The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 19

Kabanata 19

Crime

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. "What are you doing here?"

He cocked his head and chuckled. Nakasuot siya ng isang simpleng asul na dress shirt, itim na pantalon, at itim na Nike sneakers. A dogtag necklace hung on his neck and his usual gold Rolex wrapped on his left wrist. Nagpagupit siya kaya maikli at clean-cut ang buhok niya ngayon, 'di tulad noong nakaraang linggo na mga tatlong pulgada ang inihaba.

"Greeting you, of course."

"Oh..." lutang kong sambit.

He motioned the bouquet of flowers toward me. "Aren't you gonna accept the tulips?" 

Natauhan ako. Tinanggap ko 'yon sa nanginginig na kamay. Paano nangyari 'to? I was crying earlier and now I was suddenly catapulted in front of him! 

"Wala ka bang training?" kritikal kong tanong. "Baka tumakas ka na naman?"

"Wala," iling niya. "The company needs me right now so I took a break from the camp."

I arched a brow. "And they easily allowed you to?"

"Alam naman nila ang sitwasyon ko."

"So may special treatment ka talaga?"

"It's the same with everyone else."

Iniling ko ang ulo ko sa kabilang banda na tila ba nag-iisip. It was a mystery to me as to how their school worked. Para kasing napaka-malaya nila kumpara sa ibang military students, e. 

I was still looking at him with curious eyes and he must've sensed it so he sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"I already told you, hindi katulad ng PMA ang LAFOMA. The camp's administration is composed of Retired Generals and some chosen Majors. They get paid a lot by the cadets' rich families. Hindi sila pwedeng maging ganoon kalupit sa amin."

"Because of money?"

"Well, that, too. Pero walang balak ang mga kadete roon na manilbihan bilang sundalo ng Pilipinas. We also have a full sched from Mondays to Saturdays. Hindi naman nila mamasamain kung resonable ang hinihingi mong break." A line formed between his eyebrows. "Why? What did you think were we doing there?"

"Train and shoot?"

"Do we look like assassins to you?"

Ngumuso ako. "Well, hindi ba?"

"Hindi," aniya at saka pinitik ang noo ko. I winced. "We do our Maths, Sciences, and other academic subjects, too."

Hinawi ko ang kamay niya at tinignan siya ng masama. Bakit kung makapag-usap kami ngayon ay parang walang nangyari sa 'min noong nakaraang linggo? I have to admit, I missed him and I regretted pushing him away. Pero anong magagawa ko? That was the right thing to do!

"Still. Bakit nandito ka? Your company might need you."

"But you look like you might need me, too."

A cocky smile rose on his lips. Gusto kong umirap sa pagiging mapaglaro at pagiging walang pakealam niya sa mga tanong ko. I was only asking because I didn't want him to break the rules for me again!

"I don't!"

He shrugged. "Whatever makes you sleep at night, love."

"I thought you wouldn't see me anymore?" may pagtatampo roon. "Ang sabi mo, nirerespeto mo ang desisyon ko kaya 'di ka na makikipagkita, 'di ba?" 

"Bakit, akala mo ba ikaw lang ang marunong magsinungaling?"

Pinamulahan ako ng pisngi nang matanto ang sinabi niya. I wanted to protest but I got bereft of words. He took a step forward and caught my hands. Malamyos niyang hinaplos 'yon na para bang maaalis niya ang lahat ng sakit sa pamamagitan ng hawak niya. Nang magkatinginan kami ay pinagsalikop niya ang mga daliri namin.