Searing Burst of Rage (Fireheart 2)

Chapter 18

"I'm already yours," I countered.

I saw how stunned he was upon hearing what I said. I have just also realized what I said. It just slipped through my tongue. I instantly looked away because of embarrassment.

"W-what did you say?" he asked.

"N-No. I'm not saying it again," I said, trying so hard to hide my smile.

"Say it again," he demanded.

"You don't have to take chances. Sayo na naman ako," sabi ko ng hindi makatingin sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nalang akong nasabuyan ng hiya. Hindi ako dapat mahiya sa kanya.

I heard him chuckle. "You really are so straightforward. I thought I hate it."

"What do you mean?" Ibinalik ko sakanya ang mga mata ko.

He chuckled again. "Say ah."

I pouted and accepted the food. "Hindi ka naman akin," pabulong-bulong na sabi ko.

"Ano ang sabi mo," sabi nya ng natatawa.

"Are you deaf?" naiinis na sabi ko. Literal na nasa harap ko sya at alam kong narinig nya ako. Inaasar nya ba ako?

"Paano mo naman na sabi na hindi ako sayo?" tanong nya. "Ikaw lang naman ang pakakasalan ko at inaalaga ko. I'm techinically your servant and your my master."

"Huwag ka ngang magbiro," saway ko sa kanya.

Tumingin sya sa mga mata ko. "Seryoso ako."

Ibinaba ko ang tingin ko. "You said you didn't like me. And... I saw you with a woman. You two seem like a couple. I saw her holding the book we bought in Australia. She was obviously the woman you were talking about."

"You saw us?" gulat na tanong nya.

I couldn't keep a straight face. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi sumama ang mukha ko. He seemed surprised but he didn't even deny it. "It's fine with me. You can keep your relationship. I don't mind."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

I gritted my teeth. He's so insensitive! Can't he read between the lines? Ayoko! Hindi ko gusto pero ano ang maggawa ko? I forced myself to nod. "But... can you at least not promise me a date and then cancel for another woman?"

"Did you--"

Hindi nya natapos ang sasabihin nya dahil hindi nya mapigilang hindi matawa. Walang emosyon ang mukha kong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

"You're so charming. Don't you know that? You definitely know how to make men fall for you."

"Now... you are talking nonsense. You just want to avoid the topic," pagmamaktol ko.

He sighed. He lifted my chin and searched for my eyes. "The woman you are talking about was my friend Mezi. Did you listen to my explanation that day? I told you that Uxphil encountered an emergency at work, my brother had to tend him so he ordered me to fetch Mezi. I couldn't go to the date because I have to follow them to the scene right away."

"Is that so?"

"Oo kaya wag ka ng mag-isip na may iba akong babae. Sa tingin mo bang papayag ako sa kasunduan na ito kung may iba akong gusto? Kung hindi rin lang dahil sayo ay hindi ako papayag, I would've back out and chase after the girl I met in Australia," he confessed.

Who? Me? "Why did you say you didn't like me when we met here?" I interrogated.

"I was upset. Very upset with the situation. I'm sorry," he sincerely apologized.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo lang talaga sa akin, e."

"Sa ibang dahilan," rason nya.

I hissed "Do you also dislike my father as other people do?"