My Untamed Princess

Chapter 40: Breathe 2

"What took you so long?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Cassie kay Will bago pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan nito. Agad siyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa kama. Nakapagpalit na ito ng damit at halatang bagong-ligo. "Where have you been?"

Ngumisi ito. "A nagging princess, eh. I kinda' like it," sagot nito.

Nalukot ang mukha niya. "I'm not nagging, I'm asking you where have you been? You've been gone for like... almost an hour.”

Ngumisi ito bago lumapit sa kanya, snaking his arms around her.

"Stop grinning, Kapre! It's annoying! " she hissed and rolled her eyes.

Natawa lang ito bago ibinuro ang mukha nito sa kanyang leeg. He peppered her neck with kisses.

"Ito namang mangkukulam ko ang daling magtampo. Nanggaling lang ako sa penthouse. I cleaned a little. Makalat kasi. Doon na rin ako naligo," paliwanag nito, ikiniskis ang ilong sa pisngi niya.

Sandali siyang kumalas dito. "Wait, you own the penthouse too?" 

Tumango ito. "And all my other friends have access to it. This unit right here is my personal space at tayong dalawa lang ang nakakaalam nito.”

She smiled.

“What?” kunot-noong tanong nito.

Marahan siyang umiling. She reached for his face. “I’m just happy you’re sharing secrets with me now.”

Ngumiti ito, planting a chaste kiss in her lips. “Of course I would. You’re my woman now. To whom will I share my secrets but you."

She blushed. She felt her heart jumped in her throat.

“You’re blushing. Kilig ka, mangku?” nakangising tanong nito.

She rolled her eyes. “H-hindi kaya. Ano lang...I’m just hungry.”

Mabilis itong bumitiw sa kanya, sinapo ang ulo. “Oh yeah, we haven’t had dinner yet. Are you really hungry?”

“Kind of,” she said, biting her lower lip.

He stared at her for a while. “Hey, stop doing that.”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Doing what?”

“Biting your lower lip in front of me. You have no idea aren’t you?” Umiling siya. Nagbuga naman ito ng hininga. “Well my sweet little torture machine, when you bite your lip, it makes me want to kiss you. And when I kiss you, we both know we can’t stop. And when we can’t stop—“

“But I thought you want to bang me senseless until I beg, Mr. Johnson,” putol niya rito, biting her lower lip once more.

“Hey, I said stop,” reklamo nito bago hinilot ang sentido.

She chuckled and hugged him. She’s enjoying torturing him.

He stilled for a moment, sighed and held her. “H’wag ka munang mang-akit, Mangku. Magpapaalam pa tayo sa Daddy mo.”

Tiningala niya ito. "Y-you'll do that?"

He reached for her face,  "Yeah.  It's the right thing to do. I don't want him to think that I took advantage of you because you are under my care. Gusto ko alam niya na malinis ang intensiyon ko sa 'yo. Gusto ko alam niya na iba ako sa mga lalaking nakakahalubilo mo. I want him to know how much I love his princess and that I'd be willing to do anything just to make her happy."

Natigilan siya. His words warmed her heart. She felt she's too happy, she could burst! But despite of that, natatakot din siya na masyado siyang masaya at baka hindi rin iyon magtagal. Her life has always been filled with those fleeting happiness and it ended up breaking her more.

She shook the unwanted thoughts secretly.

Hindi siya iiwan ni Will. That she’s sure of.

He had seen her worst and yet he loved her still.

"Why do you love me?" bulong niya. "I can't even love myself Will, and yet, you said you love me," malungkot na dugtong niya.

He stilled and looke at her for a while. “Do I need to have a reason for loving you?”

She blinked. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

He reached for her face and gave her a peck on her lips. “You’re just probably hungry. Let’s go,” anito bago hinawakan ang kamay niya at marahan siyang hinila palabas ng kuwarto nito.

“Where are we going?” tanong niya habang pababa sila ng hagdan.

“Somewhere,” tipid na sagot nito.

She didn’t ask again. Nagpatianod na lang siya rito.

----

When Will told Cassie that they’re going somewhere, she thought they’d be going out. Na-conscious pa naman siya dahil maluwang na lounge pants at t-shirt lang ni Will ang suot niya. But when they were already inside the lift and Will pressed the button where the penthouse is, she began to relax.

Will’s penthouse was big and spacious.  Gaya ng unit nito puti, itim at stainless steel ang nangingibabaw na kulay sa kabuohan niyon. Halatang lalaki ang may-ari. Black leather ang sofa at iba pang furnitures, puti naman ang throwpillows at ang carpet sa sala, and the flooring was made of hardwood. Open space ang pagkaka-design ng penthouse na lalo pang naging maluwang ang itsura dahil napapalibutan iyon ng makakapal na glass walls. Sa gitna ng penthouse ay naroon ang wine display. And by that, she meant hundreds of expensive wine collection enclosed in a glass room with controlled temperature, complete with all security alarms.

She wanted to admire the collection but it's missing something, the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992, the most expensive bottle of wine in the world. It costs half a million dollars per bottle, and her Dad owned not just one bottle but two.

