THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

KABANATA 40

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

The next day was like another nightmare. Hindi ko nga alam kung nakatulog ba ako nang maayos, o pumikit lang ako hanggang sa matamaan ng araw ang mukha ko. My head was spinning, my back was heavy, and my throat began to soar as soon as I woke up. Tuloy, ay naging unti-unti ang pagbangon ko dahil sa sama ng aking pakiramdam. At first, all I did was stare at the ceiling, lost and quiet with my own thoughts, until I decided to get up from my bed and sit on it after hearing the commotion coming from the first floor.

I let out a sigh and took my blanket out of me. Inayos ko muna ang mga unan na nagkalat na ginamit ko bago tuluyang tumayo mula sa aking kama.

Once finished, I pulled my phone out of the charging plug and went straight to my door. Aabutin ko na sana ang doorknob matapos makalapit sa pinto, ngunit kusang pumihit 'yon, kaya napaatras ako.

Slowly, the wood blocking me from the person behind it opened like everything was played in a running film. I was able to hear the unlocking of the lock, the twisting of the knob, and even the creaking sound of the screws attaching both the door and the wall to each other.

That person was wearing a black shirt, rugged maong jeans, and white rubber shoes. May nakikita rin akong iilang patak ng dugo sa pulso niya.

My eyes widened when I realized who it was, while he continued breathing heavily in front of me, along with his shoulders slumping and his back bending a bit. Ang kanang kamay niya ay nakakapit sa pader, at ang kaliwa naman ay nanatiling nakahawak sa doorknob ng pinto. He had his arms wide open because of that position, which made me approach him step by step.

Hindi ako kumurap o nag-iwas ng tingin sa takot na bigla siyang mawala sa paningin ko sa mga oras na 'yon, habang siya naman ay napapikit sa huli ng makahinga nang maluwag matapos niyang pasadahan ng tingin ang buong katawan ko.

"Draven..?" I called, almost like a whisper, before gulping heavily and slowly reaching for his cheek with my trembling hands.

Ang kaninang gulat na sistema ko ay mas lalong umapaw matapos maramdaman ang init na bumalot sa aking palad. Tila ang buong estado ko ay nagising dahil lang sa paglapat ng balat naming dalawa. Dahil do'n ay hindi ko na namalayan ang mas lalong paglaki ng aking mga mata bago ko lingunin ang kabuuhan ni Draven.

"W-Why..." I licked my lips and shook my head at the same time, with both doubts and sincerity carving me inside. "W-Where were you..? What happened..? Are you really ba—"

Not wasting any more seconds when our eyes met once again, he embraced me on my waist tightly this time and buried his face on my neck, which cut me off from what I was saying. What he did earned a gasp from me too, as I feel my eyes tearing up. It's as if the feeling of comfort and love is back. That exact moment turned into a home I had longed for since the moment he was gone.

I bit my lip to stop the sobs and hiccups as I stayed still, "You're late, asshole! W-Where were you, huh?! Do you know how much I waited..? How w-worried I was?!" sigaw ko bago hawakan ang dulo ng damit niya. Lahat ng galit at pagkainis ay binuntong ko ro'n, habang sinusubukan labanan na yakapin siya pabalik.

His hands ran down my hips until they landed on my buttocks. Inikot niya ang magkabilang binti ko at binuhat ang aking katawan, kaya kaagad napakapit ang kamay ko sa leeg niya matapos niya akong maitaas.

Now, we're looking eye to eye, with my furrowed brows and wet cheeks, while he had his lips parted a bit and both orbs into a drowning state.

With that, he walked inside my room and closed the door with the back of his feet, still carrying me around his hips. "Miss..." Lumunok siya nang malalim pinatakan ako ng halik sa aking labi, "Chantria..." tawag niya ulit bago burahin ang panibagong butil ng luha na tumulo sa pisngi ko sa kaparehas na paraan. "Mahal..."