Ruby Red Stone

Matapos ng naturang pagpupulong ay napagdesisyunan kong sumabay nalamang kay Lucien, I told him to drive me back to the coffee shop pero mukang may ibang plano ito dahil sa ibang daanan na pagawi ang sasayan.

"Where are you taking me?"

I asked, He smiled then just shrugged, my eyes shifter on our hands, he's still holding my hand, bigla tuloy akong naconcious. hindi tulad ng ibang babae ay magaspang ang kamay ko dahil sa mabibigat na trainig saka sanay ako sa mga mabibigat na gawain. Sinubukan kong bawiin ang kamay ko ngunit bago ko pa man magawa iyon ay pinigilan na ako ng lalaking ito.

"Don't....I still want to hold your hand.."

Sambit nito habang nasa daan parin ang kanyang paningin, nangunot ang noo ko roon.

"Hindi ka makakapag drive ng maayos kung hawak mo ang kamay ko."

Kunot noong sabi ko, Gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti sakanyang labi.

"It's okay, I'm good at multi tasking."

Ngisi nito sabay kindat na nagpanguso lamang saakin. medyo naguguluhan ako rito, yes his sudden confession got me shakin but fear is slowly consuming me.

"I'm hungry..."

Reklamo ko habang pinanonood nalamang ang mga dinaraanan namin, Lucien chuckled.

"Malapit naman na tayo."

Ngiti nito, I grinned playfully at him.

"How about eating you for lunch instead?"

I asked, saka marahang pinisil ang kamay niya, I saw his ears turned red as he stared darkly at me. He just sighed harshly making me chuckle.

"I want to enjoy this day with you Ruby, stop making me so damn hard just by your words."

Mariing sambit niyang nagpahalakhak nalamang saakin. Maya maya pa ay nakarating narin kami sa nasabing lugar, Nagtaas ako rito ng isang kilay.

"It's my friend's restaurant."

He said saka iginiya na ako papasok roon. The whole place has this relaxing ambiance, It's very peaceful, malamig at sariwa din ang simoy ng hangin. the whole place is made out of wood, ito yung tipo ng lugar na masarap tambayan.

Dibale masarap din naman ako....

Humanap kami ng pwesto, nagawi kami sa isang malawak na lake, may mga floating cabins doon kung saan kami nagtungo, I am so captivated by the beauty of this place, it makes me remember those good old days when our parents used to take us to our vacation house, ganitong ganito rin ang pakiramdam habang naroroon ka.

It's not actually just the place that makes you feel happy, it's also the warm feeling that the people you're with is giving you.

"Hey Luci!"

Salubong saamin ng isang lalaking sa palagay ko ay kaedaran lamang nito, kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siya si King Mercado, he's an actor. Yung leading man ng teleseryeng pinanonood lagi ni baby Zaniah.

Lumingon ito saakin at bahagyang natulala pa nang makita ako, that made me grin, Hindi rin nakaligtas saakin ang pagtalim ng tingin ni Lucien dito kasabay ng paghigpit ng hawak niya sa kamay ko, Napangiti nalang akong umiling.

"This is my friend King, he owns this place, King this is my girlfriend Ruby."

He said, he even highlighted the word girlfriend making me chuckle.

"U-Uhmm... hello, my name is King."

Nauutal at namumulang sambit nito, I said.

"Yeah sabi nga ni Lucien."

ngiti kong humawak sa braso ni Lucien nang mapansing karamihan sa mga babae roon ay nakatingin na sa gawi niya. I grinned, In your dreams bitches!

"I didn't know you have a girl friend, well last time we talked, you clearly told us that you'd rather die than to have one."

Tawa nito, Lucifer cleared his throat then licked his lower lips as he shifted his intense gaze on me.

"Because I haven't found her yet that time."

Lucien said cooly as he smiled at me, that made my heart flutter for a moment.

"Okay if you say so."

Ngiti ni King sala bumaling saakin.

"Just tell me if Lucien will ever hurt you, ako ang bahala sayo."

Kindat nito, I grinned.

"Nah, I's rather have the pleasure of killing him if ever thay happens."

I said then shrugged.

"I'm hungry already, don't you think we should go to our reserved cabin already?"

Lucien asked, King nodded in agreement.

"Oh yeah sure, this way bastard."

Tumingin ito sa gawi ko.

"And beautiful lady..."

Ngisi nito, hindi ko ito pinansin, Mas masayang makipaglandian kay Lucien, Napangiti nalamang ako sa naiisip. Lucien pulled me closer as we followed king to one of those floating cabins.

Nang maiwan kami nito ay nakasimangot parin si Lucien, He seems to be in foul mood, weird, hindi naman siya ganito kanina.

"Problem?"

I asked with my left eye brow raised at him, He sighed then shooked his head on me.

"Nothing."

