Chapter 2: Sweet on the outside/deadly underneath.
704 Words
“Vlad?”
Isang tawag lang ng pangalan niya, at para bang tumigil ang mundo.
Napakaganda ng girlfriend niya iyon ang una at huling pumasok sa isip niya habang nakangiti itong humahakbang palapit sa kanya. Hindi niya maiwasang pagmasdan ang bawat galaw nito. The way she smiled at him. soft, genuine, unaware of the storm brewing behind his calm expression. Her hair gracefully swayed over her shoulder, parang sinasadyang akitin ang paningin niya. Ang balingkinitan nitong katawan, ang hubog na matagal na niyang kinikilala at paboritong hawakan, ay mas lalong nagbibigay-buhay sa presensiya ng dalaga.
Nakakahalina.
Nakakabaliw.
He’s been madly, dangerously in love with her.
At habang nakatayo siya roon, tahimik ngunit alerto, bumalik sa isip niya ang mga salitang binitiwan ng Konseho. Ang malamig na ultimatum na binalot sa ngiti at kapangyarihan. She’s the price, they said. The exchange. The leverage. The sacrifice para manatiling buo ang imperyong dugo at bala ang pundasyon.
Ngunit hindi siya si Vlad kung papayag siyang gawing kapalit ang babaeng hawak ngayon ng buong pagkatao niya.
Kung iyon ang hinihingi ng Konseho upang hindi tuluyang mawala ang kanyang emperyo. Hinding-hindi niya iyon ibibigay.
He’s willing to bathe them in bullets before they even dare to touch her.
Bago pa man lumapat ang mga kamay ng sinuman sa kanya, mauuna nang bumagsak ang dugo sa sahig. Putol ang mga daliri ng sinumang magtangkang agawin siya. Walang babala. Walang awa.
She wasn’t just his weakness.
She was his reason to declare war.
At kung ang mundo ang hahadlang sa kanila.
Then he’ll burn the world down.
“Why are you standing there like that?” she asked softly, huminto sa harap niya.
“Parang… may iniisip ka.”
He looked at her–really looked at her.
The curve of her lips, the warmth in her eyes. The innocence she still carried, unaware of how powerful men were already plotting to break that smile.
“Wala,” sagot niya, pilit na kalmado. Inabot niya ang kamay nito, hinigpitan nang bahagya ang hawak, para bang natatakot siyang mawala ito kapag binitawan niya.
“I was just… thinking.”
“About what?” Ngumiti ito, pero may bahid ng pag-aalala.
“You’ve been quiet since kanina. That’s not like you.”
He exhaled slowly. Because if I speak, he thought, I might start killing.
“Do you trust me?” bigla niyang tanong.
Nagulat ang dalaga.
“Ha? Of course I do. Why would you even ask that?”
Tumitig siya sa mga mata nito, naghahanap ng lakas. “Even if… things get complicated? Even if people try to interfere with us?”
She frowned slightly, confusion flickering across her face. “Vlad, you’re scaring me a little.” Pinisil nito ang kamay niya. “What’s going on?”
His jaw tightened. Ang galit ay kumulo sa dibdib niya. hindi sa kanya, kundi sa Konseho. Sa mga lalaking nag-aakalang kaya siyang diktahan. Kaya siyang takutin gamit ang babaeng mahal niya.
“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” mariin niyang sabi, halos pabulong ngunit punô ng bigat. “I swear.”
She searched his face, then smiled gentle, trusting. “You’re acting like someone’s trying to take me away from you.”
His grip tightened instinctively.
“They can try,” malamig niyang sagot. “But they won’t succeed.”
“Vlad…” Mahinang natawa ang dalaga, kahit may kaba sa tinig. “You’re overthinking again.”
Kung alam mo lang, he thought.
Kung alam mo lang kung gaano karaming buhay ang handa kong kitilin para lang manatili ka sa tabi ko.
Lumapit siya, inilapat ang noo sa noo nito. “If anyone ever makes you feel unsafe or if anyone ever comes between us. Promise me you’ll tell me.”
She nodded slowly. “I promise. But… you’re here, right? That’s enough for me.”
That was the problem.
Because for the Council, she was the threat.
And for him she was the line they should never have crossed.
He kissed her forehead gently, masking the storm inside him.
Sweet on the outside.
Deadly underneath.
At sa isip niya, malinaw ang isang bagay:
Kung pipili siya sa pagitan ng imperyo at ng babaeng nasa bisig niya. The Council would bleed first.
- Writer
