The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER 17

“SO, what are you?” Lawrence asked. Then he sighed, “sorry for asking.” Hingi niya ng paumanhin dahil baka isipin ni Blythe na may ibig sabihin sa pagtatanong niya tungkol sa pagkatao nito. “If you are comfortable telling me, I will listen. But if not, then you don’t have to tell me. I understand.”

Ngumiti si Blythe. “You’re nice to me and you’re genuine. Kaya siguro bilang kabaitan mo sa akin sasabihin ko kung sino ako. I am a Nymph.”

Lawrence was stunned. “Nymph? You mean? You’re a Nymph? As in Nymph?” he was shocked and, at the same time, he was fascinated. He once heard about Nymphs when he was a kid. As an heir, it was one of his lessons to learn about the supernatural aside from werewolves.

Nymphs are usually associated with land, water, and growing things such as trees and plants. They were not immortal but they could live long. And mostly, nymphs live in the forest. “I knew from the very beginning that you are not human. Your scent is not a human scent but something that could make me calm. Your scent drives me crazy…you know. It was a scent of sweet jasmine mixed with forest scent.”

“So, my scent exposed me?”

Tumango si Lawrence. “I didn’t expect that you were a Nymph. I never met one except you.”

Tumango si Blythe at sumaya nang marinig niyang siya palang ang nakilala ni Lawrence na Nymph. “Yeah, isa akong Diwata. Pero huwag mo ng tanungin kung saan ako nanggaling dahil hindi ko rin alam.” Aniya.

Lawrence listened.

Blythe sighed. “I don’t know. I never met my mother. My father was killed by a vampire. I don’t know what my origin was. All I know is that I’m an orphan. Nagpalaboy-laboy ako sa kalsada ng ilang buwan pagkatapos mamatay ng aking ama haggang sa makita ako ni Ate Brianna. She adopted me she became my foster sister.” Kwento niya at tumingin kay Lawrence. “Huh, anong nangyari sa ‘yo? Bakit ka nakatitig sa akin ng ganiyan?”

Nakakurap si Lawrence. “Hindi ko alam na ganiyan ang pinagdaanan mo.” I was living in luxury and yet my mate experienced hunger and she suffered. He thought. “I promise, I will treat you well, and I will never hurt you.”

Blythe chuckled. “Better not promise me for your own safety. After all, I considered our relationship like a stranger, though you say we are soulmates. I am still adapting. At hindi pa kita gaanong kilala.”

“Then take your time, I will wait for you,” Lawrence said with sincerity and smiled.

Napangiti na lang si Blythe dahil sa huling sinabi ni Lawrence. Muli siyang tumingin sa may buwan. “I want to go to the rooftop. Okay lang ba? I want to watch the moon up close, please.”

Lawrence was against it but when his mate said the word ‘please’ he instantly changed his mind. I’m whipped already. Aniya saka tumayo. “Let’s go to the rooftop.”

Mabilis namang tumayo si Blythe saka hinawakan ang braso ni Lawrence.

Nagtaka naman si Lawrence. “What are you doing?” tanong niya.

Painosenteng ngumiti si Blythe.

The next thing that Lawrence saw was blurred, then he found himself on the rooftop of the palace. “What the hell happened?” he asked, then quickly looked at Blythe, but his mate’s attention was now focused on looking at the moon. He couldn’t help but admire his mate while she was looking at the moon. He smiled when he realized that no one in this world could make him feel what he was feeling right now. The feeling of genuine happiness makes his heart race. Only Blythe could do that to him.

Lawrence sat on the rooftop.

Blythe followed. Tumabi siya kay Lawrence.

“Blythe?”

“Hmm?” Sumulyap si Blythe kay Lawrence saka rin niya kaagad ibinalik ang tingin sa buwan. “Look at the moon, Ren. It’s beautiful.”

Lawrence smiled while looking at Blythe. “Yes, it was indeed beautiful.” You are beautiful.

“Blythe?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you leave me someday?” tanong ni Lawrence sa mahinang boses pero sapat lang para marinig ito ni Blythe.

Natigilan si Blythe saka napatingin kay Lawrence. And she saw how Lawrence looked at her. He was looking at her intently, with care, and as if she was his world and the only person that could make him soften. Hindi kaagad siya nakasagot at napatitig sa binata.

Blythe quietness made Lawrence feel nervous. “Well, Baby?” pukaw niya sa atensiyon ni Blythe.

