The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

Tattoo

It was a tranquil evening. Hindi malakas ang hampas ng mga alon kaya 'di iyon nagbigay ingay sa amin. Only the faint sound of the chatters from the reception area a floor below us filled the thin air. There were candlelights inside the Solarium, too, and its lavender scent attacked my senses. Ikiniskis ko ang mga palad ko dahil sa lamig. Maybe it was the fact that we were in the middle of the ocean, but I could taste salt in the air.

Atlas was now beside me. Hindi ko na siya tinignan ulit matapos ko siyang lingunin kanina. After he greeted me with his unsolicited hey, he didn't speak anything else. Mas gusto ko ang katahimikan kaya pinabayaan ko ang pagtikom niya ng kaniyang bibig.

"Let's go back to the others," he said after a while.

Tumikhim ako. "Bumalik ka roon nang mag-isa. Don't include me in your plan."

"And who are they going to ask about you when they see me going back alone? Ayokong tinatanong at pinagchichismisan kaya bumalik na tayo."

"I said I'm not going back," I hissed with conviction. "Ano bang mahirap intindihin sa bumalik ka roon nang mag-isa?"

He scoffed. "Why are you so feisty?"

Sa inis ko'y hinarap ko na siya. He faced me back, too. Noon ko lang napagtantong mukhang mas tumaas siya lalo sa paglipas ng panahon. Although I was wearing my four-inches heels, the top of my head only leveled with his ear. Walang ekspresyon ang kaniyang mukha nang gawaran niya ako ng isang malamig na tingin.

"Because you're insisting me to go back, e ayaw ko nga!" I fired with blazing eyes. My breathing labored. "Why are you even here, huh? You were doing fine back there and I was doing fine here! Ikaw din naman 'tong lapit nang lapit sa 'kin, tapos magrereklamo ka kapag 'di kita sinusunod? For goodness' sake, I won't baby you nor listen to your cries, too!"

He braved my gaze. "You are under my observation, woman, so whether you like it or not, you will follow my terms and conditions. Kapag sinabi kong babalik tayo, babalik tayo. This argument is shallow and stupid."

"Hindi ko nga sabi gustong bumalik!" Suminghap ako at sinipat siya habang umiiling. I flashed a humorless smile. This time, I was throwing a fit because of something else. "I don't want to be back here... at all. Whether if it's in that reception area or in La Fortuna. Ayaw ko nang bumalik. You don't want me back, too, right? Kaya bakit ba kasi pinipilit mo? We were fine not crossing paths! I don't understand why you're doing this!"

"I told you already. It was against my principles—"

Nag-alab ang puso ko. "Do not come at me with your fucking principles because you're far from the man of honor and value that you ever so upheld!"

"Can you please calm down? Hindi mo naman kailangang sumigaw."

"No," ani ko dahil napuno na sa mga litanya niya. "Where were those principles when you broke my heart four years ago? When you kissed Maeve Sandoval? When you told me to lose the pageant? When you only said a fucking sorry when all of it was over? Nasaan ang prinsipyo mo roon?"

I could see how my words affected him. Tila ba naputol ang pisi ng inaalagaan niyang pasensya at pagtitimpi. His eyes burned in undisguised fury.

"Do not make this about us. Hindi ako nandito para ayusin ang nakaraan natin at wala akong planong gawin 'yon. I'm here to solve a case." Humakbang siya palapit sa 'kin. His stare drifted to my lips and back to my eyes again. "Do not flatter yourself. Hindi na ulit ako mahuhulog sa bitag mo. You're a sly woman. A liar and a scam."

Uminit ang sulok ng mga mata ko pero tinitigan ko pa rin siya. "Don't worry, Atlas, because I will never let you in again! You are selfish, arrogant, and egotistical. You probably rescued me just to power-trip over me and show me how superior you are. Huwag kang mag-alala dahil hindi rin naman ako mahuhulog sa 'yo! You're the last man I could ever fall for!"