The Villainess Ran Away

XII

Nang makarating sa bahay naalimpungatan si Amber nakatulog kasi siya sa balikat ni Dion.

"Sweetheart, mag-half bath ka muna after that magd-dinner tayo para tuloy-tuloy na yung tulog mo." I convinced her. Buti nalang talaga nandito na si Manang Felicia, ang tagapangalaga kay Amber at nagsisilbing house keeper na din.

"Magandang gabi po," bati nito at magalang na yumuko. As a person from the modern era, this is so weird. Ginagalang ako ng mas matanda sa'kin kung nakikita lang ako ng nanay ko ngayon nakatikim na ako ng batok. In my old life I grew up respecting elders lalo na't close ako sa grandparents ko.

"Manang hindi niyo na po kailangan maging sobrang pormal," pinipigilan kong napangiwi dahil sa pagka-awkward. Tumingin naman siya kay Dion na nasa gilid ko lang na parang nahingi ng permiso kaya nilingon ko din siya.

"She's right," Dion affirmed kaya nawala ang pagka-tense ni Manang.

"Kung iyan ang nais niyo. Susubukan kong sanayin ang sarili ko," sambit ni manang. Pinasama ko na si Amber kay manang para siya na ang magpaligo dito dahil balak ko pang kausapin si Dion.

"Nagluto na ako ng magiging hapunan niyo. Sana magustuhan niyo," dagdag niya pa bago sila umakyat ni Amber. Hindi ko naman nakalimutan magpasalamat.

"Oh, right. The ring," hinarap ko na si Dion at akmang magsasalita ng maalala ko na pinapasuot niya nga pala ito. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kwarto ko at kinuha ito mula sa pagkakatago sa bedside cabinet ko. Nang masuot ito ay muli nanaman akong tumakbo pababa. Buti nalang hindi umalis si Dion sa pinag-iwanan ko sa kanya kanina.

"What seems to be the problem?" Bungad niya nang makalapit ako.

"The problem is you've been neglecting your daughter," naalala ko ang pinag-usapan namin kanina ni Amber. Nilampasan ko siya at nagtungo sa kusina para i-prepare na ang hapag. Sumunod din naman siya sa'kin.

"What do you mean?"

"I meant it exactly the same way as I conveyed it. She told me you don't spend time with her every time you come home," pabalik-balik ako sa mesa at sa cabinet kung saan nakalagay ang mga pinggan, kubyertos at baso. Hinarangan niya naman ang daan ko at kinuha sa'kin ang mga hawak ko. Siya na mismo naglagay sa lamesa kaya pag-aabot nalang ginawa ko.

"She said that?"

"No, it's how I interpreted it. Don't think na sinisiraan ka niya sa'kin, pinagtanggol ka pa nga nung bata, sinabi niya na naiintindihan niya kung busy ka sa trabaho. I also noticed that while I was here so hindi ka pwedeng magpalusot sa'kin na ngayon lang 'yon. Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo at hindi ka manlang makapaglaan ng oras sa anak mo?"

After I practically ranted he had the audacity to shrug, "I have a lot of work to do."

"I don't even care about what you do. Just find the time for your daughter," I said at tinalikuran siya para magsandok ng ulam na Potchero.

"Fine, I'll clear my schedule tomorrow."

Matapos ko naman magsandok ng kanin ay naupo na ako, gano'n din naman siya.

"What happened to Amber's mother anyway?" I can't help but ask. Umarangkada pagiging chismosa ko eh, ba't ba? Habang hinihintay pa bumaba sina manang at Amber, I might as well ask.

"Her mother is dead, so is her father."

"I'm sorry, what?" I think I misheard him.

"It was my fault that they're gone," sambit nito. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko.

"Did you kill them?"

"What? No! Of course not."

"Eh, yun naman pala. Paano mo naging kasalanan? You know what? Screw what I said earlier, I'm now eager to know about what you do."

"I'm uhh— commanding officer of the royal knights assigned in preventing monsters from attacking the kingdoms borderlands."

I spit the water I was drinking, "Say sike right now."

I knew magic and mythical creatures were a thing in this universe but 'The Emperor's Betrothed' was never focused on that aspect. Sa romance and drama lang nag-focus. Tingin ko nga ni-mention lang gamit ang isang sentence mula sa libro na may magic sa mundong ito pero never naman naipakita at ni-discuss ng masinsinan. Kaya halos nakalimutan ko na rin.

