𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐍 (𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦)
ιℓℓυѕтяαтє∂ ву яαмєη αятѕ

𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝟓𝟎 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐑𝐀

I let out a sigh as I entered my room. Upon entering, a new bouquet greeted me. This is the sixth time I have received a bouquet and cake from Damian. Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo dahil masarap at maliit naman ang cake.

I couldn't help but stare at the cake's box because it looked fancy. It looked like the box was made with shiny paper and a big bow on top. Hindi ko pa nabubuksan ang cake ay alam kong mamahalin ito.

What's on my mind is why he keeps giving me these things. He even gave me an expensive necklace last week.

"Saan ko naman kaya uli ilalagay ito?" I whispered to myself. Hawak ko sa bisig ko ang puti't kulay orange na pusa. Habang ang itim na pusa nama'y umaakyat sa paanan ko.

To be honest, this is my first time receiving a bouquet of flowers because I have never received one in my whole life. Una sa lahat ay NBSB ako at kahit kailan ay hindi ako pumasok sa seryosohang relasyon. Dala na rin ng pagsama ng tatay ko sa kabit niya.

I appreciate Damian's effort but this is new to me. I first received chocolates and letters from men in this world, It was from Arthur. Hindi ko alam kung normal bang magbigay ng bulaklak ang isang lalaki. He started acting this way after I marked him.

Napaisip ako habang nakatitig sa bulaklak na nakapatong sa side table ng kama ko. Ang daming laman ng isip ko't pagod din ako pagkatapos ng training. I stare at the wooden sword on top of my bed. Minasahe ko ang pulsuhan ko dahil mabigat ang wooden sword na kasalukuyang pinapagamit sa akin nila Val.

"Ano'ng gagawin ko? Hindi ko alam kung paano ko i-aapproach si Travis tungkol sa woman's mark. Awkward kaya. Parang tropa na kami, Garfield." I talked to the orange's cat. Hanggang ngayon ay laman pa rin ng isip ko na bigyan ng mark si Travis kapalit ang power niya.

However the orange cat hissed when I called him Garfield. Namilog na lamang ang mga mata ko dahil talagang pinakita pa niya ang mga pangil niya sa akin. Napanguso ako't sinubukang haplusin siya pero tinaas niya ang paw niya't akmang kakalmutin ako.

"Char ko lang! Nangangalmot ka naman diyan! Pikon ang baby na 'yan?" Paglalambing ko pero walang epekto. Napatalon ako dahil mukhang badtrip siya sa pagtawag kong Garfield sa kaniya. The orange's body language's tells that he's offended.

The black cat hissed when it saw the orange cat hurting me. Tumalon naman si white cat at nagrambulan silang tatlo. Napakamot na lang ako sa noo habang pinapanood silang mag-away. Ang ingay pa nilang tatlo kaya napasapo na lang ako sa noo.

"This is hopeless," I whispered as I watched them. I let them be, but I got startled because the black cat was very aggressive. The black cat jumped into my arms. I quickly caught and hugged it.

I let the black cat lay on top of my lap, and I scratched its belly as it purred. Para hindi na maingay ang dalawa'y binigyan ko na lang sila ng tig-iisang jelly stick. Nanahimik naman ang dalawang pusa kaya hinayaan ko na rin sila. I sighed as all of the cats calmed down.

''Stress ako. Laruin ko muna itlog mo ha.'' I whispered to the black cat lying on my lap and squeezed its ball. Natawa ako dahil agad pa itong napadilat na para bang nagulantang sa ginawa ko.

''Meow! Meow!'' Lumingon ako sa likod nang marinig ko naman ang puting pusa. It lay on the floor and showed me its balls, inviting me to squeeze them.

I just shook my head in disbelief because this white cat was so naughty. At the same time, the orange cat is busy stealing the white cat's jelly stick.

''Naughty naughty ka! Ninanakaw na food mo!'' I chuckled. Wala na akong nagawa at kiniliti na lang ang belly niya.

The white cat raised his paw and guided it through its balls. Pinisil-pisil ko na lang at itlog ng puting pusa habang nag-iisip. Nang makuntento na ako'y umayos ako ng upo't humarap sa maliit na salamin.

I released my tight bun, and my long silky hair fell down. I simply ran my fingers through my hair to comb it. Pinatig ko ang mga nagliliparang insekto na hindi ko alam kung saan galing. Nalukot ang mukha ko dahil hindi ko napansin na may gasgas na pala ang mga kamay ko't braso.

This is what I got from being trained on how to hold a wooden sword. I haven't seen Uno's power yet. Ang sabi lang sa akin ni Val ay kailangan ko munang matutunan. This afternoon, Arthur will train me. Ang sabi nila'y gusto rin raw ni Anthonus. But everyone disagreed because they told me that he was brutal.

