"Don't be blinded by beauty..."
AVERY
Liana is beautiful like a red rose but I'm sure with thorns. O nagiging mapanghusga lang talaga ako? I don't know. I should not care on their private lives but I have a bad feeling, not just with Liana, but with this whole kingdom. The magic didn't disappear like they pretended to imagine. I could feel it. The whole set up on this kingdom was intriguing.
Nakalapit na si Zirrius kay Liana. "You came," wika niya sa paos na tinig. I could feel how happy he was. Kung hindi dumating si Liana, tiyak na hindi ko siya titigilan sa pang-aasar ko. Tumungo si Liana. "That doesn't mean that we're in good terms now," she said with a frown.
Zirrius nodded with understanding. He slightly smiled. "At least, you came," he said. He offered the red rose to Liana. If only I could sigh, I would. This whole scene was sickening. Kung pwede lang umalis nang ilang oras sa loob ng katawan ni Zirrius, gagawin ko. I noticed how Liana's face flushed in red. Maybe girls are just like that. They know, they want the guy too but they can't give in easily because of their prides. I understand her. Kung ako ang nasa katayuan niya, baka pinahirapan ko pa si Zirrius. Baka pinasayaw ko pa siya nang nakahubad sa harapan ko. I grinned with the thought. Pero dahil nasa loob ako ng katawan niya ngayon, hindi na iyon kailangan. Parang gusto kong tumawa dahil sa naiisip ko pero ayokong guluhin ang drama nina Zirrius at Liana.
Tinanggap ni Liana ang rosas. Hindi niya napagilan ang pasimpleng pag-amoy sa rosas. Well, no one could resist the rose and maybe Zirrius' charms too.
Zirrius waited. He doesn't want to ruin the moment although I could feel that he missed Liana so much. He wanted to touch her face but he stopped himself. Ayaw niyang magalit si Liana sa kanya. I'm surprised on how considerate he is. He's a gentleman now. Pero kapag kaming dalawa, hindi na siya gentleman. Siguro dahil kaluluwa ako at wala akong katawan na pwedeng umakit sa kanya. If I have a body of a girl, will he be gentle? I wonder. At sino kaya ang mas magugustuhan niya? Ako o si Liana? Maybe Liana. Mas bagay sila. Liana is a human while I'm an elf.
Silence. There's a long silence that's almost deafening. Sayang ang magandang gabi kung walang magsasalita. Zirrius sighed heavily and decided to speak. "Liana, I'm sorry," mahinang saad niya. Natigilan si Liana.
"Oh, Zirrius. That's the last phrase a woman would want to hear from a man on the start of their conversation," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Sumingit na 'ko.
"And what should I say first?" naiinis na tanong sa 'kin ni Zirrius.
"That you love her? With your apology, you're surely opening a wound that's almost in the process of healing. Mas lalo lang siyang magmamatigas," I answered. Actually, I'm not an expert but If I was the girl, I don't want hear apologies first. Magulo. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko.
"I love you, Liana," natatarantang saad ni Zirrius. He bought the things I said. Natawa ako nang malakas. Damn! Ang dali niyang utuin! Siguro sobrang natatakot lang talaga siyang mawala sa kanya si Liana. What a lucky red rose. Zirrius face was red. The rush of blood on his veins feels good. He's panicking inside. Natatakot siyang magalit si Liana sa kanya. I really can't understand this man. Maraming babae sa kaharian niya at tiyak na maraming magagandang babae na humahabol sa kanya.
"Damn! You're playing with me right?" naiinis na tanong ni Zirrius. He secretly frowned and promised to himself that he will not listen to me anymore.
"He-he... Ang dali mong utuin," mahinang saad ko. He sighed to control his anger.
Tiningnan siya ni Liana at ngumiti ito sa kanya. Tila gusto niyang tumawa dahil sa pagkataranta sa boses ni Zirrius. She absolutely noticed how cute he was with his flushed face. My soul frowned.
"Thanks for the rose," she said with a smile. Naglakad na si Liana patungo sa bench. Nag-aalangan si Zirrius kung hahawakan ba niya si Liana. He wasn't sure if she already forgive him.
