My Untamed Princess

Chapter 32: In A Heartbeat 2

Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Will si Cassie habang natutulog ito sa sarili niyang hospital suite. He sneaked her inside his suite after he had rescued her from the storm a few hours ago. Kung siya ang masusunod, papalipasin nila ang gabi sa ibang lugar, ang kaso nag-aalala siya rito. She's feverish and very exhausted. Kaya, minabuti na lang niyang bumalik silang dalawa sa ospital so she can be checked. He would've got her her own room, pero dahil pasyente rin siya, mas magandang sa iisang kwarto na lang sila. She was wet and almost freezing to death when he found her. But the doctor already checked her and she said that she was fine and just needed a little rest.

Bumuntong hininga siya.

Nang itawag ni Ella kanina na may araw pa nang umalis si Cassie at hindi pa bumabalik sa tenement kahit lampas alas otso na ng gabi, it dawned on him that Cassie really didn't leave the compound. Quite the opposite of what he initially thought. Kaya naman wala siyang sinayang na oras at nagmadali niya itong hinanap kahit pa nakipagpatintero siya kay Matt sa parking lot para lang makalabas ng ospital.

He had been into high end clubs and bars but she wasn't there. He also called the Echavez's mansion. But they told them that she hasn't been home for more than a month now. He was on the verge of alerting the bosses of PNP to have a manhunt search for the princess should he hadn't received a txt message from Ella stating that Cassie was at White Oaks Gardens.

He braved the rain and the storm just to get to the place as fast as he could. But the circumstances didn’t allow him to that easlily.  Sinubukan din niyang tawagan ang number ng phone na sinabi ni Ella na gamit nito, but his calls won’t go through. Ilang beses niyang namura ang traffic. Ilang beses din siyang nag-iba ng ruta dahil baha. Hindi rin nakatulong ang kaba na hindi siya nilubayan mula nang makaalis siya sa ospital.

It was torture. 

But after spending a whole hour of cursing in between praying to all the gods he knew, holy and unholy, he finally reached his destination- the White Oaks Gardens which was located to the far eastern side of the metro. It was a very private place, inaccessible to the common public. Why the princess went there, still beats him. But all questions were instantly forgotten when he finally saw her squeezed in the corner of a small shed near the cemetery.

He hadn't found instant relief when he saw her. Instead, his heart went into a sudden overdrive, like a slow yet steady rush of something inexplicably beautiful and wonderful. Then, that's when everything became more confusing. 

He kissed her.  She kissed back. His emotions went haywire and now she's on his hospital bed, sleeping.

He quickly ran his fingers on his hair before heaving a deep sigh. Not that they haven't kissed before but... there's something with the kiss they've shared that made him feel something he hadn't felt before. Like he suddenly felt all mushy inside that made him want to kiss and embrace her some more.

Dammit! He sounded so gay!

Tumayo na siya mula sa sofa at nilapitan si Cassie. Maingat siyang umupo sa gilid ng kama at tahimik itong pinagmasdan.Though his mind is filled with confusion, staring at her beautiful face as she sleeps, gave him a sense of peace. Like he could surely stay at that moment forever just staying staring at natitiyak niyang hindi siya magsasawa.

Maya-maya pa, gumalaw ito bago nagmulat ito ng mga mata.

"Hey you should sleep too," anito sa paos na tinig. She scooted to give some space for him on the bed. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi isiksik ang sarili sa kama.

Ilang sandali  silang natahimik. They just both silently stared at the ceiling, as if it was a sin for them to talk. 

The rain had stopped, but the storm inside him kept raging. And his heart kept racing as if trying to escape from that unknown force that is chasing after him. 

Moments later, Cassie finally broke the silence and sweetly asked, "You've been in the hospital all this time?"

Her voice was so soft, almost heavenly, like an angel humming a lullaby.

He nodded in response.

