Dagger Series #5: Unbowed

Chapter 35: Gold

I'm not close to a lot of people, so aside from Papa, Ellena and her fiancé, and Kuya Angelo and his wife, I only invited Stellan and Edric, as well as their families. Sa side talaga nila Trace maraming bisita. I didn't mind. They have a lot of friends and people that they consider their family. They even have the son of the president as their guest. How cool is that?

"I'm good, thank you. Nabusog na ako. Kanina pa kasi ako kumakain."

"Si Axel nga sa ceremony pa lang kumakain na pero tignan mo naman."

Nilingon ko ang tinuro niya at namataan ko si Axel na natigilan sa akmang pagsubo ng pandesal. His mouth is full, making him look like a hamster. Sa tabi niya ay nakapalumbaba si Mireia na pinagmamasdan ang asawa. Hindi na ata matatapos ang honeymoon stage nilang dalawa.

"Princess!" Tumatakbong lumapit sa akin si Trace na may dala-dalang plastic na mga baso ng taho. Inabot niya sa akin ang isa. "Maraming arnibal 'yan. Very sweet. Parang ako."

Nangingiting kinuha ko sa kaniya ang baso. Punong-puno iyon kaya hindi na ako nagtaka nang tumulo iyon sa kamay ko nang hawakan ko. I took a sip quickly before it spilled more. Dahil wala akong pamunas ay dinilaan ko na lang ang natuluan no'n na daliri ko.

"Masarap," sabi ko.

"Ang sarap-sarap."

I looked up at Trace when I heard a change in his voice. I found him staring at me, but I have this feeling that he's not really seeing me. It reminds me of that morning at the ranch when we were on the balcony.

Nag-init ang mga pisngi ko nang maintindihan ko ang tumatakbo sa isip niya. Ipinilig niya ang ulo niya bago walang salitang tinungga ang laman ng baso na hawak niya.

Trace had always been unyielding when it came to keeping a certain distance between us. Pwede niya na ngang maging middle name iyon dahil sa katagagan niya pagdating sa bagay na iyon. He should have been named, Trace "Self-control" Dawson.

Mula ng dumating kami sa farmhouse ay mas madalas ata na natutulog ako sa kuwarto niya kesa sa kuwarto na ginagamit ko. Parang nagiging dressing room ko na nga lang iyon dahil lagi naman kaming magkatabing matulog sa kuwarto niya. But Trace kept his promise to himself and to my father. Kaya nga halos matapos na niya ang buong Constitution kaka-recite niya no'n.

"Come here," I said, stretching my hand towards him.

Inabot niya ang kamay ko at hinila ko siya papunta sa lamesa namin na nasa pinakaharapan ng lugar. He took a seat, and instead of sitting beside him, I lowered myself onto his lap. Namilog ang mga mata niya pero nginitian ko lang siya bago ko inubos ang laman ng baso na hawak ko para maibaba ko iyon.

"I'm really sorry," I told him sincerely.

"Princess—"

"Kung hindi lang finals na ay hindi ako tutuloy. I want to take a vacation with you without thinking of anything else."

He tuck a trendil of my hair at the back of my ear. His light brown eyes softened. "You don't need to be sorry."

"I feel bad. I don't want to be far from you. It's kind of your fault you know? Sinanay mo ko na lagi tayong magkasama."

It's ironic how I dread being alone now when I was just below being a hermit before I met him. I can't imagine being away from him for days. Who would have thought that I'd be the clingier one in this relationship?

"Next time that you're competing, I'm coming with you. I don't like being separated from you too, princess."

"Eh paano kung ikaw ang may trabaho tapos matagal kang mawawala?"