"Akbayan mo na!" natatawang kantiyaw ko kay Zirrius.
"Shut your soul up! Kapag nagsasalita ka, napapahamak ako," naiinis na saad niya. Tumawa lang ako. I already told him that trouble will always knock on his door and he can never escape. Mukhang nakalimutan na niya. Sumunod siya kay Liana. Umupo si Liana sa bench. Tumingala siya kay Zirrius.
"May balak ka bang magpaliwanag?" seryosong tanong ni Liana sa kanya. "Hindi ko maintindihan. Bakit sinabi mo na hindi ako ang kausap mo gayong tayo lang dalawa ang nasa loob ng silid mo? May itinatago ka ba sa 'kin?" nagdududang tanong ni Liana sa kanya.
"I..." nag-aalangang wika ni Zirrius. Hindi niya alam kung paano ipapaliwanag ang lahat kay Liana.
"Don't dare tell her that someone's soul is inside your body. Tiyak na iisipin niyang nababaliw ka na o kaya sinasapian ka ng demonyo," natatawang saad ko sa kanya. "Hindi siya maniniwala. Ikaw lang ang magmumukhang baliw."
Zirrius sighed heavily. He said what he could only think best. "That day, I was just distracted. Maraming problema na kinakaharap ang kaharian. I was distracted with those problems. They're invading my mind. Sometimes, I just want to kill the things inside my head," he said. Pero ramdam ko na ako ang tinutukoy niya. Malakas akong tumawa.
"You want to kill me? Sure! Just put your hands on your neck. Diinan mo ang pagsakal para pareho na tayong matuluyan," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya.
He frowned. "You're annoying. Wala bang araw na hindi ka tatahimik?" naiinis na saad niya.
"Dapat masanay ka na dahil magtatagal pa ako sa loob ng sistema mo. But I hope this will not take us forever," I said with a giggle. He sighed.
"I'm really sorry, Liana. You know I really want you. I really love you. But... Maybe it's better to..." he said. Hindi niya mahanap ang tamang salita na maaaring gamitin.
"What?" naguguluhang tanong ni Liana pero alam kong may ideya na siya sa gustong sabihin ni Zirrius.
"Kapag nalaman ni Lord Kelvin ang relasyon natin, hindi siya matutuwa," mahinang sagot ni Zirrius.
"Do you want to end this relationship now?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Liana kay Zirrius.
"No! Of course not! I told you, I love you! I want to be with you! But we can't do the things beyond our limits. I respect you so I don't want to... Shit! Fuck!" he said. Hirap na hirap siyang ipaliwanag kay Liana ang lahat.
"You don't have to use safe words. Just say it. You're already doing it with her so... she's not innocent anymore," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya.
"So you don't want to make love with me?" she asked. Her voice was too seductive. I'm sure she was teasing Zirrius. "Can you really do that?" naghahamong tanong ni Liana kay Zirrius. Malakas akong tumawa. What a bitch you are, Red Rose?
"Oh Zirrius baby. I'm sure, you can. Hanggang nandito ang konsensiya mo, kayang-kaya mo siyang tiisin. Huwag kang mahuhulog sa pang-aakit niya," seryosong saad ko. Zirrius silently hissed and cursed. Kapag hindi na talaga kaya ni Zirrius, wala na akong magagawa kundi ang saniban siya para pigilan silang dalawa. Baka masabunutan ko pa si Liana. Natatawa ako sa itsura ni Zirrius habang sinasabunutan si Liana. Magmumukha siyang bakla. I'm sure, Zirrius will be totally angry when he managed to get his body back.
"Please don't tease me, Liana. I'm trying my best to control myself and the beast inside my body," makahulugang saad niya. I'm not sure if the beast he's talking about is me? Or his inner beast? That's a double meaning. Hindi ko tuloy matukoy kung alin sa dalawa. "We're still in a relationship. We can occasionally kiss each other. Hold hands. Hug each other," he added with hesitation.
"What a good lover you are," natatawang saad ko. Gusto ko lang siyang asarin. I find him cute though. He was really trying hard to suppress his inner beast. I'm not sure if he's doing it for me or for Liana. Maybe he really doesn't want to have an audience on their wild nights.
