Chapter 17

I was out of words when I heard Evan's confession, his words were very clear. Pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi ako makapaniwalang maririnig ito mula sa kanya.

I could still remember the first few days that we've met, he told me that my worth was just in the attic, but what now? He forcefully turned me into his wife, his mistress in the underworld and he even offered me his most precious gem.

The happiness and confusion were now filling me as his eyes settled on mine, he's waiting for my answer. Wala na akong ibang naririnig kundi ang mabilis at malakas na pagtibok ng puso ko.

"Naha.." he whispered.

He planted a soft kiss on my forehead, on his emerald stone. Pakiramdam ko ay anumang oras ay tuluyan na akong matutunaw.

"E-Evan,"

For the very first time, I used my vampire speed. Hindi inaasahan ni Evan ang mabilis kong pagkawala mula sa mga braso niya at ang pag-alis mula sa kanyang kandungan.

Yes, I was happy. Who wouldn't? Pero mas pipiliin ko na lang sigurong hindi niya sinabi ang mga salitang ito habang wala kaming kasiguraduhan.

"Where are you going?"

"B-Babalik na lang muna ako sa kwarto ko, Evan. M-May nakalimutan lamang ako."

"What?"

Malapit na akong makalabas sa silid nang mahabol ako ni Evan. Agad ako nitong nabuhat at sa isang iglap ay natagpuan ko ang sarili kong nakaupo sa lamesang pinanggalingan namin ni Evan.

Halos mapapikit ako nang sabay ibagsak ni Evan ang kanyang dalawang kamay sa aking pagitan dahilan para tuluyan akong makulong sa kanyang mga braso.

He slowly leaned on me to meet my eyes again.

"Where is my playful Naha now?" malambing na tanong niya sa akin na halos umagaw sa aking tamang paghinga.

Bakit nga ba ako tumakbo? Hindi ba at natural lamang ang reaksyon ko? I wasn't expecting something deeper with this relationship, lalo na at nabubuhay ang mga bampira sa kanilang paniniwalang nakalaan ang bawat isa sa bampirang itinakda sa kanila.

I bit my lower lip. I need to answer him, I need to find damn words to answer him! Pilit akong nag-isip ng pwedeng isagot kay Evan pero wala akong mahanap.

Instead of meeting his eyes, I tried to avoid him but this time he did not utter any words. Nanatili rin tahimik si Evan at sumusunod lamang ito sa bawat paggalaw ng ulo ko.

He was like playing and teasing me!

When I turned my eyes on left, he would follow me while gazing his tender eyes. When I turned my eyes on right, just like the first he would follow me making my whole body shivers with his little but electrifying movements.

Ilang beses kong iniiwasan ang mga titig ni Evan pero ilang beses rin itong humahabol sa akin nang paulit-ulit. Walang salita kundi pawang maliit na kilos lamang sa pagitan namin.

Why was he like this?

"E-Evan naman," nangangatal ang mga labi ko habang dahan-dahan ko nang sinasalubong ang kanyang mga mata.

My tears were falling like raindrops from the sky. I was happy when I heard his I love you, very happy but I knew that it won't ever last long.

Hindi gumawa ng salita si Evan sa halip ay nanatili itong nakatitig sa akin habang pinupunasan ko ang aking sariling luha.

"I'm happy, please don't get this wrong, my lord. P-Pero hindi na naman ako naghahangad nang--" halos hindi ko maituloy ang sasabihin ko. "Alam kong kung anong nangyayari sa loob ng unibersidad na ito, hanggang dito na lang ito." Nanatili pa rin itong walang salita at hinayaan niya lamang ako.

"There was no assurance in this university, kaya hindi na ako naghahangad nang mas malalim pang ugnayan o kaya mga salitang magmumula sa'yo. Yes, we're married but I knew that the blessing was just being honoured in the underworld. Nagugulat lang ako, how could easily said those words if you knew that we'll fall apart once that you've accomplished your real mission?" I was hoping that he would give me his answer but he just stared at me.

"I can understand the play, the temporary happiness between us. P-Pero sana, hindi ka na lang nagsalita nang—" muling pumatak ang mga luha ko at nasapo ko na ang aking mukha ng mga palad ko.

"Aasa ako Evan, aasa ako!"

"If my father can't, I can. Fuck the mate thing, I am in love with you." Tinanggal nito ang mga palad kong nagtatago sa aking mukha.

And for the nth time, he held my face again with tenderness in his eyes.

"Can you hear me Naha? I am in love with you."

"No, ako lang ang nakikita mo sa mga oras na ito. Nasasabi mo lang 'yan dahil hindi mo pa siya nakikilala. Oh please Evan, don't give me false hope." Pilit kong tinanggal ang mga kamay niya sa mukha ko.

"I am not giving you false hope, Naha." I tried to protest but his lips didn't allow me to continue. He gave me a forceful kiss that I can't even decline.

"Evan!" malakas ko siyang itinulak.

"Why are you damn doubting me?! It took me days before I fucking gathered my strength to confess, then this?" He irritably said.

