Poison Empress

Chapter 9

[9]

Nasamid siya nang nakadikit pa rin ang baso sa bibig. Binaba niya iyon at nagsimulang umubo. "H-Husband material?"

Tumango ako. "I need to have one."

"Lady Maxhein, you're still young. You don't need a husband. Teka, alam mo ba kung ano'ng ginagawa ng mag-asawa?"

Napaisip ako nang kaunti. "Nagpaparami?"

Blaze laughed outright. What's funny? Ganoon naman talaga ang role ng mag-asawa sa komunidad, 'di ba? Responsibilidad nila ang magparami para mabuo ang komunidad. Para dumami ang mga taong nagtatrabaho.

"That's just one." Nahimasmasan na siya. "But a wife and her husband share a bond that makes them inseparable."

Bond that makes them inseparable? "Like cousins?"

"Yes. Sisters. Brothers. Friends. We all have our own bonds with one person. And they differ from one another. Relatives have a bond with their blood. Friends have a bond with their love. Sometimes, it's the other way around, depending on how you perceive them. Take me as an example."

"What about you?"

"What do you think of me? Do I seem like a relative or a friend?"

"Hm. Neither."

Natawa siya. "Then what?"

"Member of an allied group."

"So honest." Umiling-iling siya. "You don't see me attractive?"

"No."

"Wow. You know how to break a guy's heart."

"Lolo told me to be honest."

"Of course, he did. He's the grandfather I never had."

"You chose the right side."

"We sure did." Huminga siya nang maluwag at napasandal. "Hay. Magkakausap na rin kami ng lalaking iyon."

"Are you gay?" I blurted.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Of course not! All my friends are male, that's why."

"No need to explain." Pinigilan ko ang sarili na matawa. Is he defensive or what? "So, who's the guy?"

"Siya ang tipo ng kaibigan na maingay at pagala-gala sa kung saan. Kailan ko lang nalaman na may koneksyon siya sa Zion kaya nagsisisi akong kinalaban ko kayo."

"That friend is the reason you agreed to be an ally."

"Hm. One of many reasons. Ilang buwan ko na siyang hindi nakakausap kaya masaya ako at naging malapit na ulit ako sa kaniya."

"You sound gay."

"I'm not gay. Hahaha."

"You seem to want to talk about him more than yourself. What's his name?"

"Kapag ba sinabi ko, ii-stalk mo?"

"I won't."

"Hindi ko na sasabihin para mas lalo kang ma-curious. Ah," pinilig niya ang ulo saka ngumiti sa akin. "Mukha ngang mas bagay kayong dalawa."

"Do you want me to ditch you?" My interest is already concentrated on someone. No more dates, please.

Natawa siya. Itinaas niya ang baso. "Let's have a friendly talk, shall we?"

Madaldal si Blaze para sa isang lalaking laging nakapormal na suot. He was carefree, and I found myself trying to hold my laughter in that restaurant.

I didn't know we only had a very short time to know each other.

Inayos ko ang business suit na suot ko at pinagbuksan ako ni Voxen ng pinto papasok sa conference room. Lahat ng upuan ay okupado bukod sa nasa kabisera. Pumunta ako roon pero tinuon ko lang ang mga kamay sa table.