Sunbathe Under The Thunderstorm

Chapter 10: Unfinished business

RANKLING GLARES was drawn on his eyes instead of his supposedly gentle gazes. And just like the phrase he just told me, it was the only time that I got to see that expression again.

"Athena naman!"

"What?!" An immediate reaction although I flinched because of the way he shouted. "Bakit?! Bakit noong ako, convinced na convinced ka?! Bakit noong si Catherine, hinayaan mo na lang, then moved on?!" My tone was filled with disbelief and disappointment.

"Kasi halata naman—" Koa was about to explain but I cut him off.

"Halatang ano?" I tried confronting him as I leaned towards him.

Dahil doon, medyo natigilan siya at napaiwas ng tingin na para bang ayaw niya sa sitwasyong kinalalagyan niya. "I had a glimpse of the powerpoint from Catherine as well, at hindi nga kumpleto. It's not her," Koa explained.

"Then who?" quickly, I rebutted.

Dismay reflected on his face. Napahilamos pa siya saka ako hinarap ulit. "Athena, we have no time for this argument. Hindi natin kailangang magsisihan ngayon at dapat nating gawin 'to muna dahil maraming nakasalalay sa project," Koa carefully discussed. He sounded like mocking, he sounded like he wanted me to understand it in an insulting way.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa naging sagot niya. "E, bakit kanina?"

"Athena naman. . ." This time that phrase sounded begging. "Stop testing my patience. . ." Koa begged, yet insulted me at the same time for what he said.

Natigilan akong saglit. Blinked a couple of times after my mouth twitched, as I couldn't react or even move on that exact time. Matapos ang ilang segundo ay peke akong natawa. I even pointed myself while looking at him in disbelief.

Once again. . . Disappointed, sad, and mad.

"Ako pa talaga," I sarcastically responded. "Alam mo, hindi kita maintindihan, e," I admitted with my voice filled with frustration.

Koa's grimace vanished. His gentle gazes, his teasing lips, the well structured edges of his face. They all came back, but this time, there was a hint of remorse and melancholy. Matagal niya akong tinitigan na para bang hinahayaan niyang kausapin ako ng mga mata. I saw him gulped before looking away from me. "Because you never tried to, Athena. . ."

Felt offended, I managed to form a smirk. "Hindi ba dapat ako ang nagsasabi nyan? Hindi ba dapat ako ang masama ang loob rito? Ako nga ang hindi mo iniintindi. Ako. Ako. Ako!"

"Athena, hindi lang ikaw ang kailangan intindihin dito!" Sa pagkakataong 'to, parang handa na siyang makipagsagutan sa akin.

Hindi ko naman maiwasan ang pagtaas ng kilay ko. "Bakit? Bakit kailangan kitang intindihin? Ano bang dapat kong intindihin?" This time, I was shouting.

Akma siyang aalis sa harapan ko matapos niya umiling-iling pero pinigil ko siya. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Ayaw ko sa lahat yung tinatalikuran ako! Alam mo 'yan!"

"Yes, I know. I know everything. Everything about you." Pigil ang mga emosyong pinapakita niya. Koa massaged his temple. "For the benefit of everyone, can we just stop this for now? Parehas tayong hindi okay ngayon. Mag-usap tayo kapag naayos na ang project at maayos na rin ang emosyon natin, lalo na 'yang iyo. . ." Umiwas siya ng tingin na para bang pinakakalma ang sarili niya.

He looked down and I didn't like that gesture of him. Para bang minamaliit niya ako. Dahil ba siya ang boss dito na pwede akong utus-utusan? Dahil ba mas malayo na ang narating niya, kahit na nangako ako sa sarili kong malalampasan ko lahat ng nanakit sa akin noon? At anong karapatan niya para iparamdam sa akin 'yon?