Natigil uli ang muni-muni ko dahil may insekto nanamang dumaan sa mukha ko. Hinawi ko ito't sinundan kung saan sila nanggagaling. I didn't realize that I left a window open.

I sighed and gently placed the black cat from my lap onto my chair. Tumayo ako't pumunta sa bintana upang isara ito at habang abala ako'y nakaramdam ako ng presensya mula sa aking likod.

I was supposed to look behind me when I felt someone hugging me from behind. My eyes widened when I saw, through the reflection in the window, that it was Damian who was hugging me from behind.

"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked. Humigpit ang pagkayakap niya sa akina ng ramdam ko ang panginginig ng boses niya. "I thought we had something special since that day.''

Napaiwas ako ng tingin dahil naintindihan ko na kung bakit lagi siyang nagpapadala ng mga bulaklak sa akin. He thought that we had something when we kissed, and I marked him? Wala akong sinabi't mukhang hindi niya naintindihan kung hanggang saan lang kami.

''Listen, I'm sorry but—''

''Don't.'' His voice broke. His hands were just wrapped around my neck. ''If you are just going to say that you didn't mean it that way, don't talk, please—'' He cleared his throat.

I took a deep breath and that's when he buried his face on my shoulder. I closed my lips and let him be. Seconds later, my shoulder became wet and I heard him quietly crying.

"Why are you crying?" I whispered. Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko habang magkasalubong ang mga kilay. Hindi ko alam kung may nagawa ba ako't umiiyak siya. Why is he crying at the first place?

"Don't go away from this town and marry me instead," his voice cracked. "Marry me. I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."

Lumawag ang pagkayakap niya sa akin kaya naman ay humarap na ako sa kaniya. Was he serious when he said that he would marry me instead? I don't know where this is coming from, but I don't want him to get the wrong idea. I only kiss men to save them. I only do it to mark them.

"Damian. I'm sorry if—"

"Don't," he whispered helplessly. "Don't slap into my face that you don't feel the same."

My eyes widened when I saw his face. He looked at me with pained eyes. I couldn't say anything. His hands shook as his knees gave way and he fell to the floor. Nakaluhod siya't lumuluha habang nakahawak pa rin sa mga kamay ko.

Humugot ako ng isang malalim na buntong hininga habang nakatingin sa kaniya. "Damian, I didn't know that—" I shrieked when he pulled my hand. Pati ako ay napaluhod na rin sa sahig.

Pinaglakihan ko siya ng mga mata at inalalayan ko na lang tumayo hanggang sa mapaupo ako sa kama. He was left standing in front of me. Lumuhod uli siya sa harap ko habang nakaupo ako't hinawakan ang aking mga kamay. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng nangyayari.

Damian's eyes were also red from crying. Everything is so messy. His hands were shivering while holding mine.

He kept whispering that it was his first time feeling this way, and he felt confused. May mga binubulong siya na halos hindi ko na maintindihan dahil tunog ngo-ngo na siya dahil sa sipon. The orange cat hissed at him.

''I'm sorry.'' Sa dami ng mga sinabi niya ay 'yon lamang ang mga nasabi ko habang nakaupo sa kama. Nakayuko lang siya habang hawak ang kanan kong kamay. Nakapatong ang noo niya sa kamay ko.

''But Damian, I think I'm not the right person for you. Makakahanap ka ng taong kayang suklian ang nararamdaman mo—"

''Be my Mistress.'' Naramdaman ko ang walang tigil na pagtulo ng luha niya sa akin. My lap is also getting wet. I don't know what else I should explain. Naiwan akong nakatitig sa kaniya ngunit nakayuko lang siya habang walang tigil ang iyak at pulang-pula ang mukha.

''What's a Mistress?'' I asked in a low voice.

"A town leader's mistress can be someone who is either the town leader's wife or not. You can take all my belongings, including land. You can even take my position and wealth. And if you decide that you don't want to be my wife, you can leave me alone." Damian sounded desperate.

''Sinasabi mo bang gamitin na lang kita? Hindi ako gano'ng babae, Damian. May respeto ako sa sarili ko at sa ibang tao,'' I whispered. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko.

"I'm begging. Stay here in my town. Ibibigay ko lahat ng gusto mo't hihilingin mo," he whispered desperately.

While still holding my hand with his free hand, he placed it on top of my hand and kissed my pulse. Napabuntong hininga ako dahil tuwing nagsasalita ako ay hindi niya ako pinatapos. I sighed. Tumingin ako sa gilid at nakita kong tahimik na natutulog ang tatlong pusa.

