The Duke's Obsession

Chapter 9

I eyed the hickey Alaric gave me through the mirror. May iilan na maliliit na mamula-mula roon. Pero may isang malaki roon na nag-pu-purple na. Para tuloy akong may pasa sa leeg.

Marahan ko iyong hinawakan. Nag-init ang pisngi ko ng maalala ang ginawa ni Alaric. I did not know he was capable of doing such a thing. He was just so sweet and like a kid every time. He was so innocent.

But I guess I should blame this all on Victoria. He did this to Alaric. I couldn't believe the girl in front of this mirror did all those cruel things. But why? Why would she do all these things?

I couldn't think of anything. She had a loving family, they spoiled her, ni wala nga akong narinig simula nang magising ako rito sa mundo na 'to tungkol sa kaniya mula sa pamilya niya. Halos pag-iingat sa akin ang natanggap ko nang magising ako. They even stayed here in the castle for me kahit na alam ko ay laging wala ang mga ito sa kastilyo.

Maybe she was just like that? Some people don't even need a reason. They were just simply evil, nasty, and fucked up in the head? Maybe kaya siya naging gano'n dahil kasalanan din ng pamilya niya? Because she knew that she would always be protected by her family? That everything she does, she knew that they would look the other way and there won't be any consequences for her actions.

Napailing na lang ako at binaba ang kamay ko. Nilagyan ko na lang ng white powder ang leeg ko. Mabuti at hindi na siya masyadong halata. Maputi rin naman si Victoria kaya medyo nag be-blend siya sa skin ko. Nang matapos ako sa ginagawa ko ay nagbihis na ako at bumalik muli sa bed ko.

Natutulog pa rin si Alaric. I sat at the edge of the bed. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niya. He was peacefully sleeping like a child who doesn't care about the world and just want his sleep. Medyo nakaawang ang mapula nitong labi. Mahaba ang pilikmata nito na puwede mo na atang masuklay sa haba. Mas mahaba pa siguro sa akin. Hindi maipagkakaila na gwapo si Alaric. He can match the looks of my brothers. They were really good looking.

I looked at his lips again. It was so full and so soft to look at. These lips... it was the same lips that sucked and kissed my neck. Napalunok ako. Nauna pa akong magka hickey kesa magkaroon ng first kiss.

When I was still Ashley, ang buhay ko noon ay puro bahay at school lang. Hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay kung hindi naman kailangan. My life was boring, but I liked it that way. It was peaceful for me.

But here, in the kingdom of Razzia, hindi ko matatawag na tahimik ang buhay ko rito. Laging may nakasunod sa akin, I never had a privacy. Ultimo pagdadamit ay kailangan meron pang tutulong sa akin. Sakit pa sa ulo ang iniwan na reputasyon ni Victoria. Naging dagdag pa sa isipin ko.

I sighed. Nang alisin ko ang tingin sa labi ni Alaric at binalik sa mukha nito ay natigilan ako. He was already awake and looking at me silently, his gray eyes shining.

Napatuwid ako sa pagkakaupo. Kailan pa siya nagising? Did he see me looking at his lips?

"G-Good morning. Did you sleep well?" I asked, nautal pa.

He did not answer me, he was just looking at my face.

"Are you feeling better?" I asked again, giving him a tight smile. I didn't know why I was feeling so conscious of him looking at me.

Was there something on my face? Hinawi ko ang nakalugay kong buhok na humaharang sa mukha ko. Sumunod ang tingin niya sa galaw ko, pero wrong move ata ang ginawa ko dahil bumaba rin ang tingin niya nang ma-expose ko ang leeg ko at tumagal ang tingin niya roon.

"Does it hurt, my lady?" His voice was low. Parang nahihiya pa siyang itanong iyon.

Agad akong napahawak sa leeg ko. Kita pa rin pala? I can't tie my hair today, then.

"I'm fine, Alaric. It doesn't hurt. G-Ganiyan talaga yan."

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalik-halikan ang likod no'n. "I'm sorry, my lady. I didn't know it would bruise. Hindi ko rin po alam ba't ko iyon nagawa. My body just moved on its own."

I know that he did not mean it. He probably did not even know what he was doing. But he was still a boy, his instinct got into him. I should teach him about things.

Maybe we should read books together? It was a good plan. I did not see anything in his basement. I should add books in there, too. We already got Alaric things in there these past few days. Pinalitan namin ang upuan at table na naroon. May new bed na rin siya at mga gamit na kakailanganin niya. He has his wardrobe, too.

Ginulo ko ang buhok niya. "I know, Alaric. Don't worry about it. Ida will be here any minute now. She'll clean you and we'll eat breakfast, okay?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin at tumango. Dumaan ang dalawa araw at nawala na ng tuluyan ang lagnat ni Alaric. Kaya naman ay napag-isipan ko nang turuan siya sa mga bagay-bagay.

"Now that you're okay, we'll begin our lesson."

Binagsak ko sa lamesa ang mga libro na kinuha ko sa bookshelf dito sa silid ko.

"These are books, my lady?"

I gasped. "That is right, Alaric! How did you know?"

Nangunot ang noo nito sa akin. "Of course I know what a book is, my lady. I may be a slave, but I also once had a life, my lady."

"R-Right. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that."

I was just shocked. Hindi ko sinasadya na gano'n ang maging reaksyon ko. Halos inosente kasi ito sa mga bagay-bagay. Bakit nga ba hindi ko naisip na may buhay rin siya bago siya napunta rito?

Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "W-What happened? Why did you end up in the slave market?"

He shrugged. "My parents died because of a sickness that spread in our village. My parents were merchants. But the business was not going well at that time. They died owing so much money. And the debt collector decided to take all of our belongings to pay the debt. They sold me, too." There was a hint of sadness in his voice, but he was trying so hard not to show it.

"Oh, Alaric. I'm so sorry to hear that." Kinabig ko siya papunta sa akin at niyakap. "You must have been so lonely."

Sunobsob niya naman ang mukha niya sa leeg ko. "I'm fine, my lady. I have you now." Mahigpit niya akong niyakap.

I patted his back. "How long have you been in the slave market?"

"I was twelve when I was sold. I was there for four years, my lady."

Humiwalay ako sa kaniya. "Good thing no one bought you. And now you're here with me."

He chuckled. "I had several masters, my lady. But I always get sold back. Hindi nila ako nagugustuhan. I was stubborn back then."

"Really? That is hard to believe. You're such a good boy now."

Ngumuso siya sa akin. Tumitig siya sa mukha ko. "I was stubborn to you, too, my lady. That's why you always punish me." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin. "But I will not be stubborn with you anymore, my lady."

I pinched his cheek. Napadaing naman siya sa ginawa ko at agad napahawak sa pisngi niya. I just chuckled. He was so cute.

"So kailangan ko pa lang magpasalamat kung gano'n? Thank you to mister Alaric for not being stubborn anymore." I bowed at him.

He blushed at my gesture. "Stop that, Lady Victoria!"

I just chuckled again and messed with his hair.