Cassie heaved a deep sigh as she stared the pizza box infront of her. She just two slices of those.

“Why? Ayaw mo na?” tanong ni Will sa kanya, salubong ang kilay.

Nakaupo silang dalawa sa kitchen island, magkaharap sa isa’t-isa at kinakain ang in-order ni Will na pizza.

Ngumuso siya. “Gusto,” sagot niya, tunog reklamo.

Lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. “You don’t look like it.”

She rolled her eyes in frustration. "Why am I having milk but yours is beer?" she whined, habang inaabot ang baso ng gatas na tinimpla ni Will para sa kanya.

Will chuckled. "Because I don’t want you drunk.”

“I won’t get drunk. One bottle won’t make me drunk.”

Nakangiti itong umiling. “Still no. You’re a tease and I won’t take chances. Besides, you need to sleep after we eat.  So c'mon, drink up, princess," susog pa nito sa kanya, tumungga sa bote ng alak.

She stared at the glass of milk in front of her. She was never a milk drinker. Madalas pa nga nilang pag-ayawan iyon ng Mommy niya noong bata pa siya. Tapos ang kapre, bigla-bigla na lang siyang papainumin no’n.

She wanted to complain. But she knew, hindi siya kailan man mananalo kay Will. Ang akala niya matatapos na ang ang pagiging guardian-ward relationship nila nang magka-aminan sila kanina ng nararamdaman. 'Yon pala label lang ang nagbago sa kanila. He still bosses her around.

Lukot ang mukhang dinala niya ang baso sa kanyang bibig bago siya sumimsim ng kaunting gatas. She cringed as the taste of milk filled her mouth.

Gusto niyang magmaktol.

Binaba niya sa counter top ang baso ng gatas bago tinitigan iyon na parang nakikipagtuos. Bumaling siya kay Will. He looked at her while drinking from his beer bottle, as if waiting for her to finish the task. Napairap siya bago muling bumaling sa baso ng gatas na nasa harapan niya. She knew he'd bugged her until she finished drinking the milk upto the very last drop!

Huminga siya ng malalim bago pinisil ang ilong niya at inilang lagok ang gatas.

"Done! Easy peasy," she declared  habang ibinababa ang baso sa counter top. She shook her head as if trying to dismiss the aftertaste if milk in her mouth.

He chuckled and gently wiped with his thumb the traces of milk from the sides of her lips.

"White mustache looks good on you. Bagay pala sa 'yong maging Santa Clause," pang-aasar nito.

Lalong nanghaba ang nguso niya. Umirap siya at mabilis na pinunasan ang bibig niya gamit ang sariling mga kamay bago siya bumaba sa stool at binagtas ang daan patungo sa malawak na veranda ng penthouse.

She instantly found relief from the cool breeze in the veranda. Idagdag pa na tumatama ang hangin sa malamig na tubig ng infinity pool. She'd definitely try the pool in the morning, naisip niya.

She looked up and smiled. It's her kind of a night sky, peaceful and full of stars.

She walked towards the hammock made of rattan near the pool and sat there as she continued to watch the stars.

"Want some company?” ani Will sa kanya maya-maya.

She smiled and scooted herself. Isiniksik naman ni Will ang bulto nito sa espasyo sa tabi niya bago nito ipinaikot ang mga bisig sa kanya at hinila siya pahiga. She automatically rested her head on his arm. He even planted a soft kiss on her hair.

"Comfy?" tanong nito.

"Yes," tipid na sagot niya bago muling ibinalik ang mga mata sa kalangitan. "Do you like watching the stars?"

"Sometimes, when I have time," sagot nito bago nagbuga ng hininga.

Katahimikan.

"Will?" alanganing tawag niya rito mayamaya.

"Hm?"

"C-can i ask you something?"

"What?"

"Hindi ka magagalit?"

"Depends."

She cleared her throat and asked, "Why...why don't you want to go home?"

He chuckled. "Getting to know each other stage, eh."

"It's okay if you don't like to--"

"It's because of my Dad. He controls pretty much everything about me. I felt like I was living a life of a different person, a person he created in me. I got tired, I walked away and made my own choices for myself."

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. How weird it is that both of them have father issues.

"Sinabi ni Chelsea 'yong tungkol sa k-kapatid--"

"Yes. Clark killed himself because he can't stand the pressure from our father. He was finishing his pre-law degree when he died. I always blamed Nick Johnson for the death of my brother. It was his fault.” Binalingan niya ito. Nakatingin ito sa langit subalit umiigting ang panga nito. Bahagya ring humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanya. "That's when I realized that I needed to do things on my own because if I won't, I'd end up like Clark. I left home and asked Kareen to marry me. But, old Nick heard the news and made his money work so that Kareen would leave me."

She gasped. "S-she was p-paid to leave you?" 

 Bumaling ito sa kanya. "Yes."

Napakunot-noo na siya, naguluhan. "B-but... Look, I heard you talked and she said she still loves you--"

"Her feelings are not my business anymore, princess. Don't think too much about her. It's you that I love, okay?" Mabilis nitong sagot bago masuyong hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi.

