Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

Talo

"Go to your room and take a rest," malamig na utas ni Rowan.

Kakarating lang namin sa mansiyon at agad niya na akong pinagpapahinga. I fiddled with my hands and gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry for not telling you. P-payag ka naman, 'di ba?"

Earlier, I had no choice but to tell him about my plans with Chamuel. Sinabi ko sa kaniya ang lahat habang nasa loob kami ng sasakyan. From everything that took place in the cruise ship until our plans of eloping. Of course, I left out the part where Chamuel and I made love.

Why would I even tell him about that?

"Anastacia," he boomed, "let's talk during dinner. Magpahinga ka muna."

An upset expression was on his face. Naguguluhan akong humalakhak, pilit na pinakakalma ang sarili.

"Tutol ka ba? Ayaw mo bang ituloy namin?"

"This is not the right time to talk about this. If it isn't obvious enough, I am mad right now."

Humakbang ako palapit sa kaniya. Alas kuwatro ng hapon at nasa rotunda kami, pinagigitnaan ang portiko at ang fountain nila. No one was around and the deafening silence highlighted the intensity of our emotions more. I braved his disappointed gaze.

"I'm mad, too, Rowan! Hindi ko naman ginustong lumabas ang mga litratong 'yon!" I paused to calm myself. "At mas lalong hindi ko ginustong gawin 'yon ni Ana!"

Umiling siya. Humakbang siya paalis at mukhang iiwan akong hindi niya natutugunan doon. I blocked his way and threw him a scathing look.

"Tacia, not now. I have a lot of things to do. I need to clean up this mess."

"Sagutin mo muna ako... are you not in favor of me eloping with Chamuel?"

He raised a smile without humor. "If I say that I'm not, will you dissolve the plan?"

"Of course, not!"

"Why bother asking me, then? Kung buo na rin pala ang desisyon mo?"

"Because I trust you! You're the only person close to a family that I have here. Siyempre, gusto kong malaman ang opinyon mo!"

"Alright." Umayos siya ng tayo. He towered over me, his eyes with a hint of dimness and slur. Ruthlessly, he said, "I think you're making the biggest mistake of your life."

My lips parted. What did he just say?

"Why would that be? We love each other!"

"How young are you again, Anastacia? Nineteen. And he's what? Twenty-two. Itatapon mo lahat ng pinaghirapan mo rito sa La Fortuna upang makipag-tanan at lumayag," puno ng insulto ang pagsambit niya ng huling salita, "kasama siya?"

Hot tears pooled at the side of my eyes as my throat grew tight. Sanay naman na akong maraming may hindi gusto sa kung ano man ang meron kami ni Chamuel but hearing it from Rowan, someone whom I trusted, was a fucking blow.

"I thought you were an ally! Hindi ba't hinayaan mo siyang dalhin ako sa Isla Victoriosa? Bakit mo ginawa 'yun kung ayaw mo pala sa relasyon naming dalawa?"

"I did not go against it because he told me that it's his last wish. Alam ko ring mas mabuting doon kayo mag-usap. Bukod sa walang pumapalaot malapit doon, malayo rin kayo sa mga mapanghusgang tao rito. It was best for both of you to talk... to get closure."

He shook his head, tila ba hindi sapat ang lahat ng sinabi niya bilang tanda ng hindi niya pagsang-ayon.

"But what did you do? You told him about your identity. You opened up again. Nagplano kayong tumakbo palayo sa bayang 'to na parang gano'n 'yun kadali. You're young, he's young. Paano ang pamilya niyong dalawa? Besides, how could you be so sure that all this isn't just a phase?"