Tides of Betrayal (Casa del Pueblo Series #1)

Kabanata nineteen

Kabanata nineteen

Betray

Ang titig ni Apollo ay matalim. It hit me like a wave. His jaw clenched tightly, as if he was barely holding something back.

It was a hardened look, as if he had put up walls that I couldn't break through. It was a look that made my chest tighten, knowing I was the one who had put that distance between us.

He had no reason to be hurt... no right, even, given that we'd never said what we were. But in that moment, with the weight of his gaze on me, I felt as if I'd done something I couldn't undo.

I wanted to look away, but something about the way he stared, guarded and resigned, held me captive. It was like he was silently telling me that he'd finally accepted the reality of us... whatever "us" had been, and it was a look that left a hollow ache in my chest.

Pagkababa ko, kumilos agad ang mga paa ko bago pa man ako makapag-isip. My heart was still racing from that piercing look Apollo gave me.

Nanatili siyang nakatayo doon, matikas at kalmado, but something about him felt distant. Cold. Hindi niya man din ako tiningnan habang papalapit ako sa kanya, like I wasn't even there. Nakatingin siya sa malayo, or maybe nothing at all.

"Apollo," tawag ko sa kanya, my voice almost swallowed by the noise around us. But still, no reaction. It was like I wasn't even speaking to him, parang walang kwenta ang presensya ko sa kanya.

I stopped a few feet away, hesitant now. The space between us felt like miles, despite the physical closeness. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight... hindi niya ako tiningnan, hadn't acknowledged me. It was as if that brief moment, that look we shared, never even happened.

"Apollo, what's wrong?" tanong ko, frustration creeping into my voice. Pero, wala pa rin.

His silence was deafening. Every second that passed without him turning to me felt like an eternity. Why was he doing this? I fought the urge to reach out and touch his arm, to force him to look at me, but something told me that even if I did, he wouldn't react. He wouldn't give me what I wanted... what I needed.

There was an unfamiliar heaviness in my chest, a sense of being shut out.

"Elle," rinig kong may tumawag sa aking likuran.

Agad akong napalingon at nakita si Zeke, palapit na may nakangiting mukha. "Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to join me and my family for a bit? They're eager to meet you. Plus, we're having drinks. It could be fun."

I forced a smile, trying to act like my mind wasn't spinning. "That's really sweet of you, Zeke, but I think I'll pass for now. Maybe next time?" my voice was gentle, but firm. His smile faltered for a second, but he nodded, respecting my choice.

"Alright, no problem. Just let me know if you change your mind," he replied, giving me a quick wave before walking back toward the crowd. I sighed in relief but couldn't fully relax. My eyes instinctively darted to where Apollo had been standing.

But he wasn't there anymore.

My pulse quickened.

Without another word, my legs moved on their own, following the path Apollo had taken. There was a quiet urgency in me now. I didn't care if I looked desperate or if it seemed like I was chasing after him. I needed to know what was going on.

Habang palayo, unti-unting naging tahimik ang paligid. Nawala ang masiglang ingay ng kasiyahan sa likuran ko hanggang marating ko ang mas liblib na bahagi ng mansyon. Ang hangin dito ay mas mabigat, at mas madilim ang gabi. Bumilis ang hakbang ko, sinusuyod ang paligid, umaasa na makita siya.