Battlefront

36- Simmons Power

Nanliliit ang mga mata ni Tiana habang nakatingin kay Xandros na kanina energetic na nagwo-workout sa loob ng kanilang silid na ngayon ay para nang isang selda. Hindi na sila nakakalabas kung kelan nila gusto. They were not even allowed to train outside anymore. Si Elca na lang ang sumusulpot doon para dalhan sila ng pagkain. And news about the outside world.

And the irony was, the king still wanted to woo Tiana to be his lover.

"Over my dead body," iyun na lang ang naiisip ni Tiana lage kapag iniimbita siya ng hari for dinner paminsan-minsan. Eh ito lang naman ang kumakain. Nandoon lang siya para pagmasdan siya ng hari. Minsan naiisip niyang para siyang display na pagkain. And she didn't like the way the king looked at her.

"Nakasimangot ka nanaman," komento ni Xandros na nagsi-sit-up. Pawisan ito pero hindi naman kinakapos ng hangin. He looked hotter than usual. Idagdag pa na wala itong suot pang-itaas. He was only wearing a pair of gray jogging pants.

"Lage akong nakasimangot," sabi ng dalaga na sinagot lang ni Xandros ng simpatikong ngiti habang titig na titig sa kanya at patuloy lang ito sa pagsi-sit up.

Nailang naman si Tiana sa klase ng titig nito kahit na lage siyang tinititigan nito nang gan'on kaya ibinaling niya sa dingding ang tingin.

"Bakit naiilang ka pa rin sa akin? I mean, we make out a lot," nagsalita uli si Xandros kaya napatingin uli si Tiana rito.

"Excuse me. We don't make out a lot," aniya na biglang namula. Gawd! She wasn't the type who blushes. But this guy... he did it to her often.

"Really? Hindi pa pala a lot ang araw-araw huh?" anito na biglang napatigil sa ginagawa.

"Stop it, Alexandros Xanthos Blackbourne!" inis niyang sabi rito.

Tumawa lang ang lalaki saka ipinagpatuloy ang pag-i-exercise.

Humiga si Tiana sa kanyang kama at tumitig sa kisame. There was nothing there. Just a white empty canvas. Parang future n'ya lang.

For someone like her, the future should not be a problem. It should not be a mystery. But she made a choice and as much as possible, she would want it to remain that way.

"What are you thinking about?" biglang tumabi sa kanya si Xandros. Ni hindi niya napansin ang pagtayo nito, pagpunas ng pawis at pagsuot nito ng t-shirt na puti.

"Things," sagot niya na sa kisame pa rin ang tingin but she was very aware of his presence beside her. His manly scent. Ni hindi man lang ito nangamoy pawis.

"Things like the championship tomorrow?"

Tiningnan niya ang katabi at sinalubong siya ng matiim nitong titig. And she felt weak. How could that be possible? How could someone's stare make you feel powerless?

"Don't worry too much. My acting is the best in Blackbourne. I will not sabotage our plan," anitong nakangiti kaya napangiti na rin ang dalaga.

He wasn't weak during their previous fights. A bag or two of blood was enough to recharge him every time Marlow whipped him. Kinukuha lang nila ang simpatiya ng mga mamamayan. It was deceiving but desperate times call for desperate measures. And they were desperate to save the people from their monstrous king.

"Buhay pa ba ang mga mortal na ikinulong ng hari?" pag-iiba ni Tiana ng topic saka muling tumingin sa kisame.

Pero nararamdaman niyang nakatitig pa rin si Xandros sa kanya. "Yeah. Elca made sure of it."

"You're going to be an amazing king."

Hindi agad sumagot ang lalaki kaya muli niya itong nilingon at tama nga s'ya. Nakatitig pa rin ito sa kanya.