Chapter 15: Thorns
I immediately crouched to pick up the pieces of glass shattered on the floor. I noticed that there was blood on my palm which healed up as soon as I realized it. The glass crushed on my palms before it slipped away from my grasp.
Before I even had another realization, a pair of hand helped me clean up the mess. Nakayuko lang si Kristan habang pumupulot ng mga piraso ng basag na bote.
"Are you okay, Nathalia?"
I looked up at Lady Tania just to meet her anxious eyes. She looked worried for me. She shouldn't. She should be more worried for Lady Massie.
"I am, Mother." I gave her my reassuring smile.
"Ako na ang bahala rito," malamig na sabi ni Kristan. He threw a glance at me and nodded. "You should wash your hand."
I looked down at my hand. My wounds healed up, but I still got a stain of blood on my palm. I stood up and walked to the sink without eyeing anyone, especially those two.
"What do you mean together?" I heard Lady Tania.
After washing my hands, I used the towel to dry them. Kahit na tapos na akong magpunas ay hindi pa rin ako humarap sa kanila.
"I'm sorry for keeping this from you, Mother. But when I first came here, I fell in love with Lady Massie." Terrence's insincere words hurt my ears. "But I couldn't man up for her at that time. I thought she was too precious for me. I always thought she didn't deserve me. Until now, I still feel the same way. But I am braver now. I love your sister, Mother. I love her so much."
I took a deep breath before I turned to them. I crossed my arms on my chest as I watched the scene with my own eyes. Nakayuko lang si Lady Massie na umiiyak. Sa tabi niya ay si Terrence na nakatingin kay Lady Tania. Tumagos sa akin ang kanyang tingin.
"I love her so much," he said while staring directly at me.
I stared back at him with my black expression. I think I already know what he's up to. I don't want to say I'm kind of late for even to stop his plan because he already made sure of it. He planned this trick before I even found out about his real identity.
"Mother..." Lady Massie finally looked up at Lady Tania. Her eyes were full of tears as the soft sobs kept coming out of her quivering lips. "Forgive me."
My fists clenched knowing she really loves him. Lady Massie has to be the most genuine person I know. When she says something, there's no way it's not the truth. If she says she loves him, she really does. Meanwhile, Terrence was the total opposite of her. His words are mostly the opposite of what's in his head.
It's all just a play for him.
He doesn't love Lady Massie. She's just using her.
Against me.
"Oh, my baby..." Nilapitan ni Lady Tania si Lady Massie saka tinayo para yakapin nang mahigpit. Niyapos niya ang buhok nito habang pinapatahan. "I would lie if I said I didn't see this one coming."
"Mother..." Lady Massie wept even more.
A flicker of sadness glimmered in Lady Tania's eyes as she faced her. She gently caressed Lady Massie's face just like what mothers do to their daughters while comforting them with their soft words.
"Azalea Village is known as the land of freedom. It would be a hypocrite to put chains around you just to make sure you won't go away. And I would do anything just for you to be happy, Lady Massie. Anything."
Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay napansin kong lamabas sa likod ng bahay si Kristan para itapon ang mga bubog. I was about to follow him when Lady Dinah suddenly appeared. Natigilan siya sa paghikab nung makita na umiiyak si Lady Massie.
