VALENTINO SERIES 1: Enslaved By His Touch

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Rabiah

Nagsimulang mag-ikot ang mga hurado sa bawat booth para tingnan ang entries. Lumapit sila sa amin pagkatapos nila sa booth seventeen. Russia showed them his arm. Nang mapagtanto ng mga huradong mukha ko ang naroroon ay nagsipagngisi sila.

"How do you call your entry, Mr. Valentino?" tanong ng head judge.

Russia smirked. "I call it, Face of a New Spring."

Sandaling nagtinginan ang judges bago nagsalita ang isa. "Face of a New Spring, huh?"

Tumango si Russia. "This is how I remembered my girl's face on the first day that we met. The exact face that made me realize that the winter that nearly killed me was finally over. She started thawing the ice around my heart the day I met her without me realizing. Her existence in my life made me hope for a brand new season. A season that allows me to bloom once more. This time, for a better reason." Russia stared into my eyes. "Her."

Namula ang aking pisngi nang umalingawngaw ang kantyawan. Aksidente ko namang nasulyapan si Freyja. She's staring at Russia with remorse, as if Russia's words hurt her more than a thousand knives could.

"You seem so in love, Mr. Valentino," puna ng isang hurado.

"Well, I can't deny something that already shows, can I?" he answered proudly that made Freyja bow her head.

Pinuri ng mga hurado si Russia. Ang ilan ay sinabi pang bagay na bagay raw kami. Nagpasalamat naman kami sa kanila. 

They went to the next booth after. Nang makita nila ang gawa ni Freyja ay tinanong nila ito kung ano ang inspiration nito sa ginawang disenyo.

Russia was standing behind me, hugging me with one arm while he's busy chatting with some other artists who visited our booth. Nang magsimulang magsalita si Freyja ay natahimik din sila ng mga kausap niya.

"This is what I call Saudade. It expresses the internal feeling I have every single day." Her eyes glistened with pain. "A painful experience took away my happiness. I was judged without anyone hearing the truth come out of my own lips. Each day, I long for an angel's embrace. An angel I wish I had the chance to see grow up in her real father's arms." Tumitig ang malungkot niyang mga mata kay Russia. "The same arms I wish I could still come home to."

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng yakap ni Russia sa akin. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga siya bago bumaling kay kuya Boyd.

"Let's pack up. We still have a big day tomorrow," seryoso ang boses niyang sabi.

Napatitig ako kay Russia nang magsimula siyang tumulong sa pagliligpit. Hindi maipinta ang gwapo niyang mukha na tila masyado siyang naapektuhan sa narinig mula kay Freyja.

"Biah, let's go," he said in a serious tone before he grabbed my hand. Siya na rin ang bumuhat sa aking gamit saka na kami naglakad palabas ng convention center.

Russia was serious while putting our stuff on the back of his pick-up. Sa kalagitnaan ng pagsasalansan ng mga gamit ay humabol sa amin ang pamilyar na babae.

"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Freyja asked. Malamlam ang mga mata.

Umigting ang panga ni Russia habang iniiwasang tingnan ang ex niya. "We have nothing to talk about. I spoke to you so people wouldn't be bothered by how we treat each other, but that doesn't mean I will still let you fool me."

Freyja inhaled a sharp breath. "Hindi mo man lang ba talaga aalamin ang totoo?"

"What truth, huh?" naubusan na ng pasensyang tanong ni Russia.