🌹 THE PROTECTOR 🌹

🌹 kabanata 14 🌹

Cake

Nathalia is really jolly to be with. Masaya ito at kumportableng kasama. Wearing a pink apron made her look cute that suited her personality.

Ilang ulit na silang tumitikim sa binebake nitong cakes at cookies. Nakaupo si Hera sa harap ng marble counter table habang excited na nakaharap sa kanya si Nathalia. Her eyes are twinkling habang naghihintay ng sasabihin niya.

“Good eh?” nakangiwing tanong ni Nathalia.

Sa gilid ay nakahilera ang dalawang maid na naghihintay sa anomang pwedeng gawin. Si Yaya Medel naman ang hands on sa pag-alalay sa pagbebake nito.

“This batch is a bit salty.”

“Oh?”

Agad na dumampot si Nathalia at kumagat. Nangunot ang noo nito at napasimangot.

“I can’t really get that right. Yaya. I might have put too much salt again.”

Napangiti nalang ang yaya at muling inilapag ang bagong bake na maliit na chocolate cake. Namilog ang mata ni Nathalia at agad na dinampot ang icing pack.

“Let’s decorate it. Here grab some toppings Irah. You can do the other side.”

Lumapit si Yaya Medel sa kanya at iniabot ang isa pang blue na apron.

“Ma’am Irah suotin niyo ito baka madumihan ang damit niyo.”

“Thank you.”

Habang naglalagay ng icings at toppings ay hindi napigilan ni Hera ang mapatingin sa kamay ni Nathalia. Medyo natigilan siya at nagtaka. There’s a ring on her finger. It's a delicate ring with a small diamond intricately designed around it. If she is not mistaken, that would be an engagement ring. That design is very difficult and very expensive.

Naghuhum si Nathalia habang naglalagay ng icing sa cake. Nang siguro ay napansin ang tingin niya ay sumulyap ito sa kanya.

"Did I put too much icing?”

Umiling si Hera at bahagyang itinuro ang kamay niya. Nagtatakang napatingin sa kamay si Nathalia at ngumiti. Itinaas niya ang kaliwang kamay at mas ipinakita ang singsing.

“Looking at this?”

Medyo nailang si Hera at ngumiti.

“Sorry. I just… I just thought I saw that ring somewhere. Are you…”

“Engaged. Yes. I would not call it unfortunate because it’s what I want so... The ring is an heirloom. Beautiful isn’t it?”

Napansin ni Hera ang mga ngiti ng mga maids habang nakatayo sa gilid.

“Yes. Very. My mom makes jewelry magazine business. She sometimes features those belonging to the royal families abroad. That one, maybe from a Spanish origin. I saw it in one of the latest. Maybe Six months ago?”

Napasinghap si Nathalia at tinitigan siya. Unti-unting umawang ang bibig nito. Her eyes twinkled and almost shrieked.

“Now I know why you look so familiar. Your complexion changed a bit but damn that pretty face. You’re a socialite. The famous one I suppose. DeSilva. I knew it. Senyora Sabrina DeSilva. You’re her daughter?”

Sandaling napasinghap si Hera at agad na narealize kung ano ang nangyari. She was not supposed to tell her who she is at sa dinami-dami ng may-ari ng magazine imposibleng agad-agad na malaman ni Nathalia. But she did, and all because that ring is not ordinary. Of course Sabrina DeSilva will have the opportunity to have it featured in her magazine because she is basically from a known family of Tycoon and a long line of royal descent. Siya lang at walang iba ang nagfeature ng sing-sing na iyon, at ngayon nasa harap niya at suot-suot ng isang tunay na dugong bughaw.