A/N: Yey! Nakapag-update ako.. Bukas na lang ulet ang next chap haha. Enjoy~

Tale 21

Misunderstandings

Magtatakip silim na noong maisip ni Lauren na umuwi galing sa pamamasyal.

Nakabalik na din ang kanyang mga guards mula sa Red Leaf Hotel. Ibinahagi nila sa kanya ang nag-aalburutong galit ni Governor Sylas matapos makita si Gael.

"Serves him right." Saad ni Lauren.. At least naipaghiganti nya ang orihinal na Lauren.

Full support naman ang kanyang mga bodyguard sa kanya. Masaya sila na hindi na isang lampa at martyr ang kanilang Young Miss. Masaya sila from the bottom of their hearts para dito. Matagal na din nilang gustong upakan si Gael, pero dahil isang mahabaging nilalang ang kanilang Young Miss, hindi nila ito magawa noon. Hindi na nakakapagtaka na nabugbog ng husto si Gael ngayon, pati mga bodyguards ay puno ng galit sa kanya.

"Hala! Young Miss may nangangailangan ng tulong!" out of habit ay naibulalas ng isa sa mga guards matapos makita ang isang nakabulagtang lalaki sa isang madilim na eskinita. Alam nilang matulungin ang kanilang Young Miss kaya naging habit nila na iinform ito agad sa mga ganitong sitwasyon.

Lauren stood frozen on her spot. Nakatulala sya sa lalaking walang malay.

"Young Miss??" nagtatakang tanong mga guards.

"Emb---" hindi makapaniwala si Lauren.

"Help him. Bring him to our residence. I will tend to his wounds." Mabilis na saad ni Lauren

Agad naman sumunod ang mga guards. Sanay na sila sa proseso. Sadyang matulungin ang kanilang Young Miss kaya may kaunti itong kaalaman sa medisina. Natutuwa sila na hindi pa rin pala ito tuluyang nagbago! Nananatili itong matulungin sa mga nangangailangan!

Dinala ng mga guards ang estranghero sa guest rooms ng mansion.

"Leave us." Utos ni Lauren.. Agad namang sumunod ang mga tagapagsilbi.

It took a while before she finally healed all of his wounds. Hindi lamang external wounds ang tinamo ng binata.

"What could he possibly be doing to get hurt this badly?" nagtatakang tanong ni Lauren. If he's someone else, that person would have died already. He was almost beaten to death! Mabuti na lamang at nakita sya nina Lauren..

Ibababa pa lamang sana ni Lauren ang hawak nyang medical gauze na ginamit nyang pang-bandage sa mga sugat ng lalaki noong maramdaman nya ang presensya ng isang matalas na patalim sa kanyang leeg. Natigilan ang dalaga.

"Who are you?" isang malalim na tinig ang narinig ni Lauren

"So you're awake.." puna nya, completely ignoring his question.

Silence...

"I just saved your life." Saad ni Lauren

Naramdaman nya ang pagdadalawang isip ng binata. Pero hindi nito ibinaba ang patalim.

"How stubborn." Buntong hininga ni Lauren

Sa isang kisap mata ay napunta ang dalaga sa kabilang bahagi ng silid.

"Don't force your self to stand up. You wouldn't be able to kill me in that pitiful state. You haven't fully recovered yet.." Amuse na saad ng babae

"Who are you?" muli nyang tanong

Nagsukatan sila ng tingin.

Normally, even a wild beast would backed off after facing his deathly gaze, but the girl wasn't even flinching. She looks too..... nonchalant.

She have an emerald green eyes. A total stranger. But something about her felt familiar.

Sa bandang huli, ngumiti ang babae.

"As of now, you can call me Lauren." pakilala ng dalaga

Nagtataka naman ang binata. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makatagpo sya ng isang taong hindi natatakot sa kamatayan. Pinakiramdaman ng binata ang kanyang katawan at nakumpirma na tama ang dalaga. He hasn't fully recovered yet. Not to mention escaping, he cant even stand up!

"So what should I call you?" tanong ng babae

"Lance."

Tumango ang babae... "You were poisoned by the Icy Mountain Toxin."

Natigilan ang binata.

"It seems that you've been suffering for years now. It's a miracle that you're still alive." Saad ng babae

Hindi nakapagsalita ang binata..

"You've been suppressing it with the Blazing Fire Pill.. But despite that, you would still experience chronic chills once a month. Did someone ambushed you while you're in the middle of the chronic chill? Is that how you ended up in this state?" tanong pa ng babae

Hindi tumugon ang binata. Everything she said, is correct.

