Her

"Arabelle!" Reklamo ni Aston sa labas.

I breathe heavily and calmed myself down. Breathe in, breathe out. Calm you heart, Arabelle. Calm yourself.

"Kanina pa nag-aantay iyong Carter na 'yon!" Kinatok muli ni Aston ang pinto ng kuwarto ko kaya napapikit na ako at kinalma ang nagwawalang puso.

I checked myself on the mirror again. I was wearing a yellow shirt and jeans with a white jacket and white scarf. To be honest, I don't look stylish at all because of my scarf but I need to cover it up!

"Arabelle?!" Malakas na kumalabog ang pinto kaya napatalon ako.

"L-Lalabas na!" Mahina kong sigaw at tinakbo na ang pinto para mabuksan ang pintuan.

Nakakunot ang noo ni Aston at halatang iritado na siya. He was wearing an equestrian outfit with a white long sleeve and black vest and gloves. May helmet na rin siya pangkabayo kaya iritang-irita na siya sa akin dahil halatang excited ito.

"Bilis!" Tinalikuran niya ako at nagmartsa na palabas ng bahay namin.

"Bakit ganyan ang suot mo?" Habol ko sa kaniya kaya nakakunot ang noo siyang bumaling sa akin.

"Ang guwapo ko kaya!"

"I mean . . ." I shook my head and sighed. "'Di ba sinabi mong bibisitahin natin si Papa pagkatapos? Ganyan ang isusuot mo kapag nasa ospital tayo?" Sabay baba ko ng tingin sa suot niya.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad nang maalala iyon. I sighed, he forgot his promise!

"Oo." He shrugged it off and continued walking.

Tahimik naman akong sumunod sa likod niya. Nang makalabas kami ay isa lang ang kabayong nakita ko. Tinanggal ni Aston ang tali ng kabayo sa isang sang at tumalon para makasakay. I looked around to find for my horse but there was none.

"Anong hinahanap mo diyan? Isa lang tayo ng kabayo." Si Aston na siyang nagpagulat sa akin.

"Marunong na—"

"I'm your fiancé. Lahat ng gusto ko, susundin mo." Putol niya sa akin.

My lips parted out of shock. Malamig naman siyang nakatingin sa akin sa baba, tila ba alipin niya lang ako at dapat ay matuwa pa ako na makakasakay ako sa kabayo dahil sa kaniya.

I want to curse him. To slap him. To hit him. To roll my eyes at him. To give him my middle finger. But I decided to choose the rational decision and hopped on the horse behind him. Nahirapan pa ako kaunti sa pagsakay dahil matangkad ang kabayo pero nagawa ko naman sa huli habang siya ay naghihintay lang sa akin. Nilingon niya ako nang makasakay na ako sa likod niya.

"Kapit ka." Aniya sabay patakbo ng kabayo.

Kumapit ako sa damit niya at nagbuga ng malakas na hangin. Kung si Adam pa 'to, tiyak akong ipapasakay niya ako sa harap at hahawakan ang baywang ko sa buong biyahe para lang hindi ako mahulog. Pero hindi ito si Adam at wala na akong pake sa kaniya!

Tumigil kami sa isang malawak na lupain, the ground was full of green grass while the sky was warm from the sun, not to hot, but not to dim. Madami ring punong nakapalibot at malakas ang huni ng mga ibon. There was a big land in front of us and it has many horse obstacle course, there was a fence that separates the course from the audience, and a bunch of bench for us to sit.

This must be one of Aston's father's property or his uncle's I guess? Sa dami ng lupang pagmamay-ari nila rito sa probinsya ng Casa Cantatio, hindi na ako magtataka kung ipagmamalaki niyang sa kaniya 'to.

"Lupa niyo 'to?" Kyuryoso kong tanong.

Umiling si Aston kaya nagulat ako. Nakita niya ang gulat sa mata ko kaya nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin.

