The Blood Maiden

Chapter 32 | Possession

Oceanus' POV

Habang nakahiga sa tapat niya, dumako ang aking mga mata sa mga kamay kong pinapalamig ng kanya. She held both my hands in between us, delicately, but with a grip strong enough that tells me how afraid she is to let go.

Muli kong tinignan ang natutulog niyang mukha. I have been wanting to move a stray strand from her face since she fell asleep. Pero hindi ko ito magawa. Dahil mabibitawan ko siya.

Why... Tumunton ang aking mga mata sa bawat palatandaan na nagdurusa siya— her deep tear stains. Her cracked lips. Her dark undereyes. Why would you ever think that I will let go of you?

I let go of her. But only to gently move the strand and wipe a forming tear.

"Oceanus..." she looked for me, eyes closed, voice softly pleading.

I let go of her hand, only so I could hold her face.

Magaang dumapo ang aking palad sa kanyang mukha. "I am here," bulong ko habang maingat na hinahagod ang kanyang pisngi. I will always be here. You do not have to look for me.

Binitawan niya ako upang takpan ang kanyang mga tenga. Yumuko ang kanyang ulo sabay namilipit ang kanyang noo. "N-No, No..." natatakot niyang tugon. "I'm sorry..."

"Your Highness," gabay ko sa kanya palabas ng kanyang bangungot. "It is not your fault."

It wasn't just the voices that haunted her. But also nightmares. And like a wound to my chest, my heart ached, at the thought of how, night and day, she must constantly win over herself. Pasan niya ang pinsala ng dalawang kahariang naglalaban habang mayroon ding digmaan na nagaganap sa kanyang kalooban— digmaang hindi naman niya kailangang iinda. Dahil wala siyang ginagawang masama. Wala siyang ginagawang mali.

Gently prying her hand away from her ear, a pained smile crossed my lips, as I suggested, "How about you dream of me?" Mahina kong itinawa ang pait na namuo sa aking lalamunan. "Hmm?"

Her face gradually softened. "Mmm..." She hummed back.

A quiet moment followed, of me sincerely wishing, that if only I could at least take control of her dreams, then maybe, I can lighten her load, and hold her heavy heart for her.

Kung may kapangyarihan akong burahin kahit lang 'yong mga bangungot niya, nang makapagpahinga siya nang maayos at nang magawa niyang takasan, kahit saglit lang, ang saklap ng kanyang realidad. Dahil hindi sapat ang salitang pagmamahal para pangalanan ang totoo kong nararamdaman para sa kanya.

Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanyang mahal ko siya. Dahil pakiramdam ko'y hindi kayang pantayan ng mga salitang ibinibigkas lang ang gusto kong iparating— ipabatid sa kanya.

I need to show her. I want to show her what she really meant to me, since the day she saved me.

"Your Highness..." mahina kong sambit. "Am I your first love?"

It took her a while but her wispy lashes finally parted to give me a thoughtful glance.

Moonlight ignited the red of her eyes and the longer I stared at them, the deeper I spiraled into a sweet abyss— for red was the color of blood. Of life. Of sweet and warmth.

My blood. My life. My sweet and warmth,

"Am I?" she whispered back. "Yours?"

Sinamantala ko ang bawat segundong nakatitig kami sa isa't isa. "Yes." Then I laughed. "I think so."

She adjusted her head on the pillow, her eyes never leaving mine. "Why'd you ask me?" To my relief, she was back in her determined self. "Gusto mong magtagpo ulit tayo sa susunod nating mga buhay?"