''Damian, I already told you my answer,'' I whispered in a low tone.

Tinikom ko ang mga labi ko nang umangat ang tingin niya habang nakadampi ang pulsuhan ko sa pisngi niya. His face was filled with dry tears and his eyes were very red.

''How about friends with benefits? Use me, woman. Just use me. If you want. Handa akong magpagamit sa iyo sa kahit ano'ng paraan. 'Wag ka lang mawala.'' He whispered once again.  I felt a pain in my chest because the Damian I know doesn't act this way. Hindi ko na siya makilala.

Tila nanikip ang dibdib ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. I wondered if my mother had kneeled in front of my father on the night he left us for his mistress. Ganito rin ba umiyak si mama tuwing gabi? Does she question her worth every night? Is she willing to stoop low just for my father to love her like he used to?

Kulang pa ang mga daliri ko sa paa't kamay para bilangin kung ilang beses pinatawad ni mama si papa tuwing nahuhuli niya itong nambababae. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses kong nakita si mama magmakaawa kay papa na 'wag niya kaming iwan.

I first witnessed Mom begging on her knees when I was ten. I was a child, but I knew. I was a child, but I wasn't a fool. I understood what I was seeing.

They said love will bring out the best version of you. If it does, then why does it turn you into the most pathetic person instead?

''Is it Anthonus?''

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko dahil sa sinabi niya. He was staring at me while still holding my hand, but I looked away. I don't know why Anthonus was the first person that came to his mind.

"What's about Anthonus?" I asked, keeping my tone nonchalant. Napaiwas lang din ako ng tingin at napalunok.

Damian took a deep breath and licked his lower lip. He stared at my hand as if he were thinking of saying what was on his mind. Nanahimik ako dahil ang totoo ay alam ko naman kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"I've noticed it. Your eyes sparkle whenever you look at Anthonus." His voice is filled with pain. Even his eyes are overflowing with sorrow. I parted my lips because I wanted to defend myself. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang mga sinasabi niya?

Did I hear it right? My eyes sparkle whenever I look at Anthonus? Hell no—

"You're wrong—"

"I don't care if you love someone. But he doesn't have a woman's mark, right? You never kissed him. You never... but I heard you slept with him before Cohen's birthday... and—" Tinikom niya ang mga labi niya at saglit na napaisip. Namuo uli ang mga luha sa gilid ng mga mata niya.

"I am sorry, I know I look pathetic. It hurts me. I don't know why, it hurts—" Damian's voice broke. Binugbog niya ang dibdib niya habang lumuluha.

I took a deep sigh because I didn't know why my heart was pounding so fast. Hinawakan ko na lang mga kamay ni Damian para pinigilan siya. What did he mean by that? Kailangan ko bang magpa-check ng mata?

"Did you despised me because I used to be harsh with you? But I heard from others that Anthonus is harsh at you too. Narinig ko nga na iniwan ka niya mag-isa bago kayo pumunta sa Tibbanus." I can't do anything but to stare at him. Hindi aki nagsalita kaya naman ay nalukot ang mukha niya at hinigpitan ang hawak sa mga kamay ko.

"Did you know about the rumor in the Palace? The King favored Arthur more because everyone said Anthonus was brutal. And he insisted on training you. No. I won't let him... just stay here, please?" Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay ko habang nakatitig sa akin.

"And you don't need to be Uno's Host. You will only live as a fine woman. You won't need to travel to save men. Just be my woman. Just stay by my side." He stopped. He kissed my hand once again. Garalgal ang boses niya't halos hindi ko na rin maintindihan. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako.

To be honest, this is my first time of encountering a man crying, on his knees in front of me. Hinayaan ko siyang magsalita hanggang sa mapaos siya. Hinayaan ko siyang sabihin lahat ng gusto niya hanggang sa mapagod siya. Alam ko naman kasi na kapag magsasalita lang ako ay sarado ang isip niya.

Someone knocked on the door and that's when I saw Callen with Sayge. It felt very awkward because Damian was still in his position, kneeling while holding my hand while I was sitting on the bed. Umiwas sila ng tingin sa akin na para bang hindi alam ang gagawin.

"I—We... are sorry for interrupting but we received a petition from Ehmyr." Halos hindi makatingin sa akin si Callen. Meanwhile Sayge is staring at Damian. Halata sa tingin niya na parang alam niya kung ano ang nangyayari.

Damian stopped talking and just stood up. He didn't care if he looked like a mess and didn't even wipe his tears. When it comes to work, Damian will also take action. My forehead creased. Iba kasi ang tingin na pinupukol sa akin nila Callen at Sayge.