Liana sighed. "Whatever you say. Fine," she said while she rolled her eyes. "Babalik na ako sa silid ko," she said. Tumayo na siya. She already covered her head with the hood. It was covering her face too.
"Liana..." Zirrius said and pleaded. Hindi niya alam kung ayos lang ba kay Liana ang set up nila. Bahagya siyang lumapit kay Liana. Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili. He cupped her face gently.
"Galit ka pa ba? This is for the best. Mahirap na rin kasi kapag nahuli tayo ng ama mo," he said.
"Are you afraid of him?" naiinis na tanong ni Liana.
"You know, I'm not. But he's still your father. As much as possible, I want him to accept me. Kung pwede nga lang kitang ilayo rito, ginawa ko na pero may mga bagay akong hindi pwedeng iwan," malungkot na saad niya. And one of those things is his responsibility for this kingdom. He doesn't want to abandon his people unlike me. I abandoned my people. I was really nothing compared to this man. I'm a coward.
Liana sighed again. "I understand," she whispered.
"But you're still angry," mahinang saad ni Zirrius at bahagya siyang ngumiti. He kissed Liana on her forehead. "I love you. My feelings for you will never change."
"Huwag kang magsalita nang tapos Zirrius. You will never know if she's really the one for you or not," seryosong saad ko. I don't know why I'm against on his last statement. Feelings change. It's not forever.
"Why can't you just let me have peace of mind at least once?" he asked me.
"Okay. Tatahimik na ako," natatawang saad ko. "You want a piece? I'll give you one neuron of your brain." Pinigilan ni Zirrius ang mapailing pero pansamantalang nanahimik na ako. I know what he was thinking. He wanted to kiss Liana. I will let him for now.
"I can't help it. I feel like I'm being dump," naiinis na saad ni Liana. Zirrius chuckled. "You know, you're not," he said sweetly. In one swift move, he kissed her sweetly and passionately. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ito nasisikmura. Mabuti na lang talaga, wala akong sikmura. At least, I will not puke with disgust. Liana kissed back and that's the end of me. Mabuti na lang at hindi ganu'n katagal ang halik na 'yon.
Nagawa ni Zirrius na ihatid si Liana sa silid nito. Bumalik na siya sa silid niya. He started to remove his clothes. Hindi talaga siya naiilang sa presensiya ko. At least, this was a better show. Napansin ko sa salamin ang kanang braso niya. Alam kong nananakit pa rin ang katawan niya kaya minsan ay mariing pinipisil niya ang likod at braso niya.
"Zirrius?" I asked with curiosity.
"Hmmm?" he asked. Nakakunot-noo siya.
"What's that mark on your arm?" takang tanong ko sa kanya. The mark is shaped like a hexagonal star. It was small and made of gold. Almost unnoticeable. May mga salitang nakasulat sa bawat linya nito. It was an ancient language.
"A birthmark. I already have the mark when I was born," he answered. Humiga na siya sa kama niya. "Why did you ask?" takang tanong niya.
"Nothing. Kakaiba lang," mahinang sagot ko. "Matulog ka na. Goodnight," dagdag ko. Ipinikit na niya ang mga mata niya. "Goodnight, Trouble," he said with a smile. Ipinikit na niya ang mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya masaya. Siguro dahil nagkaayos na sila ni Liana.
But the birthmark still lingers on my thoughts. I know it's not really a birthmark. It's a seal written on an elven language. It was an ancient language of the elves. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano ito babasahin dahil hindi ito masyadong naituro sa 'kin ng ina ko bago siya yumao. I can only read few. But I'm sure it's not a seal to contain magic. It was different from the seals I already seen. What's that seal for? And why was an elven language carved on his body? Damn! I want to know more but where should I start? Masyadong maraming misteryo ang bumabalot sa kahariang ito.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
Wahaha. May update na! What do you think about the birthmark? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for the votes, comments and reads. Take care and God bless...
I really remembered Soul Bound on this song "I Miss You".
"Hello there,
The angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally,
If we want"