FIRST LOVE COMPLEX

CHAPTER 10

My own reflexes abruptly enabled my hands to push Gregory away from me. It was like my arms mustered up all the energy para lang maitulak siya papalayo sa akin.

Gregory took a few steps backward enough to maintain his footing from my forceful attempt to push him away. I don't know, siguro nga ay naging malakas ang pagkakatulak ko kaya naman muntikan na nga talaga siya matumba patalikod.

But since that didn't happen, seeing him managing to stand there made me stunned for some unknown reason. Tulala at nagmistulang blanko ang isipan ko. Wala ako sa huwisyo kung papano ako magrereact sa eksaktong momento na ito.

Gregory just freakin' kissed me and I had no single clue that was his plan.

Parang kanina lamang ay halos pagsamantalahan na niya ako at pahirapan pa ng susto, pero ngayon heto siya, animo'y para akong babasaging bagay na masyado siyang marahan na hindi ako maipit at mabasag mula sa pagkakayakap niya sa akin.

I could tell from the way he kissed me that what he told me earlier could possibly be true. That he truly meant about saying he wanted to keep me.

"Why?" hindi ko namalayan na nabanggit ko na nga ang mga salitang kanina lamang ay gumugulo sa isipan ko. Nababagabag ako ng mga katanungan sa isipan ko.

"What do you mean why?" Napatingin bahagya sa akin si Gregory bago niya maisip tanungin sa akin kung bakit ang naging tugon ko sa kanya. Isang tanong na pakiramdam ko ay bumagabag din sa kaisipan niya.

Ngunit hindi ko man lang nagawang masagot ang katanungan niya. Ano nga ba ang dapat kong maging sagot sa kanya?

Following what seemed to be a long moment of waiting, hindi nakatiis si Gregory at muli siya lumapit sa akin. Subalit sa pagkakataon na ito, hindi ko na siya hinayaan pa na mas makalapit pa sa akin.

Kaya naman habang dala ko ang kumot ay mabilis ako na kumaripas ng takbo, ngunit maling desisyon pala na dalhin ko ang kumot dahil mas naging dahilan pa ito upang mahila ako pabalik ni gregocry at matrap sa yakap niya.

I was caught off guard habang nakatitig lang sa mata ni Gregory na nakatitig din ngayon. His arms were lowering me beside him as his upper body continued to bend over me, leaving me feeling more nervous as his face was inching closer to me again.

"I get it that you are my cousin's bride, and you wouldn't for sure believe me had I confessed to you this, but I will only lie if I will not tell you how I was attracted to you that time, Lady Giezelle."

Pinilit ko na makakalas mula sa kanya sabay tugon na, "That time?" nagtaka naman ako sa ibig niyang sabihin.

Gregory tried to come near me as soon as I tried to walk backwards just to keep a good distance from him. Sa pagtangkang lumapit ni Gregory, mabilis naman siya nagpaliwanag. "I was supposed to be escorted back to my horse and leave Sainan right away when I saw you feeding your canary at the courtyard."

"Why didn't I know about your visit?"

Napayuko lamang is Gregory, "I don't know. Perhaps your father duke refused to tell you yet. But ever since that time, I know that I already wanted you, Lady Giezelle."

"What were you even doing in Sainan?" I was already getting confused. Naguguluhan ako bakit asa Sainan si Gregory kung hindi naman siya taga sa amin?

It was not later when he finally replied, "I was the one who was sent to Sainan to deliver Duke Lorkan's approval to the betrothal. But I never thought I would eventually met the woman I've been dreaming of to be my cousin's bride."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, "Wait, are you saying you knew me from the very beginning?" buong pagtataka ko. Hinala ko lamang ito pero para kasing base sa pagkakasabi niya ay talagang kilala niya ako.

"Of course I know who you are! Do you seriously think I could have easily figured out you're inside that carriage wagon if I don't know you?"

Kung tutuusin ay may punto nga naman itong si Gregory. "But how do you know it was me inside the carriage?" ang di ko naman na napigilang itanong sa kanya.

