Chapter 15: Thorns

I immediately crouched to pick up the pieces of glass shattered on the floor. I noticed that there was blood on my palm which healed up as soon as I realized it. The glass crushed on my palms before it slipped away from my grasp.

Before I even had another realization, a pair of hand helped me clean up the mess. Nakayuko lang si Kristan habang pumupulot ng mga piraso ng basag na bote.

"Are you okay, Nathalia?"

I looked up at Lady Tania just to meet her anxious eyes. She looked worried for me. She shouldn't. She should be more worried for Lady Massie.

"I am, Mother." I gave her my reassuring smile.

"Ako na ang bahala rito," malamig na sabi ni Kristan. He threw a glance at me and nodded. "You should wash your hand."

I looked down at my hand. My wounds healed up, but I still got a stain of blood on my palm. I stood up and walked to the sink without eyeing anyone, especially those two.

"What do you mean together?" I heard Lady Tania.

After washing my hands, I used the towel to dry them. Kahit na tapos na akong magpunas ay hindi pa rin ako humarap sa kanila.

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you, Mother. But when I first came here, I fell in love with Lady Massie." Terrence's insincere words hurt my ears. "But I couldn't man up for her at that time. I thought she was too precious for me. I always thought she didn't deserve me. Until now, I still feel the same way. But I am braver now. I love your sister, Mother. I love her so much."

I took a deep breath before I turned to them. I crossed my arms on my chest as I watched the scene with my own eyes. Nakayuko lang si Lady Massie na umiiyak. Sa tabi niya ay si Terrence na nakatingin kay Lady Tania. Tumagos sa akin ang kanyang tingin.

"I love her so much," he said while staring directly at me.

I stared back at him with my black expression. I think I already know what he's up to. I don't want to say I'm kind of late for even to stop his plan because he already made sure of it. He planned this trick before I even found out about his real identity.

"Mother..." Lady Massie finally looked up at Lady Tania. Her eyes were full of tears as the soft sobs kept coming out of her quivering lips. "Forgive me."

My fists clenched knowing she really loves him. Lady Massie has to be the most genuine person I know. When she says something, there's no way it's not the truth. If she says she loves him, she really does. Meanwhile, Terrence was the total opposite of her. His words are mostly the opposite of what's in his head.

It's all just a play for him.

He doesn't love Lady Massie. She's just using her.

Against me.

"Oh, my baby..." Nilapitan ni Lady Tania si Lady Massie saka tinayo para yakapin nang mahigpit. Niyapos niya ang buhok nito habang pinapatahan. "I would lie if I said I didn't see this one coming."

"Mother..." Lady Massie wept even more.

A flicker of sadness glimmered in Lady Tania's eyes as she faced her. She gently caressed Lady Massie's face just like what mothers do to their daughters while comforting them with their soft words.

"Azalea Village is known as the land of freedom. It would be a hypocrite to put chains around you just to make sure you won't go away. And I would do anything just for you to be happy, Lady Massie. Anything."

Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay napansin kong lamabas sa likod ng bahay si Kristan para itapon ang mga bubog. I was about to follow him when Lady Dinah suddenly appeared. Natigilan siya sa paghikab nung makita na umiiyak si Lady Massie.

"G-good morning?" she greeted, hesitantly. "What's happening here?"

Terrence cleared his throat as he stood up. Before I could even hear another set of lies from his mouth, I immediately took the backdoor to follow Kristan. Naabutan ko siyang binabaon sa lupa ang mga bubog.

I put my hands together as I walked closer to him.

"Hindi ba 'yan mahuhukay kapag umulan nang malakas?" tanong ko.

Sa halip na sagutin ay kumuha siya ng mga bato saka nilagay sa ibabaw ng mga bubog bago tinabunan ng lupa. Napansin ko mabigat ang paggalaw ng kanyang mga kamay.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Stay away from him, you said," he chuckled. Tumayo na siya pinagpagan ang mga kamay. "But I am closer to punching his face."

I chortled. This is what I like about Kristan. Mabilis siyang makiramdam. Hindi mo kailangang ipaliwanag sa kanya ang nangyayari.

"He was looking at you the whole time he was confessing his feelings for Lady Massie." He looked down at his feet. "I badly wanted to shove these pieces of glass in his mouth."

"That's so brutal!" I laughed.

I loved it!

"It's not funny, Nathalia."

Natigilan ako sa pagtawa dahil parang nasermonan ako nang wala sa oras. His jaws clenched as he looked away. That made him look sexier.

"He's clearly trying to ruin your connection with the three ladies by creating chaos with you at the center. If that's really the case, what's your plan?"

