A Flower With Seven Thorns

CHAPTER 89: THE ALLEGIANCE

Habang palapit na kami ng palapit sa gate ng funeral home, napansin kong nakapark sa labas ang van. Seeing clearly, there are three people standing by.

"Okay, you're dropping me right there." habang di tinatanggal ang tingin ko sa tatlo.

That's Jerome and Jin pero hindi ko mamukhaan yung isa dahil natatakpan sya ni Jin. But by the looks of it, mukhang nag-uusap silang tatlo so probably it's someone they both know.

Thankfully, huminto na ang sasakyan di kalayuan sa tatlo at sa entrance. Finally listening to me, huh. Wala na din kasi syang choice dahil hindi din nya maipasok ang kotse unless may plano syang bumangga ng tao.

When I'm about to get off, biglang pinigilan ni Ranchee ang pagbukas ko ng pinto as his face cover mine.

"What are you doing?" I asked indifferently. As if maaapektuhan ako sa galawan nyang to.

Sa sobrang lapit ng mukha nya, I can almost smell the faint chocolate scent mixed with his dry, spicy, woody perfume from him. I noticed that everytime I spotted him having a smoke, he always has this chocolate scent while I'm already familiar with his perfume. Probably the cigarette he's using is one of those special brands.

"Seatbelt." an odd answer so I waited for him to tell me more and stopped the urge to push him away.

But it seems he doesn't have the plan for it anymore.

I look at him with intensity.

"The latch is on my left though." he smirked his usual smirk as he unfastened my seatbelt and moved away.

The moment he's finally out of my view, it's as if I just caught Jin's eyes looking our way as he proceeds to the van.

Inantay ko munang makapasok ang van bago lumabas ng kotse.

Ngayong nakalabas na ako, mukhang nakikilala ko na ang pangatlong tao na kausap ni Jerome.

"Czera. . ." tinignan ko sya sa loob ng kotse, body forward towards me from his seat.

"Your knight. . .could you. . .why don't you stop already? Stop searching for someone who doesn't want to be found." this is the first time I saw this genuinely pleading expression from him.

"And what do you mean by that?" hindi ko alam kung saan ako napasampok ng kilay. Sa sinabi ba nya o sa pinapakita nyang ekspresyon sa akin ngayon?

"I'm right here." I scoffed.

I take it back.

What genuine pleading expression am I talking about?

Hinarap ko sya ng maayos.

"What? That you are him? Or you just want my attention?" he kept his serious gaze at me kaya hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba talaga sya o isa lang sa mga sasabihin nya ang seryoso.

Or maybe none at all.

Ah, this is starting to piss me off.

"If you mean the latter, then make yourself extraordinary. Be a fairy or a werewolf or whatever. I hope you're not confusing something here. We're just doing this for show. And as for you being the rider. . .don't expect me to believe you are him. A person like him. . .telling right on my face his identity and making things easy for me. . .don't you think doing such a front in the first place would be just a waste of effort?" he didn't respond. It's like something's holding him back.

What is it?

When he finally noticed that I'm trying to get something out of the face he's showing me, he took his gaze away.