My Untamed Princess

Chapter 38: Clarity 2

Two steps, that's the most distance she made away from Will when he suddenly caught her hand.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin dito.

"You're being unfair," umpisa nito sa mababang tinig.

“W-what?”

"You asked me to let you finish talking, so I did. May mga sasabihin din ako. Hindi ka ba makikinig?"

She bit the insides of her cheeks. A part of her wanted to refuse. If this is the last time they’ll be seeing each other, then she needs to listen to whatever he will say.

She withdrew her hand from his hold and turned to him. Making sure that there’s a distance between.

"Talk," mapaklang sabi niya before crossing her arms.

Tumitig ito sa kanya bago napailing maya-maya. Mukhang nainis sa sinabi niya. She just asked him to talk, ano namang nakakainis do’n? She rolled her eyes, annoyed.

He huffed. "'Yan d’yan sa mga irap mo na 'yan, d’yan ‘ata ako nadale" anito, tunog reklamo.

Nalukot na ang mukha niya. What the hell is the jerk saying?

"Makulit ka. Reklamador. Impulsive at matigas ang ulo," dire-diretsong sabi nito.

Napasimangot siya. "Hey, is that all you’re going to say? A-alam ko na lahat 'yan.  You don’t need to remind me. Gusto mo dagdagan ko pa? You surely missed a lot of things,” she replied sarcastically.

Umiling lang ito bago muling nagpatuloy. "I want a prim and proper girl. I like my woman to act with class and behave like her body is an expensive china. I want her loyalty and honesty. And most of all, no matter how old school it may sound, I want my woman to be innocent. I want to be her first and last in everything.  Those are my standards. And, you don't fit in any of those," pahayag nito.

She scoffed. "I know that, Mr. Johnson. We've already established that two years ago, haven’t we?"

Hindi ito sumagot. Humakbang lang palapit sa kanya. Tumigil ito sa mismong harapan niya.  He looked down to her like a king to his subject. And she cannot look away. Again, he is her gravity.

"What kind of a witch are you?" pabulong na tanong nito.

"W-what?"

"You are the exact opposite of what I like in women. But to hell with likes and standards! Because I'm willing to scrap everything on the list and write down everything that's all you, Cassie."

Napakurap siya. "Y-you're confusing me."

His lips curved into half a smile. "And you make me go crazy, Cassandra. Big time."

Her heart began beating loudly in her chest. What did he say? She makes him go crazy?

"I have heard many things about you. Bad things. And it angers me for no reason at all. I hate it when men gets your attention. I hate it when men gets too close to you. I even hate it when they speak about you and the things they did with you. But instead of getting angry at them I get angry at you and then I'll feel like a heel afterwards." He huffed and shook his head. "I always try to give reason to what I feel about you but I can't. And whenever I try to put into words everything I feel, it always comes out wrong. I suck at words, Cassie. I'm sorry."

Tumingala ito at nagbuga ng hininga bago nito muling ibinaba ang tingin sa kanya. She held her breath and looked at him. His face was red as beet. His breathing was rugged. His eyes were confused.

"Let me put it this way, I hate you then I love you. Then I'd hate you again but after that I'd love you again even more. F*ck!"  Umiling ito, napasapo sa ulo bago muling tumingin sa kanya. "That sounds even more confusing. Do you get it?"

Kumurap siya. "N-no."

Muli itong tumitig sa kanya before gently reaching down her face with his hand. "I’m not good with words but know that I love you, Cassie. I love you, so damn much."

She stilled for a while. Her mind cannot grasp the meaning of his words. Magulo. Hindi kapanipaniwala.

"I don't believe you," bulong niya bago siya kumalas mula sa pagkakahawak nito. "Di ba sinabi ko na sa 'yo? I'm gonna give your farm back. You don't need to do this anymore, Will. You don’t need to lead me on!"

"I’m not leading you on. I’m saying the truth!” he replied. He sure looks disappointed.

"Because it’s unbelievable, Will! I am different but I am not special and I know that. No one would ever love or want me in their life. Besides, alam ko rin na mahal mo pa si Kareen--"

"I don't love her!" inis na putol nito sa kanya. "I don't know what you've seen or heard but I can't tell you anything right now." Tumaas ang kamay nito at minasahe ang batok bago muling tumingin sa kanya. "You've got to trust me on this Cassie, please."

“You… you accused me of something I didn’t do.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“You told Kareen, I’m just your responsibility,” her voice trailed off. “That you’d like to with her if I wasn’t in the way.”

Sandali itong tumitig sa kanya, bago marahang umiling. “Cassie, I can’t tell you things about work, baby. Please,” he pleaded.

So, Kareen is just work? Nothing really special between them? But...

His hand reached for her waist, before drawing her closer to him. She instantly became aware of the erratic beating of their hearts. She drunk her senses with his familiar scent and warmth. And she held her breath when his mouth settled just a few inches above hers while her eyes were captured in his.

"If you don't believe in my words, then do me a favor. Just feel," he said just above whisper before claiming her mouth into a fiery kiss.

She's used to getting teasing kisses from him, and one punishing too. But this time it's different. The kiss was enticingly wonderful. 

The kiss brought her world in a slow and steady spin. Like that time was made just for them… to feel. Few seconds more, she was transported to that place of all dreams and hopes. Where a happily ever after with Will was possible.

