CHAPTER 19
1339 Words
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Reese found peace in the garden. The afternoon sunlight filtered through tall trees, warming the stone pathways. She lay back on a reclining chair beneath a white canopy with her arms resting loosely at her sides as she let the warmth soak into her skin.
Bumuga siya ng hangin at ipinikit ang kaniyang mata.
Ito ang hinahanap niyang buhay. Iyong relax lang sana, pero alam niyang hindi puwede. Minsan lang ang ganitong pagkakataon, kaya naman kailangan niyang sulitin.
No weapons, screens, equations… just silence.
Kapagkuwan, bigla siyang nakaramdam ng panganib. Her instinct kicked in. Not from fear, but from awareness.
Naramdaman niya na may paparating. Without opening her eyes fully, Reese tilted her head and bent forward casually. A blade sliced through the space above her. Bumaon ang throwing knife sa puno na nasa malapit.
Reese smiled calmly and straightened slowly.
Her gaze lifted toward the shadow near the garden entrance.
Commander Hale stepped forward, clapping once.
“Impressive reflexes,” she said. “Most civilians wouldn’t even hear that coming.”
Sa likod nito, nakatayo pa ang dalawang Shadow Commander—Khaen and Ilya.
Tumayo si Reese mula sa kinauupuan. “Is this how Shadow welcomes the wife of their Boss?”
Hale smirked. “Relax, Madam. We were just testing you.”
She tilted her head. “Testing what?” tanong niya. Sa nakikita niya, these men were looking down on women… lalo na kapag hindi pa nila nakita ang kakahayan ng isang babae.
“Your capability as the wife of our Boss.”
Reese chuckled softly. Hindi niya akalain na darating ang araw na papatunayan niya ang kaniyang sarili. Alaric didn’t mention this to her. She glanced at the knife embedded in the tree.
“That’s not awareness,” Aniya. “That’s attempted murder.”
Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Hale. “You’re the Boss’s wife. If you’re going to walk around this place, you should be able to handle pressure.”
Reese took a step forward. “So, you decided to challenge me while Alaric is away.”
Hale's smile widened. “Let’s call it curiosity.”
“Hale, she’s our Boss’s wife,” Khaen said. “Her status was higher than ours.”
“I will take full responsibility,” Hale said.
Napabuntong-hininga si Reese. So, Commander Hale really wanted to challenge her. Fine.
Reese moved. Her foot slid against the stone path, fingers reaching into her hidden pocket. In one fluid motion, she threw a small metal disk.
Tumama ito sa braso ni Hale. He hissed and dropped his weapon. Before he could recover, Reese was already close and grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back.
Kalmadong nagsalita si Reese. “Next time you test someone, Commander, make sure they don’t design weapons for a living.”
Hale grunted.
The other commanders who were watching stiffened.
Bigla na lang may isa pang blade ang lumipad patungo kay Reese. She sensed it a split second too late. Umikot siya upang umiwas, pero sa tali ng maskara niya tumama ang blade. The mask slipped from her face and hit the ground with a soft metallic clatter.
Parang biglang tumigil ang oras ng mga sandaling ‘yon lalo na’t dumating si Alaric.
He stepped into the garden just as Reese released Hale. Mabilis niyang pinulot ang maskara saka isinuot. Itinali niya ito sa likod ng kaniyang ulo at humarap kay Alaric.
May pagtataka sa mukha ni Alaric. “Anong nangyayari?” tanong niya.
Nagkatinginan ang mga commander. The Boss had arrived, and it’s time to face their punishment for testing the Queen.
Bumuka ang bibig ni Hale at handa nang magsalita nang maunang nagsalita si Reese.
“We’re just having fun.”
Kumunot ang nuo ni Alaric. Hindi siya naniniwala, lalo na nang makita niya ang patalim na nakabaon sa puno.
Tiningnan ni Alaric ang tatlong Commander na nakatayo, kapagkuwan, ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Reese. Then to the knife in the tree. Then to the metal disk lying on the ground.
Hindi siya nagsalita. Instead, he walked to Reese and lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
Nagulat naman si Reese. “Let me go, Mr. Volkov. I can walk.”
Alaric gave Reese a look, making Reese stop moving and just hold onto him.
Naglakad si Alaric papasok sa loob ng mansyon, pero bago siya tuluyang makapasok, tumigil siya. He didn’t turn around or raise his voice. “I’m not a fool who was born yesterday,” he said. “Don’t wait for me to have your punishment.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Nang makarating sila sa living room, ibinaba ni Alaric si Reese sa sofa. “Are you injured?”
Umiling si Reese.
“Don’t worry, this won’t happen again.”
Reese stared at Alaric. Even if Alaric didn’t ask, he seems to know what had happened already. “You won’t ask?”
“Alam ko kung ano ang nangyari,” sabi ni Alaric. “They wanted to challenge you. You’re young, and for them, you seemed to be reckless. Inaasahan ko na ‘to. I actually forgot to tell you. I’m sorry.”
Natigilan si Reese. Hindi niya kasi inaasahan na hihingi ng tawad ang isang taong katulad ni Alaric. “You’re apologizing…?”
Tumango si Alaric at umupo sa tabi ni Reese. “Yeah, I did.”
Pinigilan ni Reese ang ngiti na gustong kumawala sa kaniyang labi. But then, she nodded. “Are you really going to punish them?”
“I will. Challenging you means they don’t respect you as my wife.”
“You don’t have to, Alaric. I understand why they did that. Kung ako ang nasa kinatatayuan nila, ganun din ang gagawin ko.” Seryosong sabi ni Reese.
“No,” Alaric said in a firm voice. “I won’t allow them to disrespect you.”
Ngumiti nang tipid si Reese. “Alaric, have you forgotten that we are only a contractual couple? We will split up when the day comes. What you were doing made me hopes from you. And I don’t want that to happen.”
“Why?”
“Hindi ba may gusto kang ibang babae? Why—”
“Reese, I admit it, I did like someone. But after all, you are now my wife. I’m not a jerk who would abandon his wife just to be with the woman I like. I respect this marriage even if there were no feelings,” sabi ni Alaric. “Bakit? Hindi ba puwedeng mahulog ang loob ko sa ‘yo at makalimutan ko ang babaeng gusto ko? Hindi ba dapat ganun naman ang dapat na mangyari?”
Natigilan si Reese. Though she knew that Alaric liked the person—her alter ego—Rica Agnes was still different from her.
“But Shadow doesn’t operate on personal feelings,” Reese said as she looked directly into Alaric’s eyes.
Ngumiti si Alaric. “I’m the Boss, and I rule Shadow.” Aniya.
Nagbaba ng tingin si Reese at sumandal sa likuran ng sofa. “I don’t know what to say.”
Alaric stared at Reese.
Reese let out a sigh. “Alaric, it was already enough for me that we can treat each other with respect. In this way, we won’t be in each other’s throats in the future. It doesn’t matter if we develop feelings for each other. Love is just a disturbance,” she said and stood. “I’m going to call Artemis.” Then she left.
Habang paakyat siya ng hagdan, tumigil siya at tumingin kay Alaric. Napahawak siya sa tapat ng kaniyang puso. Her heart… every time Alaric was near, it would react. Maybe she likes him. It’s just a pity that Alaric didn’t like Reese Sinclair, but it was Rica Agnes.
Reese just smiled and ascended the staircase.
But as for Alaric, he looked at Reese, who was ascending the staircase. “Love is just a disturbance,” he muttered.
He touched his chest where his heart was. “But you already stirred my heart.”
- Writer
