7. Going south
1536 Words
THE smell of a ripened jackfruit came crashing thru his nostrils. Eli was in the middle of the pier and so it was impossible for such fruit to be there.
He searched for the source of the aroma only to find a pair of almond-colored eyes. He was drawn to it. He immediately knew those eyes. It mesmerized him and he could get lost in the sea of emotions it shows off, Yet, he would never be satisfied. Right now it showed excitement and longing. For who he did not know but he intends to find out.
“Hermano, wait for us.” Pablo held his elbow and tugged him a bit.
He looked back at his brother. There was something in his expression. There was worry and sadness. He wanted to ignore him and return to that sea of emotions but his conscience was eating him up.
“What is the matter?” he tried to push the mate pull deeper. Right now his brother needed him. Family always came first. That was how they were raised even if they came from different mothers.
“I found her, … my mate … she is the daughter of Sultan Zaman.” Pablo whisper-yelled to him. He was giddy and so unlike him.
He did not know how to react to such information. There he was contemplating on his mate and how to break it to her. Now, Pablo had to suffer the same fate as well.
“Who is she?” he got curious. Well that and his brotherly instinct to protect him.
“There the girl with a pink cloth on her head.” Pablo did his best to describe her without pointing a finger. After all, it was frown upon to do such things in public.
As his gaze looked around for a pink cloth when he saw Danah. There she was talking to the girl with a pink cloth on her head. It looked like Danah was friends with her.
“Are you sure?” he asked once more. He wanted to make sure that Pablo had not been mistaken.
“Yes, I am sure. I felt the mate pull and the moment I laid eyes on her my wolf went crazy. Howling and shouting mate … mate … mate.” He tried to reenact the scene on his mind.
“Fine, then we should tell Mama Alex about this immediately. I do not think there will be a problem, but you should prepare for the worst.” he sounded grim and pessimistic. Moros did have a different tradition and she might already be betrothed to another man.
Pablo shuddered at the thought of a worst-case scenario. Him being rejected and her in the arms of another man. His brows furrowed at the mental image.
It was a good thing that Alexa and Carmelita were a few feet away from them or else they would be screaming in joy. It won’t be good for both of them. It would attract unnecessary attention.
“Hang tight brother. I am sure it will be alright. I on the other hand have to go through the needle. Wish me luck. She is here.” he tapped his shoulder and left him.
He could not push out his feelings for Danah so instead, he tried to talk to her once more.
As he was getting closer to her. The aroma of a ripe jackfruit grew stronger. His suspicion was correct after all.
“Hi Danah, care for a walk?” he asked her.
She was after all walking back to the pack house. She was carrying a bag made of cloth. He wanted to offer a lending hand but was afraid to ask. Instead, he tried to make small talk.
“Sure, it will be my pleasure Señorito.” Danah smiled at him once again.
“Just call me Eli. No need for formalities especially if it’s just the two of us.” he told her in a respectable way. He wanted her to be comfortable in his presence.
“Okay, Eli then. How come you are alone? Aren’t you supposed to be with Sultan Zaman and Your family?” Danah asked him.
He just smiled. It was the first time she actually talked to him. He was over the moon with the simple question.
“I was not asked to join. In fact, I have a different task. That is why I am here and not with Sultan Zaman’s family. I am escorting them to the pa… I mean house. Watching out at a distance. How about you? I thought you were preparing the juice.” he wondered how she was able to travel so fast towards the pier when she went to the kalubihan earlier.
“Ah yes, I did that already. As for now, I had to carry their stuff to the house. I hope I am not bothering you and your task.” She said shyly.
He could not see much of her face as it was covered unlike when she arrived. That time her face was exposed and only her hair was covered by a cloth.
“No, you are not bothering me. In fact, you are entertaining me with my task. At times I get bored. I am glad I get to talk to you. Can I ask you a question?” he placed one of his hands at his back and crossed his fingers for good luck.
“Go ask your question. I hope I could answer it.” She was modest and proper.
He adored her and even his wolf adored her as well. “Mark her already. I do not care about traditions. Moon goddess gifted her to us!” Adriaticus, his wolf, ordered him.
“No. I will not. I will do this the right way. What is a couple of days or weeks more? We have waited for years already.” he contended with him. He was reasoning with him. After all, Adriaticus was impatient. One time he got tired of waiting, he suggested taking a mate even if it was not their true mate.
“I was meant to ask this when we first met but I got scared. Anyways, here it goes. Can I court you, my lady? If your parents are here, I would have asked their permission first. I apologize for being frank but I could not get you out of my head for days already.” He spoke as slowly as possible but it ended up like the fastest talk he made ever. He was slurring some of the phrases. He just hoped that she would understand him.
“Oh my, thank you for appreciating me. However, I am in no position to answer your question. I wish my parents are here. In our town, it is customary to ask the parents before the girl. I hope you understand.” She held the bag tightly with two hands.
He saw she was trembling. He did not want to be rejected but this hurt as much as a rejection. Assurance, he wanted to show her he was no threat to her. Yet, he kept quiet waiting for his emotions to calm down. It was as if his heart was torn into pieces.
“I like you if that makes any sense. If they were here, I am sure they would agree to your proposition but alas they aren’t. I apologize, Eli.” Danah then quickened her pace.
Leaving him alone walking in the path towards the pack house. He tried to suppress his joy from what she said. There was a chance but he had to do something first.
He formulated a plan on how he can ask for permission to court her. He was determined to take her as his mate and eventually be his wife and mother of his children.
Such a dream he had. He was humming as he walked back. Unaware that Sultan Zaman’s family had stopped walking. He bumped into the girl with a pink cloth in her head.
“I apologize señora. I did not mean to …” He trailed off as she looked at him. Her eyes were almost the same as Danah’s. He got curious why they had such similarities.
“It is fine señor. I know it was an accident. Just don’t make it a habit.” She was stern and very strict.
He gulped a big chunk of his saliva. He was scared of her like she would eat him alive if she wanted to.
“Yes, I will be careful señora.” He then stepped back to give her some space.
As they started to move forward once more, he got to see the hacienda from a different perspective. It had aged and grown enormous. He could not imagine the amount of work he would face when he would be taking over. Some areas had not been maintained well.
He took a mental note to check the whole land for such things.
“Eli come here, Niño. I have a piece of good news for you.” His Mama Alex called for him.
- Writer
