✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book Two]

CHAPTER 1

Note: Good morning, wanderers! You are now on the second book of the trilogy. What to expect here? Wala, enjoy reading lang hehehe. In my defense, hindi ko intensyon na saktan kayo or umiyak tayo (sali ako XD). It's just that, we can't change a person overnight, we can't erase the pain by a single factor only. Moving on is not that easy, that's why, we will witness it here: the rollercoaster ride. Kalma lang din po, huwag niyo 'ko awayin huhuhu hehehe hahaha hihihi hohoho.

See you on Wednesday! Muah!

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[ C H A P T E R 1 ]

LATISHA VALENTINE

Naiinis akong pumikit para pakalmahin ang aking sarili. My patience is wearing thin, and in any moment I could punch the person next to me. Subalit, kahit gustong-gusto kong suntukin ang pagmumukha ni Roshan, pinilit ko na lang bumigay sa gusto niya. Dumilat ako muli at dinapuan ito ng isang blankong tingin.

"You can't keep me here for that long," I firmly said as I looked at his serious face. Hindi nagbago ang tingin niya sa akin at nanatili pa rin ang pag-krus ng kanyang mga braso habang nakatayo malapit sa akin.

"Until you recover," he said.

"I am perfectly fine—"

"For once, listen to me will you?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Marami ang kailangan gawin sa buong mansyon, at mayroon pa tayong mga evacuees sa West Wing, tapos gusto mo lang akong humilata dito buong linggo?" Marahas akong napabuga ng hangin. "Erwan can't take care of the casualties all by himself!"

"Here we are again," he said, sounding disbelief. I saw how his shoulder loosen as if his fit was finally showing itself. "You always care about other people than yourself. You have eight different stitches and a fucking stomach wound!"

"I know, but——"

"There is no but, Latisha!" He cut me off. Alam ko sanay na ako sa sigaw niya, pero imbis na matakot at masaktan ako, gusto kong tumawa. I can't keep my seriousness intact seeing him getting pissed. Marahas siyang napabuntong hininga bago siya napaupo at hinawakan ang kanang kamay ko. "Let me handle everything, all you need is to recuperate. Nethys took Annika to her hometown and they'll be back in two months. Erwan can handle the renovation and you can suggest whatever you want, just don't strain yourself like you did earlier. Just this time, wife. Listen to me."

Natameme naman ako sa paliwanag niya. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napako ang aking mga mata sa nakagapos niyang kamay sa akin. His palms sent gallons of warmth on my skin that made me calm. His mere presence is both a cure and a poison to me. A cure for my longing, but a poison for my heart.

Limang araw na ang lumipas simula ng umatake si Ama sa mansyon. Limang araw ko na rin hindi nakikita si Annika at Nethys, at tanging sa mga ulat na pinapadala ni Nethys sa mga ibon ang tanging daan namin para makausap ang bata. The entire Duchy is close, and the forces are on high alert for another possible attack.

Dahil sa nangyari, alam kong ilang linggo mula ngayon ay makakarating sa Kapital ang ulat na ang mansyon ng Duke ay inatake. They will investigate this matter for sure, and we need to prepare for the worst possible outcome. Kasalukuyan rin na inaayos ang mansyon. Halos sira ang labas ng mansyon at ilang parte sa loob. Narito pa rin sa amin ang mga mamamayan ng Benura dahil inaayos pa din ang bayan nila.

Roshan already told me to rest but my skull is hard, delaying the instructions to reach my head. Nakita niya akong nagbubuhat ng mga kaing kanina para dalhin sa West Wing, at sa galit niya pati si Wince namutla na lamang. Kinarga niya lang naman ako paalis ng walang sinasabi pagkatapos niyang isigaw ang pangalan ko. Ngayon, nasa kanyang silid na naman ako.