Captured By The Sleeping Prince

Chapter 21

Malapit pala sa dagat ang rest house nila Cloud. Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa dalampasigan kung saan siya umupo habang tinatanaw ang dagat na mas gumaganda sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan.

I sat beside him. Nanatiling sa dagat ang tingin niya.

"You know who my father is? I don't even know him. Ako na sarili niyang anak, ni minsan hindi ko siya nakilala. Kahit litrato niya wala ako. He abandoned me. Simula nung isinilang ako sa mundong 'to wala na akong nakilalang mga magulang. Sabi ni Tita Helga na namatay ang Mama ko sa panganganak sa'kin. Samantalang ang ama ko naman buntis pa lang daw si Mama ay iniwan na kami." Hindi ko napigilang mapa-iyak matapos kong sabihin iyon.

This is the reason why I hate talking about myself. Dahil kalakip ng pagkukwento ko ng sarili ay ang pagkwento tungkol sa mga magulang ko. And each time I talk about them, sobrang nasasaktan ako.

Hinayaan ko lamang tumulo ang mga luha ko habang tanaw ang malawak at mapayapang karagatan. But by vision of the vast ocean was blocked, bigla kasing nasa harapan ko na si Cloud. Tila prinsipe siyang nakaluhod sa harap ko habang masuyong nakatitig sa'kin.

"I hate to see you cry. I'm very sorry. I'm sorry for your loss, baby.." Marahang niyang pinupunasan ang mga takas kong luha.

"Pwede ko bang malaman bakit niya kami iniwan ng mama ko?" I asked hoping he'll answer.

He sighed with my question. Tila nahihirapan siyang sagutin ako. Tila nag-iisip pa siya kung ano ang isasagot sa'kin.

"It was.. It was complicated, Caithness. I'm not sure if you'll believe me, but he was a good man. He was a good father to you. He loved you and your mother that much, baby."

"R-really? Pero kung mahal niya talaga kami, bakit niya nga kami iniwan?" Lalong nagtuluan ang mga luha ko. Lalong nanikip ang dibdib ko sa sinabi ni Cloud.

"To keep you alive. He left you by presence to keep you and your mother safe. You don't know what is this organization where in yet, Caithness. It's beyond what you think it is. Marami kaming nakakabangga. Those people who are crossing our opposite path. But in our case, our senior members are more exposed to danger. They're the ones who carry all the wrath and threats from our enemies. We, the younger generation of members are hidden by the organization. And your dad, he was one of our seniors, Caithness. Can you imagine how would it be to be his daughter and his lover? Kaya mas pinili niya ang iwan kayo ng mom mo."

Kung ganun ay iniwan ako ng papa ko para ilayo ako sa kapahamakan na dala ng grupong kinabibilangan niya. Why didn't he leave his organization instead? Bakit hindi kami ang pinili niya?

"He should've chosen us. He should've left your organization instead," may panunumbat kong saad. 

"That was too late, Caithness. Even if he did that, his identity was already exposed to the spectators eyes. Kahit pa umalis siya sa organisasyon at pumunta sa inyo, hindi kayo kailanman mabubuhay ng tahimik. Those scumbags would have chased after your dad and your family. As they found out his true identity, that likewise put him and your family in a more conflict and dreadful situation. He had to choose, Caithness. Ang itago kayo, o ang iwan kayo. And he chose to leave you dahil ayaw niyang mabuhay kayo ng mom mo na parang nakakulong at walang kalayaang mamuhay ng tahimik. I hope you do understand him now," he said holding my both hands.

"Kaya mo rin ba ako pinoprotektahan ngayon dahil ama ko siya at maaaring balikan ako ng mga kalaban ninyo ni papa?" Nervousness is running through my system.

Napayuko si Cloud at mapabuntung-hininga. "Yeah.."

Tumango na lamang ako. Pilit ko mang pinipigilan pero talagang natatakot na ako. Gayunpaman, iwawaksi ko muna ang takot ko ngayon 'cause I want to know something. My heart is longing for this to unfold.