The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 37

Kabanata 37

Revenge

Nagmartsa ako patungong parking lot. Bubuksan ko na sana ang pintuan ng kotse niya nang hilahin niya ang palapulsuhan ko upang maharap ko siya. When our gazes locked, all the bitterness inside me decided to seep out. Punong-puno na ako. Lalo na't habang tinitignan ko ang pananantya at takot sa kaniyang mukha ay 'di ko maiwasang mainsulto at matawa. I knew that he didn't mean it.

Sinong niloloko niya?

"I saw what you did inside. What happened?" he asked in a concerned tone, straightening on his place and letting my hand go.

I gave him a scathing gaze. "You happened."

Naitikom niya ang kaniyang labi. Marahas akong napabuga ng hininga at saka iritadong sinapo ang noo ko. I craned my neck heavenwards and shut my eyes firmly. Then with eyes glistening with yet to fall tears, I darted a weary gaze at him. Napalunok siya.

"Why did you bring me back here?" my voice broke. "And no, don't come at me with your principles again because I'm not dumb enough to believe that. You brought me to Hawaii. You searched for my biological father. You paid for my mother's funeral. You took care of our mansion. And... you're staring at me with those eyes. I know that there's more to this, Atlas."

He tried to reach my elbow again but I moved it away from him. Bumuntong-hininga siya at tinitigan ako sa nangungusap niyang mga mata. His eyes were bloodshot and his breathing was ragged. Magkasalubong ang kilay niya at bigong-bigo ang mukha niya.

"There's nothing more to this, Io... I just wanted to save you."

I scoffed and shook my head in dismay. "Well newsflash, I don't feel saved at all!"

"What do you want me to say, then? Hm?" He took a step closer and pierced his pleading gaze at me. Kumalabog ang puso ko. "Tell me baby, what do you want me to say?"

A tear escaped my eye. "I want to know the truth! Kasi gulong-gulo na ako sa mga kilos mo. You can't expect me to believe you when you're here talking to me like that!"

"Like what?" he husked.

"Like you still love me!"

Natigilan kaming dalawa. Nauna akong nakabawi kaya pinalis ko agad ang mga luhang lumandas sa pisngi ko. What I said was a slip but I knew how much I wanted to ask him that. He told me that he didn't want me back but his actions told me otherwise. 

Kung ayaw niyang bumalik ako, edi sana, hindi niya ako pinatuloy sa bahay nila. For fuck's sake, there's a lot of ways on this Earth that he could've saved me without getting close to me. Maraming paraan para dumistansya pero bakit siya lapit nang lapit sa 'kin? He just had to mess up my mind.

"Look," I started. Dalawang beses akong tumango-tango. "I know that you don't really... love me. I know that much. But why did you bring me back? Alam mo, isa lang ang naiisip kong dahilan mo, e."

"Say it," he commanded and tilted his head to the side. Bakas na ang karimlan sa mga mata niya ngayon. "Why do you think I did this?"

A mocking smile crept over my face. "You want to take revenge."

He almost scoffed when he heard that. Imbes nga lang na gawin 'yon ay mas ipinukol niya ang nanunukat niyang tingin sa 'kin. I could smell his manly scent because of our distance. Umihip ang malakas na hangin kaya inagapan niya ang paglipad ng ilang tikwas ng buhok ko. He fondly tucked some strands of my hair behind my ear. May multo ng pang-iinsulto ang mukha niya nang magtitigan ulit kami.

"You have quite the imagination, princess. Who do you think you are?" may panunudyo sa tono niya.

I braved his unflinching gaze. "Alam mo ba kung anong sinabi sa 'kin ni Maeve kanina? She told me that I was just your distraction years ago. Na hindi mo naman talaga ako nagustuhan. She also said that you guys were engaged before. That she was your fiancee."