I see. We have the same thoughts about his intentions. The thing is— I can't do anything about it yet. If I try to get myself involved, Terrence can use it against me. Anything that I do will be bad for me.

I need someone else to do the work for me.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

I sighed and shook my head. "Let's not talk about it yet. They are still celebrating the sudden announcement. Let's play along for now."

"Hey!" I was about to turn my back when Kristan held my hand. He rubbed his palms against my skin. It's as if he's inspecting if I got hurt. "You should be careful next time."

Binawi ko na sa kanya ang kamay ko saka na rin bumalik sa loob. Naabutan naming nagtatawanan sa hapag-kainan ang mga naiwan namin kanina. Agad na napansin ko ay ang magkahawak na kamay nina Lady Massie at Terrence.

They really fell to his trick. Of course, they would. They know nothing about him just as much as they know about me. He was here because of me after all.

"Lady Nathalia!" Hinila ako ni Lady Dinah sa tabi niya saka inabutan ng alak. "Let's have a toast for Lady Massie and Terrence."

Dumapo ang tingin ko sa harapan. Nakangiti sa akin si Lady Massie. Sa tabi niya ay si Terrence na nasa baso ng alak ang atenyon, pero napansin kong ngumisi ito. Kristan sat beside me.

"Are you hurt?" Lady Massie asked me.

I shook my head. "Congratulations, Sister!"

"Thank you!" she appreciated.

We had a toast for the newly announced couples. Inamin ni Lady Dinah na siya ang unang nakatuklas ng namamagitan kina Lady Massie at Terrence. Sinabi rin ni Lady Tania na matagal na niya 'yong napapansin pero ayaw niya lang pangunahan ito.

"Does that mean you will stay here for good now?" Kristan suddenly asked.

Nagkatininginan sina Lady Massie at Terrence. I could see that they haven't talked about it yet. And Kristan's sudden question brought a hasty decision.

"I am planning to bring Lady Massie with me," Terrence said.

As if I didn't see it coming. It still had me stunned.

Not just me. It was a moment of silence.

"I want to travel the world with the love of my life," Terrence even said. He put the back of Lady Massie's hand on his lips and kissed it. "Only if Lady Tania would permit it."

At that moment, I knew Lady Tania had to give a hasty answer too. Alam ko na rin naman na papayagan niya nito. As she said earlier—anything for Lady Massie.

She did.

"Are you sure?" Lumungkot ang boses ni Lady Dinah.

Lady Massie sadly nodded. "That was my plan. But I don't see it happening anytime soon. I still have more time to spend with you!"

Even with that supposed to be a reassuring answer, it didn't lift Lady Dinah's mood. What's the point of enjoying the moment when you know you will lose it anytime soon?

"I will still lead our very first flower parade," nakangiti pang tugon ni Lady Massie. Saka siya bumaling sa akin. "Please, be here, Lady Nathalia. I want you to wear my favorite flower— Azalea."

"I will try..." I said because I'm not sure anymore.

I'm not sure if it will still happen.

After that long breakfast, I went to my room. Bago ko pa man masarado 'yon ay nakapasok na si Lady Dinah. Padabog siyang umupo sa kama ko.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't hate Terrence," she said. "But I don't like him either."

I sat beside her, curious as to what's the reason.

"Look, Nathalia. When he first came here, he was so interested in you more than he had shown interest in Lady Massie. Oo. Lagi silang magkasama, pero ikaw naman ang naririnig kong lagi nilang pinag-uusapan."

"Does he know me?" I asked.

She turned to me. "Oo nga 'no? As far as I know, wala pa kaming nababanggit sa kanya tungkol sa 'yo noon. Pero naririnig ko ng pinag-uusapan ka nila ni Lady Massie."

"Baka si Lady Massie ang nagbukas ng tungkol sa akin?"

"It could be." Tinulak niya ang sarili pasandal sa ulunan ng kama. Saka siya humalukipkip. "O baka kilala ka talaga niya?"

"I don't know him," I lied.

That's the narrative he started. I was just playing along. Or maybe creating my version of it. Either way, it's his idea after all.

"Hmmm..." Tila napaisip siya. Saka ito bumuntonghininga. "Ito naman kasing si Lady Massie. Napakarupok. Ang ganda niya, pero masyadong inosente."

I chuckled. "Hindi ba ikaw ang nagka-crush sa lalaking nakilala mo lang nang ilang minuto?"

"Yeah? But I didn't fall in love with him. And I like Kristan better than him though."

That had me interested. There's really something about Kristan that makes anyone feel comfortable with him. Maybe because he's just really just a genuine man.

