Werewolf series : His Burning Howl [ BxB ]

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

We both stared at our own reflections in the water as we sat down near the edge of the river. The silence between us is overbearing. The sounds of the water coming out of the fall and meeting the surface of the river are the only sounds we hear in the meantime, until I have decided to break the looming silence.

Sumagi sa isip ko ang alpha at dominant omega niyang mga magulang. Sa mga oras na 'to, marahil ay alam na rin nilang dalawa ang tungkol sa anak ko sa kanilang anak. I wonder what they are doing or thinking right now. Will they also come here unexpectedly, just like their son? Galit kaya sila?

I let out an exasperated sigh, brushed my soft curls with my hand, and turned to Desmond but refused to meet his eyes. Lumingon din siya sa'kin at naghintay ng aking sasabihin.

“How are tita Esther and tito Damian? A-alam na ba nila?” Lumunok ako pagkatapos ilabas ang mga salita na 'yon. Simple akong tinitigan ni Desmond at ilang saglit pa ay yumuko. He must think that he's hiding the slight grin on his face when he does that, but that's wrong. Kitang-kita ko mula rito sa puwesto ko ang kaniyang bahagyang pag-ngisi.

What's even funny?

Niyakap ko ang aking mga binti at ipinatong ang aking pisnge sa ibabaw ng aking tuhod saka siya tiningnan. This is the first time I've ever seen him grin like that again. After so long...akala ko hindi ko na 'to makikita. Worst, akala ko hindi ko na siya makakausap at makikita ng ganito.

Desmond cleared his throat soon and sat up properly. He rested both of his elbows on top of his knees and licked his lips before responding to my question. 

“Sorry, I just remembered their reactions. And yes, alam na nila. They overhead me and Narmin as we were talking about Phoenix.” aniya kaya bahagyang bumilis ang pagtibok ng aking puso.

“S-so what are their reactions? Bakit ka natawa kanina?” I asked and he shake his head a little before answering. “Mother is being boastful after she heard us. She was trying so hard to push back her tears just to tell me and shove it into my face how wrong I was for not making things clear between us and letting you move away from the mansion,” pinanood ko ang bahagyang pagkunot ng kaniyang noo pagkatapos 'yon sabihin. The sincerity in his voice is hard not to focus on.

“Kung hindi ko pa sinabi sa kaniya na aalis ako at pupuntahan kayo, hindi siya titigil sa pagmamayabang at pagbubunganga sa'kin. And before I even left, she told me one more time, na huwag daw akong babalik ng hindi kayo kasama.” My eyes widened a bit as our eyes quickly met after that.

“That's—” I opened my mouth, but he cut my words off immediately.

“I know, I know that it will be hard and it is likely impossible. Pero tama si Mom, I wasn't planning to return to the capital at all, unless both of you are willing to come with me already.” putol niya sa'king mga salita. Ang mga mata niyang puno ng sinseridad at seryosong-seryoso ay mariin na nakatitig sa aking mga berdeng mata.

“I can't go back there. A-ayoko na maging pabigat. Lalo na at dalawa na kami.” nag-alis ako ng tanaw pagkatapos sabihin 'yon. I thought Desmond would stop, but he didn't.

Biglaan pero marahan niyang hinawakan ang aking isa kamay dahilan upang bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya. When his unusually soft eyes looked at mine, I knew that he planned to take my hand in the very beginning so that he could gain my attention.

“You are not going to be a burden. You and Phoenix will live with me at the mansion. So please think carefully about it. I don't need answers right now, anytime is fi—” I pulled my hand away from him and shook my head. 

“You don't get it. Hindi sa ganoon iyon Desmond. Oo, responsibilad mo si Phoenix, pero hindi sapat 'yon para ipilit mo na maging isang pamilya tayo.” sabi ko at mukhang may kung ano ako natamaan sa kaniya. Mabilis na napawi ang malambot niyang tingin at napalitan ito ng pagkunot ng kaniya noo.

“No, that's not what I just want, Eugene. You're speaking as if I am doing this just for my sake. Kung iniisip mo na nangangamba ako sa kung ano ang sasabihin sa'kin ng iba dahil dito, then you're wrong. Hindi ko 'to pinipilit. I want this.” bigla akong nahirapan at naguluhan sa kaniyang mga sinasabi. I feel my face showing away my emotions, so I immediately look away from him again. I don't want him to know that all of his words are affecting me. 

Na unti-unti nang bumibigay at lumalambot ang damdamin ko sa mga sinasabi niya.

“T-then what? Clearly, you don't have feelings for me, Desmond, so you don't have to be with me just for Phoenix. or for whatever. Just don't force your feelings to like me when you don't even want to.”

There, finally. I said it.

“But I like you.” I froze.

What? Kaagad kong naramdaman ang pag-init ng aking mukha. Hindi dahil sa kilig o sa pagkakagusto ng sinabi niya, kung hindi dahil sa inis na biglang sumindi sa aking dibdib.

“Hah. That's bullshit.” I rolled my eyes and immediately stood up from sitting. Pagtalikod ko, narinig ko kaagad ang pagsunod niya sa akin.

“It's not. Eugene, look—” He tried to grab my arm, but I immediately pulled it back and faced him, raging. 

“That's completely bullshit, Desmond! This is enough.” tumalikod akong muli kasabay ang paglalakad papalayo. “Bumalik na tayo dahil naglolokohan na lang tayo rito. Tapos na ang usapan, at tulad ng sinabi ko kanina, pwede ka namang bumalik para bumisita—”

Suddenly, the familiar warmth of his body enveloped my small and petite one, stopping me in my tracks. Sinubukan kong makawala, pero mas lalo lamang niya hinigpitan ang kapit sa aking katawan. Nanginginig kong kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi, pinipilit ang sarili na patigilin ang pagbuhos ng mga luha.

Desmond buried his nose on the side of my neck, he let out a shakily sigh after inhaling my scent. And the first thing I noticed was something wet coming from him. Ang mga kamay niyang nakadapo sa'kin ay pareho ring nanginginig.

He's crying. He's shedding a tear for me. Why? Seryoso ba siya?

“I've bonded with you, Eugene. Can't you feel it? If you didn't even know that, then how are you so sure that all of this is bullshit?”

I stayed quiet. Feeling weak and just listening.

“Those times we spent alone were not just nothing. It meant so much to me. In fact, it is already imprinted in my life. I could not sleep properly at all every night, feeling anxious because you were not in my sight.”

“But I'm such a coward, Eugene sobrang duwag ko. Hindi ko masabi lahat ng 'yon sa'yo. Gago ako. Naniwala ako na anak ko ang dinadala ni Marion to the point na willing akong itulak papalayo lahat ng nararamdaman ko para sa'yo noong mga panahon na 'yon.”

“I don't know how I'm going to prove my feelings to you. But this time, I'm willing to risk everything in the line. Itataya ko na ang lahat makuha lang kita. Kayo.” He whispered in my ear, and after that, he put his calloused hand on the side of my cheek, gently guiding me towards his. 

And for the first time in my life, for the first time we saw each other again, he sealed me with a soft and long kiss. Claiming me and my first kiss. Our very first kiss.

Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi na ako umiwas. Simple kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata at dinama na lang ang pakiramdam ng kaniyang mga labi sa akin.

It's so soft. It seems like...I still want him after all.