"Sa mga Carter 'to, pero mas madami pa rin naman akong lupain kaysa do'n." Bawi niya, akala niya siguro masisilaw ako sa lupa lang.

He don't need to try to impress me. Kahit gaano pa siya kayaman, sa iisang tao lang tumitibok ang tanga kong puso.

"Aston! Ayos na ba ang paa mo?" A group of men approached him, maybe his batchmates, some were wearing the same equestrian outfit as him, mukhang makikikarera rin.

"Maayos na! Maipapanalo ko 'to!" He said haughtily, I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

Binalingan ako ni Aston kaya napaayos ako ng tayo at nagpanggap na ngumiti sa kanila nang balingan nila ako. Aston wrapped his arms around my shoulder and pulled me close to him.

"Oh! Kumukha niya nga si Cara!" Puna ng isa niyang kasamahan.

My heart thumped loudly against my chest as my lips quievered in nervousness. I pulled myself together and pretended to be shock.

"Siya pala iyong fiancée na pinagmamalaki mo? Maganda nga!" Komento ng isa, I thank him for changing the topic at instant.

"Ako pa? Siyempre, kapag guwapo ako, maganda dapat mapapangasawa ko para hindi pangit ang anak!" Halakhak niya kaya humalkhak din sila, I shivered in fear as I try to imagine what he said.

No way! Just by thinking of his kids, I know they'll be as narcissist as him! Hindi ko yata kakayanin ang bagyo araw-araw!

"Oh! Nandiyan na ang may-ari!" Sigaw ng isa kaya nahati ang grupo sa dalawa para makadaan ang bagong kararating lang.

When a familiar blue eyes met mine, my heart fell on the ground as it bounced loud against a cold metal, its sound revarbrating every corner of my insides that I felt suffocated and deaf from every single word they make.

"Arabelle?"

Gulat akong napabaling kay Aston nang mapagtantong kanina niya pa pala ako tinatawag.

"H-Huh?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin sabay sulyap sa kararating lang na lalake. Malakas pa ang kalabog ng puso ko pero hindi ko ipinakita sa mukha ko ang kabang naidudulot ng presensya niya. I pretended to be confused, on why he called me. Nagtaas naman ng kilay sa akin si Aston sabay pulupot ng braso niya sa balikat ko. I turned to Adam and saw how his eyes traced the arm on my shoulder.

His eyes darkened.

"Carter! Kamukha niya nga ang fiancée ko!" Si Adam kaya ngayon ko lang napagtanto ang babaeng katabi niya, it was Cara who pretended to be shock.

I gasped, pretending to be shock too.

Nanatili naman ang tingin sa akin ni Adam. I shifted uncomfortably and I know they noticed his stare too.

"Nagulat siguro siya na totoo ang sinasabi ko!" Tawa ni Aston kaya natawa rin sila.

Nanatili namang seryoso si Adam. His usual black mask was on there and they were all used to it, except me. Maybe because I was used to seeing him without mask on?

"Adam Benjamin Carter." Napatalon ako sa gulat nang maglahad siya bigla ng kamay sa harap ko.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Nakita ko ang pagbaling ni Aston sa kamay ni Adam na nakalahad sa akin. He pulled me closer to him and squeezed my shoulder, I saw how Adam's eyes swiftly passed through his hand on my shoulder and went back to my eyes. His blue eyes stared seriously at me, hindi ko mabasa ang emosyon sa mukha niya.

"A-Arabelle Solace." Nanginginig kong sabi sabay tanggap ng kamay niya.

He squeezed my hand, I clenched my fist. Matagal na nakahawak ang kamay niya sa akin kaya bago pa nila mapansin ay ako na ang kumalas sa pagkakayakap ng palad namin. I swiftly glared at him and I knew he saw it.

"Kilala ko na si Cara." Si Aston kaya gulat ko siyang binalingan, sumulyap sa akin si Aston sabay sabi, "hindi ba't ikaw ang kasama ni Adam noong birthday ko?" Dagdag niya.

