Never Be Tamed

Chapter 19: Breathless

Chapter 19: Breathless

Nagising ako na mas maayos ang pakiramdam kesa nitong mga nakaraang araw. I sat up on bed, chest raising while I take deep breaths. For the first time in days, I could breathe without the pain blocking my chest. Sumulyap ako sa bakanteng silya sa tabi ng kama. Hanggang ngayon tila isang panaginip lang ang lahat. Zackary had been in this room.

Nagayos ako ng sarili bago bumaba sa hall. Anabeth was waiting at our usual table to have breakfast. Agad niya akong sinalubong at tinanong habang nakapila kami para kumuha ng pagkain.

"Maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

Tumango ako. There was still this discomfort but I could move now without pain. Maging ang iba pang staff ng apothecary, madalas din akong tanungin. They indeed treat everyone as their family.

Pagbalik namin sa table, panay ang sulyap ni Anabeth sa'kin.

"May problema ba?"

"You do realize that the future alpha took care of you for an entire night last time, right?" Anabeth seems more interested to the topic than to the meal on our plates.

"Is it... supposed to be wrong?" Hindi malinaw ang mga bagay na natatandaan ko noong gabing 'yon, but I remembered Zackary staying until morning the next day.

"He's a good person," I told Anabeth. "He tried to help me because of Zanra."

Anabeth frowned, dismayado sa narinig niyang sagot. She leaned closer to me over the table. "Let's look at it this way, Eleanor. Do you like  me?"

Agad akong tumango. "Yes, I like you very much Anabeth."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "How about Zanra and the rest of the staff in the apothecary?"

Nagtaka ako sa takbo ng usapan namin. "Yes, I like them too. They're good people."

Gumuhit ang kakaibang ngiti sa labi ni Anabeth. "How about Sir Zackary, do you like him?"

Sandali akong natigilan bago sumagot. "Y-Yes. He's a good leader..." I bit my lips, unable to answer any further.

Tumango-tango si Anabeth. "Is your like with me similar to your like with Sir Zackary?"

Tuluyan akong nanahimik.

"Can you compare the way you like Zackary to everyone else?" Anabeth probed.

"I don't know..." I whispered. I like a lot of people in Van Zanth. Anabeth, the senior staff, Sir Sebastian's family and Ms. Laura's family, even Alexander... but in the middle of it all, there was Zackary who stood among everyone else.

Bumuntong-hininga si Anabeth at tinapik ako sa balikat, seeing how confused I was with her question. "Forget it, Eleanor. I'm just messing with you. I mean, there's a lot of people in town who likes Zackary anyway."

Tahimik akong tumango. I was just probably one of the thousand people who look up to him.

After a few days of recovery, Anabeth and I finally had the chance to visit Zanra in the mansion. Matagal itong hinintay ni Anabeth and according to the staff, Zanra had also been wanting to see us since she woke up.

Nasa kwarto ko si Anabeth at nagaayos ng buhok sa harap ng salamin. She insisted I wear my yellow dress. Nagalok din siya na ayusin ang buhok ko, doing a half braid to my hair na napansin kong medyo  mahaba na din.

"Why are we preparing like this?" tanong ko habang busy siya sa pagaayos ng buhok ko.

Humagikgik siya, eyes sparkling in mischief. "Ano ka ba, Eleanor. It's the mansion, remember? We should be presentable. Isa pa, baka makita mo si Sir Zackary."