MY CURSED MATE

I Jealousy I

Warning! This chapter is not edited, so expect typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Thanks and enjoy reading!

KABANATA V

Third Person's POV

Everly stirred awake to the sound of a gentle knock on her door. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she heard Manang Linda's warm voice calling from the other side.

Naniningkit ang matang inilingon niya iyon sa bukas na bintana at bumungad sa kanya ang madilim na labas. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog na pala siya.

"Kakain na tayo, ija."

Rubbing the drowsiness from her eyes, Everly quickly got up and opened the door. Keeping her gaze low due to the lingering embarrassment from what happened that afternoon.

"Don't worry," the old woman assured her with a knowing smile. "Greyson and Jake already ate. It's just the two of us."

Nakahinga naman siya ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi nito bago tahimik na sumunod sa likod ng matanda. Diretso silang naglakad pababa sa unang palapag ng mansion at patungo sa kusina kung saan nakahanda na ang lahat ng pagkain.

Kaagad na nanunot sa ilong ni Everly ang masarap na amoy ng mga pagkaing iyon, hanggang sa tuluyan ng tumunog ang kanyang tyan sa gutom na tinawanan lang naman ng matanda.

Inabutan siya nito ng plato at nag umpisa na silang kumain. Ilang beses munang napalunok si Everly dahil iyon ang unang beses na makakain siya sa mesa na puno ng iba't ibang uri ng masasarap na pagkain. Ang madalas niya lang kasing kainin sa mansion ng kanyang ama ay mga tirang pagkain o kaya minsan ay tinapay na pinupuslit ng kanyang ina.

"Kain na ija," Manang Linda's reassuring smile made Everly at ease and finally took her first bite. She can't help but close her eyes with the savoury feeling of it.

When she opened her eyes she caught the old woman looking at her which made her conscious again.

"Go on—Eat, Everly. As much as you want, don't mind me. I'm just happy that I won't eat alone anymore," a genuine smile plastered on the woman's face which made Everly smile as well and nod in approval.

They shared a quiet meal together, their conversation light, yet comforting.

When Everly finally mustered the courage to bring up her earlier mistake, the old woman only laughed heartily, the sound filling the kitchen like a soothing melody.

"Don't worry about that, ija. Jake is a good man, and it's his fault for showing up out of nowhere and startling you," Manang Linda chuckled, patting Everly's hand reassuringly.

Some of the shame lifted from Everly's chest, though not completely because she hasn't asked for the man's forgiveness yet.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain ay umalis saglit ang matanda upang ihanda ang tulugan nito. Samantalang siya ay nagpasya na maglakad lakad mula sa pasilyo patungo sa hardin upang lusawin ang kanyang kinain.

Hoping the walk would ease the turmoil in her heart.

As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to the life she had left behind. The walls of her father's mansion had never been a home—only a prison where she had known nothing but pain and cruelty.

If not for her mother's unwavering love, she might not have had the strength to keep going. Now, as she traced her fingers over the fabric of her sleeves, she felt an odd sense of pride in the scars hidden beneath them. They were a testament to her endurance, to the battles she had survived.