THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

KABANATA 51

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

The confidence I had a while ago began to wane and somehow turned submissive after we arrived at the restaurant. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela, habang pinapakiramdaman ang bigat sa tiyan ko dahil sa pinaghalong kaba at takot. Ang kaninang balak ko na komprontahin si Draven para tapusin na ang lahat ay mistulang unti-unting natutupok ng mga senaryong ayaw ko ng balikan pa sa oras na 'yon.

But you have no choice, Vanna. You just can't keep turning a blind eye to it.

In the end, along with that thought, I still tried breathing heavily and calming myself up, even though nothing changed at all.

Kahit kitang-kita ng sarili kong mga mata ang samu't saring emosyon ko mula sa rear-view mirror ng sasakyan, na sinabayan pa ng iba't ibang reaksyon ng aking katawan — panginginig ng dalawang kamay, pagsikip ng dibdib, at pagkibot ng mga labi — na mas nagpalala ng agam-agam sa aking isipan.

"This shouldn't go on. No matter what he says, there's no running back into his arms anymore." I made a bittersweet smile. "Or else, you'll die."

Tama na... Once is enough. Don't let him be part of your life any longer.

Just because he's back doesn't mean I should do the same thing to him too. I'm in charge of letting people be part of me, just as I have all the means to not let people get to me. It has always been easy to shove them away, to cut them off, and to erase them from my life, right? So, don't you ever bend to him again, Chantria. Don't let him trigger something in you; don't give him the gun he could use to take you back.

I took my crimson red lipstick from my bag before applying it to me, with nothing but a blank and stoic expression right now. Everything that I felt a while ago was still there; they didn't leave my worries and wonders, but they're only shielded by my composed attitude, despite them rotting every corner of my insides.

You're Giovanna Chantria Asuncion. You don't run back to something you're already done with — remember that.

Sa sandaling kumatok si Draven sa bintana sa aking tabi, doon pa lamang ako natauhan. Tinanggal ko ang seatbelt na nakapaikot sa aking katawan, pinatay ang sasakyan, bago tuluyang bumaba, at nangunang pumasok sa loob ng kainan.

Draven didn't take long enough to be at the same pace as me. Dahil mahaba ang biyas niya ay kaagad niya akong naabutan. Nang magawa nga 'yon ay bumagal ang lakad niya para masabayan ako sa aking bawat hakbang.

His left hand started playing with the keys of his car, while the other one shoved inside the pocket of his pants. "I hope you're okay with Japanese cuisine. Kung hindi, aalayan na lang kita ng Draven Pierce Morhelvin."

"Lol." I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Is that the best you could do..? The rhyme might be there, but it had no sense at all. Admit it, ever since, you've just jumbled up some words just to support your lunatic feelings and lust for me."

"Gagi, anong lust ka diyan?! Bastos nito, oh..." Lumayo siya nang kaunti habang yakap ang sarili niya. "Oo, baliw ako sa'yo, pero pwede namang 'last mo ako sa buhay mo' na lang ang kasunod. Edi, sana nangisay pa 'ko sa kilig kung gano'n, diba?"

Tanging pag-irap lang ang nagawa ko sa katarantaduhang sinabi niya dahil sinalubong kami ng isang staff. He, on the other hand, was smirking so widely that he ruffled the back of his head.

I sensed that the chair he pulled was for me when the waiter attended us at a vacant table, so I made my way to the opposite side. Tahimik akong umupo ro'n kahit halata sa tingin ni Draven ang pagkabigla at pagkadismaya.