Cameo's Plot

Chapter 35

Aria

Pagising ko kaninang umaga, agad kong napansin na may kakaiba. Usually he's gone. Laging wala si Ash sa tabi ko pagising ko. Minsan may iniwang note o kahit anong mensahe. Pero ngayon, he was still here.

Nakahiga siya sa gilid ng kama, nakatagilid paharap sa akin, tahimik at tulog pa. His arm was stretched between us, and for a moment, I just stared.

I should have felt something. Peace maybe? Comfort? But instead, I felt that familiar tension crawl up my spine. Galit. Inis. Lahat ng emosyon na pilit kong binabaon muli sa loob ko.

Tumalikod ako sa kanya at dahan-dahang bumangon. Hindi ko kailangan ng paalala ng nangyari sa nakaraan. Ayokong makita siya ngayong umaga.

I walked out quietly, hindi na ako naghintay pa na gumising siya. I needed space. Dumiretso ako sa greenhouse.

This is the place he once prepared for me. A sanctuary surrounded by green and soft sunlight. Naalala ko pa kung paano niya inayos ito noon, para daw makapagpahinga ako. But now, even this place didn't feel as calming as before.

I sat at the small table, breakfast already prepared, probably by Zara. Wala akong ganang kumain pero pinilit ko. Kailangan kong lumakas, lalo na't may importante akong gagawin mamaya.

Nakatulala lang ako sa pagkain nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto sa likod ko.

Dahan-dahang pumasok si Ash. I didn't turn. Tinuloy ko lang ang pagkain ko, walang imik. Tahimik din siya. Hindi siya agad lumapit.

Then I heard him sigh. "Aria..."

I closed my eyes for a second. That voice again. Too soft. Too careful.

"Can we talk?"

I stood up from my seat, ready to walk away. But he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "Please."

Napatingala ako sa kanya, and he looked... apologetic. Tila ba nilamon siya ng pag-aalala.

"Are you still mad?" tanong niya, boses niya'y mababa at puno ng pag-aalangan.

I didn't answer. Tumango lang ako nang bahagya at tumingin sa ibang direksyon.

His hand slowly reached for mine. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just... I don't know how to handle it when you're mad at me."

"Ash-"

"I'm not good at this." Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko, but I pulled away. Still, he smiled with that gentle, knowing smile. "But I want to be."

I stared at him, heart beating fast.

Then, without a word, he leaned down.

His soft lips brushed mine. I froze, torn between pushing him away and... wanting more.

But then his hand cupped my cheek, and this time, the kiss deepened. Slow. Warm. Unlike the last time.

Huminga ako nang malalim nang matapos ang halik. Ramdam ko pa rin ang init ng labi niya, pero mas matindi ang bigat sa dibdib ko.

Hindi ko na kayang panatilihin ang katahimikan.

"Ash..." Mahina ang boses ko. "Hindi sapat ang mga halik mo para mawala lahat ng ginawa mo."

Tumahimik siya. Hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa kanya. "You killed them. My parents. And I know what you'll say. That you warned me, that they deserved it. But they were still my family. You took that from me."

"I know," mahina niyang sabi.

Nakita ko ang bahagyang panginginig sa kamay niya. He stepped back, parang bigla siyang natakot na baka mawala ulit ako sa kanya.

"I know you hate me for that," he continued, eyes on mine. "And I won't ask you to forgive me. But Aria... I don't know how to exist anymore in a world where you're not beside me."

Nanatili akong tahimik. My heart is pounding. "You think I'm strong, untouchable... a monster." he whispered. "But when it comes to you... I am nothing but a man who doesn't know how to breathe when you walk away." My throat tightened. I wasn't prepared for that.

He stepped closer, voice almost breaking. "You're the only home I've ever wanted. Even if you hate me, I'll stay. Even if you never love me back... I'll stay." Then he looked down, taking a shaky breath. "But if you ever find it in your heart to need me, even just once, I'll spend every day making sure you never regret it."

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. No one had ever said something like that to me before.

Pagkatapos ng lahat ng sinabi niya, hindi ko na alam kung paano huminga ng maayos sa presensya niya. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sa lahat ng emosyon na binuhay niya, pero wala nang oras para pag-isipan pa 'yon

Ngayon araw na usapan namin ng kapatid na si Alessandro. Ngayong araw kami magkikita.

Mabigat ang dibdib ko habang inaayos ko ang sarili sa salamin. Isang simpleng itim na damit lang ang suot ko, pero ramdam ko ang tensyon sa bawat pagkilos ko. Sa gilid ng mata ko, naroon si Zara, tahimik na inaayos ang buhok ko.

"Are you sure about this?" bulong niya habang inaabot sa akin ang coat.

Tumango ako. "I need to see him."

Pagkababa ko mula sa silid, agad akong sinalubong ng ibang tao. Hindi mga tauhan, kundi yung mga taong bihirang lumabas.

Ang mga mata nila ay laging nasa paligid, laging handa. Sinalubong ako nina Cipher at Rook, pareho silang nakaitim at mas seryoso ang mukha.

"Boss is preparing the cars," saad ni Cipher, sabay tingin sa akin. "Everything's secure."

Tumango ako. "Good."

Sa paglapit ko sa main hall, agad akong napahinto. Doon ko nakita si Ash. He wore black on black suit, sleek gloves, and coat that seems only for those who know how to handle power.

May suot siyang silver ring sa kanan niyang kamay, engraved with a symbol I've never seen before.

Sa paligid niya, nakapila ang mga tauhan niya. May iilang black armored SUVs sa labas na nakahanda nang umalis.

Pagbaba niya ng hagdan, mas lalong tumahimik ang paligid. Walang nagsalita o kumilos man lang.

Ash approached me, his eyes scanning my outfit briefly before nodding with approval. "Everything's ready."

Napansin ko ang earpiece na suot niya at ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kilay ni Cipher habang may binubulong sa communication line. Tumango si Ash nang bahagya, then turned to me.

"Security is tight. I'm not letting anyone come near you unless I say so."

"You don't trust my brother?" tahimik kong tanong.

"Trust isn't part of the job," malamig niyang sagot. "Ensuring your safety is."

Tumingin siya kay Cipher. "Initiate protocol two."

Agad na gumalaw ang mga tauhan. Rook opened the car door for me while Cipher walked ahead, eyes sweeping the area. Ash offered his hand, and for a moment ay nag-atubili ako. But I took it.

Pag-upo namin sa loob ng kotse, tahimik ang biyahe. Mabilis ang takbo, pero kontrolado. I glanced at him, still trying to process the man beside me. The man who ruled everything. The man I wasn't sure if I should trust. But the man who, despite everything, held my hand like I was the only thing that mattered.

Today, I would face my brother.