Aurora's Gambit: Defying Destiny

Chapter 5

Wolf in a sheep's clothing

Napabangon ako mula sa kinahihigaan nang maalala ang nangyari kanina. The way he stared at me...

There was something unexplainable that I sensed when he was staring directly into my eyes.

And also his touch....
I thought his touch would feel harsh since he's a villain, a powerful villain at that.

But his touch seemed... gentle... napakarahan...

He held me with such gentleness, as if I was made of the most delicate glass... afraid that even the slightest pressure might shatter me.

I did not expect that at all. I did not expect that the novel's biggest villain could have the slightest touch of gentleness in his personality.

I've read about the countless crimes he committed in the novel; all those people he killed all for him to maintain his position and how those people begged him for mercy which he didn't grant, because he was merciless, a ruthless villain.

And for him to treat me with such gentleness confuses the hell out of me.

Mayroon bang nangyayaring glitch sa nobelang 'to? Did I somehow cause a glitch in this story?

I expected him to end me then and there when he caught me, but strangely, he let me go.

Pagkatapos niya akong isagip mula sa muntik nang pagkakahulog ay marahan niya akong binitawan saka niya hinubad ang coat na suot at isinuot sa akin... siguro para di ako lamigin?

Then after that, he just left... without saying anything.

Ang weird, 'di ba?

Muli akong humiga saka pinikit ang mga pata at pilit na winaksi ang mga pinag-iisip.

Sleep, self! For pete's sake stop thinking about that villain. You must avoid him at all cost if you want to stay alive. He's dangerous.

Kinaumagahan ay maaga akong ginising ng isang haplos.

Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at agad na nasira ang araw ko nang makita na ang pekeng kuya ko pala ang siyang humahaplos sa mukha ko. Eww.

Tinampal ko ang kamay niya saka bumangon na.

I noticed that he was surprised for the way I slapped his hand pero agad din siyang ngumiti, probably never minding what I just did.

"Good morning, my princess. Are you okay now?" marahan niyang tanong na siyang ikinatayo ng balahibo ko sa batok.

What a creep.

"Fine," I coldly answered.

"Do you want to go out with me today and have fun?" he asked.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko.

"No. I'd like it if you leave me alone," tugon ko sa kanya na siyang ikinalungkot ng mukha niya.

"What happened to you, my princess? You used to love our occasional dates," He asked while pouting. Yuck. Nakakadiri.

"I did? I don't remember. You may leave," sabi ko nang may sarkasmo sa tono at tila galit na.

Napabuntong hininga si Kairos. I know he can't take it when Kinara's pissed. Kinara is his weakness, after all. He can't bear to see Kinara hating him.

Hah! But he can bear purposely hurting her just for his stupid jealousy? What a two-faced jerk.

Kung hindi ko lang alam kung papaano nagdusa si Kinara sa kanya, kung paano niya gina-gaslight si Kinara to the point na kwestyunin ni Kinara ang sariling katinuan, siguro maniniwala pa ako sa kaniya.

Sa mala-anghel ba naman niyang mukha hindi mo maiisip na may demonyo palang katauhan ang nakatago.

"Alright. I'll leave you be. Please don't get angry," marahan niyang sabi.

He got up and slowly walked away. Before he went out, he said something ridiculous.

"I'll make sure to bring your memories back so that you can remember how much you love me, my princess. Hahanapin ko kahit saang lupalop pa ng mundo ang doktor na makapagpapabalik sa'yo sakin," seryoso niyang saad saka lumabas ng kwarto ko.

Napangisi naman ako nang makalabas siya.

That's too bad, dear brother. How can you make me regain my memories when I haven't forgotten at all? The Kinara you know before has her memories intact. In fact, mas may alam pa nga ang Kinara ngayon kaysa sa Kinara noon. Kinara has not forgotten. I haven't forgotten.

It's just that the Kinara you once knew isn't the same because I now control this body. And now that I control this body, I will do whatever I can to punish those who wronged the real Kinara, and that includes you, Kairos.

I will take care of you, but not now. There's a time for that... for vengeance.

Hindi ako umalis nang bahay at nagmukmok lang buong araw.

I spent the whole day searching information about the main characters of this story.

I only know information that was stated on the novel pero hindi ko alam ang iba pang importanteng impormasyon na hindi inilagay sa nobela kaya I spent a day digging about them.

Thankfully, hindi naman ako nahirapan sa paghahanap ng impormasyon. Hacking the system here is not that hard compared to the ones I have encountered back on Earth. The writer didn't really put an effort into little details kaya siguro ganito kadaling mapasok ang mga sistema dito.

Good for me, though.

Tiningnan ko ang mga impormasyong nakikita ko ngayon sa screen ng laptop ko at in-internalize.

Apparently, Elias Maverick Giovanni, the male lead, isn't as clean as he is portrayed in the novel.

The author painted him as a strong person but always has a space for kindness. He is the heir of a powerful mafia group but he never uses his position to exploit other people and he never resorts to killing not unless there is a valid reason to do so.

That's why Kinara fell for him because to her he was the greenest of all green, a walking green forest.

But little did Kinara know, just like everybody else, he was a wolf in a sheep's clothing. His acts of kindness were mere performances, meticulously crafted to earn trust and admiration. Each gesture, each comforting word, was a thread in a web of deceit, spun with the precision of a master weaver.

Knowing this didn't surprise me that much. I always knew something was off with him when I read the novel. He was just too much. Too kind... to loving... too protective...

And what I found out today confirms my doubts before that he really isn't as kind as everyone thinks.

And maybe... it is not Lucian that I should be wary of, but him.

My thoughts were put into a halt when I received a notification.

"In the abyss where light dares not tread, shadows cloak you, steadfast in loyalty's thread."

I smirked.

It's time.