Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

Disgust

Akala ko'y hindi ako makakatulog nang gabing 'yun. To my surprise though, pagkasalampak na pagkasalampak ko sa kama ay agad akong nakaidlip. I woke up the next morning very early. It was only 6 AM when I went out of my room to go to the kitchen. Wala sa sariling nagtimpla ako ng kape at lumabas patungong balkonahe. Umupo ako sa silya ng pang-dalawahang lamesa roon.

The story of Riona Raya and Samuel Valtierra remained tattooed on my mind. It was centuries ago but I could still feel the remnants of their painful past. Maaaring dahil katulad ni Riona, na ang tanging gusto lamang ay ang magmahal at mahalin pabalik, ganoon din ako. Isn't it quite unfair, though? Bakit kung sino pa ang handang magmahal, sila pa ang pinagkakaitan nito ng mundo? Who decides our fates anyway? Is it someone who is high and supreme? Or is it us... who live and walk in this world?

I tore off my train of thoughts when I saw Rowan approaching me. Hindi katulad kong bagong gising at naka-pantulog pa, nakabihis na siya at bagong ligo pa.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I don't know... ano ba dapat?"

He laughed a bit. Pero seryoso ako roon. After hearing the truth, I didn't know how to react nor feel. Isa lang siguro ang siguradong alam ko, at 'yun ang huwag nang mahalin ulit si Chamuel.

The past was catapulted right in my face. Riona Raya did the honor of doing crazy things for love and failing miserably so that I wouldn't have to do it myself. May malaki nang karatulang nagsasabing bawal mahalin ang isang Valtierra sa harap ko. The world was desperate to shove that on me... kaya't sino upang labanan ang unos na gusto ng mundo?

"Ipagpapatuloy mo pa rin ba ang pag-aaral mo rito?" si Rowan.

My eyebrow shot up. "Siyempre! Wait, are you insinuating that I should go back to Cebu?"

"Hindi naman. Akala ko lang." He chuckled.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but no!" Humalukipkip ako. "Pumunta ako rito para sa pangarap ko. Para sa pagkatao ko. In the first place, I didn't even come here for... for love! So losing it right now doesn't change a thing!"

"Alright. Calm down. You sound so defensive."

"Because you're judging me! Hindi porque nagmahal ako, nawalan na ako ng pangarap!"

"Isa siya sa mga pangarap mo, so basically, you did lose one."

I sneered at him. He didn't have to hurt me like that. Napunta ang tingin ko sa bulwagan ng mansiyon nang makarinig ng kabig ng kabayo. My eyes widened when I saw Chamuel riding his horse, Midnight, toward us. Matulin at malinis ang pagpapatakbo niya. He stopped in front of the porch before going down from Midnight.

A hallow pit formed in my stomach when he started walking, his eyes immediately locking with mine. He raised a smile. Nangilid ang luha ko dahil kahit na gusto kong ngumiti pabalik, kahit gusto kong ipakitang masaya akong nandito siya... hindi ko kaya.

Because I wasn't happy that he's here.

"Good morning," aniya nang makalapit.

I refused to look at Chamuel when I nodded at Rowan. "Pasok na 'ko sa loob."

I was about to take a step when Chamuel called me. Napalunok ako ng marahas, pilit na nilulunod ang bukol na namumuo sa lalamunan ko.

"Anastacia," ulit niya sa banayad na boses.

I took a deep breath before I turned to him. Malulungkot ang mga matang ipinukol niya sa 'kin. My lips shivered a bit when he extended his hand. May dala siyang palumpon ng bulaklak. It was an assortment of daisies, roses, and tulips. Hula ko'y pinitas niya 'yun sa hardin nila dahil presko pa ang pagkakaputol at nakatali lamang gamit ang isang puting laso.