The Curse

Chapter 4

"Kelan kayo magpapakasal?" Bungad ni Eira sa amin nang makaupo kami sa hapagkainan. It looks like they reserved this.

Tahimik lang akong umupo sa upuan na inusog ni Ashvin para sa akin. He sat beside me and held my hand under the table.

"Kung kailan gusto ni Linnaea." Ashvin gave them a small smile and started to put foods on my plate.

While I'm just watching him. He looked bothered. Nang matapos sya ay tumingin sya sa akin.

"Hmm?" He asked, asking what's the problem. Umiling naman ako at kinuha na ang kutsara at tinidor para magsimulang kumain.

"I need to tell you something—."

"We won't talk about that here. Paguusapan natin pagkauwi, okay? We're here to chill." Noah cutted Freya. She sighed and slowly nodded. Tumingin ako sa paligid at nakitang nanunuod lang din sila at tahimik.

The air is now gloomy.

"Kumain kana," Ashvin whispered and put his hand on my lap. Napatitig pa ako don dahil kaiba ang pakiramdam.

Tumango na lamang ako at nagtuloy sa pagkain.

This is the first time that I feel clueless.

"Wala ba silang ano dito?" Biglang tanong ni Cloud at inikot ang tingin sa buong lugar.

"Ano?" Kunot noong tanong nila.

"Yung ano..." he replied while still looking somewhere.

"Ano nga?" Naiinis na tanong na ni Eira at magsasalita pa sana nang pigilan sya ni Cloud.

"Gusto ko ng gatas," he said while smiling. Natahimik naman silang lahat at natulala sa kanya ng ilang minuto.

"Miss!" Pag tawag nya sa mga babaeng naglalakad. Huminto naman ang iba at lumapit sa kanya.

"Yes?"

"Pwedeng makahingi ng gatas?" He asked a woman who's wearing a robe. Basa ang buhok nito na mukhang galing pa sa dagat.

"What?" The woman asked and step closer.

"Gatas po," Cloud answered politely.

"I'm sorry, hindi po ako waiter dito—."

The woman was cutted when Cloud stood up, magkaharap na sila ngayon at aksidenteng napatingin si Cloud sa hinaharap nito.

"Yung ano po—."

"Bastos!" The woman shouted and suddenly slapped him. We all gasped at the woman's gesture.

"H-huh?" Litong tanong ni Cloud habang nakahawak sa pisngi. Napatayo naman si Eira at akmang sasampalin din ang babae ng pigilan nila Belle.

"I'm sorry po!" May biglang lumapit na parang guard at lumapit sa babae. Pilit nya itong pinapaalis.

When the woman left, tulalang napaupo si Cloud.

"May ginawa ba ako?" He asked confusedly.

Napalingon kami kay Blade nang bigla syang tumawa. Tumawa na din sila Atlas kaya natawa na silang lahat.

"Tangina..." Bulong ni Cloud at napanguso nalang.

———

"Do we have a problem?" I asked Ashvin the moment we went here. Hindi na kami sumama sa kanila sa pagtambay dahil may gusto akong malaman.

I'm now standing at the veranda. Kitang kita ang dagat dito at malakas ang hangin.

"Hmm?" He asked and went to me. Nang makalapit na sya ay kinulong nya ako sa barandilya at tinagilid ng kaunti ang ulo. I'm now cornered.

I took a deep breath and looked away.

"What's with your question?" He softly asked. My eyes started to water because of his tone.

I heard him sighed before leaning his forehead on my shoulders.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered. Napaharap naman ako sa kanya at sinubukang iangat ang ulo nya.

"D-do you...do you really want a child, Ashvin?" I asked, almost whispered. Napaawang naman ang labi nya bago nagbaba ng tingin.

"I would lie if I'll say that I don't want it," he answered. "But I told you...I'm willing to wait for you." He then, smiled.

Umiling ako at naramdaman ang pagtulo ng luha. His eyes widened and immediately wipe my cheeks.

"Don't cry...I-I'm not forcing you. Let's not rush things, okay? I'm willing to wait. Stop crying, my Queen." Sa sobrang lambing ng pagkakasabi nya non ay mas lalo akong naiyak.

"One of these days, your father will kill me." He tried to joke while wiping my tears. Only my sobs can hear at the place. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. He's looking at me softly. I can also see the adoration, love, and pain at his eyes.

"Mahal na mahal kita. Don't ever doubt me, hmm?" He said and kissed me on the forehead.

Napagpasyahan namin na bumaba na at sumali sa kanila. We saw them around the fire, sitting and laughing loudly.

"Dude!" Marius called and immediately went to Ashvin. Tinanggal nya ang pagkakahawak sa bewang ko at nilipat sa kamay ko. He intertwined our fingers while talking to Marius.

"May chicks na ako dito!" Proud na sabi nito kaya napatingin kami sa kanilang lahat ng umiling.

"He's drunk!" Aidan mouthed. Napatingin naman ako kay Marius na tumatawa kahit na wala namang nakakatawa. He really looked drunk.

"Sinong chicks mo?" Ashvin asked boredly. Tumawa na naman si Marius. Lumapit sya bigla kay Eleena na umirap. Tumatawa na naman sila at parang kanina nya pa to ginagawa.

"Hi, gusto kang makilala ng tropa ko—."

"I don't care." Malamig na sabi ni Eleena at akmang tatayo ng pigilan sya ni Marius.

"Alam mo," Marius started, nagsisimula na syang sinukin. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Eleena habang malamig pa din ang tingin.

"Natatakot akong lapitan ka kasi—." He chuckled. "Para kang nandidiri sa akin."

I blinked at his words. Natahimik din silang lahat. I saw how Eleena's expression changed.

"I c-can feel our connection. Can you feel it too?" He said and chuckled.

"You're drunk." Eleena replied coldly. Umiling naman si Marius.

"I know what I'm saying. You don't have to reply anything, j-just listen okay?" He smiled at binitawan ang kamay ng babae.

"You—." He stopped talking and just laughed. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Eleena at tumingin sa amin bago binalik ang tingin kay Marius.

"What's your room number?" Eleena coldly asked that made Marius silent.

"B-Bakit—."

"Here." Thrax throw their room card. Agad naman yong nasalo ni Eleena bago hinila si Marius paalis.

"Wow." Cloud commented while leaning on Eira's shoulder.

"Matagal nya na yong kinikimkim," natatawang sabi ni Blade na tinanguan naman ni Atlas.

"I'll sleep on your place," Thrax suddenly said.

<33