Claiming Her

Sixteen

HER POV

I quickly panicked when I saw the caller I.D.'s name.

It was him.

I hate myself for doing the exact opposite of what my mind was screaming.

I picked it up.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?" he yelled.

I continued sobbing. I felt soft hands holding me. It was comforting yet it wasn't enough.

"You're still mine remember?" He proclaimed.

He didn't calm down, no apologies still. Did he think I was gonna talk?

"Don't even dare try to escape from me." He sound so pissed.

"I need a day or so. Please I'll be back." then I hung up.

I didn't know where I mustered up the strength to say those words, but my tears continued to fall.

"Come here prinsesa." then I fell like a baby into Lester's arms.

"Minamasdan kita ng hindi mo alam pinapangarap kong ikaw ay akin." Lester softly hummed, singing, while holding me.

His voice was very relaxing.

"Mapupulang labi at matingkad mong ngiti pinapangarap kong ikaw ay akin.." Lester continued.

His voice made all the atoms in my body relax. I felt safe with his voice, and his arms. He continued singing, as if it were a lullaby.

With his voice, I was ready to forget everything behind. I was too focused on the voice I was hearing.

"Sa iyong ngiti ako'y nahuhumaling." I joined him in singing. We both ended the song with smiles on our face.

He was about to stand up when I pulled him closer.

"Please don't leave me." I begged.

"Hindi kita iiwan prinsesa kukunan lang kita ng tubig. Tuyong tuyo na yang lalamunan mo." He cooed. I slowly let go of him, allowing him to stand up. He was too charming for me.

While he was getting water, he had his eyes on me before speaking, "Ang ganda mo talaga prinsesa."

Why can't all the boys be like him? Why can't Daniel be like him?

Well damn ass this is the modern age pipiliin ng mga babae ang taong ginagago sila kesa sa taong handang gawin silang prinsesa. Ang mga babae talaga tatanga tanga eh. My mind reminded me.

We never make a choice when it comes to love. Hindi babae ang tanga, ang puso ang tanga kasi kahit bali-baliktarin mo ang mundo pag mahal mo na kahit anong kagaguhan nya hindi mo nakikita.

Nagbubulag bulagan tayo na parang hindi nakikita para lang maging malinaw sayo ang mga kakaunting kabutihan nyang binibigay sayo. My heart added.

"Lester, bakit ang gago ng mga lalaki?" I blurted out of nowhere.

"Kasi yan ang gusto ng mga babae. Yung gagaguhin sila. Yung hindi sila tinuturing na prinsesa. Kasi pag mabait ka sakanila panigurado friendzone ang aabutin mo." Lester answered confidently.

"Kami ba ang may kasalanan?" I asked.

"Hindi, kasalanan to ng mga bullsht na storya. Kasi ginagago ng mga yan ang utak ng mga babae na ang lalaking gago ang pinaka sweet pag nagmahal." He answered as calmly as he could. When I couldn't answer, he continued, "Katulad mo you will never like me prinsesa kasi si Daniel na ang linalaman ng bagay na gusto kong makuha."

"So—sorry.." My eyes were welling up with tears again.

"Shit, no, don't cry prinsesa hindi ko yun intensyon." He said, a little worried as he wiped the tears away from my face.

He gently pushed me away as I tried to kiss him.

"No, prinsesa. Hindi ito ang kailangan mo." Why does he have to be so understanding?

What I did made me feel shy.

"W--why a--are you being so kind to me?" My voice faltered as I asked.

"Because this is what my heart wants to do." He was looking into my eyes, I can see how sincere he is.

"Th-thank you."

"Anytime, prinsesa. Anytime." He answered, whispering.

I felt myself get tired, yawning. The day's events creeping up on me. He laughed at what I did and said, "Halika punta na tayo sa kwarto."

My eyes widened at his remark, making him laugh as a response.

"Wag ka mag alala haha. Sa couch ako matutulog." Lester assured me.

"Ha? Ako nalang sa couch nakakahiya naman. Ako na nga nang istorbo ikaw pa mahihirapan." I answered shyly.

"Prinsesa tumigil ka. Lahat gagawin ko para sayo. Kaya wag ka ng madrama diyan." He said in a sing-song voice.

"Tabi nalang tayo." I whispered.

"Ha?!" Lester responded, surprised.

"Ah eh kasi. Ano. Kasi.. Baka ano.." I fumbled with my words.

"Sorry, nagulat lang ako." He said shyly.

"Hindi kasi ano sana ayoko lang kasi sana mahirapan ka. Okay lang naman magtabi tayo eh." I said as softly as I could.

"Sure ka?"

I nodded as I sat on the bed, it was almost 4am and I was still up. I lied on my side in the bed while Lester was in the bathroom.

I felt the other side of the bed get heavy, but I was too sleepy already to mind who it was, or turn to see.

I was awakened by the light of the sun. When I checked the clock on the bed side table, it was barely 10am.

When I looked around the room I saw a handsome man by the window, looking at me with admiration.

"Good morning, prinsesa." He greeted me.

"Kanina ka pa diyan?" I asked, a little shyly.

"Hindi ko napansin eh ang saya mo kasing panuorin eh." He replied shyly.

HIS POV

"Mr. Ted, sa tingin mo tama yung ginawa ko? Paano kunwari kung anak mo sinaktan ng lalaki dahil nga ganun ginawa nya anong gagawin mo?" I asked the old man I've been drinking with the whole night.

"Baka mapatay ko yung mananakit sa anak ko, lalong lalo na kay Kathryn."

My eyes widened.

"Ka-Kathryn?"