Notorious Nightingale

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

After our talk, nilibot namin ni Genesis ang kastilyo. Marami itong paliko-liko at mga silid, natunton din namin ang kuwadra ng mga kasambahay at mga mayordomo kung saan sila ay nag-aayos na rin ng mga gamit na kanilang inempake. Yumuko silang lahat bilang pagpapakita ng respeto.

Napuntahan din namin ang librerya ng kastilyo kung saan maraming mga librong nakaladlad. Pabilog ang estilo ng silid at sampung palapag lahat. Sa pinakataas ng librerya ay ang dingding na yari sa salaming may pinta ng babaeng anghel, ang mga kulay nito ay lumiwanag kasama ng halik ng araw. May mga ibang mga tauhang kasalukuyan ding nag-aayos ng mga libro.

Umalis na kami roon at muling naglakad sa mahabang koridor kung saan sa gilid ay ang mga pabilog na haligi. I have to say that the architecture of the place is stunning, grand, and aesthetic. It will certainly put the Kingdom Palace to shame. This is my new home now and this island is my stronghold.

Habang naglilibot ay nadatnan namin si Enzo na lumabas sa isang kuwarto, “oh.” Gulat na saad niya, pagkatapos ay tumingin siya sa akin. “Saan kayo galing?”

“Naglibot kami ni Genesis.” I smiled. “Ikaw?”

“Binantayan ko si Shinigami. Katatapos niyang matulog.” After that, he smiled. “I can’t believe you revived him. It’s like making the impossible as possible. But I guess with magic, you cannot really know if the word impossible exists.”

“Mauna na ako at maiwan ko muna kayo.” Biglang sabi ni Genesis matapos ang ilang sandali, “o’sya, Enzo, ikaw na ang bahala kay Zendaya.”

“Yes.” Ngumiti si Enzo at pinagmasdan si Genesis na maaglakad paalis. Kaming dalawa na lang ni Enzo ang naiwan sa pasilyo, sa harap mismo ng kuwarto ni Shinigami.

“So, what’s going on between you and Marayuka?” Hindi ko maiwasang tanungin habang kami ay naglalakad.

“Nothing...” He trailed off, “maraming nangyari sa tatlong buwan na wala ka. We were also devastated with the loss of Shinigami, and I guess we found comfort in each other. But I only saw her as a friend, and I made that clear.”

“But she fell in love with you.” Sagot ko naman.

“She did... She confessed last month, but I rejected her.” Aniya.

“Why? I think she will be good for you.” Sagot ko naman.

Tumigil sa paglalakad si Enzo dahilan upang matigil din ako, “anything wrong?” I asked. I actually miss this kind of talks with him. Ngayon ko lang napansin na hindi na kami masyadong nakakapag-usap dahil sa dami ng mga ginagawa.

“Marayuka will be good to me, I know...” Somehow, when Enzo said that, I felt a pang of pain hit my heart like a dagger. Hindi ko na lang inintindi kung bakit ko naramdaman iyon at hinintay ang susunod niyang mga sasabihin. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. His hazel-brown eyes were on fire with passion, then he sighed. “I love someone else.” He said that while staring at me intently.

I grinned at him and playfully punched his arm, “who is the lucky girl?”

“May magbabago ba kung malaman mo?” Sagot niya sa akin. “Matagal ko na siyang mahal.”

Kumunot ang noo ko at nag-isip nang malalim kung sino. Dahil parehas lang naman kami ni Enzo na kulong sa palasyo noon, at saka lang siya nakakalabas kapag nag-eensayo para sa pagkakabalyero... Sino nga ba ang mga babae sa buhay ni Enzo? Ako lang naman... Maliban kung isa sa mga miyembro sa Night Court.

“Is it Wendy?” I pried.

“No.” Matigas na sagot ni Enzo.

“E sino?” I pouted.

“Walang magbabago kapag malaman mo.” Aniya.

“I am just curious. Hindi ko alam na may kaunting landi pala sa katawan mo.” He chuckled because of my joke. Ah, how I love this moment. It brings back old memories before everything went downhill. It felt great to have a breath of fresh air, and I found that in Enzo’s company.

“Matagal ko na siyang mahal.”

“Alright, who?” Pangungulit ko.

Humarap nang tuluyan si Enzo sa akin at saka niya nilapit ang kaniyang mukha sa akin. Kasabay nito ay naramdaman ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng aking puso at ang bahagyang pag-apaw ng aking kapangyarihan. Biglang nagkaroon ng ihip ng hangin sa pagitan namin.

Seryoso ang kaniyang ekspresyon ngayon habang nakatitig lang sa aking mukha. I suddenly felt conscious if there was something wrong with my face, “E-Enzo?”

