CHAPTER 16- THE MEMORY

A L E X

I can't sleep, I'm still overthinking. I left the room carrying the bunny with me and peeped out and inhaled the strong smell of brew and newly fresh bake bread. My scouts are outside, guarding the loads. I went to the bartender and sat down and order some finest wine they have. I flinched as I heard someone is growling, I can feel his warm breath. I slowly turned my shoulder and grin, ear to ear. A face of guilt after I just get caught. His nostrils flares. And those eyes are blazing in fire "Don't tell me you drink?"

"Well..." sa mundo ko yes. Beer pa nga e. Does a princess allowed to get some? "Can I get some..." The man handed me the wine but before I could taste it's lusciousness he snatch it out of my hand drank it at once and then snatch me from my seat carrying me like a kitten.

He put me  back to my room and he put me down the bed and withdraw his sword at me "Sleep! I can't bring you to my Empress when your drunk"

"Just a snitch naman... Okay di na" di pa ako natapos ng samaan niya ako ng tingin at tinulak Ang ulo ko at binalot ako sa kumot na parang lumpia. His standing beside the bed, crossing his arms above his chest, looking at me and It's uncomfortable. I move a little bit far from him and pressed my eyes close...

𝐻𝑒𝑦

𝐻𝑒𝑦

" Hey, Alex it's been a while..."

       A familiar voice was heard in the middle of nowhere and that made me stop and go back to the time that I was in the edge of insecurities. I rooted on my spot having a flashback in an instant; coming back to hunts me. His voice were ringing in my ears like a knives that keeps stabbing me for countless times. His voice were deafening. The memories are left somewhere behind my brain yet the pain still hurt like it just happen yesterday. A voice that keeps me wondering why, why?

         It's been years already since we officially broke up with him. It hurts but not like the first time. Terror creep my entire humanity in doubt seeing him from a few meters away, walking towards me and I slowly walked back. Avoid the toxicity of the air.

"Nathan" my voice were calm but there's a hint of hatred in it.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing much better, I'm busy, I need to rushed back" I said and turn my back

"Can we start again?" His voice makes me shivered, bones rattling and feel like a lightning strike me.

         I leaned on him, he look sad, I laughed because he crashed my entire soul like he buried me alive, I couldn't give empathy anymore. Maybe my chest had enough "Wag mo sabihin palpak ang pinagpalit mo. Deserve" it was like I mocked him. "I give my all to you, I lost everything, I lose a friend, I choose you, it's always you I was diehard. I worked my butt off. I couldn't even provide myself because I was In love, i almost loose my mind, you were everything to me Nathan and you took advantage of me. Do you think for a simple sorry would heal a broken glass? Hindi Diba? If only you took care of me just as I did back then, you'll never come back empty handed. I thought that day I found my Romeo but I was never your Juliet. And it's okay I learned that loving too much will turn to curse, a butterfly in a stomach is just nothing but poison"

"I was a fool"

"Oh you know now?" He walked towards me again and I stop him "stay where you are"

"Will you gave me second chance? Promise I'll make it up to you. You misunderstood the situation"

        I shushed him "I only trust promise when we go back in 1800's to 1900's, promises now are made in china" I chuckles and tuck my hair behind my ears "Seconds chance? Are you stupid it's more like a billions times I choose to be blind out of your sweet curse words that made me your pet, I was like a maid, maawa ka Naman sakin dinko Ako trinato ng tao noon Nathan, alis na ko it's almost curfew"

"Please" I rushed and embraced me, dati nakaramdam ako ng kilig ngayon para akong pinaglilibutan ng tinik. I released myself and shivered in disgust.

"Excuse me"

         In that gloomy night, it's the same night like this. I was on my way to my stupidness excitement to celebrate our tenth anniversary. I was a fool that night I spend all my money to prepare our special night. I sat down alone waiting for him and it didn't happen once, I know he was busy on his work.  I respect that.

        I was over the moon, to see him I even bought him gifts even he didn't gave me once, like the last time but it's okay. I know he was saving money for his future.

         I waited and waited and waited, No Nathan shows up. I leave a message to him and gave him the location of the restaurant. Maybe it's traffic so I still waited

         Nor even his shadow was seen. I left the restaurant in doubt, crying out of misery and regrets. The pain crush me entirely I could describe how much it hurts. It's like someone is slowly peeling my skin alive.

         That cold chilling night, makes my bone rattling, teeth were chattering. I sat down and the tears can't hold back and burst. I want to break something, I want to shout yet I can't. I'm dampening my chest. There's a thick lump on my chest and I tried to swallow it.

          I looked up and blink several times just to stop myself, and in that midst of doubt, a moon came out from those clouds, There was one star in particular that shone more than the rest. Like countless glitters were released from the universe. The star fiercely burning gives me a renewed vigor. Those celestial bodies were like speaking to me and that made me stop. I'm sniffling and wipe my tears away.

         At that moments my phone rang, he calls me, and he keeps saying the same words busy and as a coincidence, maybe God stop me from the toxic relationship. I saw him with his woman. I was shattered. Like a big cement slapped me until I bleed to death.

         Even he continuously make a reason, there was a star from above me, twinkling. It's like the heaven shower their empathy on me. And I realized I was a fool. God was indeed merciful and guided me, he gave me light out of misery and those void that keeps me loose my tract back home.

