Chasing Chances (Chase Series #2)

Chapter 36

"Babe..." Bumalikwas si Arianne sa direksyon ng pinto nang marinig niyang bumukas iyon. She hadn't seen him yet—as her eyes were still shut at the moment—but she was sure it was Dale who entered their room. "You came back," she lazily said as she opened and instantly laid her eyes on him.

Dale stood just near the bed where she was currently lying down. He didn't say a word but he pinned his dark eyes on her with his knuckles on his hips.

Medyo kakatwa ang tinging iyon, but she didn't mind. She decided to sit up as their gazes met. "How's Zia? Nahatid mo ba siya sa school?" she asked, yawning.

"Hindi."

"Hindi?"

"Ayaw ni Selene," he coldly said. "Dumistansya na lang daw muna ako sa kanila ng anak ko."

"What? Anong drama na naman ang trip ng ex-wife mo?"

Doon na kumunot ang noo ni Dale at ibinagsak na niya ang mga kamay niya mula sa kaniyang balakang. "More like anong drama mo?" he sternly questioned.

Hindi naman sumigaw si Dale, but his voice struck her ears like a thunder. "Huh? What do you mean?" balik na tanong niya.

"Selene told me everything!" Lumapit pa siya kay Arianne. Mabigat ang bawat hakbang niya. "Ano 'yon? What were you trying to do? Anong gusto mong mangyari? Bakit mo siya kinausap at gano'n pa talaga ang mga sinabi mo, ah?!" he seriously questioned. Nagpipigil pa siya sa sandaling iyon pero medyo lumalabas na ang galit niya sa tono ng boses niya.

Her last conversation with Selene on that goddamn coffee shop instantly flashed back on Arianne's mind. A sigh quickly escaped from her as she ran her hands on her head to the tip of her hair. And by this time, she just gave him a look that was between tired or bored.

"What? Tititigan mo lang ako nang ganiyan? You won't bother to explain?" he questioned, keeping a glare on her.

Arianne sighed for the second time. "Why would I even bother to explain myself? Eh, hindi mo rin naman ako maiintindihan," she said, getting out of bed.

"Talagang hindi ko maiintindihan." Sinundan ng tingin ni Dale si Arianne, habang nakapamewang pa, nang lampasan siya nito para magtungo sa banyo. "You—of all the people in this fucking world—should be the one supporting me pagdating sa pagpapakatatay ko sa anak ko, eh. Pero mas gusto mong makipag-away sa ex-wife ko at sabihan siyang ipagkait na niya sa 'kin ang anak namin. God, anong klaseng partner ka?"

Rinig na rinig ang pagdadabog ni Arianne sa loob ng banyo habang naglilitanya si Dale pero nagdesisyon siyang lumabas nang marinig nito ang huling sinabi niya.

"Anong klaseng partner ako?" she reiterated as she stood near the bathroom door and faced him with blaze of anger in her eyes. "I am an insecure and jealous partner! Iyan naman ang tingin at gusto mong marinig, 'di ba?!" she exclaimed, clenching her fists.

Those words made him look up to the ceiling, squeeze his eyes shut for a second or two, and heave a heavy sigh.

"That's what you see, Dale!" pag-uulit pa ni Arianne. "Hindi mo nakikita na concern lang ako sa 'yo. Nagbubulag-bulagan ka pa kasi na may chance ka sa anak mo pero ang totoo, wala! Pinapaasa ka na lang nila, babe! They are just taking advantage of you. Baka nga ginagantihan ka na lang nila—"

"Hindi gano'n 'yon!" he exclaimed, cutting her off. He gazed at her again this time.

"Admit it, babe!" she fired back. "Iyang anak mo, manang-mana sa nanay niyang bruhilda! At malamang sa malamang, malala na rin ang pagka-brainwash sa kaniya. No wonder she's such a bitch like her mother—"

"Don't you dare call my daughter that!" he thundered. Halos manlisik na rin ang mga mata dahil sa paninibughong nararamdaman. "How dare you call my daughter a bitch, kung sa ating lahat dito, ikaw ang—"