want to say something."

His energy flared but he pulled it back just as fast.

Hinalo niya ang lugaw gamit ang kutsara. "Energy doesn't lie, Ivan," malumanay niyang hayag. "I don't have training to specifically read emotions based on energies. But any Isoff soldier worth her salt can detect energy fluctuations, and from there we can deduce the general emotions of the subject. In your case, I don't even need to feel your energy to know you're agitated. I can see it on you face and in your body language."

Nakakaloko itong tumawa. "You got it all figured out, don't you?"

"What do you want to say?"

He barked another grim laugh, but the rugged lines of his face sharpened with restrained aggression.

Canting her head, she continued stirring the porridge with her spoon. "It's better to say what you need to say than to keep it all in."

"Dishing out words of wisdom?" he sneered. "You're just perfect all around, aren't you?"

"I'm practical."

A harsh smile curved his mouth but something stormy raged in his eyes. He stared back at her with an intensity that made her heart pound.

"You need to teach me," he bit out in a gruff voice. "You can't pull shit like that and expect me to sit back and do nothing. You need to teach me what to do in a situation like that."

Ah...that's what he wanted?

Her lips curved. "Isn't that just another way of asking me to teach you how to control your abilities?"

"Is it?" he shot back without hesitation, daring her to confront him.

Tiim bagang nitong itinuon ulit ang atensyon sa pagsubo ng lugaw.

Tinitigan niya ang lalaki sa loob ng ilang segundo. Tapos, "Gusto mo 'kong tulungan kung sakaling may mangyari ulit na gano'n."

His muscles stiffened, but his face remained stony as he shoved another spoonful of porridge into his mouth.

"Did you realize how valuable your abilities are, Ivan?" pantay niyang untag. "How important? How it can save and change people's lives for the better? Did you realize the endless possibilities you can do with your abilities? Did you finally realize the weight of responsibilities resting on your shoulders?"

Ramdam niya ang mabigat na pagbugso ng enerhiya ng lalaki, pumipintig iyon kasabay ng puso nito.

"You have a saying here on Earth," patuloy niya. "With great power comes with great responsibilities. Are you feeling the burden now, Ivan?"

Marahas na tumawa ang binata at madilim na pinukol siya ng titig. "Acquainted yourself with superhero shit, Captain? You really know how to lay it on thick. You're as good as my mother when it comes to laying on the guilt trip."

"Are you?"

His expression remained on edge. "What?"

"Feeling guilty?"