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

KABANATA 28

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

The next day, after we headed straight to the nearest restaurant to have our breakfast, Draven and I soon went to the thing that he was scared of the most. It was a place full of different ziplines and sports up in the air.

And right now, I couldn't help but tease him with the same expression he was showing me yesterday. Every smile, word, and even looking so innocently but devilish at the same time are present in my whole face, just to see how much he was scared to death of what we're doing.

My head tilted, "Kaya pa ba, Draven?" nakangisi kong asar sakanya.

He scoffed and even rolled his eyes at me. "A-Anong akala mo sa'kin? Takot..? Sa lahat ng pwedeng hulaan mo 'yong hindi pa kapanipaniwala, jusko!"

My mouth formed an 'o' before I pointed below us, where the trees look like bushes already and are no longer touching the tall wooden tower we've climbed. "Tingin ka nga sa baba kung gano'n..? Matapang ka naman pala, eh? Diba..?"

He gulped repeatedly and even held my hand tightly with his slightly trembling fingers. Dahan-dahan siyang napatingin sa baba, pero kaagad din namang pumikit nang malula at mas lalong dumikit sa'kin.

I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction before I caressed the back of his palm with my thumb, "Oh, kala ko ba kaya mo?" maangas kong tanong.

Muli niya akong inirapan at mahinang kinagat ang balikat ko bilang ganti. "Tinignan ko naman, ah?"

My eyes landed on him and on the staff who called me, "Watch and learn, Love." paalam ko bago siya bitawan.

Nang una ay ayaw niya pa akong pakawalan at talagang niyakap niya pa ang aking braso, pero pinanlakihan ko lamang siya ng mga mata, kaya wala rin naman siyang nagawa kundi ang umalis sa pagkakalingkis sa'kin. Without me, he can only hug himself and watch me straight without looking anywhere else.

The staff started to remind me of some things while I buckled up my safety gear right after I went to him. "Are you ready?"

I nodded my head in response and held the straps tightly. Nakuha ko pang pasadahan ng tingin si Draven at kumaway sakanya.

"1...2...3..."

Matapis no'n ay wala na akong narinig kundi ang pag-agos ng hangin, pagsayaw ng mga sanga, at ang huni ng iba't ibang ibon sa buong paligid, kasabay ng kiliting umusbong sa aking tiyan dahil sa biglaan kong pagbagsak. Nang matapos, tinanong ako ng isa pang staff na naghihintay sa baba kung ayos lang ba 'ko na sinuklian ko naman ng pagtango bago lingunin si Draven sa taas na siyang kasunod ko.

Halata sa mukha niya ang kaba habang nakadungaw sa'kin. I gave him a thumbs up when the staff started putting on his safety gear. I can see him gulping while the staff talk to him, probably reminding him of what to do and not to do.

I couldn't help but smile and clap my hands. Kitang-kita ko kung pa'no niya mariin na pinikit ang mga mata, maging ang kaniyang bibig, ng ihulog na rin siya.

Nang makababa na ng tuluyan si Draven ay naglakad ako sa harap niya, "How was it? Masaya ba..?" tanong ko habang tinatanggal ng mga staff ang safety gear mula sa kaniyang katawan.

He looked at me with his blinking eyes. Paulit-ulit din na bumubuka ang bibig niya, pero wala siyang mahanap na sagot para sa'kin dahil sa naramdaman kanina lang.

The staff stared at him, "Sir, okay lang kayo?" puno ng pag-aalala niyang tanong.

Draven gulped but still managed to nod his head. He then reached for my hand after that and intertwined our fingers tighter than before.