Scourged

Chapter 4 | H A P P I E R

H A P P I E R

NANUYO ang lalamunan ko habang nakatayo ako sa harap niya at ganun-ganun na lang ang pintig ng puso ko sa takot at kaba. But a sucker that I am, I still couldn't help myself from gazing at his face and look at his eyes that were full of cynical glint, drinking him in with a greed I couldn't suppress, no matter how much I try. I wondered if Rozach ever looked soft and approachable? Or did I just forget that about him?

His jaw worked as he looked at me like I'm the worthless person he's ever known, and even though my heart was dangerously palpitating inside my ribs, I tried hard not to turn away and run. Kahit ngayon lang. I know he hates me, that I'm the least person he wanted to see, but I don't want to walk away. Because this might be the last chance I'll have to be this close to him.

Pero bigla siyang pumuhit at nagsimulang umalis.

"Zach, sandali." Mabilis akong humakbang pasunod sa kanya at pilit na inabot ng kamay ko ang kaya nitong abutin para pigilan siyang makalayo. My hand desperately latched onto his shirt when we got to the elevator.

He stopped just before he reached the button and with a slow move, he turned his head to fix my hand an annoyed look. His piercing eyes climbed up to mine. "Take your shit off me," he drawled.

Agad ko siyang binitawan na tila ako napaso at tumingin sa damit niyang nalukot dahil sa akin. "I'm... sorry."

I heard a strangled groan, kaya ako napatingin ulit sa kanya. His head was angled up and his eyes were shut as if he was struggling to curb his anger.

Mali yatang pinigilan ko siya. Maybe I should talk to him when he calms down... Pero paano kung totohanin niya ang sinabi niya kanina?

He suddenly whirled around and my heart skittered farther from where it was caged. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at pinilit na kumalma.

I thought he'll leave. Hinintay ko siyang umalis, pero hindi niya ako iniwan katulad ng inaasahan ko. He actually stayed even though we both know he couldn't wait to be so far away from me. "What?" he snapped.

Sinalubong ko ang matalim niyang mga matang nakatunghay sa akin. I swallowed. "G-gusto ko lang sabihin na..."

He sighed heavily that screams impatience.

"Walang kasalanan si Erika kaya 'wag kang magalit sa kanya. She's just worried about the band, kaya niya ako inalok..."

"And you're not even slightly ashamed that you're listening behind the door."

I felt the heat of embarrassment rising up to my face. Pakiramdam ko'y nanliliit ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. I could see that he's growing angrier every time I open my mouth and I feel I was shrinking with every second that I stood there.

With an effort, I kept my voice steady, trying to quell the ache that was burning inside me. "I know you're angry and you don't want me here—"

"Angry?" He mocked with a laugh. "Wala ka ba talagang alam? You're more stupid than I thought."

Hinid ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. "You don't have to quit. I'll do it. I'll leave once Erika found a replacement. Ako ang aalis—"

"How predictable..."

"—pagtiisan mo na lang na nandito ako."

"Pagtiisan?" asik niya ata mabilis na hinaklit ang braso ko. His grip was so painful on my arm and yet, it still lit tiny fires that raced over my skin like how it has been. "Bakit ko gagawin iyon? Sino ka para pagtiisan at pag-aksayahan ko ng oras?" he gritted and let my arm go, jerking it off. "I can't even stand to look at you."