Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)

01

ICA

"Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo! Tingin mo hindi ko malalaman?!"

I slapped Aspen on the cheek as I feel the tears streaming down my cheeks in a fast motion. He tried to reach my elbow but I took a step back, holding my chest.

"Babe, please. Saan mo naman napulot iyon?! That's not true!"

"Ano'ng saan ko napulot?!" I shouted and walked back to him to hit his shoulder with my fist. "Kitang-kita ko! Wala kang hiya!" I slapped him and ran.

"Babe naman! Don't be like this! Makinig ka sa 'kin!" He ran after me.

My heartbeat was quick, as were my tears. I ran and ran, each step feeling the soft sands on my feet. The wind blew, causing some effects in my hair. The heat of the sun equalled the heat of my rage.

"Can you stop running away from me?!" he shouted and pulled my arm harshly. Napasinghap ako at sinampal siya ulit gamit ang libreng kamay ko.

"Bakit? Ano pa bang eksplenasyon mo? Niloko mo ako! Nakita ko! You fucked her in the car that I bought for you! Tapos na tayo! I am not giving you a fucking second chance!"

He laughed sarcastically and tighten his grip on mine. "Nakita mo? So sinusundan mo ako? Wala kang tiwala sa akin, ano? What's the use of this relationship if in the first place you doubt the things I do!"

"I doubt the things you do because you give me reasons to doubt you," I said through gritted teeth.

"Now you're putting the blame on me?" he asked, hurt. "I have been with you for three long years now!"

"Three years," sarkastikong sabi ko. "In those three long years I was a fucking mistress because you never told me you have a girlfriend! Pinagmukha mo akong tanga!" Tinulak ko na naman siya, nag-aalab ang galit.

"Can you fucking listen to me?!" He held my hand and looked at me angrily. "Do you seriously think I will cheat on you?"

"I do think think that you can make other girls believe that you are single the same way you made me believe that you were. So yes, I do think you can cheat on me."

"Niloko ko siya dahil mahal kita, Ica!"

"Is that supposed to make me happy, Aspen?! Just because I won't give myself to you, you find someone else?! Ay, hindi! Ako pala ang kabit?! Umalis ka sa pagmumukha ko! Masasapak kitang hayop ka!"

"Cut! Those weren't the lines, Veronica! At ano ba?! Get the names right! Your characters are Dione and Vince!" the director shouted, irritated.

Masama ang tingin namin ni Aspen sa isa't isa. Walang bumibitaw. Yes! Yes, those were not the lines because my fucking ex-boyfriend did the exact thing on the script that made me lose my cool and become unprofessional!

"Short break! Make sure you get your lines right!"

Tumalikod kaagad ako at tinabon ang isang kamay sa may mata, blocking it from the sun. The heat on the island where we were filming was unbearable.

I only swam for a short time at the beach yesterday, but I already have sunburn on my skin! Good thing I wore sunscreen on my face kaya hindi tumuklap!

"Ica, let's talk," Aspen demanded, following me inside the tent. Dire-diretso lang ako hanggang sa nakarating ako sa vanity table ko. The staff left when they saw us.

"We have nothing to talk about." I sat on my chair and got my small battery-powered fan. I turned it on and lifted it near my face. Mas mainit dito sa loob ng tent kahit na may tabon na sa taas dahil walang nakakapasok na hangin.