Swan of Snowy Trails (Book 2 of Swan Trilogy)

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Eight Days

Nagpipinta ako habang nakaupo sa blanket na inilatag ko sa damo, may hawak na maliit na kanyamaso at paint brush upang ipinta ang abot-tanawin at ang araw mula sa garden.

I wore a white sundress with spaghetti straps and long ruffled skirt. I picked up a grape from the basket with the strawberries, apples, and croissants laying on the side.

I sent the Hanselions a letter, telling them how I feel about this marriage. Hindi ko magawang sabihin sa kanila sa personal dahil nga iniiwasan nila ako at pakiramdam ko maiiyak lang ako kapag nagsalita na ko sa kanila.

I told them how much it saddens me they had been avoiding me since we got married. I know marriage is supposed to get you closer to each other but it only tore us apart.

What should I do? Kahit anong gawin ko, ikakasal pa rin sila sa iba kung hindi man magtagal ang kasal namin.

Does it mean I have to stay married to them for the rest of my life just so they wouldn't get dragged to an arranged marriage to princesses?

It's getting out of hand! Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit dinalhan ko sila ng letter, hindi ko na alam kung paano ko sila matutulungan.

I tried to protect them but failed and I am ashamed to face this problem. I didn't know what else to do but just write it all down in those eight letters.

By the time I finished painting the horizon, scenery, and flowers in one canvas, pinatuyo ko muna ito sa isang tabi bago kumuha muli ng grapes mula sa basket.

I basked underneath the warm sunlight that soothes my skin. Sa Pilipinas kapag naarawan ka lang, parang ka na pinapaso ng araw, pero ang sinag ng araw dito'y malambing at hindi masakit sa balat.

Nawala iyong pagmumuni-muni ko nang may humarang na silweta sa harapan ko. Naliwanagan siya ng sunlight na nagmistulang halo sa kanyang ulo. Atsaka ko lang napansin na hindi lang pala siya nag-iisa.

I just stared at them without saying anything, the mere fact I had to send them a letter is already embarrassing enough for me.

"We got your message."

"And?"

"We had a talk with Counselor Socrates, we pushed our busy schedules to spend more time with you."

"Huh? Bakit niyo ginawa iyon? Kailangan nila kayo. Importante kayo sa pagpulong ninyo."

"No, you need us right now," Austin said in a grim tone. "You didn't even have to write a letter for each of us. Sabihin mo lang na kailangan mo kami, hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na lapitan ka."

I was touched by those words, knowing that they will be there for me no matter what we're going through, nakakagaan sa puso as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

But I also remember the time I felt so alone. Alam ko naman na busy kaming lahat at namomroblema rin sila sa isyu ng arranged marriage nila pero napapagod na kasi akong mag-adjust.

They apologized to me. Hindi naman ako galit sa kanila. I just don't know what to do now that our marriage became a trap at this point.

Tinapik ko ang space sa tabi ko at agad nilang naintindihan ang pinapahiwatig ko. Umupo ang Hanselions sa picnic blanket sa damo. Hindi muna ako umimik habang nakain ng grapes mula sa basket.

Tinitirintas ni Daniel ang nakalugay kong buhok. Marahan ang mga daliri niyang iniikot-ikot ang pagkabuhol nito.

"Sobrang lambot ng buhok mo." Sabi niya then I heard him sniffle. "Ang bango-bango pa. Amoy bulaklak."