Her every words. The way she speaks. Her smile. He cannot be mistaken.

"I know that you don't trust me. But I can help you." Saad ng babae

"...you're an alchemist?" tanong ng binata

"Yes."

"Why would you help me?" tanong pa nito

"Why not?" tugon lamang ng babae

That's her reason? Does that mean she doesn't remember?

"I want to help you now but I would need a Phoenix Eyes Herb to refine the antidote. That herb is something rare, I only encountered it twice in my long years of travels." Saad ng babae

"You... Are you saying you know how to cure me?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng binata.. He's been searching for years. Pero walang kahit isang medicinal book tungkol sa paggamot sa Icy Mountain Toxin. Wala ni isang alchemist ang kayang magbigay sa kanya ng solusyon. Pero ngayon...

"Of course.. I just lack the ingredients to refine the Scorching Phoenix Potion.." tugon ng babae

"Are you......" really her?

"Sure?? Of course Im sure.." Tugon ng babae

The confidence in her voice reminds him of her.

"You should rest for now." Saad ng babae

"Wait.." pigil nya noong akmang lalabas na ito ng pinto.

"Why?" tanong ng babae

"Have we met before?" tanong nya

Hindi nakatugon ang dalaga.

"Before I answer, can I ask you a question first?" tanong ng dalaga

Tumango naman ang binata.

"Before you awaken, were you dreaming? Or were you having a nightmare?" tanong nito

Nagtaka ang binata.. Pilit nyang inalala ang ang kanyang panaginip.

Blood.

And the death of his beloved.

"It was a nightmare."

"I see." Saad ng dalaga saka ito ngumiti.. "To answer your question, I believe this is the first time we've met."

Tumango ang binata.. She have no memories then.

"I will inform everyone not to bother you." Huling saad ng babae bago ito lumabas ng silid

Tulad ng sinabi ng dalaga, walang ibang tao na pumasok sa silid. Saka lamang napanatag ang binata.

Nasa isa syang marangyang silid. Mukang hindi pangkaraniwan ang pamilya nya sa buhay na ito.

Warmth filled his heart. He waited for thousands of years in the clutches of Ur. He's been searching for her all these years. Now, she's finally within his reach.

Samantala, maghapon namang nagkulong sa kwarto si Lauren.

"He said it was a nightmare. Does he hate me?" tanong ni Lauren na nakatulala sa bintana

"Are you seriously asking me that? You already know the answer." Damnable

"Don't be harsh.. Im sure there's a misuderstanding here somewhere." Blabbermouth

"Maybe he cant remember everything? Maybe majority of the things that he can remember were the bad ones." Opinyon naman ni Unbearable

"Just give him more time.." Damnable

"Yes, do not rush things.." Blabbermouth

"You're right.." sang-ayon ni Lauren

If he somehow hates her right now, then she suddenly blurted out who she is, wont he hack her with his sword?

If she dies in this lifetime, the chances of meeting him again in her next life is too slim!

She must be careful..

May narinig na mga katok sa pinto si Lauren.

"Young Miss, may mga bisita po kayo." Saad ni Dina, isa sa mga kasambahay ng pamilya Ashford.

Binuksan ni Lauren ang kanyang pinto.. "Who?"

Nagbuntong hininga si Dina.. "Sir Esteban and Lady Irish."

Naiintindihan ni Lauren ang pag-aalala ni Dina. Hindi isang sikreto ang komplikadong love story ng orihinal na Lauren. She's inlove with that man. But he's engaged to Irish Ayame, Lauren's childhood friend.

"Tell them I'll be there in a minute." Nakangiting saad ni Lauren saka muling bumalik sa kanyang silid.

Nagtataka naman si Dina.. Normally magmamadali ang kanyang Young Miss para makita si Sir Esteban. Kakaiba ang reaksyon nito ngayon. Gayun pa man, agad syang sumunod at sinabi sa mga bisita na maghintay sandali.

Lumipas ang isang oras pero hindi pa rin nagpapakita sa mga bisita si Lauren.

"Dina! Sabihin mo kay Lauren nandito kami para bisitahin sya. Bakit wala pa sya rito?" tanong ni Irish.. Nag-uumpisa na syang mairita.

