Emy was having a nightmare.
Yun ang inabutan ni Sebastian when he entered her room. It was still too early pero hindi niya inaasahan na aabutan niyang natutulog ang dalaga. Probably because of tiredness kaya ganun.
Dali dali niyang nilapitan ang dalaga.
She was still mumbling and her head kept on moving.
Sebastian slightly shook her. Pero hindi nagising ang dalaga.
"Emy..."
"No... don't... not her... Papa..." He tears are starting to flow now.
He reached and wiped it. Hindi niya alam kung paanong gigisingin ang dalaga.
"Uncle... not them, please... no... not him! Don't leave me..."
This time, Sebastian shook Emy harder. Her cries was getting louder and it is getting harder to be heard.
Doon lang nagising ang dalaga. But her face is tear stained. This is the most vulnerable state he had seen the lady. Kahit noong nakidnap siya, hindi siya ganito nasaktan noon.
Emy sat and then placed her face on her palms. She has to stop crying now. She can't be this weak.
"Emy..."
She was shocked. Hindi niya inaasahan na may iba pang tao ang naroroon. She removed her hand on her face saka tumingin sa binata.
Sebastian opened his arms. "Come here."
Maybe it was because of her dreams or because she was still feeling pain in her heart but she willingly went into his arms.
He caressed her hair and kissed her forehead.
"Tell me your dreams."
Emy's tears started to pool over her eyes again. Kaya mabilis lang siyang umiling and placed her head on his shoulder.
Sebastian sighed.
"Sebastian..."
"Hmm?"
"Sebastian..."
"Yes?"
Emy shook her head.
Napangiti si Sebastian.
"Do you wanna go and see Phoenix?"
Mabilis na nag-angat ng paningin niya si Emy and looked at his eyes.
"Can I?" She asked silently.
"Of course."
Tumayo si Sebastian. "Change clothes. I will wait outside of your window."
***
Napahinga na lang ng malalim si Sebastian ng makalabas siya sa kwarto ng dalaga.
Hindi niya natiis na hindi ito puntahan.
He was trying to give Emy more space ngayon na fiancee niya na ito pero hindi niya naisip na posibleng mangyari ang nangyari ngayong araw.
Naikuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao. He won't be easy to those people who want to hurt Emy. Kung kanina nga na pinapanood pa lang niya ito na mag-isang harapin ang mga umaambush sa kanya ay halos gusto na niyang sakalin yung isa sa royal guards niya, what more if the situation was more grave?
Napailing na lang siya.
Sakto namang bumukas ang bintana and Emy appeared there.
He assisted her palabas at saka nagcrouch sa harap niya.
"Hop on."
Emy immediately put her arms on his neck. Just like before.
***
Pagdating nila doon sa animal doctor ay busyng busy ito sa paggamot sa alaga ni Emy.
Halos hindi rin niya ito nakausap.
Phoenix was in sorry state though. Her wounds seemed to have reached a vital spot.
Napahinga na lang ng malalim si Emy and hoped her horse could still get better.
"You really care for her."
"She is a gift from Grandpa Zhang."
Sebastian reached for her hair and caressed it. "You are actually scary, you know. You cared too much and yet, you have this brutal tendency towards your enemies."
"They deserved it." Naikuyom pa ng dalaga ang kamay niya.
He grasped her hands.
"Next time, don't stop me from helping you. I am not marrying you to be defended by you. I want us to be partners, that's why."
Nabigla ang dalaga dahil sa sinabi ni Sebastian. Saka siya tumango. She understood it. He must be mad kanina dahil sa ginawa niya.
"I couldn't help it a while ago. Kung kay Phoenix nga lang nagkakaganito na ako, what more if you would get hurt too?"
Sebastian was speechless.
Hindi niya alam kung anong iisipin dahil sa sinabi ng dalaga. But he felt warm inside.
He wrapped his arms on her shoulder and pulled her closer.
"You are too vulnerable right now. I know that. Pero hinay hinay ka lang sa mga salita mo. I might end up kissing you here."
Nanlaki ang mata ng dalaga saka naitulak palayo sa kanya si Sebastian. He just laughed.
Well, at least she is better now.
***