Lost in the Maze: Elias de Marcel

Kabanata 20

KABANATA 20

Atasha's POV

"Atasha, I'm starting to ask myself if I loved the right woman."

I was staring at Elias after he said those words to me. It felt like a knife had pierced my heart because of what he said, especially when I saw how coldly he looked at me. But I forced myself to hide the pain I felt, taking a deep breath.

"Are you already drunk?" I asked nonchalantly before passing by him. But he quickly grabbed my arm.

"Why did you do this to me? Do you want to ruin me with Dad?" he asked seriously, confusing me.

I looked into his eyes and asked, "What are you talking about, Elias?"

His jaw clenched, and he let out a heavy sigh. "Don't act like you did nothing wrong! I know you're the one behind this, Shang!" he yelled at me, causing me to be surprised by the sudden rise of his voice.

I remained looking at him, full of confusion about his accusations against me. What is he saying? I don't remember doing anything. What is he accusing me of doing?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said seriously before trying to snatch my arm away from him. But he held me again, tightening his grip, causing me to wince in pain, but I didn't show that I was hurt by his tight grip.

Lalong tumindi ang galit na nakikita ko sa kanya, ang lamig ng kanyang tingin sa akin ay biglang naging matalas. Ito ang unang beses na nakita ko ito sa kanya, at hindi ko inakala na bibigyan niya ako ng ganitong tingin.

"You don't know what I am talking about?" may diin niyang sabi bago niya ako binitawan. Lumapit siya sa mesa sa sala at kinuha ang isang brown enveloped. "Hindi mo ba alam ang tungkol dito?" ipinakita niya ito sa akin at ibinato ang laman nito sa harapan ko.

Bagaman nalilito, pinulot ko pa rin ito sa sahig at tiningnan ang mga litrato. Halos magdikit ang mga kilay ko nang makita ko ang litrato kung saan naghahalikan sina Elias at Jocelle sa bar. Tiningnan ko ang isa pang litrato, at ito naman ay ang nangyari sa parking lot ng hotel.

Mabilis na kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba habang tinitingnan ko ang bawat litrato. Napuno ako ng mga katanungan tungkol dito. Sino ang kumuha ng mga litratong ito? At bakit ito ipinadala kay Tito Hector?

"S-Sino ang kumuha ng mga litratong ito?" nagtatakang tanong ko kay Elias.

Ngunit suminghal lamang siya sa tanong ko, "Sino? Huwag mo akong gawing tanga, Atasha! Walang ibang gagawa nito kundi ikaw!" sigaw niya sa akin, puno ng akusasyon.

Napabuntong hininga ako. "Hindi ako ang may gawa niyan, Elias," malumanay kong tanggi.

Ngunit hindi siya naniwala sa sinabi ko, nanatili ang galit sa kanyang mukha. "Huwag mo akong paikutin, alam kong ikaw ang may gawa niyan!" muling sigaw niya sa akin, mabilis siyang lumapit at hinawakan ang aking mga braso. "Ganti mo ba ito sa akin dahil isang buwan kitang hindi kinausap! Sabihin mo sa akin! Ginawa mo ba ito para makakuha ng simpatya kay Daddy, at makuha mo ang kasal na matagal mo nang gustong makuha!" sinisigaw niya ito sa akin habang inuuga ako.

I did everything I could to hold back the tears that wanted to escape my eyes. His grip on me was so tight, and because of this, my heart was slowly being squeezed. I endured all of his harsh touches, I didn't complain about the pain.

I just kept looking into his eyes. "I didn't do anything, Elias. I'm not the one who did that," I said, holding back my emotions. "I couldn't do that to you, believe me," I pleaded.

However, his facial expression didn't change. He stared at me before letting go of the words I never expected to hear from him. "I will never marry you," he said seriously and slowly. "Fourteen years? I shouldn't have prolonged our relationship like this, I was wrong to love you and make you my priority. I was wrong to give you special treatment, to let you drive me crazy with your love," he declared, causing me to no longer hold back my tears.