Whispers of the Ethereal Threads (𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 #1)

CHAPTER 38

Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit, marahan kong hinahagod ang malambot niyang buhok habang nakasiksik pa rin siya sa leeg ko.

"But..." bulong ko, mahina pero malinaw, habang patuloy na hinahaplos ang buhok niya. "I really think that day... you were something. Like a noble. And more. Pero hindi ko talaga inakala na prince ka pala... ng isang empire pa."

Bahagyang gumalaw ang ulo niya, pero nanatili pa ring nakayakap.

"Wala kaming balita sa inyo," dagdag ko. "Hindi ko rin alam na may anak pa pala sila... kagaya mo. Na nakatatanda. At halos kaedaran ko lang."

Narinig kong bahagya siyang huminga nang malalim, pero hindi sumagot agad. "Hm."

"Masyado kayong private na pamilya but I understand," bulong ko.

Tahimik siya nang ilang segundo. Saka ko naramdaman ang dahan-dahan niyang paghaplos sa gilid ng baywang ko.

"Though I used to always see your family at the annual banquets," I continued softly. "Their presence alone... it screamed fear and respect. Gorgeous, yes—but undeniably dangerous. That's why everyone here knew where to stand... and not to mess with your family."

"But... can I ask, Fros?" tanong ko, bahagyang lumayo sa kaniya para makita ang mukha niya. "Why didn't they attend in the past seven years? They were always present, I remember."

Bahagyang siyang ngumiti, malambing ang tingin habang nilalaro ang hibla ng buhok ko. "You can always ask me, baby. No need to ask if you can."

Tumingin ito sa kisame, para bang inaalala ang isang larong matagal na niyang natapos.

"Seven years ago..." panimula niya. "Some fools from another empire thought it'd be fun to throw fists with us. Maybe planned, maybe desperate but they dared to attack the palace. Thought we were weak. Just another noble house."

Napatitig ako sa kaniya habang patuloy siya sa pagsasalita, may maliit pang kurba sa labi nito.

''They cornered Mom, Dad... even Hail. They aimed straight for their hearts. And just like that..." bahagya siyang tumigil, saglit na katahimikan ang lumatag. "... their hearts stopped."

Napasinghap ako. Pero siya, tila bang nagkukuwento lang ng simpleng pangyayari na kalmado, at tahimik.

"But I've always been ahead of them, baby," he said, eyes locking on mine. "My family loves the thrill of the game. And those bastards gave them one."

Napangisi siya.

"But they forgot about me," sabi niya, hinaplos ang pisngi ko. "And me? I like to play dirty. I love playing with those fucking minds. It's fun."

Lumapit siya at marahang hinalikan ang labi ko. Dama ko ang kakaibang init sa likod ng halik na 'yon.

"I put them somewhere safe. Hid them. Let those fools think we were gone. It's better that way."

He chuckled darkly.

"We're a weird family, baby... We like hiding our truths behind stories of weakness.'''

"We play, baby... just like you."

Nanahimik ako, hindi agad makapagsalita. Namangha ako, hindi lang sa kwento, kundi sa lahat ng kaya niyang gawin. Pinagpapatuloy niya ang kanyang kwento, kalmado lang na para bang isa lang itong ordinaryong kuwento, napagtanto ko ang isang mas malalim pa.

He wasn't just dangerous.

He is really danger itself.

A living weapon in disguise.

Napalunok ako habang nakatitig sa kaniya. He felt like a completely different person now. Not just the Fros I thought I knew. Para siyang anino ng isang emperyo. Lihim, mapanganib, at... akin. And yet, with every word, every truth he unraveled— I found myself falling for him even more.