"What do you think, Nath?" she returned the question to me.

"I think he's cool," I answered.

"He is. But that's all."

"So..." Lumapit ako sa kanya saka niyakap ang unan. Pinilit kong hindi ngumiti. "Mukhang hindi ka pabor sa kanya. Ano ang plano mo?"

"I don't know." She pouted her lips. "Maybe I'll find the answer within the remaining days that they will spend with us before they go."

I shrugged my shoulders.

Maybe.

I took a quick shower. Nakasuot ako ng puting bistida na pinahiram sa akin ni Lady Tania. Lumabas ako ng kwarto para hanapin si Kristan pero wala ito. Ayon kay Lady Tania ay sinama raw nina Lady Massie at Terrence.

"I will be back before lunchtime," Lady Tania said. "Enjoy yourself."

Naiwan akong mag-isa sa loob ng malaking bahay. Where's Lady Dinah? I looked for her around, but she's not here too. I literally just shower for ten minutes and everyone's gone.

Mag-isa akong pumunta sa likod ng bahay. Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa garden ni Lady Massie. I was right. They were all here. Kristan was helping Lady Massie with watering the flowers. Meanwhile, Terrence was just sleeping under the maple tree.

"Psst!"

My attention darted at Lady Dinah. She's hiding behind the big bush just a few meters away from me. Nilapitan ko siya. Hinila niya ako patago rin.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, even though I had no idea what was happening.

"Watching over them. Especially Terrence."

My lips parted. "How long have you been spying on them?"

"Probably twenty minutes now." She sighed. "Terrence hasn't moved yet. Sina Lady Massie at Kristan lang ang gumagawa sa lahat."

"That's your only observation after hiding here for twenty minutes?"

She nodded.

"Then, this is senseless. Get up now."

Bago pa niya ako mapigilan ay tumayo na ako saka naglakad papunta sa kanila. Mabilis naman na sumabay sa akin si Lady Dinah nang parang walang ginawang pagmamatyag.

"Lady Nathalia!" Lady Massie excitedly approached me. "Kristan is helping me. Is that okay with you?"

I laughed. "I don't speak for him, Lady Massie. He can do anything he wants."

"Wait. You need to see this!" She grabbed my hand and walked me to another side of the garden. This part was separated because the flower planted here wasn't her favorite Azalea. "I planted this for you."

It was a red rose.

Yumuko ako para haplusin ang bulaklak na hindi pa ganap na namukadkad. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. I suddenlyn missed my red roses back on The Mansion.

"This... was so sweet of you," I said, astonished.

"It has thorns," Lady Massie whispered as she put her thumb on the peak of the thorn. "You know what I noticed about the red rose?"

"What?" I asked, still looking at the flower.

"If you start from the root, it won't be easy to reach the beautiful scenery without going through the thorns. It's like a worthy reward."

That's what I love about roses. They are beautiful, but painful when mishandled. Their beauty shouldn't forget you about their thorns.

We suddenly heard a commotion behind us. Mabilis naming nilapitan sina Kristan at Terrence na mukhang nagkakainitan. Sa tabi nila ay si Lady Dinah na walang imik. Mukhang nagmamasid na naman siya.

"What happened?" Lady Massie asked.

"Nothing," Terrence simply responded. Saka niya inakbayan si Lady Massie. "Let's go back? I want to shower with you."

"What is it, Kristan?" I asked him instead.

Kristan seemed so hesitant to respond.

"I think it's because Kristan heard when Terrence said that roses are the worst kind of flowers," Lady Dinah butted in. "Is that it, Kristan?"

My brows arched on their own. It's as if my entire body has its own life and it knew how much roses meant to me. And hearing that insult was making them act up. No.

I take offense to roses.

"I didn't say anything about flowers," Terrence glared at Kristan. "Come on, Lady Dinah. I was memorizing a poem for Lady Massie."

"Oh." Bumilog ang mga labi ni Lady Dinah. I was so sure that she was lying when a big smile plastered on her face. "I think I just misheard it."

"Terrence..." Lady Massie looked at her boyfriend. "You wouldn't say that, would you?"

"No. Why would I?" Terrence groaned. "I swear, milady. I would never say such a thing." Saka siya bumaling kay Kristan. "I'm sorry, bro. I think you just really misheard me. I apologize for that."

Kristan didn't say anything. He just stood beside me, but looking at his expression, I knew he was just holding back. Like I told him.

Nagpaalam na sila Lady Massie at Terrence na babalik. Naiwan kaming tatlo nila Lady Dinah at Kristan. Hinila ako ni Lady Dinah palayo kay Kristan.

