The Princess and Her Knight (WHIPPED SERIES #1) (Completed)

Chapter 19

Naalala

I could still recall how they sent me to the hospital. Extremely bleeding and almost unconscious. Ngunit hindi pa rin kayang isipin ang sarili gayong wala pa akong balitang natatanggap ukol sa pagkawala ni Catalina.

I woke up the next three days after being unconscious from blood loss. The first thing I saw was my mother who held my hand as tightly as she could. My father looked restless as he stood behind her.

"You.." naiiling na sambit ng ina habang nakatingin sa akin. Her voice was so soft but also authoritative at the same time. Tila binabagabag pa rin ng biglaang pagka-comatose ko ng tatlong araw. "You really need to take more care of yourself, anak. I would never wish to lose you that way."

"Mom.." I said with hoarse voice. Bigla kong naramdaman ang matinding uhaw. "I'm fine."

Napapikit na lamang siya. My father walked to the center table to get me a glass of water, my dry throat didn't go unnoticed.

"Really, mom. You should worry more about Constanza and Lucciana, mga babae iyon kaya dapat binabantayang mabuti."

My mom lets go of my hand to throw a hard punch on my stomach. Ngunit hindi gaanong kalakas para sa akin.

"They're more careful compared to you, Dante! Akala mo ba'y natutuwa ako sa ginawa mo? Hindi mo lang pinahamak ang babaeng 'yon, you even staked your life in purpose of protecting her! That's just so selfish!"

Nangunot ang noo ko. Mabilis na tinanguan ang ama nang abutan niya ako ng tubig. When I was almost done with the water, I looked at my mother who was still frantic.

"Paano iyon naging selfish, ma? I was ready to sacrifice myself for her," napapaos kong saad saka inabot ang kaniyang ulo upang pakalmahin ngunit hindi niya ako hinayaang makagalaw at mabilis na tinapik ang kamay.

"You're being selfish kasi hindi mo man lang inisip ang mararamdaman namin ng ama mo! Even your brother gave up on you because he couldn't seem to control you."

"Mom.."

"You think your obsession with her stopped? Parang lumala lang kasi, Dante!"

Napatigil ako, hindi makapaniwala sa kaniyang sinabi. I looked at my hands and then my mother who looked surprised as well. Hindi rin makapaniwala sa mga namutawing salita sa kaniyang sariling bibig.

Tila nanumbalik sa'kin lahat nang nangyari. Ang mga ala-ala ng nakaraan ay sariwa pa rin sa aking isipan.

Kahit ang unang pagkikita namin ni Catalina ay naalala ko pa. She was still an infant when I first met her. Nahawakan ko siya at nahalikan sa pisngi. I could still remember the blurry image on how she didn't let go of my finger after my first kiss on her cheeks.

Her birthdays passed by like a wind, it moved really fast but very memorable. Hindi man ako maalala ay nagagawa kong halikan siya sa kaniyang pisngi tuwing kaarawan nito. I was twelve when I last attended her birthday celebration. Ayon kay dad, pinoprotektahan ng Mayor ang aming pamilya.

I was too young back then but my disappointment grew the next few years. Tila hindi matanggap na hindi ko nakita ang kaniyang paglaki. On my 18th birthday, I learned that my father was still working undercover for her family. Gulat pa ako noon kasi may picture siya kasama si Catalina. She was already fifteen years old. Young but her features looked so mature you could mistaken her as eighteen years old.

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

Nanggagalaiti ko saad habang hinaharang ang isang lalaki na sunod ng sunod kay Catalina. He was young but confident. Hindi rin maipagkakaila na galing sa mayamang pamilya.