Nagulat ako nang dumapo ang kaniyang palad sa aking pisngi. He gently caressed my cheek with his rough hand that spoke about how much he trained to be my knight.

“W-What are you doing?”

“You asked who is the girl I love...” Nilapit niya ang kaniyang mukha sa akin at naramdaman ko ang paghampas ng mainit niyang hininga sa aking mukha. Napalunok ako dahil doon. Lagi kong nararamdaman ito sa tuwing magkasama kami ni Enzo, ngunit hindi ko masyadong pinapansin. But now that we’re here, I know it’s clear already.

I felt the same thing when I was with Shinigami before... But what I felt towards Enzo was different. I guess the thing I had towards Shinigami was platonic love—and Enzo was...

I didn’t want to acknowledge it. But it was romantic love.

Chapter 78

“It’s you, Zendaya.” He whispered, “I’ve always loved you and I’ll always love you.”

I was rendered speechless and he took that moment to kiss my lips. My first kiss. I closed my eyes and kissed back, I felt my knees weaken and I encircled my arms around his neck, with his strong arm he pulled me up and carried me towards the wall, pinning me unto it.

We continued kissing; I can feel our lips melting towards each other, colliding and wild. I savored the heat of the moment and let myself drown in his warm embrace. We were both greedy for each other, and we kept on with it until we were finally out of breath and panting. We let ourselves be devoured with our suppressed passion.

Up close, my eyes gently caressed his cheeks and traced his jawline, he smiled, dumapo ang aking hintuturo sa baba ng kaniyang labing basa pa rin, “Enzo...”

“Yes, Zendaya?” He whispered, his voice was low and husky, as if careful that someone would hear us. But we were at the corridor, and anyone can just see us if they walk around here. Mabilis na ang pagtibok ng aking puso. I tried finding the right words to say, but instead, I was at loss.

“You really have beautiful eyes.” Enzo said after staring at my face for a few seconds, “I love you, Zendaya.”

I smiled, “I love you too.” I finally let out the words that I never wanted to acknowledge. I was overwhelmed with so much happiness. Everything was finally going well.

Enzo was with me from the very start. He knows me more than anyone else and I can also say the same with me towards him.

“When you were suddenly gone three months ago, I felt hopeless... But knowing that Genesis was alive was enough for me to believe again that you will be back.” Aniya, “and you did—I can’t lose you anymore.”

“You won’t.” I assured. “I’ll always be here. I promise.”

“Gusto kong sumama bukas,” he must be referring to the Grand Slave Trave at Espania City, “but I have to build an army that will fight for you too because you have tasked me as the General. Wala ako sa tabi mo bukas, but promise me too... That you won’t do anything reckless, and that you’ll be safe.”

“I promise.”

It was new, seeing this soft side of Enzo. Kung hindi niya ako inaasar ay seryoso lang siya.

Ngumiti siya pagkatapos, “kaya mo na bang tumayo?”

Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng aking pisngi dahil sa kaniyang tanong. Mula sa kaniyang hawak ay agad naman akong bumaba at tumayo sa marmol na sahig. Inayos ko ang aking buhok pagkatapos at humugot ng malalim na paghinga.

“I’ll be off to my room.” I said afterwards.

“Alam mo ba kung saan?” Tanong nito.

Umiling naman ako. “Fine. I’ll take you there.” Aniya. Nauna na siyang naglakad at sinundan ko naman siya. We acted like nothing happened, but the feel of his lips and his touch was still clear to my senses. Pakiramdam ko ay naiwan ang init ng kaniyang labi sa akin. My lips were still throbbing, as if hungry for more. I shook the thought away and just watched Enzo’s masculine strides.

He was muscular, but not too much. As if he was a masterpiece among the angels. He was beautiful.

Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang malaking pinto. It must be my room. Humarap sa akin si Enzo pagkatapos at ngumiti. “Your Highness, welcome to your chamber.” He grinned and bowed, as if acting like a butler.

“Well, well, thank you.” I played along.

“Anyway, I’ll be off to check the coliseum.” Enzo said after seeing me inside my room.

“Ingat ka, Enzo.” I smiled. After everything that happened today, everything between us will be different already. We were no longer just childhood friends... We were lovers already. The thought of that gave me a weird sensation that I never felt before. But I know this is love.

“Ikaw din, Zendaya.” Lumapit siya at dumapo ang kaniyang labi sa aking noo. “Mahal na mahal kita.” Bulong nito bago tuluyang umalis. I watched his back as he retreated, and when he was no longer at my sight, I closed the door of my bedroom.

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Question: Who is happy for Zendaya and Enzo? Raise your hands!