Sagot ng huli, Maya maya pa ay may dumating na babae at lalaking pawang naka formal attire, mukang iyon ang uniporme ng staffs sa naturang Lugar. I rolled my eyes when I saw how the lady stared at my Lucien. Parang nadudurog ang garter ng panty nito sa paraan ng harap harapang pagtitug nito kay lucien, unfortunately lucien didn't even bother taking a glance, that made me grin, tinaasan ko ito ng isang kilay.

The guy with him asked us what is our order, seryoso lamang si Lucien.

"What do you want to eat?"

He asked, I smirked.

"You.."

I said smoothly then winked at him, nakakatawa lang ang priceless na reaksyon ng dalawang staffs na naroroon para kunin ang order namin, Lucien eyed me darkly as he sighed.

"I mean what do you want to order?"

He asked, I scanned the list of food they are serving in here, napansin kong puro sea foods ang putaheng sineserve nila rito, Napanguso ako.

"I can't choose, I like all of it."

I uttered, He smiled then gave me an amused expression.

"Then let's order all of their available dishes in here."

He said, my smile widened saka nakapangalumbabang tumingin sa gawi niya.

"Your treat?"

I asked, Lucien nodded at me.

"Yes."

He said simply, sheet sarap sa ears mga mare. Nang umalis na ang dalawa ay tinaasan ko si Lucien ng isang kilay.

"Type ka nung waitress kanina.."

Sabi kong nagpakunot ng noo sakanya, He gave me a blank expression.

"So?"

He said making me shrug.

"Share ko lang."

I said then rolled my eyes on him, natawa nalamang ito kalaunan ay bigla nanamang napasimangot.

"King is trying to flirt with you earlier."

Iritadong sambit niya.

"So?"

Balik kong tanong.

"Share ko lang din."

He said then also shrugged, sabay pa kaming napailing nito, I smiled saka pinatakan ng mabilis na halik ang kanyang labi.

"Don't worry, You're the only one whom I want to flirt with."

I said, bahagyang namula ang muka nitong nag iwas ng tingin.

"As if I'll let you flirt with other guys."

Sagot niyang nagpailing nalamang saakin.

"Karamihan nga ng mga babae rito kanina pa nakatingin sayo ehh... tignan mo naman, nakakaawa sila eh."

I commented, Lucien hissed.

"How would I do that when I couldn't even take my eyes off you?"

Biglaang banat nito, Ay wow marunong ng bumanat si gago. Kinilig naman ako... pero konti lang, ngumiti akong pinalo sya sa braso dahilan pera bahagya syang matawa.

"Kasalanan mo nag girl friend ka ng maganda eh."

Tawa ko, Lucien shooked his head, hinawakan nito ang magkabila kong pisngi at pinisil ito, ilang sandali pa itong tumingin saakin saka nakangiting ginawaran ako ng halik.

He then licked his lips then gaized at me intensely with that boyish grin plastered on his face, Napakagat ako saaking pang ibabang labi saka inaliw nalamang ang sarili sa magandang tanawin na makikita mula rito. Hiniram ko nalang din ang phone niya habang hinihintay ang order namin at nagselfie selfie roon, mas masaya kasing magselfie kapag hindi mo phone.

Nang dumating ang order namin ay halos tumulo na ang laway ko sa amoy palamang ng mga pagkaing nasa harapan namin. We started eating the food while happily enjoying each other's company. Looks like we both have huge apettite kaya naman ay naubos naming lahat iyon. Busog na busog tuloy ako.

Nagpahinga muna kami sa cabin at nagpababa ng kinain bago umalis sa cabin para maglibot libot muna, we took many selfies, ginawa ko ring siyang instant photographer, sya pa nga ang nag aayang kunan ako gamit ang phone niya, he seems energetic.

Nang mapagod kami ay lumisan na kami sa lugar na iyon, next time dadalhin ko doon si Emerald at Saphire kasama ng mga pamangkin ko, this is actually a great place. Nagtungo na kami sa sasakyan ni Lucien para bumalik na sana sa opisina ko dahil inaantok na ako at doon naman ako madalas matulog, pero imbis na doon ay sa ibang lugar niya ako dinala.

"This is also my house, Mas malapit kaya dito na kita dinala, you can sleep here if you want"

