Devil's Chains

Nineteenth Loop - Triggered

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"Jealousy is a contagious disease..."

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Pareho kaming tahimik ni Rigel habang naglalakad papunta sa building ng college of Music. Mahigpit pa din ang pagkakahawak nito sa kamay ko kaya paminsan-minsan ko itong nililingon.

The crease on his forehead never left his face. His sharp jaw would clench from time to time as he purses his lips whenever a student tries to greet or stare at us.

Nakakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagkadismaya. Valefore's statements were bothering. Sino ba 'yong tinutukoy niya? Bakit ganito nalang kabilis nagbago ang mood ni Rigel? Bakit ako naiinis?

Tss.

Ang kaninang mabilis at pwersahan kong paghila sa kanya ay unti-unting bumagal. Why am I so bothered anyway? I shouldn't care at all, right?

"Xzeus," tawag niya saka tumigil kaya pati ako ay napatigil din. Hindi ko ito nilingon. Diretso lang sa harap ang tingin ko kaya nakita ko na naman ang mga asar na titig ng mga estudyanteng nakakakita saamin.

"Don't ever go near that jerk Valefore again. I'll be your knight starting from now on." sambit nito bago ako niyakap mula sa likod.

I stiffen. My cheeks flushed red.

How can he be this assertive like every little person around us were just a mere decorations he didn't notice? His blunt aggression suddenly becomes chivalrous. It's scaring me, but the fact that my heart really doesn't go against it scares me even more. He's making me nervous.

We stayed like that for a few seconds. I can see women glaring at me while some even chose to put up their phones and probably record what's going on. Sinong hindi mapapatingin? Pinili ni Rigel na yakapin ako sa gitna ng daan kung saan madaming estudyanteng nakatambay. Isama mo pang harapan ng building ng college of fine arts tong nasa tabi namin.

"K-knight?" I bit my lower lip to prevent it from shaking but I still fail and stuttered. Ano bang ibig niyang sabihin?

"Your knight, Empress."

Nagtindigan ang balahibo ko sa sinabi nito kaya kinalas ko ang braso niyang nakayakap sa'kin.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's go." sagot nito saka hinawakan ang kamay ko't hinila na naman ako. This time, hindi na padarag ang pagkakahila nito habang ang isa pang kamay ay nakasilid sa bulsa niya. His appearance didn't change a bit from the first time I met him.

Long white hair in mess tied loosely on the right side with his bangs scattering on both corners of his facial frame. His bored eyes were fixated in front of us while his uniform hangs untidy in his vigorous physique.

How can he exude such charm despite his messy appearance?

And how did he changed my standards in men in just a snap?

'You don't have those so-called standards, miss. Ano bang alam mo sa mga lalaki?'

That hit me good. Ano nga bang alam ko? Ano nga ba 'tong nararamdaman ko sa tuwing naandyan siya? Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa'kin? Bakit naa-attach ako ng paunti-unti sa kanya?

Ano ng nangyari sa fetish kong green-eyed greek god na laging naka-brush up ang clean cut at semi-faded na buhok habang tan naman ang skintone na may six-pack abs at mabalahibong dibdib? I don't even know if a guy like that exists. Ang alam ko lang ngayon, may isang Rigel Eigengrau ang nanggugulo sa isip at puso ko. I used to feel weird towards Greige and Winter, but that weirdness was overwritten by Rigel.