Chasing the Forbidden (SERIE FEROCI 3)

Chapter Thirty

Hindi ko matukoy kung ano'ng problema ko. I just found myself distancing myself from Archer without giving him a proper explanation of my behavior. I was affected by his mother's words, I was so affected that it made me question my worth as a woman.

"Kiara, may problema raw ba kayo ni Kuya Archer? Ayaw ka lang n'ya tanungin directly pero alam kong gusto n'yang malaman kung bakit distant ka sa kanya these past few days," sabi ni Abi habang nainom ng beer.

Na kay Xanthos ang kambal ngayon kaya ayos lang na mag-inom sila. Ako naman hindi na masyadong mahilig uminom. Naalis ko na sa sarili ko 'yon simula nang nanganak ako.

Napapalakpak si Denise. "Nako, mareng Abi. Sign na 'yan."

Abi's forehead furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Sign na 'yan na ang ship ko ang lalayag at sa 'yo naman 'yung lulubog. Sorry mare pero may butas na ang bangka mo, lulubog na 'yan." Napahagalpak ng tawa si Denise.

Napailing na lang ako at kinuha ang inabot na canned beer ni Denise. Wala akong balak uminom ngayon pero mukhang mapipilitan ako. Ilang araw na ang nakakalipas noong nagpunta kami sa mansyon nina Archer pero hanggang ngayon dinadamdam ko pa rin ang mga sinabi ni Tita Celina.

"Ano ba'ng problema n'yo ni kuya? Sabihin mo sa 'kin, hindi ko sasabihin sa kanya, promise," sabi ni Abi at tinaas pa ang kanang kamay n'ya.

Mapait na napangiti na lang ako at napailing. Ayokong sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol do'n lalo pa't magulang n'ya ang mga 'yon.

"Palagi lang talaga akong pagod kaya wala na 'kong masyadong time. Wala naman akong problema kay Archer," sabi ko na lang.

I don't want to avoid him but I can't help it because I'm still contemplating. I have to think everything through especially our relationship. Pakiramdam ko pa naman ay kahit na ano pang gawin ko, hindi ako matatanggap ni Tita Celina. She has someone better for Archer... What if...

I sighed and shook my head. Negativity and insecurity are poisoning my mind.

"Kiara, nay problema ba tayo?"

Natigilan ako nang marahang pinisil ni Archer ang kamay ko. Hindi ko na napansin na nakatulala na lang pala ako sa pagkain. Napatikhim na lang ako at tipid na ngumiti sa kanya.

"Bakit naman tayo magkakaproblema?" ganting tanong ko at muling tumuloy sa pagkain.

"You're not being yourself for the past few days. I'm worried, Kiara. Please tell me if we have a problem and don't try to hide it from me. Please..."

Archer's words left me speechless. I realized that I'm being unfair to him. He's doing his best to make me feel better but here I am, making myself distant and trying to conceal the real problem. I feel pathetic.

"Archer..." I murmured.

Archer stopped walking and looked at me. He intertwined our fingers and gently caressed my hand with his thumb. We just finished eating and we're on our way to his car.

"Why? Is there a problem?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip and looked at him. "Tita Celina doesn't want me for you."

Archer froze with what I said. I know this will be his reaction but I still chose to tell it to him. I don't want to be unfair to him anymore.

"Is that so? That's the reason why you're suddenly distant to me?" he asked and held my shoulder.

I sighed and nodded.

Archer sighed and held both of my cheeks. "Now I know why Mom keeps on pairing me up with some woman. I don't know that she did say something to you... I'm sorry for being oblivious. I should have known," he said while caressing my cheek.