"Err...." Hindi rin alam ni Dina ang sasabihin.. Young Miss nasaan ka na? huhuhu

"It's been an hour.. Ano pang hinihintay mo? Get her." Utos ni Irish kay Dina

Hindi pa nakakatugon si Dina noong makita nilang naglalakad pababa ng hagdan ang isang pamilyar na babae.

"Young Miss!" excited na bati ni Dina.. Binubully sya ng bisita. Never syang pinagtaasan ng boses ng Young Miss nya. Pero itong Young Miss ng Ayame Family, feeling reyna sa pamamahay ng iba.

"Huh? Nandito pa din sila??" nagtatakang tanong ni Lauren kay Dina

".........."

Naghihikab ito habang naglalakad papalapit sa kanila.

"Lauren we were just worried about you. How could you make us wait this long?" iritableng tanong ni Irish

"I fell asleep." Sagot ng dalaga

".....you.. You fell asleep?" hindi alam ni Irish kung dapat ba syang mainis..

"I almost died and I still hasn't fully gotten over it.. I still need to rest.. Im really sorry." Paliwanag ni Lauren. She look so pitiful.

"Is that so? Hmmp. You look okay though. Why are you pretending to be sick? You just want attention." Saad ni Irish

"How could you say that to---" hindi napigilan ni Dina na sumabat pero pinigilan sya ni Lauren.

"It's okay Dina." Lauren

"We were just here to visit you because we were worried about you." Labas sa ilong na saad ni Irish

"Thank you. You are such a beautiful and wonderful person.." nakangiting saad ni Lauren

Nagusot ang muka ni Irish..

"You are very kind and humble.. Oh! And a true friend... What's wrong?? Aren't we having a lying competition??" nagtatakang tanong ni Lauren

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Irish... Is this the same pushover Lauren? Why is she suddenly too difficult to deal with?

"Lauren aren't you going to greet MY fiance??" tanong na lang ni Irish.. Alam ng lahat na may malalim na feelings si Lauren para sa binata.. Irish who's always jealous of Lauren's naiveness, kindness and intelect wanted to slap her face with the fact that in the end, she'll get the last laugh.

Nginitian ni Lauren ang binata... "Well hello. Sorry, I didn't notice you there."

Nagtataka ang binata.. Masyado syang nasanay na sa nakaraang mga taon, Lauren would do everything just to get his attention. What's wrong with her right now?

"Lauren you might not know this but we just got back from our vacation. We visited the famous Wind Valley in Ventus and skii on the Snow Mountain in Ignis.. It was very romantic.. Oh! We even bought you soveigners! When we got back after hearing about your accident, we rushed all the way fro—" Irish

"Matagal pa ba yan? I got an appointment at five." Putol ni Lauren sa mahabang litanya ng babae.

"........"

"You're just jealous." Saad ni Irish di kalaunan

"Irish.." saway ni Esteban sa babae

"Hmmmp." Irish

"Irish did you do your make up before you visit? I cant believe you miss coloring books this much." Puna ni Lauren

"What did you just say?!" Irish

Tumikhim si Esteban.. "You don't seem to be in a good mood Lady Lauren. Why don't we take a walk outside?"

Kahit si Irish ay naninibago..

"Oh? I love long walks! Specially when they are taken by people who annoy me. Please." Nakangiting saad ni Lauren sabay turo sa pinto

"Lauren what's gotten into you? Hmmp! Are you seriously picking a fight? Are you that bitter? Cant you just be happy for me?" Irish

"You think too highly of your self. I just don't have the energy to deal with the two of you at the moment.. Can you just go?" Saad nya, pinoproblema nya pa ang sarili nyang lovelife. Wala syang time problemahin ang lovelife ng iba.

"Do you hate me this much?" tanong ni Irish, acting pitiful all of a sudden.

"I never said I hate you.. But if you were drowning and I have a rope, I will probably throw both ends just to see your reaction." Nakangiting tugon ni Lauren

"You!" Irish

"Lady Lauren you're going a bit too far." Esteban

"Am I?" inosenteng tanong ni Lauren

"Yes!" galit na saad ni Irish.. Itinulak nya ng malakas si Lauren.

Someone caught her and steadied her from behind.

"Are you okay?" tanong ng isang matangkad na binata. Malalim ang boses nito na tila isang karagatan.

Agaw pansin ang bright hazel eyes ng binata. It's almost the color of gold.

Itim ang kulay ng buhok nito.

Matipuno ito at may magandang tindig.

Walang kapintasan ang kanyang muka.

He look so divine.

Like a god who descended from heaven.

"Lance.."

~~~~~~~~~