My eyes widened when I saw the confusion on Cara's face. Ngayon ko lang napansin na may babae na palang katabi si Adam, she was wearing a pink floral strap dress, her paper white skin can be seen and for a moment, I envied her, how she can confidently show her skin while I cannot, because I was afraid someone might see my scar.

"Yes." Si Adam ang sumagot sabay hawak sa siko ni Cara, my eyes went down on his hands that he immediately removed it.

He cleared his throat, nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at nagtama ang mata namin. He raised his brow at me and stopped his smirk. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil sa lihim na mensaheng namamagitan sa aming dalawa, it felt illegal.

"Magpustahan tayo?" Sabi pa ng isa kaya bumaling ako sa lalakeng nagsalita. He was wearing the same attire as Aston.

"Adam na 'yan!" Sabi noong isa.

"Aston!"

"Magkano ba?"

"20k ha!" Sabi noong nag-aya ng pustahan.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi. Puwede nang pambayad sa bill ni papa 'yan!

"Adam pre!"

"Aston!"

Bumaling ako kay Aston na nakangisi lang habang pinagmamasdan sila. He looked so proud and confident.

"Hindi ba sila sasali?" Taka kong tanong kaya napabaling siya sa akin, nanatiling nakaakbay ang kamay sa balikat ko.

"Hindi sila sumasali kapag kasama na kaming dalawa. They knew they'll lose. Pagkatapos siguro namin sila magpapaligsahan." He haughtily answered.

"Pwedeng sumali?" Tanong ko.

"No." Nagulat ako nang may boses na sumabat, it was Adam who was watching us with indifference!

Gulat si Aston na bumaling sa lalake pero nanatiling nakatitig sa akin ang lalake, my heart doubled, afraid Aston might think of something else.

"Oo nga naman!" Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang balingan ako ni Aston. "You're a girl! Halata naman na matatalo ka kaya huwag na!" Dagdag niya.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him. Pinilit kong ngumiti at tumango kaya ningisihan lang ako ni Aston sabay baling sa lalakeng nakakunot na ang noo. He looked irritated, while Cara beside her was chatting with a woman she knew.

"Let's go. Papaupuin na kita." Tulak sa akin ni Aston kaya nagpatianod ako, hindi ko na muling sinulyapan ang lalake dahil ramdam ko na ang sama ng tingin niya amin.

Kasalanan mo. Bakit mo kasi ako pinakawalan?

I slapped myself using my imaginary hand. Hindi tama ang iniisip ko! I sighed and sat on a wooden bench Aston made me sit to. May kasama rin akong ibang mga babaeng naghahagikhikan. Sinulyapan ko sila at nakitang nasa kay Adam ang mga mata nila.

"Ang guwapo kahit may sagabal." Narinig kong bulong ng isa.

"I think he looked good on his mask! It made him more mysterious!" The other one giggled.

"Feel ko mahuhulog panty ko kapag nakita ko buong mukha niya! Halatang guwapo eh!"

I scoffed and shook my head. Binalingan ko si Adam na kausap na ngayon gn seryoso si Cara, tila ba pinapaalalahan ang babae kung ano ang dapat gawin niya.

"May nakakita na ba ng mukha niya?"

"I don't think so. You know Evelyn? She said he fucked with mask on."

"Oh! What? That's more thrilling! Gusto ko tuloy masubukan! I think I'll be able to remove his mask if he fucks me!"

"Tumitigil daw 'yon kapag hinahawakan ang mukha kaya huwag na! You'll get disappointed because you won't be able to reach ecstasy!"

"So he's a cheater? Akala ko ba sila ni Cara?" Sabat ng isa.

I shifted uncomfortably on my seat as I glared at nothingness. Aston as busy taking all the compliments from his batch mates while Adam was still talking to her.

"I heard rumors na everything was just to deceive his father and the people around his father?"

"Basta ako wala akong pake if taken siya o hindi!" Sabi ng isa.

