The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 31

Kabanata 31

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"This will be your cabin for the meantime. We will dock at Batangas Port at around 10 PM, will board a private bus to NAIA for approximately two hours, and will fly through a private plane to Honolulu, Hawaii by 11 PM. Bukas pa ng alas nuebe ng umaga tayo makakarating doon. The actual cruise ship for Tacia and Chamuel's wedding will be waiting at Oahu."

Tinupi ko ang laylayan ng pinaglumaan ko nang kulay lilang bestida bago umupo sa malambot na kutson ng cabin bed ko. Ito rin ang suot ko kanina sa cafe kaya bahagya pa rin akong amoy kape. I sighed. Inangat ko ang tingin ko kay Atlas at nakitang nakasandal siya sa pintuan habang nakahalukipkip at madilim na nakatingin sa 'kin.

During the drive earlier, I didn't get to be as uptight as I should've been because I honestly thought that I would go to jail. Sinulit ko ang mga pagkakataon ko kasi akala ko'y 'di ko na ulit 'yun magagawa sa kustodiya ng mga pulis. And now that I learned about Atlas' actual scheme, instead of feeling relieved, my slightly deadened rage for him awakened from the grave.

Did he think that I would be happy because of this? Sa tingin niya ba ay sasambahin at pasasalamatan ko siya dahil 'di niya ako ikinulong? Aber, kung ganoon lamang pala'y sana ibinagsak niya nalang ako sa presinto! I would prefer it than this... fucking vacation.

"Why did you bring me here instead of the precinct?" I asked icily.

Tumagal ang matalim na tingin niya sa akin. "You sound ungrateful."

"Because I am," asik ko at iritadong tumayo. I walked towards him and pressed my forefinger against his chest. Tinitigan ko siya. "If this is your way of saving me, then you should've just let the police arrest me! Hindi 'tong nakikialam ka pa."

We held each other's eyes for a while. Bakas ang 'di paniniwala at galit sa kaniyang mga mata. Of course, he would be mad. He went through such lengths to save me and I wouldn't even say a simple thank you back. But it was true. I wasn't grateful, in fact, I felt insulted.

"Hindi ako nakikialam," mariin ang bawat bigkas niya ng salita.

"E anong tawag mo sa ginawa mong 'to?" I snorted and retreated my hand. Umayos ako ng tayo at bahagyang umatras. "You don't know what I went through every day after knowing that the authorities were looking for me. I lived in constant fear, Atlas! I was scared... and when you locked your cuffs on my hands earlier? I was fucking devastated."

Napalunok siya. The slightest flicker of longing passed across his face but was then soon swept over by contempt and disdain. Simula pa noon ay alam ko nang may pagka-arogante siya pero mas lalo lamang nabigyang-diin 'yon ngayon. The belittlement in his eyes made me feel like a truck had run over me.

I wasn't a criminal nor a killer, but damn, his expression came across as how a Judge would look like while he announces the verdict. Pakiramdam ko'y hinuhusgahan niya ang buo kong pagkatao.

"Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi sa dinami-rami ng taong puwedeng pagdudahan ako, ikaw pa talaga..." I hiccuped. "But now that I think about it, mas mabuting inaresto mo nalang ako kaysa ang isalba at isama sa bakasyon mong 'to. I'm sure that prison won't be as suffocating as how you are making me feel right now!"

He licked his lower lip. "Do not flatter yourself. I didn't save you."

"And who would believe that? Kahit si Monty ay halatang alam na plano mo talaga akong isama sa lakad mong 'to! You treated my situation as a joke, but you saved me, still!"

"I did not save you. Hindi ko lang gustong maaresto ka."

"Bakit? Now you care about me—"

"Don't be delusional," he spat and took a step forward. Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa 'kin. "If I cared, then I should've rescued you four years ago. But I didn't. Because why would I even bother with a woman who lied and pretended to be someone else all this time?"