The Captain's Only Sea (Cavanaugh #4)

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

Underwater

"Cheaters don't tell," mariing sabi ni Daumier habang mataman akong tinitigan. Nababakas pa rin ang matinding galit sa mga mata. "You're lying."

Tumayo ako mula sa silyang kinauupuan habang hindi pinuputol ang tingin sa kaniya. "Hm, you trust me?"

"I trust you, Kaleidoscope," wala'ng pagdadalawang-isip na sagot nito. "I know you. A woman of principle. For you? Cheat is cheap."

"Huwag kang masyado'ng magtiwala sa akin."

Nagkasalubong ang kaniyang makakapal na mga kilay. "Bakit?"

I put my hand on top of the table and leant my body to it. "Baka masaktan lang kita kapag nasira ko ang tiwala mo."

He was silenced by my sharp words. Dumiin pa lalo ang kaniyang malamig na titig sa akin. Taking a step closer to me, there was only inches distance between our shoes. Nilapit niya pa ang kaniyang mukha sa akin pero dahil sa malakas ang loob ko ay hindi ako umatras man lang o gumalaw.

There were janitors in the mess hall busy cleaning the tables, he would not kiss me in public. Right?

It felt like I was actually drowning at the moment, I was holding my breath. His chiselled face was just so close to me, it got me stilled on my spot.

Swallowing hard, my body turned rigid when his one large hand wrapped the side part of my small waist.

He intensely stared right through my orbs before speaking brusquely out of anger.

"Then do it. Give me pain. Break my trust. I'm yours to hurt anyway."

Pagkatapos niyang marahas na bigkasin ang mga salitang iyon sa mababang boses ay bahagya na siyang lumayo sa akin.

Binitiwan niya na rin ang baywang ko, at parang nakaramdam pa ako ng pagkadismaya. I wanted his warm hand back on my waist. But I could not tell that to him.

Gusto kong bawiin ang nasabi ko kanina dahil sa kaniyang sinabi ngayon. His words awakened me. I felt so bad. It seemed like I was so evil to tell him false answer. To feed him lies. I wanted to take it back.

Naaawa na tuloy ako sa kaniya. Sobra'ng sama ko ba? Kasi nabaguhan talaga ako sa mga nararadaman at nararanasan ko. Hindi naman pabigla-bigla pero ang hirap kasi hindi naman ako nagkakaganito noon.

Did I act so immature last night until this morning? I should be ashamed of myself.

I lowered my gaze since my conscience could not take it any longer. "I'm sorry."

Sa isang iglap ay nagbago ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. Pumungay ang kaniyang mga mata at gumaan ang kaniyang presensiya nang narinig ang paghingi ko ng tawad.

"It's okay. We're okay," umangat ang sulok ng kaniyang labi. "Where did you sleep last night?"

Hindi ba parang ang bilis niya naman yata akong napatawad? He's that mature? O ayaw niya lang ng gulo?

Bumuntong hininga ako bago umamin. "Main Laboratory, I was working. Nakatulog ako sa mesa."

"Mag-usap tayo mamaya sa cabin pagkatapos ng trabaho mo, okay?" masuyo niyang sabi.

He was all brightened yet in a cool manner. What just happened? I thought we were going to fight? It's not like I wanted that to happen. Pero kanina lang talaga para siyang isang bagyong naghahasik ng lagim sa kalagitnaan ng kagaratan.

"Okay," I uttered absentmindedly. Stunned at his sudden change of mood.

Nagtungo na ako sa Main Laboratory at siya naman ay bumalik sa bridge dahil kakausapin niya pa raw ang iilang officers niya na naroon.