Bumaling siya rito. Nakatagilid na itong nakaharap sa kanya. The faint light from the night lamp highlights the soft hues of her brown eyes crowned with her long lashes. Her sweet mouth were just inches away from his, he could almost taste her sweet breath. Her skin glowed under the faint light, like that of a golden sculpture from the lost grandeur of an ancient empire.  Should he be an artist, he'll make her immortal on his very own masterpiece. But he doubts if the oil and canvass could capture her real beauty. Nothing beats the sight of her beside him so soft, so warm and full of life.

She was so beautiful.

"Were you shot?" alanganing tanong nito.

"Yeah," he quickly answered, dismissing the confusion in his head.

Suminghap ito. She propped up her arm to lift her body a little as she quickly surveyed him. Her eyes settled on the gauze-covered wound on his left arm.

Lumunok ito bago kumurap-kurap, bahagyang namutla.

"It's not fatal. No need to worry," maagap niyang paliwanag.

Tinitigan siya nito bago bumuntong-hininga, muling nahiga sa tabi niya. 

"Will," masuyong tawag nito maya-maya.

"Yeah?"

"What do you really do?"

"You mean my job?"

"Yes."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. It wasn't the first time that she asked him a question about his personal life. As if she doesn't really know him. Their parents were friends. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon siguro magsisinungaling siya, he loved his privacy. Kaya nga siya naiinis dito noon dahil sinundan siya nito hanggang sa Palawan at binulabog siya doon ng ilang linggo? But her presence beside him now, is making him unable to think straight, lest lie.

"I protect people,” sabi niya. Mabilis ang naging pagbaling nito sa kanya.

"You mean like... a cop?"

"Sort of."

"Like your friends too?"

He nodded.

Cassie knew about his friends. She was with him in Palawan when their team, lead by Carlo, planned a counter-attack for the group of the Mexican drug cartel headed by Don Gomez. She even insisted of going with him but he just opted to drug her to sleep. He still regrets that until now. But at that time, it was the best thing to do--to keep her safe.

He can't go to a war and worry over her safety at the same time. Because should he choose between a battle and Cassie's safety, he'll choose Cassie without a blink.

He was stunned as the realization set in. He silently cursed himself. Ayan na naman ang kagaguhan ng utak at damdamin niya. Nanlilito. Nang-iinis. Nang-gugulo.

"Have you... have you ever killed someone... yet?" alanganging tanong nito maya-maya.

"Will you be afraid of me if say yes?"

Hindi ito agad sumagot, tumitig lang sa kanya.

Bigla tuloy siyang nag-alala. Amongst his friends, he was different. He had been in real battle grounds as a soldier prior to his service with The Organization. His idea of violence ranged from adult terrorists wrecking havoc on a normal street to children being used as suicide bombers to kill innocent people on a market place. His job was to prevent those from happening. And he'd kill them without blinking, convincing himself that it was better to kill one to protect many innocent lives that could've been lost.

But still, that doesn't justify the fact, that he had killed people. Sometimes, the nightmares come at night. Maybe it was his conscience talking. But he just have to deal with it...for the rest of his life. 

“Will?” untag nito sa kanya maya-maya.

"Yes. I have killed people. Don't ask how many, I have lost count."

Napakurap-kurap ito, pilit na ngumiti pagkatapos.

"Hindi pala kita dapat ginagalit, ‘no?"

He chuckled. "Now you know. So, you better behave."

 Ngunitian lang siya ng prinsesa pero lalong kumabog ang dibdib niya.

Dammit! Maybe he needs to get his heart checked.

“Will, hindi pala ako umuwi kasi...kasi..."

"I'm glad you didn't go home," putol niya rito.

"You are?" anito, pabulong.

Tumango siya.

"Siyempre, hindi na ako mahihirapan na isauli ang kwintas mo," pabirong sagot niya. Sumimangot ito, umirap din. Lalo siyang napangiti. "And it felt good that there's someone waiting for me to come home," dugtong niya.

For a while she just stared at him. Until…

"I will always wait for you, Will. Even if you tell me not to. I'll still wait for you," she said softly.

A sudden lump was formed on his throat. Cassie could really made him feel things he hadn't felt before.

