Winning The Magnate's Heart (#LTNI Book 2)

#WTMH Roll 11: Back to Neverland (pt.III)

LATER THAT EVENING | FLOWER GARDEN @ BODIE CASTLE

Embodying the purpose of the Spring Ball, the flower garden of the historic castle is indeed breathtaking that night because of the different tulips who are in full bloom that night. Strings of light bulbs gives them a soft but sophisticated yellow light along with the moon and stars in the nightsky above them. Margaret, with her long red-hair hanging loosely behind and adorned by a rose flower-crown atop her head, claps as the performance of fencing play by two men ended.

At dahil nasa labas sila'y damang-dama nila ang unang ihip ng tag-sibol na hangin. She pins her hair behind her ear as she looks at the villagers sitting happily on five of the tables on the center. Nasa podium kasi siya, ang reyna at si Joaquin kaya kitang-kita niya ang mga ito na nagtatawanan habang kumakain.

The next performance is a group of women with different flowers on their hair as they sang a native Scottish song.

Bumaling sa kaniya ang reyna. "Glad you made them come with you."

She smiles and nods "They were more excited than me." Marga looks around them. Though being surrounded by the castle and the forest on the south, the place looks heaven. Ang ganda kasi sa mata ng mga bulaklak sa flower garden na pawang namumutiktik sa ganda. There are no sunflowers though...

But...

Due East, few miles from here is her sunflower fields. Sayang lang kasi wala si Chomper. If it's her sunflower field she talks about, she became selfish. Ayaw niyang may ibang makakapunta roon.

Naputol ang pagmumuni-muni niya nang nagsipalakpakan ang mga tao. The host reveals the famous dancefloor. Namangha rin siya. The marble was so shiny that it reflects the night sky above and showered with colorful petals, it was surreal. "Wow."

Ngumiti sa kaniya si Joaquin. "Whoever facilitated this year's Spring Ball is genius."

Tumatawang tumango si Margaret. "Oo nga. Look at the dancefloor!"

Because after the entrance ceremony and short speech from the former owner of the Bodie Castle and from the Queen earlier, dinner was served alongside the performance. Ngayo'y busog at handang-handa na ang mga bisita na magsayaw sa bulwagan. This is what the Selkirk Spring Ball is all about --- The Lover's Dance on the dancefloor full of petals.

"Do you want to dance?" Alok ni Joaquin sa kaniya.

"Ah, no." Magalang niyang tanggi. "Ngayon pala'y nakikita ko na kung anong kahinatnan ng paa mo."

May lumapit na isang babaeng maharlika sa reyna kaya naging abala ito sa kausap.

"You sure?"

She nods. "Oo. Dito nalang ako. Tsaka..." Nilingon niya ang mga babaeng panay ang tapon ng kinikilig na tingin sa makisig na prinsipe. "...maraming nakalinya sa'yo."

"May I?"

Margaret smiles to give him permission to dance with other people. "You may dance with other ladies, Prince."

Joaquin stands and nods at her direction. "Thank you, Princess." He then gallantly takes a hand of one of the ladies waiting for him. As a gentleman, he granted their requests to dance with him.

"Margaret?" Lingon sa kaniya ng reyna.

"Yes, Your Grace?" Lingon niya sa abuela na noo'y tumayo.

"I'll be over there." Turo nito sa nag-uusap na mga taong pawang may mga rango sa iba't-ibang larangan ng lipunan. "Prime Minister Bolton is here. There is something I want to discuss with him."

"Yes, Your Grace." Tango niya.

And she was left alone on the podium. Iilang mga ginoo rin ang pumunta sa direksyon niya para hingin ang kamay niya para sa isang sayaw pero magalang niyang mga itong tinanggihan. She entertains herself watching the kids from the villages having the time of their lives on the ballroom, dancing out of tune.

Of course, she can dance. Pasasaan ba ang ballroom lessons niya? But right now, she just want to witness the happiness around her to remind her that life being as a princess isn't that so bad. Seeing the villagers enjoy already fulfilled her night.

Then a man clads in black, kneels infront of her. "Can I take the hand of the princess for a dance?"

Mula sa kapapanood sa mga sumasayaw, nilingon niya ang lalake tsaka ngumiti. "Sorry. I really don't dance ---- " At natigilan siya nang nag-angat ito ng tingin.

