Daughter Of Dusk And Dawn

81.

Nagising ako sa mga bisig niya. Gising na ang prinsipe at nakatitig sa akin. Has he been watching me while I slept?

Tinakpan ng mga kamay ko ang mukha ko nang mapagtanto iyon. Kaagad na nagising ang diwa ko at napabangon. "Bakit 'di mo ako ginising?" reklamo ko. "Anong oras na ba?"

Sumulyap ako sa bungad ng kuweba. Bahagya nang sumisikat ang araw.

Ramdam ko ang pagi-init ng aking mga pisngi. Ang ala-ala nang nakaraang gabi ay dahan-dahang bumabalik sa akin.

I knew I would regret it come morning, but I decided to go against my instincts last night. Now I reap what I sow.

Hindi ko alam kung paano titingin sa prinsipe.

It was not my first time. Wala akong karapatang umakto bilang isang birhen, gayunpaman ay hindi ko mapigilan ang hiyang nanalantay sa bawat ugat ko.

"Masyado pang maaga," paalala ng prinsipe.

"Exactly," I countered. "Inumaga na tayo. We have to get back to the palace. They'd all be looking for you by now."

Malamang, bagama't pinaalam ng prinsipe sa kapitan kahapon na baka sa susunod na umaga na kami makababalik, batid kong hindi iyon sinunod ni Keiv. For one, Gestalt was not a mere prince anymore. He was to be crowned king in few days time. Sa estado ng bansa, mas kailangang protektado ang prinsipe. Keiv would loose his mind should he know what happened last night. If things went wrong, they would have no king to crown.

I slapped myself mentally. What's done is done. 

"Gumalaw ka na diyan," sita ko sa kanya. 

Parang batang umatangal ang prinsipe. "Let's just stay here for a while," pakiusap niya. Ginawa niyang unan ang kanyang kamay, batak ang magkabila niyang braso. Hindi pa rin niya suot ang kanyang pang-itaas at nakabalndra sa akin ang kanyang mga dibdib. Parehong dibdib na kagabi lang ay nasa mga palad ko. 

Natigilan ako. It was tempting. Stay here, sleep in his arms, let go of the burdens even for a while. But I knew better. This was poison. If I take a little it would be lethal. 

Hindi ko maaring hayaan ang sarili na malunod sa bagay na ito. 

He was the prince. The King. 

I am fighting a deadly trial not to become his protector, but to be an infiltrator. To become the eyes and ears of possibly one of his biggest enemies in his court. 

I need to make better decisions. Nitong mga nakaraan, maling mga desisyon at mga daan ang tinahak ko. I let myself be swept by the turmoil, involved myself in games I shouldn't have.

Umiling ako sa kanya. "Last night..." simula ko. 

Bumuntong hininga ang prinsipe. Sa pagkakataong ito, umupo ang prinsipe sa pagkakahiga at matiim akong tinignan. "Adelaine, if you're going to say something I wouldn't like, which I know you will, don't. Last night, its not a mistake. At least, not for me." 

Napalunok ako. 

Not a mistake.

Only because you don't know the full truth about it. 

I blinked at him. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin. 

Sa huli, napagdesisyunan kong tumango na lang. I reached for his shirt and threw it at him. He caught it with a smirk. 

"Kailangan nating bumalik."

He nodded in defeat this time. He slipped his shirt back on, and in no time, we were trailing back towards the palace.