She pursed her lip before turning to him. “Fine, I’m upset. There, I said it.”
Lucas massaged the bridge of his nose. “Can you tell me why, at least?”
“Hindi ako sumama sa lakad n’yo kasi ang alam ko, kayong dalawa lang ni Noah ang magkasama.”
Nangunot ang noo nito. “And?”
Marahan niya itong itinulak sa dibdib nang mas lalo pang lumapit sa kaniya. “Stop playing stupid! You were with another girl! Isinama mo pa talaga si Noah.”
Napaawang ang labi ni Lucas sa sinabi niya. “Sinong babae? Si Dalja? Hindi namin siya kasama. Nagkataon lang na nando’n din siya habang kumakain kami. ‘Yan ba ang sinabi sa ‘yo ni Elise?”
Nagulat siya roon. Paano nito nalaman na si Elise ang nagsabi sa kaniya?
He scoffed. “I saw her there. Hindi ko lang nilapitan because I knew she was having her moment with her date.”
Namaywang ito habang matamang nakatitig sa kaniya. “Look, Dalja asked if she could join us. And it would be so rude of me kung basta na lang akong tatanggi. I asked for Noah’s permission, and he said it was fine with him. So I let her.”
“Stop using Noah to cover up your sh-t, Lucas! She kissed you!”
“Yes. That’s right. She kissed me but I didn’t kiss her back. I even warned her to never to that again—”
“Kung wala do’n si Noah, baka higit pa ro’n ang ginawa n’yong dalawa.”
“Babe, you’re overreacting. Walang namamagitan sa amin ni Dalja. Kanina ko lang siya ulit nakita. Kung alam ko lang na magiging ganito ka, sana pinilit na lang kitang sumama.”
Napipilan siya sa sinabing iyon ni Lucas.
He deeply sighed. “See, this is why we’re arguing right now. You always chose not to talk.”
Tumingala si Lucas at mariing ipinikit ang mga mata. Pagkuwa’y muling ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniya.
“Come on, babe. Stop being unreasonable. I already explained why—”
“Unreasonable, huh? How about when you were the one getting jealous? Kausap ko lang ‘yong staff sa resort, yet you acted like I already cheated on you. Samantalang ikaw, nagpahalik ka pa.”
“Can we just stop bringing up the past? This argument is not gonna end if you choose to act stupid!” Lucas blurted out before he could stop himself.
But he was too late.
Pain crossed her eyes. “Y-Yeah. That’s how you see me right now.”
“Babe, I’m—”
Mapait siyang ngumiti. “I’ve heard enough, Lucas. Lumabas ka muna, please.”
“Babe, please.”
Umiling si Maxine at muling nagsalita sa mas mahina pang boses. “Out, Lucas.”
“I’m sorry,” ani Lucas na napilitan na lang na lumabas.
Lucas muttered a curse when he heard his wife’s sobs.
Dumapa sa kama si Maxine at isinubsob ang mukha sa unan upang pakawalan ang mga luhang kanina pa pinipigilan. Ilang sandali pa ay nakarinig na siya ng mahihinang katok.
“Babe, please let’s talk.”
But she chose to ignore him. Wala siyang balak na pagbuksan ito ng pinto. It’s just not the right time to talk. Mauuwi lang ulit ‘yon sa pagtatalo. Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi pa stable ang emosyon niya. The best thing she could do is to cool down.
CHAPTER 28: FINAL CHAPTER
Start from the beginning
