After the Chase

Nine

#ATC09 Chapter Nine

APOLLO WATCHED AS Snow's face turned bright red. She was gawking at him like she just saw a ghost. He laughed. Damn. Didn't he miss that cute reaction from her?

"What are you doing here wearing only that?" he asked, and scanned her body. Mukhang galing pa sa unit nito ang dalaga at lumabas lang para mamasyal. She was only wearing a cute hoodie and cotton shorts. Siya ang nilalamig para rito.

An amused expression flashed on his face when Snow still wasn't moving. Gulat at mangha pa rin ang reaksyon ng dalaga habang nakatingin sa kanya. Natawa siya saka tuluyang lumapit dito.

"Hey," he said and pinched her cheek playfully. "You okay?"

"Holy snow," pabulong na sabi nito. Apollo laughed again. "Tunay ka ba?"

"Hindi. Impersonator lang," gatong niya sa kalokohan ng dalaga.

Snow gasped and stepped back. Dinuro siya nito bigla. "Nabuhay ang patay!"

Hindi niya mapigilang matawa. "What? Ako, patay?"

"Oh, my gosh! Sino ka? Hindi kita kilala," she said before turning her back away from him.

God! He was so entertained by her. Ilang buwan niyang hindi nakukulit ang dalaga. He could admit now that he missed joking around with her.

He started walking to follow Snow. Wala naman yata itong destinasyon dahil nagpaikot-ikot lang ito sa park kahit na medyo lumalakas na ang bagsak ng niyebe.

"Hey, stranger! Stop following me," reklamo ng dalaga. Masama ang tingin na bumaling ito sa kanya.

"A, gano'n. You see me as a stranger now." He placed his palm inside his pocket. "Walang hihingi ng pasalubong sa akin, ha?"

"Ano 'yong nagsasalita? 'Yong niyebe ba?"

Apollo frowned. Was she being serious? Iiwasan talaga siya nito? He expected her to ran to him and give him a tight hug after not talking to each other for months. Bakit mukhang iba yata ang pinapakitang ugali ni Snow sa inaasahan niyang gagawin nito kapag nagkita sila?

"Galit ka ba sa 'kin?" hindi niya mapigilang itanong.

He didn't know why he was feeling a bit sad because of Snow's attitude. Hindi siya sanay na nagiging sarcastic ito sa kanya. Kung may galit man ito sa kanya ay gusto niyang malaman agad para alam niya kung paano ito aayusin.

He kept on following her until they arrived in front of the condominium building's entrance. Tumigil si Snow kaya tumigil din siya. She faced him and crossed her arms over her chest. Kinagat ni Apollo ang ibabang labi para pigilan ang sarili na ngumiti.

So damn cute! Kung may dala lang siyang sako ay isinako na niya ang dalaga kanina pa.

"Stop following me," Snow said.

"Dito rin ako tutuloy," sagot niya.

"Bakit ka ba kasi nandito?"

"Nagbabakasyon lang. Bakit? Bawal na ba magbakasyon?"

"Puwede ka namang magbakasyon sa Pilipinas. Kailangan mo pa talagang pumunta rito para guluhin ang katahimikan ko," masungit na saad nito.

He titled his head to the side. "Ginugulo ba kita?"

"Hindi pa ba obvious?" Snow snapped.

Apollo's lips parted. That was fucking familiar.

Tinuro ni Snow ang sariling mukha. "Nakikita mo ba kung gaano ako ka-bwisit sa 'yo? Akala mo ba masaya akong nandito ka?"