The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

Basta Ikaw

Isang pilyong ngiti ang sumilay sa labi niya habang tinitignan ako gamit ang nanantya ngunit mangha niyang mga mga mata. Tila krudo 'yong mas nagpatindi ng nag-aapoy kong galit. Buong akala ko'y maiinsulto siya pero mukhang nasiyahan pa siyang tinawag ko siyang gano'n!

I glared at him all the more as I tried to calm my racing heart. Seriously? Why was I experiencing butterflies in my stomach because of his stupid smug face? What sorcery did this arrogant brute chant on you, Iowa?

"It's a compliment, Yona. Huwag kang tumingin sa 'kin na parang ipapapulis mo ako."

"Ipapapulis talaga kita!"

"For what? Stealing your heart?"

"No, for sexual assault! You're talking about my figure like it's second-nature to you. For your information, 'di tayo close!"

He glanced at our inch-away distance, stepped sideways so that our elbows would touch, and looked down at me. A furious blush stole across my cheeks at his annoyingly smartass gesture.

"Gaano pa ba ka-close ang gusto mo?"

"Don't go smart on me, now, cadet. Hindi ako natutuwa."

He cackled. "Who are you to command me? Ako na nga 'tong nagmamabuting-loob, tapos ganiyan pa ang pagtrato mo sa 'kin? Talk about ungrateful."

"Well, you could've simply helped me, then! Hindi 'yong may mga kabastusan pang lumalabas diyan sa bunganga mo."

"What are you suddenly so shy about? You were the one who barged into the Cadet Barracks and entered my room. You've seen me naked, remember?" He shot up a brow. "Ako dapat ang nakakaramdam ng hiya. I'm currently beside the woman who, out of the blue, got the pleasure of seeing my dick!"

"Pleasure?" My eyed glinted in disbelief. "Baka 'ka mo, nightmare? In the first place, why was your door open? And why weren't you wearing a towel? Baka gusto mo talagang masilipan?"

"I was fucking late!" he spat. "Ang roommate ko ang nakalimot magsara ng pinto habang naliligo ako. And what's wrong with being naked? It's my room. Baka ikaw ang gustong manilip?"

Suminghap ako. "Excuse me but I didn't want to see your... member!"

"Yet you stared at it so passionately?"

That was the last straw.

I threw a small punch on his iron-clad chest and walked away, leaving him behind me. Narinig ko ang marahang halakhak niya na sinundan ng tunog ng naghahabol niyang mga yapak. I calmed myself inwardly. It was beyond me as to why all my ugly traits reared their heads in his presence.

I was calm, elegant, and poised on a daily basis, yet a single word from Atlas Ysaguirre's mouth and there I was, ready to raise hell and high waters like a livid person in her natural habitat.

My eyes flew skywards while I was walking. I noticed that the rain transformed into a drizzle through the short span of our useless banters. Kung paanong hindi kami nabasa habang nagbabatuhan ng mga salita'y hindi ko na alam. Maybe the heavens enjoyed my misery so they turned us waterproof, that's why.

"Hey, I'm sorry," banayad na sambit niya nang makalapit.

He again shared his umbrella with me. I didn't mutter a single word. Baka may masama pa akong masabi sa kaniya na alam kong pagsisisihan ko rin naman sa huli. Less talk, less mistakes.

Sa gilid ng mga mata ko'y naaninag ko ang bakas ng pag-aalala sa mukha niya. He licked his lower lip and tilted the umbrella more to my side. Kalahati na tuloy ng katawan niya ang nababasa ng ulan ngayon.