The Secluded Trails of Deceit ( Ruler of Fate Series #1 ) UNDER REVISION

KABANATA 30

When we parked, Draven was quick to pull his keys, unbuckle the seatbelt around him, and go out of his car. Muli niya ulit akong pinagbuksan ng pinto at hinawakan ang kamay ko para mas mapabilis ang lakad namin. A single step of his was equivalent to my two steps, so I was already running.

Malakas na kinatok ni Draven ang pinto nang makarating kami, habang naghahabol sa sarili niyang hininga. Hindi nga lang dahil sa pagod 'yon, kundi sa pagkabalisa.

The door opened, revealing Sereiana with her slightly reddish eyes and angry expression. Her stare was like that when I was the first person she saw, until it landed on her older brother. Nawala kaagad 'yon napalitan ng gulat at takot.

"What happened? Nasaan si Amirah?" I asked, while holding on to her left arm.

Before she could even answer, Draven passed by her without saying anything and directly went inside. Kaagad kaming sumunod sakanya at naabutan siya nakatingin kay Amirah na namumugto ang mga mata at nanginginig ang dalawang kamay. She was also gulping heavily, sniffing repeatedly because of her runny nose, and biting the skin of her lips.

Mula sa pagkakatulala ay dahan-dahang pumunta 'yon kay Draven dahil sa ginawa niyang paglapit. Ang kaninang pinipigilan niyang pag-iyak ay lumakas na ng tuluyan nang makilala niya kung sino 'yon. "K-Kuya... Kuya... I-I didn't—" She shook her head and buried her face in her palms.

Lumuhod si Draven sa harap niya at hinawi ang nagkalat niyang buhok. "May masakit ba sa'yo?"

Her hands, which were in front of her face a while ago, were glued together in a praying manner, "K-Kuya, I'm sorry." namamaos niyang bulong.

Draven panicked a bit before wiping her tears away, "Anong nangyari? Hmm..?" kalmado niya pa ring tanong.

She began shaking her head, which made Draven sit beside her. Niyakap niya si Amirah at binaon ang mukha nito sa kaniyang dibdib, "You can tell it to Kuya." dagdag niya.

I slowly walked towards them and sat on the other side of the couch before I started caressing her back. "We're here; we'll help you."

Mas lalong umiling si Amirah at sumiksik sa kuya niya. Her cries were a lot louder than before too, which made her gasp for some air. Dahil do'n ay pumunta si Sereiana sa kusina at kumuha ng isang baso ng tubig para sa kapatid niya.

It was Draven who reached for the glass of water before giving it to Amirah, "Drink this first." malambing na utos niya habang hinahaplos ang buhok ng kaniyang kapatid.

A few minutes passed by, with that exact scenario, until Draven was able to calm her down a little. Nakasandig na ang gilid ng ulo ni Amirah sa balikat ng kuya niya, habang iniinom ang tubig.

He started tapping her right arm as she finished the glass. "I'm always here. Andito lang palagi si Kuya. Kung may problem ka, sabihin mo lang sa'kin. You know that I will always protect you, right..?"

Amirah gulped before she glanced at Sereiana, who was now sitting on the space opposite her and was beside Draven. Ngumiti lang siya ng tipid at tumango para sabihin na ayos lang ang lahat.

Before she finally revealed it, Amirah let go of him and scooted closer to me. Nakahawak siya sa kanang kamay ko, kaya pumaikot ang kaliwa kong braso sa balikat niya, at dahan-dahan siyang tinapik para mas lalong pakalmahin.

"K-Kuya..."

Draven hummed and looked at her with an even more soft glaze and genuine smile.

Amirah bit her lip and looked down in both shame and regret. "B-Buntis ako."

My eyes widened, while Draven lost his smile. Nakatulala lang siya sa kapatid niya ng may namumutlang mukha dahil sa gulat mula sa narinig naming lahat. He had his lips parted and his hands trembling a bit, just like what her sister was feeling right now.