The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 49

Kabanata 49

First

"So that was it? Whoever wins the crown will be killed?" Io asked in her suspicious voice. "That's so... unrealistic."

"But that's the truth," I said. "I wish I'm lying about this but I'm not, love. Besides, I wouldn't do that to you."

We were in our room in the mansion. Kanina ay naputol ang pag-uusap namin sa ospital dahil sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Ico. Sa huli'y napagdesisyunan naming umuwi at dito nalang sa mansiyon mag-usap. I would say nice save from Ico but I was mad at him about something so instead, I would rather say that he's a fucking pain in the ass. I would get back at him somehow.

She scoffed. "So what things would you lie to me about? Things like working in YSI but actually going to the hospital to take care of Maeve?"

Napalunok ako. I pressed my lips in a grim line before pulling her closer toward me. I leaned in and gave her temple a soft kiss, naglalambing. Nakita ko ang simpleng pag-irap niya pero alam kong nalulusaw na ang galit niya. Kahit gano'n ay kailangan ko pa ring pag-igihan ang paglalambing dahil 'di siya madaling naniniwala sa mga bagay-bagay.

I was so pissed at Ico. These were all his fault.

"Ico lied to you," I muttered softly which she only replied to with a mocking glare. Tumikhim ako. Palaging para akong sumasabak sa giyera 'pag gan'tong naiinis siya sa 'kin. "The first time that I visited her was when we had just arrived from Japan. Totoong sa YSI ako nitong nakaraang mga araw. When Douglas called though, that's when I visited her. That was earlier this day."

"At pumunta ka dahil ano? Dahil alam mong gusto kang makita ni Maeve? You're always giving her false hopes, Las."

I drew circles on the tip of her shoulder to calm her down. Talagang iritado siya ngayon kaya hinayaan ko nalang muna siyang magsalita. At times like this that I wished I was an artist because if I was, I would definitely study The Art of Taming Iowa Satyana When She's Mad.

She shook her head in dismay. "Alam mo ba ang sabi niya sa 'kin kanina? She said that she's in love with you because you're her source of hope! Ibig-sabihin ay talagang binibigyan mo siya ng panghahawakan. I couldn't even get mad at her because it's your fault and not hers. Pinapaasa mo kasi."

"I didn't," I defended myself. "She's obsessed with me and it isn't healthy anymore. Kaya pinuntahan ko siya kanina dahil gusto kong makapag-usap kami ng pormal. I knew that she wanted to see me, and I wanted to see her, too. But not because of what you're thinking. I just wanted to clarify some things with her."

"Things like what?"

"Like her toxic love for me."

I never saw Maeve in the way that she wanted me to. Kapatid siya ng kaibigan ko at para ko na rin siyang kapatid kung ituring dahil do'n. Other than that, I also wasn't into girls who were four and below years younger my age. When I was in my early twenties, I wanted someone who's in the same age group as me. But then of course, Iowa was my rule breaker. Always was and always will be.

"Do you believe me now? Hm?" I tried again.

When she slowly nodded, I felt like I had just won a battle alone. I cupped her face and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. May multo na ng ngiti ang mga mata niya nang nagkatitigan kami. She pouted and squinted her eyes at me.

"I do believe you... but did you two actually talk? Kasi no'ng nag-usap kami matapos mong umalis sa room niya, mukhang 'di naman siya naliwanagan."

"Well maybe if you and Ico's voices didn't interrupt our conversation, then we would've finished talking," I said sarcastically but in a playful manner. "You two's voices were muffled though, so I didn't actually know that it was you. Totoong nagulat ako nang makita kang nasa labas pagbukas ko ng pinto."