My Untamed Princess

Chapter 22: The Witch And The Cursed

Pumalatak muna si Ivan bago tinungga ang laman ng shot glass na nasa harapan nito. Nang maubos ang alak, lukot ang mukhang ibinaba nito sa counter ang shot glass bago bumaling kay Will.

"The green-eyed monster swallowed you, dude! Nah! Erase that. It devoured you whole!" natatawang komento nito, pailing-iling pa.

"Anong sabi mo? Lasing ka na 'ata e?" Tinungga na rin niya ang laman ng shot glass na nasa harapan niya.

"Sinong lasing? Hindi ako puwedeng malasing. Pinapatrabaho pa nila sa akin ang lintek na De Ocampo na ‘yan bago nila ako bigyan ng access sa mga kailangan kong impormasyon,” anito, sumimangot.

Napabuntong hininga siya. Kung sa bigat ng problema ang pagbabasehan, mas mabigat ang pinagdaraan ni Ivan. Ivan is working with the CIA because he was looking for justice. Justice for their slain comrades in The Organization, his father, Chief Elias and--

"Kagabi laman na naman sila ng panaginip ko. Like I'd friggin' forget them! How can you forget your family? The CIA ain't making it easier either. The bosses are becoming pain in the ass!”  dugtong pa nito, nakatitig sa walang laman na shot glass. "Wala ka naman kasing silbi. I told you, just hack into their f*****g data base! E ‘di tapos na sana lahat ng 'to."

"You’re barking on the wrong tree, dude.”

“But you’ve got money. You can hire someone to do it.”

Nailing na siya. “Again, my father’s money is not mine. Last time I checked, I’m only living from paycheck to paycheck.”

Humugong ito, pinalagyan sa bartender ng alak ang shot glass nilang dalawa bago nila sabay iyong tinungga. Gumuhit ang pait ng alak sa lalamunan niya. Nang makabawi, agad siyang nagsalita.

“At saka good boy ako. I'm not into hacking. Si Carlo Boy ang magaling d'on. Para 'yong multo 'pag trumabaho, sa kanya ka dapat magpatulong."

"Hindi rin. Baka nakalimutan na n'on ang lahat. Nabagok ang ulo e, mukhang naalog. Tignan mo ngayon, napakatino na," natatawang sabi nito bago muling humingi ng refill sa bartender.

"Iparinig mo 'yan sa Diamond, tignan ko lang kung 'di ka maging biktima ng katarayan n'on," sagot niya bago dinala ang sunod na shot ng alak sa bibig. Ang diamond na tinutukoy niya ay ang heredera ng Diamant Empire na si Raine Alejandro, na siyang napangasawa ng kaibigan nilang si Carlo Reyes, isa ring protector.

"I'll be done after this shot. Maaga pa ako sa site bukas,” deklara ng kaibigan bago tinungga ang laman ng shot glass na kalalapag lamang ng bartender sa harapan nito.

Napailing na siya. "Did you just came here for the free booze? Pulubi ka ba?" naiiritang tanong niya.

Ngumisi ito at humawak sa balikat niya. "Dude, free booze is always a good booze. Sino ako para tumanggi?" depensa nito sa sarili bago ikinumpas ang mga kamay sa ere. "Alright, if it makes you feel better, nandito ako para damayan ka sa pagseselos este sa pangungunsumi sa 'yo ni Cassie," pang-aasar pa nito bago muling umorder ng alak.

He did not answer. Instead, he huffed and stared at the glass of brandy he was now holding.

Please Will… masakit

Dammit! Her voice, her plea, and her tears ar tearing something inside of him.

He had never physically hurt any woman before, not even when he talked to Kareen— his ex-girlfriend, after she ditched him in their supposed wedding in Vegas. He was not that angry. Pero kanina--

"Ano ba kasi ang ikinagagalit mo? Lumabas siya ng bahay na 'di nag-paalam. Tapos, base sa narinig mo, mukhang may ginawa sila n'ong lalaking kapitbahay niyo," umpisa Ivan bago tuluyang nangunot-noo. "The princess is single. Binata naman ata 'yong Lucas milabs ng prinsesa. Ano ngayon ang problema d'on?" Hindi siya sumagot. Tumitig lang siya kay Ivan. "Dude, just let Cassie have fun. Tutal sabi mo sanay siya sa mga gano'n, e di hayaan mo na lang."

"Bakit ko hahayaan? Hindi nga puwede ang ginagawa niya!" bigla niyang asik sa kaibigan.

"Eh ba't nga kasi hindi puwede?"

"Nagdadala siya ng problema sa compound. She's just supposed to be invisible yet she goes around as if seducing anybody!”

“And that is a problem?”

“It f*****g is!” asar na sagot niya.

“And why is that?”

Nalukot na nang tuluyan ang mukha niya. "Ba't ka ba tanong nang tanong? Anong problema mo?" 

Natawa lang si Ivan na lalo niyang ikinainis.

"Marami akong problema, dude. Pero at least alam ko na may problema ako. Ikaw alam mo ba na may problema ka?"

"Wala akong problema!" mabilis niyang sagot.

"Oo na! Wala ka nang problema," natatawang komento nito.

Nailing na siya. Gigil niyang tinungga ulit ang laman ng baso na nakasilbi sa harap niya.

Maya-maya pa, "Shoot! Si Cassie may kasamang lalaki!" bulalas ni Ivan.

