Ascend

Chapter 23

Princess Azara Aleyha Cunningham

All the worries I am keeping inside collapsed. My tears naturally rolled down to my cheeks like it's finally free to fall. Tinaas ko ang aking mga braso at inikot sa kanya. I clutch on his cloth tight while crying so hard. I was shaking so bad on his arms but he didn't mind it at all. Instead, he held me tighter. His one arm on my waist, holding me and one hand slowly stroking my hair.

Hindi ako dapat umiiyak sa kanya. Pilit kong pinipigilan lahat ng emosyon ko tuwing magtatama ang mata namin dahil alam kong sobra na ang pinaranas ko sa kanya sa loob ng mahabang panahon niyang paghihintay. Alam kong sobrang bigat para sa kanya ng mga nagawa niyang desisyon para lang sakin. He left Cretia, he broke his oath. He left his position and my father's side. He left Cretia and watch it fall in the hands of the enemies.

Alam kong sa mayroong bahagi sa kanya ang nagsisisi dahil wala siya noong kailangan siya ng bansang matagal niyang pinrotektahan. He watch it fall while holding into a hopeless chance of me. Kung ikukumpara noon ako at ang Cretia. May mas tyansa na mailigtas ang Cretia kaysa mabuhay ako. It must have been so hard for him.

I'm so selfish.

"Sorry." I said between my sobs. "I'm sorry, Nicholas."

I'm sorry for stealing who you are.

Naramdaman ko ang muling paghigpit ng yakap niya. Bumaba ang kanyang marahang haplos saaking likod at naramdaman ko ang kanyang baba sa aking ulo.

"Don't say that." He calmly said while comforting me still.

How about my father? I never seen him fall. He's tall and strong, my grandfather told me before that my father will never fall and when an unexpected moment happened that he did, it will create chaos. Because the broken pieces of his wall will hurt everyone. How is he now? How is the greatest man I know coping up with this?

And my mother is a soft one. The Queen maybe powerful but I know her weak spot. She scares me the most when she was determined to protect. She will just focus on that person she wants to protect and forget everyone.  It scares me when she fights and when she gives up. Her heart is vulnerable and I know that she'll most likely to forgot who she should be.

Atticus is a prince and I know that he knows how to use the sword even in the young age. But little brother is still a child. His trainers won't hurt him but in a real fight, he can't protect himself. He's still young to suffer this one. He should be the same young prince running into the hallways of the palace, playing and laughing. The war have stolen the prince's chance to be a child and that hurts me more.

And Cretia, I would die for you again if needed.

"Everything will be fine." Nicholas whispered near my ear. I close my eyes tight.

Kinagat ko ibaba kong labi para magpigil na magsalita.

Nicholas, I don't want to die.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkalas ng yakap ni Nicholas at pagtanggal niya sa pagkakayakap ko sa kanya. I didn't open my eyes but I felt his touch on my cheeks brushing away my tears.

"Open your eyes, princess."

A tear fell from my eyes. Don't let me.

Don't let me be selfish.

"please.."

Naikuyom ko ang aking mga kamay at unti unting binuksan ang aking mga mata. I met his eyes. His brown eyes. Ang pares ng mga matang palagi kong nakikita tuwing magmumulat ako ng mga mata.

Muling umagos ang luha ko.

Ending this will cause my life. Kahit hindi man sinabi saakin ni Luna yon, alam ko sa sarili ko. Battling with Zen is dying one more time. So please, take that eyes away.