His Bride

16| Katarina

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
 

After Kazmus left, promising to see me before lunch, sleep finally overtook me.

Naalimpungatan ako nang makarinig nang kaluskos. Sumikdol ang dibdib ko nang makita na hindi pamilyar sa akin ang kwarto na kinaroonan ko. Ang mga mata ay mabilis na lumibot, naghanap nang pamilyar hanggang sa mapagtanto na nasa lungga ako ng isang kriminal; nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

For some reason, dread didn't acknowledge knowing I was under a criminal's roof. My heart settled in between my ribs.

Nang kumalma ay saka ko lang napansin na hindi lang ako mag-isa sa kwarto. Across the bed stood a young lady dressed in worn-out clothes that appeared to have passed through several women before landing on her; big brown eyes stared at me with the same shock and bewilderment, hair in a single braid draped across her spine.

Lumunok siya, ang mga kamay na nakakapit sa hawak niyang twalya ay nanginginig. I thought she was going to cry until she spoke up, her voice quivering. "Mrs. Rozanov, I'm glad you're awake."

Yumukod siya. Ang maliit nitong boses ay dumepino sa mura niyang edad.

While her presence startled me, what she addressed to me pulled me back from my daze.

"Mrs. Rozanov?"

"Lord Kazmus ordered me to address you with such a title, as you are his wife and the Shield of the Rozanov Household."

"Shield?"

"Our protector."

Masyadong mabigat ang pinaparatang niyang titulo sa akin gayon na hindi pa ako pumapayag na pakasalan si Kazmus.

"I'm not his wife," I said, voice firm. "What's your name?"

Her cheeks flamed as if asking her name meant asking if she was a virgin too.

"Katarina."

Yumukod muli siya. Her shoulders hunched in submission as her hands steel in front of her. Tila mapupunit na rin niya ang twalya na hawak.

"You looked young, Katarina."

Mabilis umangat sa akin ang mga mata niya bago mabilis din na binaba. "I'm sixteen, Mrs. Rozanov."

Sixteen? Too young.

Ngumiwi ako bago tinuklap ang kumot sa kandungan at maingat na nilaylay ang mga binti sa gilid ng kama. Mula sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita kong bumwelo si Katarina papalapit sa akin pero tila may tali na pumipigil sakanya kaya hindi siya makalapit.

Her hesitation is both adorable and confusing. Lumingon ako sakanya at ngumiti.

"Please call me Everiss. Your Uncle is fake news. H'wag kang magpapaniwala sa mga sinasabi niya." I made a mental note to gut that rascal alive.

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagpapakalat niya nang maling balita sa mga kapwa niya kriminal, pero ang pati sa pamangkin niya?

"What are you doing here, Katarina? Pinadala ka ba ng Uncle mo para pilitin akong magpakasal sakanya?"

Pinilig niya ang ulo. It's not hard to tell she was confused by her expressive brown eyes. The young lady was as clear as glass.

"Apologies, Mrs. Rozanov, but you're speaking a language I wasn't fluent with. Please, forgive this servant for being gullible."

She bowed, bending her upper body to a perfect 90° angle.

Shock was an understatement. Kinurap-kurap ko ang mga mata at baka namamalikmata lang ako, sunod ay lumingon ako sa paligid baka prank lang ito. Malay ko ba kung mahilig mang-playtime ang Kazmus na iyon. Nang masigurado na kaming dalawa lang ang nasa kwarto at walang mga hidden camera ay muli akong humarap sakanya.