"Because you're a fucking Gazellian! You're a Gazellian Evan! I am all aware of your family history in terms of mates." Natigilan si Evan sa sinabi ko.

"Wala pa na katulad ko ang pinili! Wala pa! Non-mate woman will never be a Gazellian's choice. Naiiwan lang kami Evan, kaya utang na loob. Remove the fucking I love you! Masaya na ako sa atensyon mo, masaya na akong napaliligaya natin ang isa't-isa. Don't fucking involve the word love, na hindi mo kayang panindigan sa huli."

"So you're aware."

"Who wouldn't?! Kilalang-kilala ka sa unibersidad na ito! As well as your father, the great king and his first love." Tuluyan nang pumiyok ang boses ko.

"That happened because my father met my mother, Naha. We're different." Gusto kong kumawala kay Evan pero muli akong kinulong nito.

"We'll live in another world together, Naha, na ikaw lang ang babaeng mamahalin ko. I don't need a mate, I already have you."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Once that I've fully destroyed this university, we will leave the vampire world Naha. I can live in your world."

"Human world?! But we're not humans anymore! And how about your brothers? Your help with your empire?"

"Hindi ako aalis nang walang malaking nagagawa, Naha. Don't worry."

"Hindi ko na alam kung paniniwalaan pa kita, Evan. Nasasabi mo lang ito dahil malayo siya sa'yo! Nasasabi mo lang ito dahil ako ang nakikita mo."

Nagsisimula na akong maguluhan. My sister told me that deep emotions were being filtered inside this university, but what was this?

Marahan kong inangat ang mga kamay ko at sa pagkakataong ito ay ako na ang humawak sa magkabilang pisngi ni Evan. Ilang beses akong umiling sa kanya.

"Maybe it's just lust—we're both aware that intense emotions were being filtered inside this university Evan. Tama na, please. I can always stay with you, habang nanatili tayo sa unibersidad na ito. J-Just please, don't let me believe with the words that would definitely break me in the future." Halos magmakaawa na ako kay Evan.

I was hoping that he would agree with me, but the vampire prince just gave me his grin.

"E-Evan—" but my words were cut off when I witnessed the only thing that we both knew that would never happen inside this university.

His eyes glow with the shades of blood, my heart suddenly raced like an untamed horse inside a race track. Bumitaw ang mga kamay ko sa kanya at napahawak ito sa lamesa para kumuha nang suporta.

"N-Nagningas ang 'yong mga mata, mahal na prinsipe." Nanlalaking matang sabi ko.

Walang bampira ang makagagawang paglingasin ang mga mata sa loob ng unibersidad na ito.

Saglit lamang bumalik sa pagiging itim ang kanyang mga mata dahil muli itong nagningas ng pula. His fangs arched as he continued to move closer on me.

"P-Paanong—"

Napasinghap ako nang makarinig ako nang malakas na kulog at sinundan ito nang paulit-ulit na pagkidlat. My whole memories were now starting to flow like a river, it was raining, there was a coffin, there was a shrine and then someone carried me.

The man brought me on the highest roof of the university where the flag of its symbolism stood highly with the strong wind, rain, thunder and lightning.

Dahan-dahang lumilinaw sa mga alaala ko ang mukha nang bampirang nasa harapan ko.

This wasn't the first time that I've seen his eyes glow in red.

"E-Evan, I don't understand. Nalilito ako, papaano mo napagniningas ang 'yong mga mata? This place was blessed with strong spell, anong klaseng itim na mahika ang ginamit mo?"

Dahil nakakulong ako sa lamesa mula sa mga braso niya, pinili kong sumampa nang tuluyan dito. Dahan-dahan akong umatras papalayo kay Evan na may tanong sa aking isipan.

May nabasa akong ang tanging makakasira sa mahika ng unibersidad na ito ay isang itim na mahika lamang.

Hinayaan ako ni Evan sa lumayo sa kanya. I was looking for another way to run when my eyes accidentally landed on the antique mirror hanging on the right side. Bloody hell!

My eyes were glowing too!

"E-Evan—"

Nang sandaling muli kong ibalik ang mga mata ko kay Evan, tuluyan na rin itong nakasampa sa lamesa.

And just like a fast lion trying to corner his prey, he's already on top of me giving me his gazed of possession. He grinned as the back of his right hand gently caressed me.

My breathing was now uneven. What the hell was happening?

One of my hands moved closer to him, Evan gave me an access and he willingly opened his mouth for me. He revealed his fangs making my fingers moved while tracing the every sharpness of it.

I intentionally pushed the tip of my forefinger making it bleed a little. Evan made a lick on it as his eyes flicker with mine, making our own fire.

"Who are you again, Naha?" nakataas ang kilay nito sa akin na parang naisahan niya ako.

He's a cheater! He should have told me earlier!

I rolled my eyes as I positioned my neck for his convenience.

"Uuh? Your mate?" Evan gave me his genuine laughter before tracing his fangs on mine.

"Too slow, I've been waiting for you to notice."

--

VentreCanard