Flying Without Wings (Del Gallego Series #1)

Chapter 8

It's already 2021! Cheers to the upcoming days that are filled with ups and downs. No matter what this year will bring to us, always remember that being able to appreciate oneself without regard for norms is true happiness. 🎊💙

Chapter 8: Engraved

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako excited pumunta sa tagpuan namin na iyon. Kahit pa hindi ko na naman naabutan ang mga Hermano sa mansyon, lalo na si Kuya Demi na nagtungo na pala sa Maynila, ay nakangiti pa rin ako.

I just have that feeling for no reason. It was since I woke up, having breakfast alone, bathing, and even on the way towards the secret passage.

Wala akong maintindihan sa nangyayari sa aking sarili. May nag-uudyok sa akin na isipin muna ang mas malalim na dahilan sa paulit-ulit kong pag-akyat sa isang bakod at pagsuway sa utos at batas ng aking pamilya, para lang makatungtong sa kabilang lupain.

The land that was forbidden to me.

I am aware from the very start that this constant decision was wrong and ever risky. I should remain adhering to my family's orders, to begin with, because it's dangerous once I'll be caught over fencing.

Isa akong Herrera. And this land I always wanted to be at was owned by a Guerrero. Maximo runs the blood of our enemy. So it wasn't right! Hindi ito nararapat. Hindi ito tama. At alam ko iyon. Alam na alam ko sa aking sarili na purong kamalian ito at kahit ang pakikipaglapit ko sa kanya.

Ngunit tila hindi ko maiwasan. Hindi ko kaya. Kahit kailan. Kahit ano man ang gawin ko. O kahit anong pilit ko sa sarili. Because I'm always defeated on resisting a certain force.

And I'm asking myself when this began?

Why am I still able to smile despite everything?

Just because I saw Maximo again, shirtless, leaning against the trunk of the Molave tree. His hair was unkempt and drenched, and he seemed to be swimming lately due to some beads of water on his torso. Nakasilong siya roon at pikit ang mga mata, habang nakatupi sa kanyang dibdib ang mga maskuladong braso.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang pagmasdan ang kanyang pangangatawan sa ganoong ayos. It even look like nature was too fond of him and only the sun rays were stubborn enough to bravely peek at every leaf just to have a touch of his tanned skin.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from grinning.

Compose yourself, Athena!

I carefully watched Maximo again. Then suddenly my brows furrowed. Tulog ba siya? Naalala ko kasi ang nangyari kahapon. He teased me after I shamelessly touched him.

My cheeks heated when I remembered.

I looked around. Wala naman tao. Tanging tunog ng kalikasan ang humahari sa paligid. Ala una pa lang ng hapon. Inagahan ko na nga, pero nagulat pa rin ako na narito na siya. I honestly did not expect him to be early again, even though he was when we first met in this rendezvous.

With a sigh, I started taking steps closer to him. I'm clothed simply in a white v-neck shirt, faded blue jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat that I've already taken off.

I heard him slightly snoring when I get closed. I tilted my head and get suspicious. Kasi hindi naman siya humihilik kanina. Wait. Is he teasing me again? I grimaced. Ganito rin naman iyong inakala kong tulog siya kahapon, pero nauwi lang sa kalokohan niya!

I smirked.

Kaya naman hinayaan ko na lang ang aking paa na pahintuin siya sa kanyang biro. Sinipa ko ito ng malakas sa tagiliran, dahilan para mapamulat ito bigla at mapatayo na tila bagong gising pa lang.