Sa likod ng maskara nito'y pares ng napakabughaw na mga mata.

"Y-You..." Her heart starts thumping hard against her chest. Even with the mask covering the upper part of his face, she knew it was him.

Isaiah pulls her hand. "I take no for an answer."

"But... the --- " Nagpahila siya nito sa bulwagan at nababahalang lumingon sa paligid. "...t-the Queen... they are here ----- " Di na niya natapos ang sasabihin nang hinapit siya nito sa beywang at hinila padikit sa katawan nito. "Isaiah." She looks up to him.

"Eyes on me, Princess."

Then all her senses give in as she was somehow allured by his blue eyes.

A soft piano version of Love Me Like You Do fills the air.

Binitawan siya ni Isaiah at bahagyang lumayo para yumuko. Margaret looks around her as the male partners of those who are dancing also stop to bow down to their female partners as if asking permission to dance with them for the..

Lover's Dance.

Along with the other female dancers, Margaret holds the side of her dress and gently bend one of her knees to give approval.

♪ ♫ You're the light, you're the night

You're the color of my blood ♩ ♬

Isaiah wraps his arms around his waist as they eyes locked at each other.

♩ ♬You're the cure, you're the pain

You're the only thing I wanna touch♩ ♬

Their fingers interlocked as they start to dance with the tune.

♬ Never knew that it could mean so much, so much ♬

With her body pressed to his, Margaret inhales his masculine scent. Her eyes flutters down. She's too embarrassed to look at him. Alam kasi niyang mababasa nito ang kung anong iniisip niya.

♩ ♬ You're the fear, I don't care

'Cause I've never been so high ♩ ♬

"I told you, eyes on me." His baritone voice soothes her ears.

Tinaas uli niya ang tingin sa lalake.

♩ ♬ Follow me to the dark

Let me take you past our satellites

You can see the world you brought to life, to life ♩ ♬

He holds her waist and sways her around.

Their eyes never break their gaze.

♩ ♬ So love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do

Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do ♩ ♬

Isaiah raises her hand for her to softly twirl around.

♩ ♬ Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do

What are you waiting for? ♩ ♬

And he pulls her back again towards him.

The energy, the chemistry were undeniably mutual.

♩ ♬ Fading in, fading out

On the edge of paradise♩ ♬

Pawang nangungusap ang kanilang mga mata.

She closes her eyes as she feels Isaiah's palm on her cheeks. She leans on it.

♩ ♬ Every inch of your skin is a holy gray I've got to find

Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire♩ ♬

He whispers. "Tell me what you want, Margaret."

♩ ♬ Yeah, I'll let you set the pace

'Cause I'm not thinking straight ♩ ♬

They extended their hands as Isaiah twirls Margaret and encloses her with his embrace from behind.

She bites her lower lip as she pleasurably moans. "Always been you."

♩ ♬ My head spinning around I can't see clear no more

What are you waiting for?. ♩ ♬

Binitawan siya ni Isaiah.

"Wait..." She reaches his hand.

He grins. "Calm down, love."

"W-What?"

Then white... red... pink petals start to fall between them.

Tumingala sila.

♩ ♬ Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do

Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do ♩ ♬

From an automated flying drone, it was raining petals.

♩ ♬ Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do

What are you waiting for? ♩ ♬

From looking up the sky, she slowly drops her gaze at Isaiah.

He was never looking up. He's been staring at her the whole time.

As petals keep falling between them, their eyes play trick on their vision.

Standing, facing each other, was Liam on his Peter Pan outfit and Isla on her Tinkerbell outfit.

♩ ♬ I'll let you set the pace

'Cause I'm not thinking straight ♩ ♬

Isaiah smiles at her with that famous boyish grin. "Where to, My Princess?"

> Liam turns to her. "Where to, my fairy?" Spotlight staring at them. [Stage 19: Magic and Moments]

♩ ♬ My head spinning around I can't see clear no more

What are you waiting for? ♩ ♬

Margaret suppresses the tears that starts to fall from her eyes. Yes, it's always been him. "Take me to Neverland, My Knight."

> Sinalubong ni Isla sa wakas na masayang mukha ni Liam. "Take me to Neverland, Peter Pan."

He lends his hand towards her. "So come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned." He quoted a famous line of Peter Pan. "Just think of happy things.."

