✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book Two]

CHAPTER 19

"Wala nga kasing namamagitan sa amin, tantanan mo ako sa mga haka-haka mo," depensa niya.

I didn't speak until I finished munching. "Wala pero may kiss mark, ano 'yan sa kama lang may namamagitan?"

"Latisha!" inis na saad niya.

"Duchess Latisha, Blessime," pagkokorek ko. She's gleaming red and I like seeing her that way. Subalit, agad akong napatakip ng bibig. "What the fuck, pinaglilihian ba kita?"

"Okay lang, para kamukha ko naman kung babae."

I let out a displeased groan. Uminom na lamang ako ng juice bago nagsalita, "ayoko, ang panget mo kaya."

"Tangina, kung hindi ka lang buntis kanina pa kita pinatumba. Marami talagang disadvantages kahit gusto ko naman magkaroon ng pamangkin!"

"Anak ayaw mo?" pang-iinis ko muli.

"Lintik, tumigil ka!" anas niya.

"Ang sensitive mo, buntis ka rin ba?"

Blessime glared at me, and I just laughed it off. Napahawak na ako sa aking tiyan dahil sa lakas at tindi ng tawa ko. Buwisit, mukhang sa kanya ako unang maglilihi ngayon. Her cheeks were pink like peaches, while her plum lips pouted like molded clay.

Maganda naman ang pinsan ko. She's not fair, but her skin is flawless. Her light brown hair matches her eyebrows and eyes, and her face looks so innocent. Napapansin ko rin na tumataba siya ngayon, pero malabong buntis ang babaeng 'to.

Biglang natahimik ang mesa namin. Nasa garden kasi ako ngayon kahit malamig ang klima at may mga niyebe pa rin sa paligid. Pinagmamasdan ko lang kanina si Annika at Sonya na gumagawa ng snowman bago dumating ang babaeng 'to.

"Have you found it yet?" I asked her with a calm tone. Agad pinakita ni Blessime ang sagot gamit ang kanyang mga tingin kaya't agad bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Maybe we're not looking hard enough."

"I am tired, Tish. Pagod na akong umasa, pagod na akong masaktan tuwing umaasa ako na may lunas. Siguro, kailangan ko na lang talaga tanggapin na hindi na ako magiging ina."

"It's not yet over, Bless. You can still, we just need to look for the cure," mahinang sabi ko.

She let out a reluctant laugh and tried to hide her ache by smiling at me. "There is no cure for such a thing, Tish. Alam mo 'yon, once raptured it can't be mend back."

"Is that why you don't want to be with him?" I asked. Blessime let out another forceful smile. Umiwas siya ng tingin at ilang beses na kumurap para hindi tumuloy ang kanyang mga luha sa pag-agos. "He must have told you about his future plans, but you know you can never justify your role."

This is what Wince told me about: their red strings. Blessime pulled out because of an illness that will hinder her from true happiness, and he drowned in her absence. Blessime always thinks about her freedom, but at the same time she's finding a cure. I hope that someday, she could feel what it felt like giving a flesh.

"Itigil na natin 'to," she said as she let out a forceful laugh. "A rumor has been circulating in the States that the Duchess has fallen ill. Who the heck spread such lousy news?"

"I did," I said as I sip the mug containing juice. Binaba ko ito bago tumingin sa kanya. "The Duchy is closed because the Duchess is in a terrible state. It will give us some time to think on how to explain to his Majesty about my acquittal, and also help me give a peaceful birth."

"How confident are you that the Duke will protect the Duchy until your birth?" she asked, confused.

"Mamaya ko na sasabihin," sagot ko at agad ngumiti para salubong ang paparating na bata. Annika arrived and hugged me tightly. "Hey, darling. What is it?'