THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

KABANATA 25

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

"It's not that I'm not choosing myself, Miss." He looked back at me, tucked some of my strands behind my ear, and returned me a smile with even more assurances in it. "Tayo... Tayo ang pinipili ko. Kung anong makakabuti sa'yo, ay nakakabuti rin sa relasyon nating dalawa... At kung ano mang nakakabuti sa relasyon nating dalawa, ay sapat na rin para sa'kin."

"I know... Of course, I know that." I let out a sigh. "But you should also do something that is for yourself only — that benefits only for you and to you."

Hindi lang para sa'kin... Para sa kaniyang mama... At mga kapatid niya... Kundi maging sa kung sino rin siya.

His lips pouted before he scooted even closer to me. Nasa gilid ko na siya ngayon, habang ang kaniyang noo naman ay nakadantay sa balikat ko, at mga braso ay nakayapos paikot sa aking bewang. His right legs became my backrest too after he made our bodies snuggle with each other, while his left one turned into a cushion when he successfully untied my crossed legs.

I rested my left cheek on his forehead, "I'm more than grateful for everything that you've been doing — from the small things up to the big ones — but don't make me the center of your world, Draven. You have your own life to live too." malambing na bulong ko.

"You're not just a part of it." Naramdaman ko ang paghalik niya sa aking balikat. "You're the whole world, Giovanna Chantria Asuncion. And with you..." Sinilip niya ako matapos niya ipatong ang kaniyang baba sa aking balikat, "Every rollercoaster day and sleepless night seems fun and became my favorite. You became the reason for everything — of my being."

Saglit akong hindi nakasagot sa kaniyang sinabi, kaya nanaig ang katahimikan sa'ming dalawa, at tanging ang liriko at himig ng kanta, tunog ng ihip ng hangin, at kaluskos ng mga dahon at sangang sumasayaw, ang tanging maririnig sa paligid.

I let him finish the remaining part of the doughnut I was still holding with a single bite before tapping his cheeks lightly. "Still, I want you to apply to your first choice, including my university too, if that's what you want for now." Tumingin ako sakanya, "Then let's discuss this matter some other time — in the right place." dagdag kong sabi.

Mahirap na at baka magtalo pa kami sa harap ng puntod ng mama niya...

A sly smile appeared on his lips. "So, what you said a while ago is no longer valid too..? Meaning, we can still meet."

"Maybe once a week." I said, cutting him off when I realized where he's going.

Kaagad siyang napasimangot at umiling nang paulit-ulit, "How about five times a week, hmm?" hirit niya pa.

My brow shot up, "Twice." madiin na sagot ko.

"Then, it's settled... Apat na araw tuwing linggo." He answered back once again, quite confident about it.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "Sige, huwag na lang." pananakot ko.

He groaned because of frustration and started swaying my caged body between his arms. Ang mga paa niya rin ay mahinang hinahampas ang lapag dahil sa pagproprotesta. "That's unfair, you know?"

"How can you be able to rest if we're going to meet each other almost every other day, huh?" I said as I hit him on his lap.

"Kaya nga, eh! Tignan mo, ikaw pa ang nagsabi mismo." His eyes rolled at me. "Pa'no ako makakapaghinga kapag hindi. Sige nga, Miss..?"

He puffed both of his cheeks, while his eyebrows were in a crease, waiting for me to understand his point, but I only returned the same expression, which made him groan for the second time.