Never Be Tamed

Chapter 40: Shattering

Chapter 40: Shattering

Anabeth couldn't help but admire the dress I bought from Ms. Venise's shop. We were both back in the apothecary, checking the things we bought from downtown.

"It's enchanting," she gushed, checking the wide rectangular box on the bed where the dress was neatly packed and laid on top of the soft paper fillers.

"A customer in the shop told me the same thing," I told Anabeth, sitting on the bed.

"For sure, it would look good on you at the party." She paused, as  though checking my reaction. "You've already decided, right? You would come."

I bit my lower lip, unable to answer instantly. Anabeth gave me an expectant look, until I slowly nodded. "They're one of the people I respect here," I mumbled. "I want to attend as a form of respect to  them."

Bumungisngis si Anabeth sa narinig, excitement glowing on her face. "That's great! I'm sure Zanra would be glad to see you there and Sir Zack-" Anabeth's words faded like a piece of paper being ripped, edge hanging.

The panic crossed her face after being caught in the excitement. "Sorry..."

"It's okay," I told her. "He's the alpha, I'm bound to cross paths with  him one way or another."

Nanatili ang pagaalala sa mukha ni Anabeth even though I offered a  smile, assuring her I was fine.

That night, while laying on bed, I couldn't help but think about the  party, the Van Zanth... Zackary. In the back of my mind something was telling me to stay away from it, until I fell asleep with a heavy feeling  on my chest.

Saturday morning came. Anabeth was lively the entire morning,  gushing about the party, trying to cheer me up. The parties of the Van Zanth were known to be breathtaking, magical, and anticipated by a lot  of people.

I've never been into one.

"Eleanor, are you okay?"

We were in our morning shift at the work station on a weekend when Anabeth noticed my silence. Siya din ang nagkusang samahan akong magtrabaho para hindi ako mag-isa sa tower, even though we were not forced to work on a weekend.

I pulled up a smile before nodding. I decided to work on a weekend to  get my mind off things, but I eventually ended up losing my focus and attention to my tasks. Maging si Anabeth na nasa kanyang work station napansin ito.

"If you're worried about the party, you don't have to force yourself," offered Anabeth. "Sigurado namang maiintindihan ito ni Zanra at Ms. Laura."

Tumigil ako sa ginagawa at sinara ang makapal na librong nasa harapan ko. "I don't know, Anabeth," I said, voice low almost in a whisper. "When will I stop feeling this way? I don't want feel cautious or afraid  or constantly worried just because I might see him again. How could I make this hurting stop?"

Naging tahimik si Anabeth na tila maging siya ay hindi alam ang sagot dito. She shifted on her chair to face me. "Do you regret things?  Knowing him? Being close to him?"

I took a sharp inhale, my chest rising with the ache. "That's the painful thing, Anabeth. Because if the same thing happen again, I'd probably would want to meet him still."

Naghanda kami sa pagpunta sa party pagdating ng hapon. Anabeth was already fully dressed when she came over to my room. She looked  radiant in a pale yellow dress, like the color of the sky when the sun is about to rise.

Nadatnan niya ako na suot ang old rose dress at tinulungan akong mag-ayos ng buhok. "Ang haba na ng buhok mo," she commented, brushing my hair from the back.