 She felt her heart race with his gesture. His words were warming her heart, making her soul sing.

Mahina siyang tumango bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa langit.  

"Ikaw? Why do you hate your father so much?" balik-tanong nito sa kanya.

She didn’t answer right away. She looked at the stars and how beautiful they looked against the night sky.

Noong bata pa siya at buhay pa ang Mommy niya, pinagmamasdan din nila ang mga bituin sa langit. Her Dad, whenever he had time,  would tell her about the constellations and the Polaris. She could listen to his stories about the Greek gods and goddesses, the stars that faithfully lit up the sky every night, and the adventures known and unknown to literature, even if it takes the whole night for him to finish or until her eyes permits. He Dad loved her, she felt it. But when her mother died...

"He changed. My Dad changed," bulong niya bago marahang nagbuga ng hininga. "After my mother died, he changed so much that I felt like I lost my Dad together with my Mom and... I was left alone to people who..."

She stopped. Pain filled her chest. She suddenly find it hard to breath. She took a lungful of air before heaving a deep sigh. 

"Your father loves you, Cassie," ani Will holding her closer to him.

Bumaling siya dito. His lips were curved into half a smile.

"I know," tipid niyang sabi. But maybe his love is not enough to save me, gusto niya sanang idugtong pero nagpigil siya. "Your Dad probably loves you too," komento na lang niya.

He chuckled and gently shook his head. "Yeah, a little too much."

Marami pa silang pinag-usapan na dalawa. Mostly basic slumbook questions. Nagbatuhan lang sila ng tanong at malugod naman nila iyong sinagot isa-isa.

Funny how they've kissed countless times yet they don't know the basics about each other. Well, all couples are a work in progress and they are no exemption.

Maya-maya pa ay bumaling siya ulit kay Will. Seryoso na ang mukha nitong nakatingin sa mga bituin sa langit. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at tuluyan na siyang tumagilid paharap dito.

"Why do you love me, Will?" pabulong na tanong niya.

Bumaling ito sa kanya, sandaling tumitig bago nito unti-unting ibinaba ang mga labi nito sa kanya. The kiss was brief, yet full of warmth. "I love the taste of your lips, it's addicting.” He smiled and gave her another peck on the lips. "I also love the way your eyes roll at me whenever I say something that annoys you, which is pretty much everything!" Natatawang dugtong nito. Napangiti rin siya. "I also love the way you laugh, the way you frown, and the way your eyes turns into slits whenever you're angry. You're like a raging goddess in anger, baby,"  dagdag nito bago muling sinakop ng labi nito ang mga labi niya.

That time, the kiss lingered, it sought and sent her into a fever pitch. She was reeling when she responded to his delicious kisses-- enough to make her weak and be lost under his fiery invasion of her mouth.

She's helpless against his kisses and caress. She felt like melting against his touch. But she can't, no, she wont. She wanted to feel more of his lips on hers. She's ready to do more with him. Even surrender her all to him once again.

But when she was almost ready to surrender, Will hesistantly ended the kiss. He settled his forehead on hers as both of them gasped for air.

"Breathe, baby. Breathe," pabulong na utos nito, nakangiti, bago sinapo ang magkabilang pisngi niya. She closed her eyes as she catch her breath with him.

Bahagya siyang binitiwan nito. "I want you to listen and remember everything I'll tell you today, Cassandra," bulong ni Will sa kanya, maya-maya.

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Nakangiti ito, maaliwalas ang mukha habang nakatitig sa kanya.

"I love the way you look at me, you made me feel like I'm the most perfect jerk you've ever seen. I love how beautiful you are in almost everything that you do. I love you because you make my heart flutter whenever I look at you. I love you because you've tried so hard to do everything I tell you even if you really wanted to wring my neck or even throw me out of the window.” She chuckled on that.

“I love you because you love the people I cared for and took care of them while I was away. I love you because you never complained when I gave you just a little even if you were used to have more. I love you because you made me go crazy earning for your forgiveness when I angered you. I love you because you stayed with me even if you have all the reasons to go away. I love you because you ruined all my plans and helped me rewrite a new one that includes all of you. I love you because you made me break the rules. I love you because with you, I can lose all control and yet it still feels good. I love you because... you waited for me to say that you are the woman that I love most."

Kung kailan siya lumuha ay hindi na niya alam. Basta ang alam niya masuyong pinapalis ni Will ang luha sa kanyang mga pisngi habang patuloy siya sa paghikbi.

His words burned in her memory. Tuluyan nang nalunod ang puso niya sa sobra-sobrang pagmamahal at labis na kaligayahan. He spoke of his love for her and it made her love him more.

"And if even if all the world ran out of reasons why I love you..." He smiled and gently cupped her face. "I'd still love you even then, Cassie, my untamed princess."

He sealed his promise of love for her with a long endearing kiss.

 Cassie, for the first time in many years, tasted happiness. Happiness she'd never thought she'd feel again after all she went through for the past years.

And at that moment, she realized, Will was air. The air she'd only breathe for the rest of her life.

That night, they slept in each other's arms.