"So, what happened to them?" I fished for further details.

"I underestimated the capabilities of those monster. Their town was complaining about the people that went missing and found dead. I went there to investigate but there weren't enough evidence to say for sure that it was a monsters' doing since they're known to go by their instinct. So, I dismissed it as an random wild animal attack but I was wrong. By the time I got there, the town was thrashed and most of the residents were gruesomely slaughtered. I found Amber's father fatally wounded but fought death just to make sure his daughter is safe. Amber's mother was one of the first people to die. He finally let go when he handed Amber to me. I promised I'll take care of her and never be that careless again," kwento nito. I can't help but admire Amber's biological father. That was one great example of parental love, right there. Also ngayon ko lang na-realize na adopted din pala si Amber. I mean, now that I'm thinking about it. Dion would be fairly young if he fathered Amber. Bakit ba hindi ko kinwestyon nung pagdating ko na possibly na maaga siyang lumandi kung may anak na siya at si Amber nga iyon? Oo nga pala, busy ako ma-stress sa fact na bigla akong naging nanay at fiancee sa isang iglap.

I glanced at him and noticed that he was visibly down. Tinamaan naman ako ng guilt, I made him relive that depressing memory. Imagine the remorse he felt and how heavy the burden he carried for blaming himself for it. I sighed and stood beside him. Marahan kong tinapik ang mga balikat niya.

"Don't be bummed about it. Ginawa mo lang naman ang sa tingin mong tama nung mga panahong iyon. I'm sure the victims don't blame you either. No one saw it coming. No one expected that those monsters could actually use their brains. Isa pa, sigurado ako na nagpapasalamat sa'yo ang magulang ni Amber kung nasaan man sila ngayon." He sighed and leaned his head on my chest. If this isn't a dramatic moment baka nabatukan ko na siya pero sige, papalampasin ko muna ngayon. Mukha namang he's genuinely sad about it. I stroked his hair as a way to comfort him.

"Still you need to spend time with your daughter. You're not off the hook dahil lang nag-drama ka," Dagdag ko pa.

He snickered, "You know exactly what to say to ruin the moment, don't you?"

Tiningala niya ako dahil mas mataas ako sa kanya ngayon at nakatayo ako habang siya nanatili lang na nakaupo. I met his eyes, hindi na yata ako magsasawa sa kulay ng mata niya. It's so pretty.

I cupped both sides of his cheeks, "Pasalamat ka gwapo ka."

He wrapped his arms arms around my waist and pulled me closer, practically hugging me. He proceeded to rest his face on my chest. My arms are resting in his shoulder while both my hands are intertwined. I can feel him smiling and breathed, "Thank you."

Napailing ako at umirap kahit na hindi niya naman nakikita, "You're welcome."

"Oomph! Akyat tayo ulit, Amber. Mamaya pa pala kakain," Hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ko ang bulong ni manang kaya nilingon ko ang bukana ng dining room at naroon na nga sila sa pintuan.

"Bakit po nanna?" Tanong naman ni Amber at pilit na sumisilip dahil hinaharangan ni manang ang pangingin niya. Bumitaw na din naman si Dion sa'kin.

"Manang, joker ka rin pala. Tumuloy na kayo and you're free to eat with us if you want to," anyaya ko.

"Salamat sa imbitasyon, ija pero hinihintay na rin ako ng mga apo ko. Sa susunod nalang siguro. Mauuna na ako," magalang na paalam nito. Hanggang ngayon pormal pa rin siya pero hinayaan ko nalang.

"Sige po, manang. Ingat po sa daan," sambit ko nalang. Pinagsandukan ko ng kanin at ulam si Amber at syempre ang sarili ko bago ako umupo.

"Let's eat," sambit ko.

"What about me?" Dion said pertaining to his empty plate. Aba, gusto pa atang paghainan ko siya. Abuso na siya ah! Inaabuso niya na pagmamagandang loob ko like dzUh! Maganda na nga ako sa labas pati ba naman sa loob. Ako na talaga! I'm almost perfect, char! Baka kidlatan na ako sa mga kahibangan ko.

"May kamay ka 'di ba?" Pagpapaalala ko. He grumbled under his breath, kaka-gan'yan niya he seemed as if he's pouting. Cute but I won't fall for it. Siya pa rin magsasandok ng kakainin niya, bahala siya ja'n.