"I had a raven watching on you."

That creeped me out. I couldn't believe na all this time, pinapabantayan na pala ako ni Gregory. Napailing ako dahil hindi ko pa rin maproseso ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Gregory.

"You seriously want me to believe all of this? You really think I am a naive duke's daughter who doesn't know that this could be a scheme of yours against my father or the duke of Kahoma?" Kusa na lamang lumabas ang mga salitang dapat ay nanatili na lamang sa isipan ko.

"No." Mabilis na sagot ni Gregory. "I just had to become rough since your servants are bothersome."

"Rough? You never believe me despite countless times of proving you. If it wasn't for the pendant, you wouldn't even believe that I was the youngest and only daughter of the Sainan duke, right?"

"I know. I have mistook you because of your clothes. Why are you even wearing a peasant clothes anyway? But no worry, I'll surely get you fancier clothes once we reach the vale."

At nagawa pa nga niya ako insultuhin.

"Gregory, buying me fancy clothes won't justify your decision of taking me away with you, knowing I am your cousin's bride. I am supposed to arrive today to meet with the duke of Kahoma. Don't you know that you did now is an act of treason? You betrayed your cousin by taking me away. You could be deposed of your title and birth rights, or you could be punished by death."

Bigla ako nanlambot sa mga salitang binitawan ko. Hindi ko ata maaatim na mapahamak si Gregory dahil sa akin. Isa siya sa mga dapat kong mailigtas pero ngayo'y mukhang mapapahamak pa ata siya dahil sa akin.

Samantala, tila napansin ni Gregory na masyado nang nagiging matabil ang dila ko kung kaya naman di na ako nagtaka nang bigla na lamang sumagot si Gregory. "What about my cousin, huh? You think by staying with him you'd be safe? No. because being with him has no difference being with me. The duke of Kahoma betrayed the crown the moment he agreed on your betrothal."

His voice was toned up a bit that it somewhat startled me for a moment.

"My engagement with your cousin was supported by my father, the duke of Sainan. With the joint forces of Kahoma and Sainan, the monarch of Asnador won't dare march south or west to claim me back while I'm under the protection of your cousin."

"And you think I couldn't protect you as much as my cousin could?"

"Gregory, don't try to create more conflict with the current issue any further. You know that for the betterment of us both, it will be wise for you to bring me to your cousin right away."

"I know what I did, my lady, and I have accepted the fate of becoming a traitor to my house the moment I betrayed my cousin when I first saw you at the courtyard. I was ready to pay for the price of it, no matter what the cost."

"Are you planning to keep me hostage?"

"I'm not not going to treat you as a prisoner. If I did, I would have already bond your arms in shackles"

I was left astounded and unable to make out any words. Hindi ko rin maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Bakit parang sa akin pa ata mafa-fall ang isa sa mga second lead male characters sa nobelang ito?

I simply couldn't fall for him dahil una, ang purpose ko sa pagballik muli dito ay upang iligtas siya kasama ng iba pang male leads para nang sa ganun ay hindi na sila muli madepress sa pag-ibig at nang sa ganun ay hindi rin maging dahilan nila ang pagiging martyr sa pag-ibig upang mamatay sa kwentong ito.

Pangalawa, kahit pa sabihin natin na malaya ako ma-inlove sa mundong ito, hindi ko pa ata naiimagine na mafafall ako sa katulad ni Gregory na pinagtangkaan pa ako ng masama kanina. Kahit pa pinigilan niya ang sarili niya ay

Pinilit ko na ikondition ang sarili ko.

I tried to absorb everything that Gregory had just told me as I come up with an answer. Subalit, hindi pa man din bumubuka ang bibig ko upang sagutin siya ay laking gulat na lamang naming dalaw ni Gregory nang may sigawang naganap.

"The bandits are here again! Make run!" Ang huling narinig kong sinisigaw ng isang lalaki mula sa labas ng kwarto namin at bago pa man din ako makapagsalita ay laking gulat ko na lamang ng hinila na ako ni Gregory papunta sa bintana para tumalon.