"Uuwi lang ako bukas promise I'll spend my entire day with yo.."

"Wag ka na mag abala baka magagalit pa siya.."

"Ano na naman yang sinasabi mo Alex"

"Don't worry I've seen enough you don't need to shout t me, I can hear you clearly right behind you" I said and he whirled around and saw me behind them, smiling.

         I finally accept it, I get it, he never love me. I didn't listen to anyone, they keeps saying that he was a red flag, but I never listen. And that was a good slapped for me. It's enough to beg, it's enough to be to much.  Even those excruciating memories won't dare  to kill me twice. The most important things is, I'll never loose myself again to please him. Kase kapag mahal niya ako dapat sana sa umpisa palang

*****

I feel a warm hand on my cheek and I woke up and saw Luna crest beside me. His hand is on my cheeks!! I rush and fell off the bed "What are you doing maniac?!"

"Maniac? I didn't even do anything"

"Then why are you touching me?"

".... You're crying in your sleep, why?"  I rubbed my head and sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Tagal na nun bat Naman napanaginipan kopa. Gagi talaga kadiri. Lumapit siya sakin at hinawakan Ang panga ko tsaka inangat nalang bigla "Why are you crying?" he looks so worried but I find it weird. My teeth was pressed together

"izz nan of ur business"

"What?"

"I zzed iz nanya beshnish!"

A knock on the door was heard and shrugged out of his grip "Your highness the ship is here"

"Ah coming!" he let go and I hastily grabbed my clothes.  Hurrying and I almost remove my clothes but thankfully I notice him in shocked and he turn his back. I heard a sighed of frustrations on him.

"Will you be cautious sometimes, you can't just rush something like that!"

"Sorry.."sinuot ko na Ang sapatos ko at nabigla naman siya ng hawakan ko kamay at hinatak ko siya pababa.

****

My eyes widen as I see such beautiful ship. The sail where drop down. I rush to the tip of the ship while holding a rope watching the beautiful dawn. And I felt a warm hand touch my wrist. I lean on him and he grab me by my waist and put gently me down.

"Be careful your highness.."

I felt butterfly on my stomach when he just grab me like that. "That touch" He turn his gaze away and saw his ears are burning.

"Sarap mo sanang sipain para mawala kana sa paningin ko"

"Bat mo di ginawa"

"Kakainin pa kita"

Napatikom Ako ng bibig ng marinig ko iyon. Namalicious minded ako ng wala sa oras. Tangna ka talaga Luna Crest. Wag ganon!

"Ang bastos mo Luna" I said and that left him confused. I went to the ratline and about to climb up and a saw a man on the crows nest and jump down, swaying on a rope and landed on the deck mast. He's giving a pirate vibes to me. He glanced up and wink at me. I didn't mind him and the sea gulls are flying on top of the ship.

I climb up and want to go to the crows nest and I reach something but the wind blows so hard and the sail move away and hand slipped, I fell, Negligence enough I didn't guard them. It was like the time is in slow motion; falling helplessly. The gravity keeps pulling me, I pressed my eyes close accepting my fate. And I can feel how my body crash on the body of the ship, feel those impact as it hit. But those scenario erased when someone save me, His grip was too tight and we're swaying on the rope, feeling the winds in my body and we landed on the deck mast while his carrying me like his bride. I'm startling and I demanded him to put me down.

My face turns red because his crews were shouting, giggled. I heard a pair of booth clattered nearby and saw Luna Crest landed and let go the rope and approached the man and they look at it other face to face and felt some intense danger surrounding the ship, like they were summoning their demons on the deep.

Dumungaw lang siya sakin at sinamaan ako Ng tingin at hinatak ako palayo sa lalake pero nabigla naman ako ng pigilan ako nito, dalawa silang nakahawak sa kamay ko. SHIT!! MY HEART!

Luna just withdraw his sword to the man "Estherian bloody rule, never touch her highness!" His voice became deep. There's terror on his eyes and the man let me go of my hand and smirk at him. Those gaze are cold but became tame when he narrowed his eyes back at me and bow his head like a gentleman

"Forgive me your highness for being ruthless,  by touching you.  The king surely won't forgive me for that.."

"No, no it's fine, we're even Naman e,  because you save me, Luna Crest you don't have to draw your sword to this man. Ako Yung may kasalanan e.." narrowing my eyes to him and gave him an icy stare. He drag me away and I can't stop him. I became a child hitting a tantrum. Naka side eye lang siya sakin at pinitik niya ilong ko. "Aray!" pinalo ko kamay niya at pinitik niya ako ulit

"If that man touch you again. I'll disregard the contract by waiting for your command. He'll be sorry if this blade hit his neck"

"Wag ka nga mag English! bat ba ang sungit mo? pasalamat ka nga niligtas ako nung tao e"

"Ano akala mo matutuwa ako na hawak hawakan ka ng ibang lalake?"

I sneered at him with a bit chuckles "Ay taray" I pursed my lips as I felt some torching heat rosing from his body. Kinilabutan ako ng lapitin niya mukha niya sakin at inamoy ako at mas sumama pa Lalo Ang tingin Niya kulang nalang ibalibag na niya ako

"take a bath, you smell terrible"