CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
YOU know what's more scary? We are expecting him to go berserk and would yell to us. But no. He's so calm when he stood from my bed. Napalunok ako habang pinapanood siyang dahan-dahang maglakad palapit sa amin. Bigla akong napakagat sa kuko ko dahil sa kaba.
"Bakit ngayon lang kayo?" Tanong niya nang nasa mismong tapat ko na siya. Kinakabahan talaga ako kasi ang seryoso no'ng mukha niya tapos kalmado 'yong boses niya. Shocks! Naririnig ko na ang pagpintig ng dibdib ko sa kaba.
"W-we enjoyed our tour and... We lost track of the t-time. We're sorry," utal-utal kong paliwanag. Sa dami ng prinactice naming explanation, ito lang ang nasabi ko. Muli akong napalunok nang humakbang pa siya palapit sa akin. I closed my eyes tightly while I wait for his ballistic reaction. I waited a few more seconds but nothing happened. I just heard him sighed. So I slowly opened my eyes and peeked at him. To my surprise, I saw worry etched on his handsome face. I gasped when he inched closer and pulled me on a hug. What in the bloody hell is happening?
"You made me worry so I asked the guards to find you. Don't do that again, will you?" He whispered on my ear. I felt a pang of guilt inside of me. Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang kamay ko at niyakap siya pabalik.
"I'm really sorry for making you worry," I apologised with a more sincere tone.
"Ehem!" Nahinto ang yakapan namin nang malakas na umubo si Phoenix sa gilid. Napatingin kami pareho sa kaniya. "Pwede na po ba akong umalis? Kasi baka po hinahanap na rin nila ako."
"Yes, you can now leave," Blaze answered. Ngumiti sa akin si Phoenix saka mabagal na naglakad palabas. Kinindatan niya pa ako bago niya isara ang pinto. Naiwan kaming dalawa rito. Sa sobrang awkward parang gusto ko na lang gumawa ng sunog para magkaroon ng emergency.
"Kumain ka na ba? I'll ask them to prepare a meal for you," Blaze broke the silence. Unti-unti akong napalingon sa kaniya at nahihiyang ngumiti. He's not himself tonight. He's not the type of a person who would let even one single mistake to pass. What's with him?
Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at inilagay ro'n ang isang strawberry na kasing laki ng apple at ngumiti. Kumain na ako sa headquarters nina Uncle. The thought about his brother crossed my mind. Ano kayang mararamdaman niya kapag nalaman niyang nakita ko ang kuya niya?
"Kumain na po ako," sagot ko habang isinasara ang mga daliri niya.
"What is this?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa strawberry.
"A thank you gift because you waited for me," I gingerly replied. I watch his lips form a curve as he stare on the fruit. Pero mabilis naman iyong naglaho. Ibinulsa niya ang strawberry at napalingon sa akin.
"So, do you care for me the way I care for you? You like me too, don't you?" Bigla akong natawa sa tanong niya. Hindi pa rin pala siya sumusuko. Akala ko itinigil na niya ang pagtatanong.
Well, now, I realised that yeah, maybe I do feel the same for him. Or maybe I do know but I am just in denial of it. But the way I turned down my family because of him, I somehow understood my own feelings. And yes, yes I feel the same.
"Blaze," tawag ko sa kaniya. Lumapit ako at tinitigan siya sa mga mata. His seriousness almost made my heart jump out of my ribs. I reached for his face before continuing. "My loyalty will always belong to you, my prince."
