The Princess and Her Knight (WHIPPED SERIES #1) (Completed)

Chapter 22

Coming Back

"I know you, Catalina. Kapatid kita kaya alam kong nagsisinungaling ka sa akin kahapon. At saka, madali kang basahin kaya hindi naging mahirap sa'kin na makilala ka."

I looked at my brother who was seriously looking at me. He was taking me too serious that I just want to run back inside. Ngunit alam ko namang nag-uusap pa sila ni Jake at ng magulang ko. As my guardian, siguro ay naramdaman ni Jake na siya muna ang kumausap bago ako.

"Hindi ko naman sinasadya.. I was just surprised."

Napamaang ako nang hilahin niya ako para sa isang mahigpit na yakap imbes na awayin ako. He laughed afterwards then patted my head, like he usually does whenever I do something bad. And it just felt so amazing knowing that he forgives me easily now than before. Siguro dahil na rin sa maturity level.

"I'm just happy, Catalina. You're alive all this time. Safe.. and secured."

He lets go of me and then sat on one of the benches.

"Natutuwa rin ako because his decision of keeping you here actually helped. At least, we caught all those involved from those threats that we received. Lalo na sa mga gustong gamitin ka laban kay Papà."

Napatango ako.

"How about Dante--"

"Mikhail!"

Hindi na natapos ang sasabihin pa ni kuya nang tawagin siya ni Papà mula sa loob. Our father smiled at us and motioned us to come inside already.

Nang makapasok na kami ay hindi mawala sa aking isipan ang huling tanong ni kuya.

"Bukas ka namin susunduin, okay? Around five in the afternoon. As much as we want you to come back home, we cannot reckon to suddenly steal you from him." Papà said with his most convincing voice kahit na obvious naman na ayaw niya akong mag stay kasama ang isang lalaki sa iisang bubong. The problem is, I've been living with him for almost two years kaya hindi na rin umalma pa.

"Isa pa, sobrang excited ako na makita ka, anak. I forgot to prepare your bedroom. Malinis naman iyon pero baka kasi mas gusto mong handa na lahat pag andoon ka na."

I nod and grabbed a chair to sit next to Mamà. "Hindi naman kailangan, ma. Isa pa, masaya ako na makita kayo ulit. Gusto ko lang mag apologize kasi sinubukan ko pang magpanggap na hindi kayo maalala."

Napatingin ako kay kuya nang maalala ko na naman iyong tanong niya kanina.

"You mentioned a name a while ago, kuya. What was it again? Dan.. Dante?"

My parents were surprised at the mention of the name, kahit si Jake ay napatingin sa akin. My father went to grab kuya away from us. Napatingin naman ako kay Mamà dahil sa kuryosidad.

The name Dante didn't feel foreign to me. Like I've known him for a long time. Hindi ko nga lang mawari kung sino iyon.

"Ma?" I asked curiously, halos magtagpo ang aking kilay.

"It's nothing, nak.." gutal-gutal na saad ni Mamà. Hindi ako magawamg kumbinsihin dahil sa tono ng pananalita. She looked uncertain as she searched for words but nothing came out.

Napatango na lamang ako. I respect it if they don't want to share anything to me, hindi nga lang mawala sa aking isipan ang mga posibilidad na baka may tinatago sila sa akin. And even Jake who looked like a lost spawn right now makes me wonder what's with Dante.

Halos maggagabi na nang magpaalam sila na uuwi. Nakiusap pa si Mamà kung pwede bang mag stay nalang din siya sa tabi ko para sabay na kami bukas pero agad din naman iyong inayawan na Papà. Jake was silent the whole time. Nagsasalita lang tuwing tinatanong ng pamilya.

Nang makaalis sila ay nilapitan ko siya saka sinuyod ng tingin.

"I wonder why you're so silent. It's just so odd kasi hindi ka naman ganiyan." I started. Tiningnan niya ako at magsasalita na sana ngunit pinigilan ko rin. "Galit ka ba sa'kin?"

"What?! No. Of course, not." Depensa niya saka ako niyakap at mabilis ding pinakawalan. "I'm not mad or anything, Cat. This.. this whole thing is just so overwhelming."

"Edi, sana sinabi mo. I can just tell my family that I'll stay here and they can just visit me.."

Umiling siya saka lumunok. "It's not that easy, Cat. Your family is decent and I don't intend to make a bad impression on them. Isa pa, your family surely misses you. You need to spend more time alone together with them."

"Coming back to them doesn't mean you'll forget me, right? Pwede pa rin naman kitang bisitahin saka bibisitahin mo rin naman ako, diba?"

He laughed and nodded.

"Of course, Cat! I feel so darn hopeless right now. I think I would rather keep you here than send you home, tomorrow."

Nagtawanan kami pareho. Hindi ko rin maiwasan na isipin siya gayong alam ko ang sitwasyon niya sa ngayon.

Morning came rather fast. Naka empake na ang mga gamit ko. Nag-iwan din ako ng iilang gamit para kung sakaling bumisita ulit ako, hindi na mahirap para sa'kin.

Alas tres na at handa na lahat. Lumabas muna ako para magpahangin. Naglakad-lakad sa loob ng village. I know I can still visit him pero iba pa rin kapag dito ka nakatira. This became my second home and I feel like I need to memorize each part of it para hindi makalimot.

Hindi ko napansin na halos magdadalawangboras na pala akong naglalakad kaya naman patakbo kong tinungo ang bahay at nakita ang nakaabang na kotse sa labas. Hinihingal na huminto muna saka muling naglakad. Hindi na tumakbo dahil malapit na rin naman. Muntik pa akong makabangga dahil sa taong nakaharang.

"Ina.."

My forehead ceased when the man I passed by whispered. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad sa pag-aakalang hindi ako ang kausap ngunit napahinto nang ulitin niya iyon. Ngayon ay mas klaro dahil mas nilakasan niya ang boses. Lumundag ang puso ko, hindi mawari kung dahil sa kaba o takot.

I am so damned. He looked oddly familiar and his voice is oddly the same to the ones I hear in my head.

Lilingonin ko na sana nang makita ko si Jake na papalabas ng gate. Nang makita ako ay kinawayan niya ako.

"Catalina!"