Virgin Villain (The Villain Series 2)

Kabanata 3

"WHAT happened . . ." Xibel muttered as he looked at her back full of welt. Some were fresh wounds and some were about to heal.

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa damit nito habang pinagsisisihang binalik niya ang bata sa orphanage. Nakita na niya ito. Nakita na niya ang mga nanakit nito subalit pinili niya pa ring iuwi ang bata.

"Forgive me, child." Tinapat niya ang isang kamay sa likuran nito upang pagalingin ang mga sugat. Wala pang ilang segundo, gumaling lahat ng ito.

Hinarap niya ang bata na patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak. He wiped her tears. "Hush now. They're all gone."

Napahikbi naman ito. "R-really?"

He nodded.

Sinubukan naman nitong hawakan ang likod, sobrang bagal dahil natatakot itong masaktan. Ngunit nang wala na itong maramdamang sakit, sumilay kaagad ang ngiti nito sa mga labi.

Seeing her smile was a nice thing to see, however, it didn't make him feel better. The truth that it could only take a few actions to make a child smile even after experiencing something unpleasant made him annoyed. He wanted her to be angry, be aggressive and loath the person who had hurt her.

But she was just a child.

"Papa, thank you!" The kid rushed toward him and gave him a tight hug.

Niyakap niya rin ito pabalik habang hinahagod ang likuran. Walang kahit ni isang peklat ang natira sa mga sugat nito. Subalit kahit mawala pa man ang lahat ng sugat ng bata, alam niyang hindi kailanman mawawala ang mga alaalang dinanas sa kamay ng mga taong nanakit nito.

And Xibel couldn't put into words how he loathed those kinds of people. They were the most terrible being ever created. What confidence they have to continue living each day without shame?

"How dare they . . ." He gritted his teeth. Nanatili ang mga mata niya sa orphanage habang nakayakap pa rin sa kaniya ang bata. Hindi siya aalis dito nang walang ginagawa sa nanakit nito.

If you can't get angry at them, I will.

Humilay sa kaniya ang bata habang nanatili ang malawak na ngiti sa labi. "Papa, magic! Magic!"

"Do you want to see some magic?"

She nodded.

"All right." He snapped his finger to summon one of his followers. A black water mound appeared beside the child. Napanganga ito nang inilabas doon si Stone.

"Hello, there." Stone waved his hand to the child. Ngumiti ito pabalik at kumaway.

"Stone, play with her for a while." Tumayo siya at tiningnan ang direksyon ng orphanage.

Napatingin naman sa kaniya ang bata. Hinawakan nito ang dulo ng kaniyang sutana, nangangahulugang ayaw siya nitong paalisin. Binalik niya ang tingin sa bata at nilapat ang kamay sa ulo nito.

"I'll play with you too. Hide-and-seek?"

The child gasped and immediately nodded. "Play! Play!"

"I'll be the seeker. You two hide. I'll count on thirty." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin si Stone. "One."

Mabilis naman nitong naunawaan ang kaniyang ibig sabihin.

"Let's hide, kiddo!" Nakangiti nitong saad at inabot ang kamay. Patalong tinanggap iyon ng bata at sabay na tumakbo palayo sa kinaroroonan niya.

"Two." Siya rin ay nagsimula nang maglakad patungo sa orphanage. Habang patuloy na nagbibilang, nanatili sa kaniyang isip ang imahe ng isang nilalang.

He regretted giving the kid back in this place. Four and five counts, but he thought of her more than those times. He should've took her back from the first day he left her. Six and seven. He shouldn't have doubted the extent of his gift.