"Dammit! Saan?" galit na tanong niya bago ibinaba ang baso sa counter. Napatayo na siya nang tuluyan at hinayon ng tingin ang front door kung saan nakatingin si Ivan. His heart was beating loudly inside his chest.

Mabilis niyang ipinagala ang tingin sa madilim at maingay na bar. His eyes were trained to see even in pitch black places, he could easily spot the witch. Ngunit lumipas na ang ilang segundo, hindi pa rin mahagilap ng mga mata niya ni bulto man lamang ni Cassie.

Tinapik siya ni Ivan. "Dude hindi pala si Cassie, kamukha lang."

Magaang niyang sinuntok ang braso nito. "Gago! Pinagti-tripan mo ba 'ko?" 

"Hindi a!" matigas na tanggi nito pero nakangisi. "Dude I'm under the influence. I'm in my half-sane and half-psycho state. Don't believe in anything that I say, not even if I say that you are just jealous and it's making the wires in your head all f****d up!"

He scoffed. Siya nagseselos?

"Yeah. The booze is really messing with your head. Why the hell would I be jealous?"  It's not even part of his language!

"I don't know, dude. Tell me.” Nagkibit-balikat pa ito bago muling umorder ng alak.

Naihilamos na niya ang kamay sa mukha. It has been a long night and he's tired and exhausted. Something's really messing him up. He just couldn’t point a finger to it. And he can't stay up all night just figuring it out. So, he paid the bill and dragged Ivan out of the bar after he had his last shot of booze.

"Dude bukas, sa dati ulit," ani Ivan bago sumakay sa kotse nito. Tango lang ang naisagot niya bago sumakay sa motor niya at tuluyan nang umuwi sa compound.

Nang makauwi siya, maingat ang naging pagkilos niya. He doesn't want to wake the princess up. Hindi pa niya hawak ang sariling katinuan sa ngayon dahil patuloy pa rin ang pagre-replay ng eksena sa isip niya tungkol sa pinagsaluhan ni Cassie at Luke na masarap.

Dammit!

Muli niyang nasapo ang ulo. Pinisil niya ang pagitan ng kanyang mga mata bago nagbuga ng hininga. The confusion is getting the better of him. It is like a venom slowly poisoning his logic and reasoning.

Sandali niyang pinakatitigan ang pinto ng kuwarto. Cassie has been occupying his room since day 1. At siya nagtitiyaga sa matigas na sofa na gawa sa kawayan bilang higaan.

Nailing siya uli. Pa’no, ang galing. Nag-impose lang ang prinsesa na doon ito matutulog sa kuwarto, pumayag na siya agad. Pinagbigyan niya aga. Hindi ba dapat siya ang nag-iimpose ng rules dahil siya ang amo sa kanilang dalawa?

Dammit! The witch her ways.

Gaya ngayon, gusto na sana niyang matulog pero hindi na naman niya magawa. Malakas ang sugsog ng kunsensya niya na silipin ang prinsesa sa loob ng silid. At dahil alam niyang hindi rin siya makakatulog hangga't hindi  ito nasisilip man lang, kinuha niya ang dalawang pin sa ibabaw ng ref at ginamit iyon pambukas ng pinto.

Marahan niyang tinulak pabukas ang pinto. He silently walked towards the bed. Relief flooded his chest when he saw her sleeping. He's sure a lot of men out there would trade places with him just to watch her in this serene state. But that is, if he'd allow anyone to trade places with him.

Agad siyang nilunod ng kanyang kunsensiya nang maalala ang ginawa niya kanina. He really lost his cool. At kung hindi siya mapapatawad ni Cassie sa mga susunod na mga araw maiintidihan niya.

He was a disgusting beast. He almost forced himself on her. And he hated himself because of it.

Maya-maya pa napansin niya ang maliit na sugat sa gilid ng labi nito. Even her wrists carry the marks of his outburs.

Inis niyang naisuklay ang kamay sa kanyang buhok. He really want to punch himself for acting savagely.

He had always been a gentleman but something about Cassie and Luke's closeness  had triggered something unexplainable inside of him that made him do what he did. It was a mixed feeling of anger, irritation, disappointment, and something he really can't name.

Maybe Ivan was right, his brain is really fuckd up.

He sighed and stepped a little bit closer to the bed. His eyes lingered on her angelic face.

He silently knelt down on the floor, just beside her, and he was able to have a closer look of her hands. There were tiny bruises on it. Marahil nakuha nito sa paglalaba. Lalo siyang nakunsensya.

He gently drew her hand and traced the bruises with his fingers. He roughly held her there earlier. It must have hurt so bad, he thought.

He let out a harsh breath. He silently cursed himself over and over as guilt ate him up.

Labis niyang pinagsisisihan ang nagawa niya. He's supposed to protect her not abuse her.

Sa isip niya, paulit-ulit siyang humingi ng tawad. But he knew his sorries won't do anything. Not all sins are forgiven with just a sorry. But he's owning up to it and he promised to make up to her in the succeeding days.

Marahan niyang binitiwan ang kamay ito at muli itong pinagmasdan. He suddenly felt someone had touched his heart and made him feel things. Feelings too foreign, too surreal.

Dammit! She's really driving him insane!

Tumayo siya at iniayos ang pagkakatakip ng kumot sa katawan nito.

"What kind of a witch are you, Cassie. Can you undo your curse on me now? Because you are messing me up and it ain't good for the both of us," he whispered before planting soft kiss on her forehead.

He glanced at her one last time before he went out of the room.  Unknowing that even in that state he's in, sleep would still be elusive for the nth time on that week.