Winter Wonderland: The Powerful Locket (Completed | Revising)

Chapter 12: A New Friend

Chapter 12: A New Friend

SOMEONE'S POV

She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in a dimly lit room. The only source of illumination was the moonlight filtering in through the window, casting a soft glow on the surroundings.

Nagulat siya nang makita ang lalaking nakahiga sa tabi niya. Tiningnan niya ng mabuti ang mukha ng lalaki. Kinusot niya ang kaniyang mga mata. Nakakasiguro siyang hindi iyon ang isa sa mga kaibigan niya. Hindi niya kilala ang lalaking kasama niya kaya't napatanong siya sa kanyang isip kung sino nga ba siya.

Dahan-dahan siyang umupo ngunit napadaing siya sa sakit na kaniyang naramdaman. Masakit ang buong katawan niya. Unti-unting nagising ang lalaking katabi niya at bumangon. Pinagmasdan siya ng lalaki.

"Are you alright?" The young man asked with concern in his voice.

Hindi nakapagsalita si Aira at naging sunod-sunod ang malalim na paghinga niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya dahil sa nararamdaman na kaba. Napapaisip siya na baka dinakip siya ng lalaki at kinulong sa lugar na hindi niya alam.

"Just calm down, I won't hurt you," the guy reassured her.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Aira asked while scanning her surroundings.

She attempted to sit up, but the man gently guided her back onto the bed. His expression was serious, but concern was evident in his eyes.

"It doesn't matter who I am. You're at my house. Get some more rest; I'm sure you're exhausted from what happened earlier," the guy said, keeping his gaze on Aira.

Biglang sumagi sa isip ni Aira ang nangyari kanina. Ang huli niya lang natatandaan ay naglaban silang dalawa ni Missy. Nagalit si Missy sa kaniya kaya nasaktan siya nito. Kung tutuusin, hindi dapat siya magalit kay Aira dahil siya itong nakakaintindi sa kaniya. Hindi niya alam kung bakit gano'n ang kinilos ni Missy.

Dahil sa ginawang pag-atake ni Missy kay Aira, malapit ng maniwala si Aira sa sinasabi ng dalawa niyang kaibigan na sina Josh at Lee. Ngunit hindi pa naman sila nakakasiguro kung isa talagang dergon si Missy.

"What's your name?" Aira inquired weakly.

The guy chose to ignore her and lay back on the bed beside her. Irritated by the lack of response, she playfully swatted the guy on the shoulder. Hindi naman masyadong malakas ang pagkakahampas niya kaya't sigurado siyang hindi niya nasaktan ang lalaki. Dahan-dahan siyang nilingon no'ng lalaki, seryoso pa rin ang kaniyang mukha.

"What do you want?" he asked Aira.

"I wanna know your name. Is that so hard to say? It's not, is it?" Aira retorted, visibly annoyed.

They briefly locked eyes, but Aira felt a sudden pang of embarrassment, so she looked away first. She heard Jack's sigh.

"Jack," he said tersely.

Even though they were lying side by side on the bed, there was still some distance between them. They both gazed up at the ceiling.

"How did I end up here in your house?" Aira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I saved you."

"Why?" Jack glanced at Aira, taken aback by her question.

"Are you seriously questioning why I saved you? Do I look like someone who would just watch you fall from the sky without caring? And to top it off, you're a princess. I'd be a fool to let you get hurt and leave as if I hadn't seen you," Jack said with a grin.

Nag-init ang pisngi ni Aira nang marinig ang sinabi ni Jack. Bigla siyang na-guilty dahil sinusungitan niya ang lalaking nagligtas ng buhay niya.

"T-thank you..." Aira stammered.