I rolled my eyes at them. Ang sarap pagsalitaa ang kaso lang ang pangit ng boses ko, baka maliitin lang nila ako. I sighed and removed the thoughts off my head.

"Magsisimula na!" Sabi ng isang lalake.

Napabaling ako sa kung nasaan sila, I saw Cara who was walking near me, kumunot naman ang noo ko at umusog para bigyan siya ng mauupuan but she past through me. I mentally rolled my eyes at her and focused my attention on the field. Aston and Adam was on the starting line.

There are various jump hoarse course, madaming pole ang nakaplastar para talunan ng mga kabayo. Malaki rin ang field pero hindi kasing laki ng mga nakikita ko sa telebisyon na paligsahan. Mukhang mahirap ang labanan dahil ang mga kabayo nila ay may breed, they're bigger than a local horse. I saw a man sitting with a table and paper in front of him, mukhang siya ang magiging judge?

I guess this informal game is serious? Ano ba ang premyo nito?

Pride?

Bumaling ako sa dalawang lalake. Ngayon ko lang naobserba si Adam, he was wearing a white long sleeve polo and they were folded up until his elbow. Ang unang dalawang butones din ay nakabukas and he looked good with those boots and beige pants. His hair was in a messy style and he looked serious, incredibly roughly handsome.

He must've noticed my stare that he looked at me, our eyes met and I saw how his pupils dilated. My heart pounded loud and I avoided my gaze off him.

"Anong premyo nito?" Tanong ng isang lalakeng nakaupo sa isang upuan katapat namin.

"There's no price! Just playing for fun!" Tawa ni Aston.

"Each other's horse." Si Adam.

"What?" Gulat na bumaling si Aston kay Adam.

Nagtaas naman ng kilay ang lalake sa gulat na Aston. It was as if he was asking him if he's not confident.

"Ang matatalo, uuwi na walang kabayo." Sabi niya pa.

"Pero kabayo lang ang dala ko! Paano ako makakauwi?" Reklamo ng lalake.

He smirked and Aston realized what he said. It was as if he knew he'll lose.

"Okay then!" Bumaling si Aston sa harap at tinanguan ang referee.

The game started. Una si Aston. On the first course, his jump was smooth, it was almost perfect. Sunod-sunod din ang perpektong paglanding ng kabayo niya kaya napapalakpak ang iba, kabilang ako. I saw someone scoffing kaya sinulyapan ko siya and I caught him glaring at me.

Now it was Adam's turn. Kinakabahan akong pinagmasdan siya and I held my breath along with the audience when his land was . . . perfect! Not almost, but literally perfect! Lahat ng talon, walang palya. Lahat napalakpak, maliban sa akin. My heart was pounding loud that I couldn't even move my hands to clap.

Nakita kong sumulyap siya sa akin at nagtama ang mata namin. His brows furrowed when he saw me not clapping for him, nag-iwas ako ng tingin at bumaling sa ibang direksyon.

For the second course, it was harder than the first one. May mas mataas na tatalunan ang kabayo at mukhang mas mahirap at delikado ito. Aston's land was a little bad and not smooth, dahil siguro nasagi ng paa ng kabayo niya ang pole kaya mas kinabahan ako para kay Adam.

However, Adam's land was as smooth as hell. May mga napatayo, mayroon ding napasigaw, but I remained seated on my chair.

Bumaling sa akin ang lalake at nagtama muli ang tingin namin. This time, I didn't avoid my stare. Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin dahil wala akong reaksyon, kung alam niya lang kung gaano kabilis ang takbo ng puso ko ngayon ay hindi ganyan ang magiging reaksyon niya.

But I wouldn't let him see it. That I still care for him. That my heart still beats for him.

Kaya nang magdeklara sila ng break, I stood and went to Aston to give him a water. Nakita ko ang pagmamasid niya sa bawat hakbang ko pero hindi ko siya binalingan.

I don't get it. Why is he acting like he was not the one who let me go?

🥀