Crownless Queen

Chapter 22: Fragile

CHAPTER 22
Fragile

"Congrats," nakangiting sabi ni Raven habang nakaupo sa sahig.

I just nodded and treated my own wounds. I can't avoid closing my eyes every time I feel the sharp pain pulsating on my arms. Ilang beses akong nasuntok at nasipa sa braso kaya nagkaroon iyon ng mga pasa pati sugat.

A month has already passed since I met him, at nandito kami ngayon sa rooftop matapos ang laro.

Hindi na kami bumalik sa lugar kung saan ako sumasali ng underground fights, at sabi ni Raven ay tutulungan niya akong bumalik ang lakas ko. I trained with him secretly at the back of Monarch every night.

Fortunately, it worked. My anger even subdued after he kept on saving for me, which is odd. And now, we won the Land of Imperials, but this time, Raven played the role of the King. We nearly wiped out the whole team in the game, as usual, they are probably being sent to a nearby hospital.

The King and Queen have the biggest role in the game. They secure the flags in order to win the game, but why do we always win? Because we hunt the enemies. We bring them down all together with our capabilities.

We will probably celebrate after I finish treating these stupid wounds. Hindi nakasama si Aquarius sa laro dahil masyado siyang napuruhan no'ng inatake namin ang gang ng mga lalaking pinagtulungan ako sa bar nung nakaraang linggo. I don't want to let those bastards escape after messing with me.

Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko nang agawin niya sa akin ang alcohol at benda sa kamay ko. Napataas ako ng kilay sa kanya pero tinitigan niya lang ako.

Tinabihan niya ako at inangat ang braso kong puro sugat. I kinda messed up earlier, though. Napakunot ang noo ko nang hawakan niya ito at unti-unti kong nakita ang paghilom ng mga sugat ko.

Geez, he probably replicated Elena's ability earlier before leaving the arena. Nanatili lang akong tahimik at pinagmasdan siyang mabuti.

For an unknown reason, every time I look at him, I feel conscious.

He looks tired and exhausted, I wonder if he still rests. Halos araw-araw niya akong hinahatid pauwi gamit ang kanyang motor. He even treated me in a restaurant last week even though I rejected his offer.

But something is bothering me every time I see him in the morning. He always has strange bruises on his body. Kapag tinatanong ko siya kung saan iyon nanggaling, sasabihin lang niya may nakaaway siya.

I'm not that dumb to believe him. Nobody can injure him like that, he is untouchable.

Or maybe it's because of me?

"Raven," I called and he stopped to look at me.

"Yeah?"

"When do you want to keep this thing?" I asked and felt a thorn stuck in my throat. He dropped the bandage that rolled on the floor and looked at me with eyes asking for answers. His brows furrowed in confusion before asking me.

"What do you mean?"

"This dating thing," I said without hesitation, and silence enveloped us. He didn't utter anything, even a single word. He gave me a dazed look of bewilderment when I distanced myself from him. I inhaled sharply with my back facing him.

"I just don't like this anymore, Raven," I said coldly, but a side of me wants to take my words back.

"I can't focus on my gang, and I became weaker when I fought with you."

"I always think that you're playing with me after that day. I am supposed to be feared, but why the hell am I going out with a guy who defeated me?" Tears suddenly coursed down my cheeks, but I suddenly gasped when I felt him pull my arms and hugged my body tight. As if I'm a fragile thing that he wanted to treasure preciously.