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

KABANATA 55

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

Still with my lamenting knees and qualm breathing, I tried my best to stand up with my two feet. Dumiretso ako sa kusina matapos no'n at nilapitan ang pagkain na hinanda ni Draven para sa'kin.

Looking at it, everything was an English breakfast... A single piece of huge sausage, some scrambled eggs on the side, strips of bacon as well, including a few pieces of toast, and mashed potatoes that have a block of butter and a drizzle of cheese on top of it.

I gulped the lump I felt in my throat as my stinging eyes looked straight up at the ceiling. "Come on... Don't be like this, Vanna. You know better. It's not like he's no longer having a fervor for you; he's not even cheating with your relationship." I breathed a huge air. "Why feel so pathetic? Hmm..?"

Nang tuluyang makalma ang sarili at matigil ang nagbabadyang luha sa pagtulo sa aking magkabilang pisngi matapos pangaralan ang sarili ko, ay tsaka pa lamang ako kumain. Hindi na ako nagsayang ng oras pagkatapos no'n at kaagad na umalis sa unit niya para makauwi na rin sa condo ko.

Upon arriving, I parked my car in an empty spot, turned the engine off, locked all my doors, and went straight ahead to ride the elevator lift. Hindi naman nagtagal 'yon at kaagad tumigil sa floor na pinindot ko dahil walang kahit sinong pumasok para makisakay din.

Lumabas ako ro'n at didiretso na sana sa kwarto namin ni Sab, kaso kasabay ng paghakbang ko, ay ang pagbukas din ng isa pang elevator sa aking gilid. With that, my eyes landed straight at the familiar woman who was standing behind the opening doors, "Ais?" litong tawag ko sakanya.

Saglit siyang natigilan matapos akong makita, "Vanna." tipid na sagot niya nang makabawi rin sa gulat.

My head tilted. "What are you doing here?"

At first, she stayed there for a while — eyes in a daze and fingers tapping her crossed arms — before she finally took a step out. Binaba niya ang kaniyang mga kamay kasabay ng pagtikhim niya ngayong magkatabi na kami at sabay na naglalakad. "Amber asked for me."

"Amber..?" My forehead creased. "She's still here? Ang alam ko parehas na maaga ang pasok nilang dalawa ni Sab ngayon, ah? Nagkasakit ba siya kagabi? Kanina..? Bakit kailangan ka niya?"

"You'll be heading to your university today, right? Huwag ka munang mag-alala. I'll take care of them."

My forehead creased. "But don't you have a class too..? What's happening?"

"Stop asking. Ipapaalam ko rin naman sa'yo mamaya." Her shoulders shrugged. "I don't really know the details."

I slowly nodded my head in response as I inserted the key on the knob of my unit. "Well, I guess..." Tinulak ko ang pinto matapos mabuksan 'yon, "You're here, so there's really nothing for me to worry about." dagdag at kampante na saad ko bago siya paunahin sa pagpasok.

Amber's head, including Izelle's body, turned to us when the creak and the squeak of the opening door reached their ears, "Ais!" halos magkasabay nilang sigaw na nagpagulat sa'kin.

Halata ang magkahalong pagkabalisa at pag-aalala sa mga mukha nila no'ng una habang humahakbang papunta sa pintuan, pero mas lumala ata 'yon matapos nila akong mapansin na nakatayo sa likod ni Ais at pinapanood sila.

Right then, both of them halted in their tracks before they exchanged eyes with each other. Ngayon, hindi na nila halos maitago pa ang panibagong kaba at takot na umusbong sa mga mukha nila.

I could even clearly see how panicky Amber is as she bites the side of her knuckle, gulps excessively, and paces her body with a fullness of anxiety. Izelle, on the other hand, with her clenched fist, immediately turned her back and headed straight to the couch. Umupo siya ro'n at niyakap nang mahigpit ang maliit na unan — kasalukuyang nakatulala, mistulang nanigas, at tahimik lamang siya sa pwesto niya.