THE HELL KING'S BRIDE [UNDER REVISION]

†TDKB 45: Lock

† † †

CHAPTER 45: LOCK

Nakakapanghinayang. Nasa harap na niya ang kasagutan tapos bigla na lang naglaho. Abot-kamay na niya ang mahal na hari. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, hindi siya pinagbigyan ng tadhana. Bago pa kasi niya masabi na siya ang babaeng hinahanap ng hari ay biglang sumulpot si Huakin.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit nagbago ang ugali nito. He was mad and told her not to talk with some random guy. Kinausap niya ang lalaking 'yon sandali. Ngunit dinala muna siya nito sa opisina niya na parte pa rin ng Winery Farm niya.

"Next time, if a guy talks to you, kindly avoid them. Hindi mo alam kung anong pakay nila. What if you ended up in a prison hell again?! Hindi ba sinabi ko sa'yo na 'wag kang gagala sa malayo?
Saglit lang ako nawala sinuway mo agad ako."

"But he's an SRT, he could help me to bring me to the-"

"Enough Clementeen!" he scream that made her startled. "You have one job but you failed it!"

Ito ang unang beses na sinigawan siya ng binata. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng takot dito. Hindi niya akalain na ikakagalit niya ang pakikipag-usap sa isang lalaki. She gets his point. But there's no need to overreact and shout at her.

Bilang personal assistant humihingi na lang siya ng paumanhin. Hinintay niya munang bumaba ang init ng ulo nito bago kausapin siya nang mahinahon. Natuloy pa rin ang picnic nila. Pero nagkaroon ng kaunting awkwardness sa pagitan ng dalawa.

He took a heavy breath, "I'm sorry Clementeen. I...I didn't mean to shout at you. Sorry."

"Naiintindihan naman kita. Nanghihinayang lang ako dahil hindi ko nasabi sa lalaking 'yon na ako ang hinahanap ng hari." nagbaba ito ng tingin. "Pagkakataon ko na sanang makausap siya at maiparating ang-"

Huakin slammed the table. Bigla siyang nagulat sa inakto nito. Natauhan naman ang binata at saka nahihiyang umiwas ng tingin. His jaw was moving, below the table, He tightly grip his hands.

Muli niyang tinignan ang dalaga nang may pagtatanong sa mukha. Bahagyang nagsasalubong ang kilay nito. Ngunit ramdam niyang nagpipigil siya ng galit. "I don't understand. Aren't you happy with your work, with your new life? Why do you need to recall all your memories if we could... If you could make new one right? Nandito naman ako para tulungan ka. Kaya kitang bigyan ng marangyang buhay kung gugustuhin mo."

"Huakin, i need my memories back. I am not myself without them."

"But you are you! with or without memories. It doesn't affect who you are. Hindi ka nagbago. Ikaw pa rin ang babaeng nakilala ko noon!"

Her attention was immediately caught by the last sentence he said. Bigla atang nabingi ang tainga niya kaya kinumpirma niya ito. "What's that again?"

Natigilan din ito at natauhan sa sinabi. Bumubuka ang bibig nito at bigla nalang sasara uli.

"Have we met before?"

She's observing his reaction but in a split second, it changed from stunned to a warm smile.

"Ofcourse not. What i mean is... your memories is like a piece of object that was special to you. But if you can't remember where you left them, maybe its time to get a new one. Hindi mo na kailangang pahirapan ang sarili mo sa paghahanap sa nawawala mong alaala. Because you might missed all the opportunities on the present if you're still focusing on the past."