THE DAY HE BECAME RUTHLESS: The Metaphorical Series #2

FORTY SIX

The half part of the flight was an awkward affair that had only compounded by Dean's silence. Nangangawit na ang leeg ko sa pananatili ng anggulo nito sa bintana. Looking at Dean will only remind me of what I did a while back and the fact that he isn't still talking to me.

Nagawa ko rin namang i-justify iyon dahil rin sa pananahimik niya. Kaya dapat naintindihan niya ang ginawa ko. To feel guilty myself is just absurd. I wouldn't have said it anyway had he only done his part.

As long as he won't say his piece, then the more the people would assume that there is indeed going on between them. Whatever his reason is, I don't think I'd find myself to acquiesce with the frustration it's causing me.

"Alam mo kung bakit ko iyon sinabi. I expect for you to understand." Ito ang aking panimula.

Nakatingala siya, sandal ang ulo sa headrest at nakapikit. Nakasaksak ang white earphones sa kanyang tenga. I could hear the alternative music booming based from the guitar riffs.

Sandaling naantala ang sasabihin ko dahil sinungkit ang aking paningin ng matangos niyang ilong. I guess his face could never be a calm canvass. Because even with his eyes closed, I could still see the sheer determination. It's the kind of face that doesn't bother look back but just goes forward and envisioned a future. A man that once he dreams, he dreams big and grandiose and he's going to live it by hook or by crook.

Alam kong gising siya dahil tumatambol ang mga daliri nito sa kanyang hita. I covered them with my hand so it stopped. Napaigtad siya kasabay ang pagdilat saka ako binalingan sa nabibigla nitong mga mata.

Kumunot ang noo niya kalaunan nang marahil inaakala'y ginugulo ko ang soundtrip nito. Staring at his face longer than I should attracted a presumption that maybe, whatever I have to say is already losing its importance just because he's looking askance at my sudden action.

Umigting ang panga niya habang tinatanggal ang isang earphone. Malalim ang pakawala niya ng hininga habang pinaubaya sa backrest ang likod, nanatili ang mga mata n'ya sa akin.

"You almost spilled it, Dean. I understand why you're acting like this but that woman could be a spying reporter or showbiz news editor," mariin kong bulong. "Plus, we're in the public. Marami pang hindi nakukuntento sa sinabi ni Jaiilin dahil sa video."

Kumislot ang labi niya kasabay ang pag iwas ng tingin. Mukhang napilitan lang nang siya'y tumango. Panibagong buntong hininga ang nagpumiglas sa kanya sabay isinuko ang likod sa backrest.

Umiling ako. He still doesn't get it, or if he did, he won't welcome the fact how right I was.

"Stop acting like a spoiled teenager. Kung ayaw mo sa ginawa ako e 'di sana sinabi mo na ang totoo sa publiko. So you can't condemn me on this and you knew that."

"She's a dear friend of Madam Vee and tita Elle. She's set to shoot a scene in Cebu so we're in the same plane. She's just fond of me." His tone was thorned with monotony.

Wala sa sariling umangat ang kilay ko nang sa wakas ay nagsalita siya. Inasahan kong matagal pa siyang magmamatigas. But so what? Ang pinahayag niya ay hindi naman ang gusto kong malaman.

"I'm not interested in her. Pero mukhang gusto ka pa niyang asawahin. She's like what? Forty five years old and wants to get laid with a twenty five year old guy?" I didn't mean to sound bitter and sarcastic.

My eyes rounded when he inched his face close. Muntik nang humalik ang matangos niyang ilong sa ilong ko.

"Don't say that within her radius," Dean whispered. " It's going to offend her and she's not gonna like you for it."