"Did she know about the petition?" Damian asked, and all three of them turned to look at me. Obvious naman na tungkol sa akin ang pinag-uusapan nilang tatlo.

"What petition?" I interrupted.

"Travis is outside to discuss with you." It was Sayge who answered me. Tumango ako bilang tugon at inayos ang sarili. I stare at the three cats peacefully sleeping at the corner. Siguro ay iiwan ko na lang muna sila rito.

Tulala't wala pa rin kasi sa sarili ni Damian. I didn't know why I suddenly feel guilty. Normal ba ng maramdaman ito kapag first time mo mag-reject ng isang tao? Even though I rejected him, he still insisted that I could use him instead.

Hindi naman na tama 'yon dahil una sa lahat ay hindi naman mga bagay ang tao para gamitin.

As they had told me, Travis was waiting outside. Wala rin namang imik ang grupo ni Damian kaya mas minabuti ko na ring manahimik. I was so tired this week. Hindi lang ang katawan ko ang pagod kun'di pati na rin ang isip ko.

"Kamusta training, mhie?" As usual, Travis is holding his spell book. Hindi lang 'yon dahil may hawak din siyang isang makapal na aklat.

"Ayos lang," I paused. "Ngayong hapon si Arthur naman ang kasama ko. Alternate raw sila ni Val kasi abala raw si Flame sa kusina."

"Ah." He nodded.

Nalukot na lang ang mukha ko dahil tahimik siya magdamag. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan kami pupunta. I was planning on telling him that I wanted to mark him. But it looks like he wasn't in good mood.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

Saglit siyang umiwas ng tingin at mukhang pinag-iisipan niya pa kung dapat ba niyang sabihin sa akin ang problema niya. Hindi naman ako namimilit ng tao't sa akin lang ay baka ako na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila okay.

"I was worried because of Emhyr's petition. What is your point of view? Let's say that he can shift his physical appearance into that of a fine-grown man, and he is much more mature than his age suggests. However, in reality, he is still a child." Tumagal ang titig sa akin ni Travis.

His gaze intensifies, causing my forehead to furrow. It appears that Ehmyr's petition is somehow connected to me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ayaw nila akong diretsuhin. Ayaw kong magmukhang tanga.

"The petition has something to do with me, right? It's very obvious," I said frankly.

"Ehmyr wrote a 5-page petition stating that he deserved a woman's mark, yet we are still waiting for Uno's feedback." Hindi na ako nagulat sa nalaman ko dahil halata namang ganito ang gagawin ni Ehmyr. 

He isn't an ordinary kid. He's smart, thus smarter than most men in this world. Napahilot na lang ako ng sentido dahil tiyak na ipapabasa nila sa akin ang mga sinulat ni Ehmyr kapag nadiskubre nilang nakuha ko ang kapangyarihan ni Travis.

''A 5-page, back-to-back handwritten petition? Narinig ko sa iba,'' I told him. Tumango siya sa akin bilang sagot. Saglit kaming huminto dahil dumaan sila Val at Flame. Hindi nila ako tinapunan ng tingin at wala namang kaso sa akin dahil abala sila sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

''Yes.'' Travis paused. ''Back-to-back. Hindi ko ba alam kung bakit siya masyadong nagmamadali. According to Uno, Ehmyr started in his petition that he has a disease. He might die at any moment.'' 

"This goes against my personal principles. Alam mo ba na nakukulong ang mga nasa mundo ko mapa-babae man o lalaki kapag pumatol sa minor. He's a kid.'' Napasinghap ako dahil hindi alam ang gagawin. Tumagal ang titig sa akin ni Travis. 

''I still have your camera, the instax.'' He randomly told me. ''Ikaw bahala kung ano'ng gusto mong gawin kay Ehmyr. It's your decision that we will follow...''

The moment Travis turned his back to read something, I slowly held the Heat Essence hidden in my pocket. I had never used this. I intended to use half for Travis and half for Ehmyr. I needed to mark Travis as soon as possible.

There are only three of them who don't have a woman's mark. Travis. Ehmyr. Anthonus. Sa tatlo ay alam kong mahihirapan ako kay Anthonus. He acts different when drunk. What if pa-inumin ko na lang ng Gin C2 at Red Horse?

I just shook my head at what was happening. Is Ehmyr really that serious about getting a mark? He's too young. Are they suggesting that I make out with a 14-year-old?

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘥...

WILL YOU ALLOW EHMYR TO HAVE A WOMAN'S MARK? 𝗪𝗛𝗬 / 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗡𝗢𝗧?  COMMENT BELOW.