Napakurap naman si Blythe saka nagbaba ng tingin. “Do you want to hear my honest answer?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Blythe. “I don’t know, but as of now, I don’t have my full trust in you. Though you have explained to me the meaning of mate, I don’t think I am ready for that. Marami pa akong gustong gawin at wala sa isipan ko ang tungkol doon. I hope that you will understand me. Yes, you’re genuine and sincere to me, and I am doing my best to do the same thing to you that why I told you about myself. But still, I don’t have my full trust in you. Mahirap na kasi sa akin ang basta magtiwala.”

Ngumiti si Lawrence pero hindi umabot hanggang mata ang ngiti nito. “Then I will work hard to earn your trust.”

“It might take years.”

Lawrence chuckled. “Don’t worry, I have long patience. But keep in mind that you are my mate. What mine is also yours. Don’t be reluctant when you want or need anything.”

Blythe beamed but she sighed afterward. “Ren, may I ask what we have? I mean, what is our relationship? You let me use your money like we are husband and wife. But in fact, we are…”

“You are my mate,” Lawrence said, as if that was the answer to everything. He smiled and patted Blythe’s head. “Don’t think too much. Others will enjoy their life living in luxury. You were fortunate to be given that chance that others might not get, and you are worrying about how to repay me. And you are worried that I might ask something in return one day.”

“But it’s the truth,” Blythe said. “There is no free bread in this world.”

Lawrence assured. “Rest assured that I won’t ask anything in return. I only want your smile.”

“Anong mayroon sa ngiti ko?” nagtatakang tanong ni Blythe.

“It makes me calm and relaxed. Whenever I see you, I always want to see your smile. Maybe because when I saw you dying at the shore, all I wanted was to save you. Then since you wake up, you never smile. There was something, an aura surrounding you that made you look gloomy. I don’t want that. I want to see you bright and happy.”

“Oh.” Tanging nagsabi ni Blythe dahil hindi niya inaasahan na sasabihin ‘yon ni Lawrence.

Hindi tuloy alam ni Blythe kung ito ba talaga ang buhay na nakatadhana para sa kaniya o ito ang inilaan ng Bathala para sa kaniya dahil iniligtas niya ang buong mundo noong nakaraang buhay niya. Napailing na lang si Blythe. She doesn’t know if she could say that she deserved this life or not. Hindi nga rin siya sigurado kung mananatili siya rito sa palasyo o hindi.

Nangalumbaba si Blythe saka tumingin kay Lawrence. Maybe I will fall in love with him… Natigilan siya sa kaniyang naisip. Fall in love? With him? She asked herself while looking at Lawrence. Pinagmasdan niya ang binata hanggang sa hindi niya namalayan na inilapit ang mukha niya rito.

“Baby – “

Parehong natigilan ang dalawa dahil nang humarap si Lawrence kay Blythe hindi niya inaasahan na malapit ang mukha ni Blythe sa mukha niya at gahibla na lang ang pagitan, magdidikit na ang kanilang labi.

They stared at each other. Eyes to eyes.

At parehong mabilis ang pagtibok ng kanilang puso.

Lawrence was already attached to his mate even though he only knew her for weeks. But Blythe became wary again. Pasimple siyang humugot ng malalim na hininga saka ginawa ang lahat ng kaniyang makakaya upang hindi siya mautal na magsasalita. “Ren, may dumi ka sa mukha.” Kunwaring tinanggal ni Blythe ang dumi na sinasabi niya sa mukha ni Lawrence. Umupo si Blythe at umaktong parang normal lang at walang nangyari.

Umayos naman ng upo si Lawrence at tumikhim.

They stayed on the rooftop and watched the moon in silence. Wala ng nagsalita pa sa kanilang dalawa hanggang sa maramdaman ni Lawrence na unti-unting napasandal sa kaniya si Blythe. Nang tignan niya ito doon lang niya napagtanto na nakatulog na ito.

“Blythe?”

“Baby?”

His mate didn’t respond, so Lawrence thought she really had fallen asleep. Inilagay niya ang isang braso sa likuran ng balikat ni Blythe saka niya ito dahan-dahang pinangko. Nang hindi ito nagising saka lamang siya pumunta sa parte ng rooftop ng palasyo kung saan may pintuan papasok.

Lawrence brought back his mate into his room and carefully put her to bed. Then he put the quilt on her, switched off the light, left the room, and closed the door.