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Consort Jing raised her eyebrow and watched Matthew how he carefully removed each wings of the whole chicken and put it on Yanna's plate.
Nahihiya namang ngumiti si Yanna kay Consort Jing saka lihim na tiningnan ng masama si Matthew.
"What are you doing? You mother is watching us." Bulong niya saka ngumiti ulit kay Consort Jing.
Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iniisip ng ginang dahil hindi naman ito nagsalita at nagpatuloy lang sa pagkain.
Naiilang na tumawa si Yanna saka kinuha ang isang pakpak ng manok at nilagay sa plato ng binata.
"Y-you should also eat." Sabi niya Matthew.
Tiningnan ni Matthew ang pakpak sa ibabaw ng kanin niya saka kinuha yon at ibinalik sa plato ni Yanna.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't eat bones." Sagot ni Matthew na may halong pang-aasar.
Iningusan niya ito pero hindi na siya napansin ng binata dahil inasikaso din ni Matthew ang sariling ina.
"Mother, this is for you." Inilagay ni Matthew sa plato ng ina niya ang karne ng isa pagkatapos niya itong himayin.
Consort Jing stopped and look at her son. She felt happy but she didn't show it and instead raise her eyebrow at him.
"How dare you feed your own mother in front of your wife? She might think that you love me more than her."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Yanna.
"Eyy?! Bakit naman ganun? Este!" Bahagya niyang tinampal ang bibig niya saka binaba ang chopstick at winagway sa ere ang mga kamay.
"No. No... He doesn't lo–i mean..." Nahihiya siyang tumawa.
"It doesn't matter to me. You are my mother— since i married Matthew." Agad niyang dagdag.
Consort Jing raised her eyebrow again and continue eating. Hindi niya ipagkakaila. Parang may kung anong mainit na bagay ang humaplos sa puso niya dahil sa sinabi ng dalaga.
She remember her daughter was also this sweet. But she can't see her often. She decided to sent away her daughter to be safe.
Because the palace is not a safe place. This is the place where greedy and ruthless people live.
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Natatawang itinapon ni Yanna ang maliit na bato na napulot niya sa lawa. Nakaupo sila ngayon sa isang parang kubo sa gitna ng medyo kalawakang lawa na may mga lotus.
"Why are you laughing out of the blue?" Matthew asked while looking at the half moon beside her.
"I was just thinking... If my mother in my world is your mother here. Does it mean that we are siblings?" tatawa-tawa niyang tanong.
Matthew turned his way at her. He didn't like what she said.
"Then why did you marry me?" Seryosong tanong ni Matthew.
Ramdam ni Yanna ang seryosong boses nito kaya napalunok siya kasabay ng pagkapawi ng ngiti niya.
Nararamdaman niyang hindi nagustuhan ni Matthew ang sinabi niya.
Napapaisip siya kung sobrang pangit ba niya para hindi nito matanggap na maging kapatid siya kahit biro lang ang sinabi niya.
Tumikhim siya saka itinukod ang mga siko sa hanggang baywang na dingding ng kubo at tumingin din sa buwan.
"Don't take it seriously. I was just joking." Sabi niya.
"No. But i asked you. Why did you marry me?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Unopened Rose (DRAFT! DRAFT!)
ФэнтезиShe traveled back to the time where her birthmarks were her scars. Nectars and Hagonoy plants were sacred. Roses and its petals are powerful. And pollen is her life.