His chest was filled again with that feeling, a feeling that captures, an emotion that engulfs. And the bad thing was, the feeling lingers, owning all of him. And resisting it was futile, like he had no choice but surrender. Call it magic, a spell or any form of sorcery. But he's sure.... He was enslaved- taken by the beautiful witch named Cassandra Echavez.

Dammit! His in a real deep s**t!

-----

Will hadn't been this close to her. And Cassie is more than happy that finally, he opened up a little about himself.

The things he knew about him were all because of her efforts to ask people surrounding him. Noon, everytime she asks him personal questions, he'd usually just shrugged it off. But this time, it was different. Pinaunlakan nito ang pagtatanong niya.

"Nakakapag-usap pala tayo na di nag-aaway, ‘no?" komento niya maya-maya.

"You bet. Mataray ka lang kasi," anito, bahagyang ngumiti. "Not to mention, makulit ka."

She rolled her eyes. "So, I'm annoying?" 

"Ngayon? Hindi. But most of the time you are."

Sumimangot na siya.

Kapre pa rin talaga! 

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti nito sa ginawa niya.

"Na-miss ko ‘yang pag-irap mo. Irap ka nga ulit," pabirong sabi nito.

Lalo siyang napasimangot bago nagmamaktol na tinalikuran ang kausap.

He heard him chuckled. Marahan nitong hinaplos ang buhok niya.

"Uy, naiinis ang mangku," patuloy na tudyo nito.

Hindi siya kumibo. Bumalik na naman ito sa pang-mangku-mangku nito sa kanya. 

"Why were you at White Oaks pala kanina?"

Matagal bago siya sumagot. She mentally reviewed all the things that she should tell him, no more, no less.

"I was visiting my mom. Death anniversary niya ngayon e," sagot niya. She closed her eyes and tried to dismiss the fear, the anger, and the disappointment brought by that day.

"I'm sorry, hindi kita nasamahan," seryosong pahayag nito.

"It's okay. At least I got to give mom her favorite flowers today. Salamat sa mga sideline na bigay ni Ella.”  She then explained the reason why she wanted to go with Ella everytime and for whom she was earning money for.

"Kumikita ka na pala, dapat singilin na kita ng renta," pabirong pahayag nito, marahan pang natawa.

"You're such a kapre. Maligno ka talaga!" may diin na pahayag niya.

Tumawa lang ulit ito. Balik na naman talaga ito sa favorite past time nito, ang inisin siya.

Muli ay natahimik ito. Matagal. Akala nga niya nakatulog na ito e. Pero hindi pa pala.

"Cassie, am I forgiven?" masuyong tanong nito.

Napangiti siya. She really liked the way he calls her by her name. She would've turned and faced him but she stilled herself.

"Y-you came back. So, yes, you are forgiven, Will," sagot niya.

Napasinghap siya nang ipulupot nito sa kanyang baywang ang bisig nito at marahan siyang niyakap, tugging her closer to him in-- the warmth of his embrace. Pinatakan din nito ng halik ang buhok niya. Her heart suddenly went into overdrive. And breathing seemed to be impossible. She was drowning in joy. But when she thought that it was all there is to feel, his lips touched her nape followed by the release of his hot breath.

"Thank you," anito bago siya muling pinakawalan.

Nang binitiwan siya nito, saka pa lamang siya muling huminga. Nahintay niya ang ilan pang minuto bago tuluyang kumalma ang sistema niya. How could one man, overpower her that much?

Maybe she’s hopeless—will forever be and hopelessly in love with Will.

"Will," muli ay tawag niya rito.

"Hm?"

"If you are not my guardian right now, and I'd be in danger... would you... would you... take a bullet for me?"

She closed her eyes and bit her lip. Gusto niyang magalit sa sarili. Minsan talaga nauunahan ng bibig niya ang isip niya. She shouldn't have asked him that. She should have just--

"Yes. In a heartbeat."

"W-why?"

Natahimik ito. Matagal. 

Kapagkuwan'y ay muli itong yumakap sa kanya, kagaya ng naunang ginawa nito.

"Let's sleep, Cassie. It's been a long day," anito, hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa kanya.

She quickly dismissed the confusion in her head an closed her eyes.

It was a long day, indeed.