She tangles her fingers with hand as tears of happiness travel her cheeks. "And your heart will fly with my wings..." Panapos niya. "to Never... Neverland." She stares at his blue eyes, forever lost with its deepness.

And Isaiah pulls her away from the crowd and into the forest where Chomper was waiting.

.

.

Masayang bumaba si Margaret sa kabayo matapos siyang ang nagmaneho sa kabila nang pagpupumilit ng lalake. She told him she knew the perfect place for the Neverland.

Lumingon sa paligid si Isaiah bago bumaba sa kabayo. "Where is this place?" All he can see is... endless roll of green hills.

She tied Chomper on nearby tree. "You'll know."

He grins. "I was hoping I could bring you to a vacant room in the palace and take you there the whole night."

"Ayssshh~" Namumulang takip ni Margaret. "Pwede ba?"

He holds her hand and kisses her palm. "I guess we have different version of Neverland in mind."

Margaret pulls her hand. "Follow me."

Walking behind the princess, Isaiah slowly feels that the field is going downslope. "Where exactly are we ---- "

Margaret faces him. "This is were I spent most of my night eveytime I miss you, Isaiah."

He looks behind her and his eyes widen as the green field turns to... sunny yellow because of... "S-Sunflowers..." Niyuko niya ang babae. "Sunflowers?"

She nods. "I don't know who plant these, but I'll be forever thankful whoever that might be. Beautiful, isn't it?"

Isaiah's gaze softens as he looks at her. "Every day."

"Why were you so afraid to touch me, Isaiah?"

He looks at the ring on her finger. "Someone owns you already, Marga." A tinge of sadness on his voice. "It was your choice to wear that ring, so it wasn't against your will. Desisyon mo 'yun at sino ba ako para pigilan ka? I have no choice to respect that."

She faces him. "What if I told you I want you to fight for me?"

"I did, didn't I?" Pained crosses his azure eyes. "And then what happened?"

"Don't give up."

"Until when?"

She looks down. It was a question she can't bear to give a definite answer.

Isaiah starts to turn back. "Come on, let's go back ---- "

Margaret pulls the ring off her finger. "What does it take for you to keep fighting for me?"

He turns to her. "What?"

Umiiyak siyang tiningnan ito. "K-Keep loving me, Isaiah. That's the o-only thing that keeps me sane all these times. I didn't want this, believe me. All I wanted is to be by your side. Kahit d-di mo nalang ako i-ipaglaban. J-Just keep loving me. Please ---- "

Isaiah immediately closes their distance as he cups her face and conquers her soft lips with his.

Umiiyak na tinugon ni Margaret ang malalim na halik nito. She clutches on his back as she deepens their kiss more, afraid that her sunflower will disappear.

Isaiah kisses her --- like a bee tasting his first honey. He buries his hand on her red-hair as he inwardly groans --- desire, pleasure and love. He wants more.

Pareho silang naghahabol ng hininga nang maghiwalay ang mga labi nila. Isaiah presses his forehead on her forehead. "Damn, Margaret. You don't have to plead."

She looks up to him. "This is wrong..."

He smiles. "But?"

"But f-feels so right..."

"My kisses always feel right." And he dips his head to taste her numb lips again.

Lumingon si Jean nang makita ang prinsesa. "Princess! We've been looking all over for you."

Inayos ni Margaret ang flower crown sa ulo niya. "S-Sorry. N-Nag-CR lang."

"CR?" Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Ussie. "You're not wearing a lipstick anymore?"

She blushes. "I-I must have wiped it with the table napkin.

MINUTES AGO | SUNFLOWER FIELDS

"I thought..." Sinundan ni Marga ng tingin si Isaiah na tinanggal mula sa pagkakatali si Chomper sa puno. "..you wanted more?"

Isaiah turns to her with eyes smiling. "Not here. Go back with me to Philippines, Marga. It's where you belong."

She smiles as she touches her lips.

[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW pt. 1]

Natigilan si Santino sa tanong ni Noah. "You're asking me if I know where Grandpa Arthur is?"

On the screen of his laptop, Noah answers. "You're the last Miller who saw Grandpa Arthur alive. Now, remember where that place is."

[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW pt. 2]

Natigilan si Margaret sa pagkatok sa study room nang marinig ang boses ng reyna at ni Joaquin sa loob.

And what Marga heard next shatters all her chances.

A/N: ⚈ ̫ ⚈ OY! Mag-vote⭐