The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 36

Kabanata 36

Wrong

"So, what were you doing these past few years?" Maeve asked. She chuckled and arched a brow. "Other than hiding and running away from the police, that is."

Nagpantig ang tenga ko. A feeling of intense irritation washed over me while I watched her attempt her provoking questions. Siniko siya ni Douglas ngunit hindi niya 'yon pinansin. Her smile even widened as she reached out for her wineglass and drank from it. Hindi nakalampas sa 'kin ang pang-iinsulto sa tono niya.

This bitch is testing me.

"I'm not a criminal," I said again in a firm voice.

"But you went into hiding right? That means that somehow, you thought that you were responsible for your father's death."

I swallowed hard and leered at her. "And you are responsible to keep your mouth shut and watch what you're saying. Hindi ako kriminal."

"Oh my god," she said, chuckling with an amazed expression on her face. She playfully rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry if I keep on offending you, Io. I thought that you'd be fine talking about it since it was a long time ago."

"Long time ago or not, you should still watch your mouth. I am not a verdict in court," I halted and gave her a menacing glare. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mga mata. "And you are not a lawyer too, right? Heard that you dropped out of your course."

Natigilan siya. I could sense the tension rising up from us both. Si Douglas ay malat na napahalakhak samantalang si Atlas nama'y napa-ubo. He's now beside me and I could feel his subtle hand scratches on my left thigh as if he's trying to calm me down. He was drawing circles and lines on it.

She looked sideways before shrugging at me. "I did. But it was only because we needed to go to the US. Not because of my incompetency. In fact, I enrolled myself in an Open University while we were there. I'm kind of busy doing all kinds of stuff this year so Imma be entering Law School in the next semester."

The triumphant smile etched on her face made mine distort in the inside. Hindi ko alam na magiging pabidahan pala ng achievements ang dinner na 'to. I scoffed at myself inside my head.

Why was I even this worked up? Oh right. Because staring directly at Maeve Sandoval was like staring at the human form of my insecurities. Dahil kahit alam kong may napatunayan naman ako kahit papaano, alam ko ring kahit kailan ay hindi ako magiging katulad niya.

Ever since college, she had always been the personification of all the things I longed to have. She's a lawyer in the making while I was... an artist. I was proud of that but God, we all know which craft is the better one. At least for the society's eyes.

"That's good," nanlulumong ani ko at isinubo na lamang ang pagkain sa harap ko.

Just when I thought that the conversation was over, she spoke again. "How about you? How's college?"

"I think we should just eat." But Atlas' words went unnoticed.

I smiled dryly at her. "I didn't finish college. But I'm proud to say that I'm still an artist."

"Oh," she said and raised a coy smile.

Napakurap-kurap ako. "Why?"

"Nothing." Except that the ridicule and insult in her eyes told me otherwise. I arched a brow to probe her to speak up. She let out an exasperated sigh and plastered an apologetic look. "Well, honey, if your paintings don't sell, it's not art. It's a hobby."

"Excuse me?" my tone raised.

Totoong hindi ako nakapagpundar nitong nakaraang mga buwan kasi nagtago ako sa Pandan at hindi rin nakapagpinta. Kahit din marami akong naibenta, tamang-tama lang ang naipundar ko para sa apartment at sa pang araw-araw kong kailangan. I donated a fair amount of my income to art centers that support talented homeless children too. I made a lot but in the bottom line, I only made enough.