"I know. He's lying." Inunahan ko na siya.

Humalakhak si Lady Dinah. "I knew there's something suspicious about that guy. Ilang oras pa lang nung magtapat siya ay lumalabas na ang totoo niyang kulay."

No. This was just a glimpse. I had seen it all.

"Anyway, babalik na rin ako. Baka may masagap pa akong chismis eh." Humahalakhak pa siya habang naglalakad palayo at pabalik sa bahay.

I sighed. He knew how much roses meant to me. He tried to trigger me by insulting them. But he wouldn't get the satisfaction.

Pagkaharap ko ay naabutan kong dinidiligan ni Kristan ang rosas na tinanim ni Lady Massie para sa akin. Bakas pa rin sa kanyang mukha na iniisip pa rin niya ang sinabi ni Terrence.

"That's enough water," I said.

Kinuha ko ang regadera sa kanyang kamay saka 'yong tinabi. Napansin kong nakakuyom pa rin ang kanyang mga kamao.

This was the first time I saw him having hard time controlling his feeling. Ngayon ko lang din napagtanto na kung gaano siya kahirap na galitin, gano'n naman siya kahirap mapaamo.

"Do you think I'm lying too?" he asked, still looking at his feet.

"Are you?"

He looked up at me. "I wasn't mad because he insulted your favorite flower, Nathalia. I was mad at him because he knew that it would affect your feeling and yet he still said it."

I looked at him straight into his eyes. I could see the frustration bulging. I knew the next time it happened, I don't think he could still hold it back.

"I am not affected," I said, trying to calm him down.

The calmness of his eyes turned red. My attention dropped to his hand. They were clenched so tight that they started to prick into his skin causing it to bleed.

"Hey..." I touched his face. "It's okay."

He didn't say anything.

"Kristan..." I put my finger on his lower lip. "I am not affected at all."

Maybe for a second, it did. But when I realized that those words came from the worst person to ever exist, it suddenly became senseless.

I badly wanted to kiss him now, but Lady Dinah could be watching over us from afar, too. Alam kong pinagdududahan niya rin ako.

From his face, I held his hand. Hinaplos ko ito. Sa ilang segundo lang ay bumalik ang kulay ng kanyang mga mata. Kumalma na ito.

"I'm sorry..." he apologized.

That moment made me realize what I had to do.

I haven't slept for a day now, but I still didn't rest in a bed that night. While everyone was resting, including Terrence who was sleeping beside Lady Massie, I casually went out of the house barefoot.

Kristan's taking his role in my life seriously now. But as much as he doesn't want to disobey me and my words, Terrence keeps on pushing him to the edge.

I didn't realize I went too far away from Azalea Village. I was now walking in the woods, barefoot and had no plan of going back just yet.

I can't let the place that welcomed me wholeheartedly be affected by my miseries and mistakes. I don't want it to be part of my past that I regret.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nung may marinig na kaluskos sa paligid. Before I even got caught by a trap planted on the group, I immediately moved away from it. The net rose up on the tree with nothing in it.

"Fuck! Catch her!"

Mabilis kong iniwasan ang mga kalalakihan na humabol sa akin. Mga bampira din sila gaya ko. Mukhang nangunguha sila ng hayop na makakain. Malas lang dahil ako ang nadatnan nila.

Instead of running away, I turned to them. I was ready to fight back when I recognized one of the members. I think he also recognized me based on his reaction.

"Hoodie Lady!" he called me.

Napahinto lahat sila sa pag-atake sa akin. Naka-focus lang ang tingin ko sa pinakabata sa kanila. I think I knew his name, but I just couldn't remember it.

"Wait. Do you know her?"

He nodded. "How's the cat doing?"

"Oh." The other one gasped. "Y-you are that lady..."

"Oh. You are Owen, right?" I asked him.

Nakangiting tumango naman siya.

Looking at them, an idea popped into my head.

"Wait. Are you guys hungry?" I asked.

They all nodded and answered in unison.

"I can't assure to give you food, but I promise to give you tons of gold that you can use to buy anything you want," I smiled at them.

I got their full interest.

"When?" one of them asked.

I was just as excited as them.

"The day after tomorrow before the dawn breaks," I said before turning to Owen. "While they are doing their job, it would be best for you if you find a safe place away from here, Owen."

I didn't know that one day I would stoop this low and ask for the help of insurgents. Unlike my brothers, I don't see the light in them. If they couldn't fight for their own justice, who would?

But... I had to do it.

Terrence knows how much I love roses. What he doesn't is how much my thorns had grown in the span of time he was gone.