Nang palalimin ni Will ang halik, hindi na siya nagreklamo. She threw her arms around his neck and opened up her mouth for him… willingly. Will tasted her-- every part, every crevices, and every corner of her sweet mouth. And she did respond in wild abandon—forgiving all sins and forgetting all doubts. For her, the past didn’t matter anymore. What’s important was that moment. That exact moment when she surrendered everything to him.

She loves Will. She knew, it wouldn’t change.

And if it is words that would come in their way, she’ll just let their kisses do the talking for them to express how they really feel.

They were both breathless when the kiss ended. But Will didn’t let her go. His hand tightened on her waist before settling his forehead on hers.

"You surely did cast a spell on me, Cassie. And whatever that spell is, I don't want you to undo it. Let me stay under it. Enslave me. Make me your prisoner.  I'll let my fate be on your hands. If that's the only way to get this close to you and make you believe that I love you."

She sobbed when she heard the words again. This time, she felt its weight. Its sincerity.

"Did I say something wrong?" nag-aalalang tanong nito nang tumulo ang luha niya.

Mabilis siyang umiling. "It's just that... I love you too, Will. I always do.”

Tumitig ito sa kanya sandali bago, "I know, mangku. I know," nakangting sabi nito.

Bahagya siyang natawa. “Conceited aren’t we?”

"A little. I just felt lucky because a beautiful witch loves me. That don’t happen everyday." Kumindat pa ito bago mabilis na kinintalin ng halik ang ulo niya. "C'mon, let's get out of here. Uuwi na tayo para makapag-solo na tayo." Pinagdiinan nito ang salitang solo.

"Hey, you’re not having any pervy thoughts are you?” saway niya rito.

He chuckled. "Baby, I'm not a perv. I'm just..." Tinapik nito ang dibdib nito. "Irresistible," nagmamayabang na dugtong nito.

"You really are hopeless," naiiling na sabi niya.

"And you're a tease. So stop teasing so I'll behave. Unahin mo nang bawas-bawasan yang pag-irap mo. Got it, mangku?" anito marahan pang pinisil ang ilong niya.

"Whatever, kapre.” Inirapan niya ito kunwari bago nagpatiunang lumakad patungo sa sasakyan.

Subalit mabilis siyang hinabol ni Will. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Magkahawak-kamay silang naglakad patungo sa kotse.

Will teased her some more when they were on their way home. But she’s not annoyed. She’s more than thankful. Because the sun she had been looking from afar for so long, is finally now looking back at her.

----

"I can't wait anymore," inis na sambit ng lalaki na nakayuko sa counter ng isang mini bar. He was holding a glass of premium drink in his hand. Sumimsim ito ng alak sa baso bago tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa stool ng mini bar.

The man was tall.  Sa tikas at porma ay halatang alaga sa gym ang katawan nito.  Hinagod nito ng kamay ang kulay kape at maalun-alon nitong buhok bago nito ibinaba sa coffee table ang hawak nitong baso ng alak. Bumaling ito sa nakatatandang lalaking na kasama nito sa silid na prenteng nakaupo sa pang-isahang upuan ng sala set.

Hindi nagkakalayo ang itsura ng dalawang lalaki. Matangos ang kanilang mga ilong at prominente ang hugis ng kanilang mga panga. Sa kulay lang ng mata nagkaka-iba ang dalawa. The younger man had a set of brown eyes, while the older one had gray eyes.

"Patience son, patience," anang mas nakatatandang lalaki.

"Cassie gehort mir, Dad (Cassie is mine, Dad)," said the younger one in between gritted teeth.

"Stand down, Gerald! Or you'll ruin everything," saway ng nakakatatandang lalaki.

Napabuga ng hininga si Gerald bago muling kinuha ang baso ng alak sa mesa at inubos ang laman niyon. He tried to calm his senses.

Kung siya ang masusunod, iba ang plano niya. But he knew, the Echavezes are the key to earn their rightful spot in The Council. Matagal nang wala si Don Gomez, ang lider ng Mexican drug cartel na noon ay nangungunang supplier ng droga sa mundo. When the old don died, bumaling lahat sa Triad bilang pangunahing supplier. The group he and his father belongs.

Isang taon na mahigit nang simulan nila ng kanyang ama ang lihim na pag-eliminate sa mga miyembro ng Triad. At panghuli nga si De Ocampo. Walang naghinala ni isa na sila ang may gawa sa mga pagpatay sa loob ng Triad. They were killing the small bosses, even the big ones. Malinis ang pagkakaplano nila sa lahat. Malaking tulong ang koneksiyon ng Council at mga bayaran nilang tauhan. And now the Triad is crumbling. Soon it will lay down like a dust on their feet. 

Pitong taon din ang binuno nilang mag-ama sa pagpa-plano.  And now they are on the final step.

He turned to his father, Freidrich Martin. May edad na ito pero tuso pa rin.

Tama ito, kailangan niyang magtiis pa.

Ang malakas na tunog ng cellphone ang bumasag sa katahimikan ng silid.

Sinagot iyon agad ng kanyang ama.

"Ready?" tanong nito sa kausap sa kabilang linya. "Good," anito bago nakangising tinapos ang tawag. Nagkatinginan silang mag-ama pagkatapos.

Umpisa na, naisip niya.