Map of the Blazing Hearth (Gazellian Series #8)

Chapter 20

Dedicated to: Angela Kaye Mago

Chapter 20: Map and Lantern

Now, I am starting to realize our tangled fates. I am Tavion's map back to his real home- the Gazellians.

I never tried to glance back at Tavion the moment I witnessed Caleb's sudden change of expression when he mentioned him as one of them-as one of the legendary Gazellians in Nemetio Spiran. Because I'm certain, even if he denies it multiple times that Caleb's sincere to acknowledge him as one of them.

At nasisiguro ko na hindi lang ako ay may kakayahang kumpirmahin iyon. Tavion can confirm it himself, as well as the witch beside Caleb.

But of course, this unexpected family reunion would not hide the fact that these Gazellians still have something that extremely pisses me off at the moment. Lalo na sa tuwing nagtatama ang mga mata namin ni Caleb.

I am really certain that they are blood relatives, dahil pareho nilang pinakukulo ang dugo ko.

"But she didn't take it, right?" sagot ni Caleb.

Tavion is the biggest reason why Caleb's kept insisting that he was my mate before. He knew from the very beginning that he's been tailing him for a reason, and provoking him was his way to force him to come out of the shadow.

Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko. Kapwa naningkit ang mga mata ko sa dalawang Gazellian.

But what's intriguing here? Caleb's possibly expecting Tavion already. And it has something to do with King Thaddeus endless clues and patterns. He warned his son already.

"Assholes."

"And that's it? Aren't you going to slap him for making you conflicted?" sabat ng babaeng katabi ni Caleb.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko sa narinig sa kanya. Sa totoo lang ay kanina pang umiikot ang isipan ko kung paano makakabawi sa dalawang Gazellian. If they have a family problem or some sort of mission from King Thaddeus, hindi ba dapat ay sila na lang ang dapat na nadadamay?

Why do they need to use my heart or even try to deceive me to provoke each other?

Gazellian and their unreasonable ways.

"Of course, it's not like that," sagot ko sa babae.

Hindi na ako naghintay pa ng anumang salita mula kanino, mabilis na akong gumawa ng hakbang at hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras. Kusa nang nagtungo ang lahat ng lakas ko sa aking kanang braso, nagdilim na ang mga mata ko kay Caleb kasabay ng buong puwersa ko patungo sa pisngi niya.

Umalingawngaw ang apat na malalakas na sampal sa mukha ni Caleb kasabay nang mabigat kong paghinga at pag-iinit ng mga mata ko sa kanya.

Siguro nga'y gusto niya akong tulungan, gusto niyang tulungan si Tavion upang magkasama kami, ngunit ang paraan niya ay kailanman ay hindi ko matatanggap.

"Oh. . ." usal ni Tavion mula sa likuran ko.

Si Caleb ay natulala na lang sa harapan ko. Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang reaksyon niya dahil hindi ako matatahimik kung hahayaan ko lang manuod si Tavion, ilang beses siyang napakurap nang makita niyang nasa harapan na niya ako.

At bago pa man niya maintindihan ang susunod niyang sitwasyon, muling lumipad ang mabigat kong kamay sa pisngi niya. Kasing lakas ng mga sampal na tumama kay Caleb.

"And that's for pushing him to do the fucking trick! Why did you allow it to happen that long? Why did you allow him to play with my heart-" hindi na natapos pa ang anumang sasabihin ko nang marinig kong sabay na nagsalita sina Caleb at Tavion.