Sambit niya na mukang alam na kung anong itatanong ko, I smiled saka umupo sa malaking couch na naroroon, nagpahinga muna ako saglit at nanonood mula sa malaking tv niya sa living room. Tumulala lamang ako roon hanggang sa unti unti ay bumigat na ang talukap ng mga mata ko at tuluyan na nga akong lamunin ng kadiliman.

~~~

I let out a soft moan, isiniksik ko pa angsarili sa kung ano mang matigas na bagay itong yakap yakap ko, I felt a warm hand suddenly snaked on my waist as the cold wind coming from the window suddenly embraced my skin. Unti unti kong iminulat ang mata ko at bahagyang napangiti nang makita si Lucien sa tabi ko.

I tried to get up pero pinigilan ako nito.

"What time is it?"

I asked, napahikab pa ako nang tanungin iyon.

"It's just 5 pm love..."

He whispered on a sleepy tone, hindi na ako nagsalita pa, I just want to enjoy this moment, yung kahit sandali lang wala akong ibang inaalala. No organizations, No war, No enemies... it's just me... and him, together.

I sighed... sana ganun nalang kadali lahat.

"That night when you found out that I am red... why are you in that place?"

I asked, Lucien slowly opened his eyes dahilan para magkasalubong ang mga mata namin.

"I successfully gathered some information about you... I found about that you're a princess, your family is from a royal clan in italy, your birthday, Blood time, almost everything except your whereabouts, preaent picture and how did the past duke and dutchess died."

He explained making my head nod on him.

"Seems like you forgot to turn your gps off and I happened to want answers personally from you so I decided to just follow you and there I saw Red behind her mask."

Sambit niya, saglit kaming binalot ng nakabibinging katahimikan saka sya muling nagsalita.

"I honestly never wished you'd be red, I want to protect you, to take you away from danger... but would I do that if danger itself it the one following you?"

Lucien sighed.

"I secretly loved agent red for a long time, ir's just that she keeps on bugging me until one day I realized that I am already developing some feelings for her, that time I thought of stopping myself... but I just can't. maybe that's how Ruby got my attention, It's not just your eyes that resembles fire, but Ruby that reminds me Red a lot. At first I only see you as Red... But as time passes by, slowly I began seeing the real you. right now it doesn't matter any more, I guess I could fall for you, kahit paulit ulit pa, Kahit ilang katauhan mo pa ang makilala ko, I willl fall and fall again as long as it is you."

Sambit niyang bahagyang nagpabilis sa kanina pang nagwawala ng puso ko.

"I want to know you Ruby Red Stone Frescobaldi, every version of you."

Bulong niya, Naisubsob ko nalamang ang muka sa kanyang dib dib.

"My real name is Ruby Red Stone, I'm the eldest among the three of us, mas matanda ako ng isang oras sa dalawang mga panget na yun. saaming lahat ay ako lang ang nakamana sa mata ng great grandmother ng frescobaldi clan, the great dutchess Doctorina, she's once a soldier and became a great dutchess of italy with a pair of amber eyes that resembles fire.."

I was once a princess, I rule myself, I always excape, I actually have a bad reputation on the palace, but doesn't really mind those. I'm happy with my family, it's not perfect but were all happy... until 15 years ago nagumpisang manganib ang buhay naming lahat."

Tumingala akong sinalubong ang tinging ipinupukol saakin ni Lucien, mainit iyon at bahagyang nakapanghihina.

" Those bastards were threatening our parents na kailangang ipakasal daw ang isa saming tatlo sa isa sa mga anak ng leader nila sa oras na tumungtong kami sa tamang edad, then 5 years later we turned 18."

Natigilan ako nang maalala ang mapait na karanasang iyon.

" On our birthday our parents told us to escape on that same day nalaman ng mga taong iyon ang balak ng mga magulang namin, the three of us managed to escape but unfortunately our parents died, Ako ang nahuling lumabas kaya naman ay nagawa kong masaksikan kung paano nila binaboy ang mga magulang ko. What did they do to deserve that? Those people deserves to rot in hell.

Doon nag umpisa ang kalbaryo namin, Still shocked but managed to escape, sa mga panahong iyon ay unti unting nababalot ng galit ang puso ko. But right at that moment, I only want my sisters to be safe. Nang tumakas kami ay pinagdala kami ng maraming pera at mga fake papers para sa fake identites namin na mukang pinaghandaan nila bago pa man kami magdebut para makatakas sa mga taong iyon"

Looking back at the past... I can't help but get emotional, Humigpit ang yakap ni Lucien saakin.

"Humingi kami ng tulong kay, Lucas Ranaldi, He's our childhood friend and together with our cousin Nickolas Frescobaldi, tinulungan nila kaming tumakas. We have no choice, Nagkahiwa hiwalay kaming tatlo at napunta sa iba't ibang bansa at nagpalipat lipat ng lugar na titirahan, Mabuti nalamang ay nahanap ako ni Aunt lilia... She's my parents best friend that owns a non government justice organization, Doon ako napasok sa Phantom org... I begged her to make me an agent, gusto kong bigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng mga taong mahahalaga saamin at protektahan ang mga kakambal ko. I worked really hard, hinubog komg mabuti ang mga kakayahan ko, I want to be the best.

Until one day, our enemy managed to infiltrate the head quarters and got aunt lilia, I can't just sit and wait so I took the lead to rescue her. They all thought she's dead, she said she wants to retire already, kaya naman ay ipinasa niya saakin ang pamumuno sa buong organization... and using that power, I began moving forward...unti unti kong wawasakin ang mga kalaban ko, hanggang sa wala ng matira sakanila. "

Puno ng poot na pagsasalaysay ko, Lucien then kissed my forehead, Marahan nitong pinisil ang nakakuyom kong mga kamao at mahigpit na niyakap ako.

"I'll fight with you...I promise."