Chapter Forty Five

Sabay kaming pumunta kung nasaan ang aking tatay. I assumed, Luci took care of those excess guests that we have.

"Are you sure you are okay?" pagtatanong ni Pickett. Hindi ko namang mapigilang umirap bago humarap sa kaniya.

"I am okay, don't worry. I can handle myself. Now, can we go now?" tanong ko rito. Mukha naman siyang nagdadalawang isip pa, kaya naman nauna na akong naglakad at hindi na siya pa inintay.

But actually, I am not feeling well. Pakiramdam ko ang bigat-bigat ng aking pakiramdam, hindi ko alam kung bakit. Bahagya ring sumasakit ang ulo ko. I also have chills. But I am just pretending that I am okay, so that no one would worry about me.

Ilang saglit pa ay nakarating na kami sa opisina ng aking tatay at nakasalamin ito habang may binabasang papel. Nang mapansin niya kami, kaagad niyang binaba ang papel na hawak niya at humarap sa amin.

Pinaupo niya ako sa kaliwang upuan at sa kanan naman si Pickett. Nakasandal siya sa may mesa niya habang nakatayo nang lumapit sa amin.

"What does his highness wants to tell to us?" pagtatanong ng aking tatay kay Pickett.

Parehas naman niya kaming tinignan ng seryoso bago huminga ng malalim.

"We had an assumption that another unknown groups are attacking places, especially kingdoms, aside from stealing valuabe things, they are also dangerous." Kaagad namang kumunot ang noo namin ng aking ama.

"And what do mean? does this has something to do with us?" tanong ni Lucian rito. Pickett gasped for air before looking at them with worry in its eyes.

"Because of Lady Lacy's help with Tareev Codes, we conclude on one place that has something to do with you." Umirap naman ako rito dahil hindi niya pa sabihin kung ano ba talaga ang pakay niya.

"Just get straight to the point," naiirita kong saad. Hindi na ako makapagpigil dahil sa nagpapa-thrill pa siya at hindi maganda ang naiisip ko sa mga susunod niyang pwedeng sabihin.

"The Lucius Kingdom," he suddenly said. Napataas naman ang kilay ko roon at bahagya pang naguguluhan sa sinasabi niya.

"What?" I asked. "We came up with Lucius Kingdom." I closed my eyes tightly. My guts didn't failed me.

"When?" I asked. "On the day of King Levi's birthday." Para namang mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko sa narinig ko.

"So you're saying that my wife's birthplace is in danger?" father asked.

"I am afraid, yes it is. That's why I am here now to warn you about this, in case of it. We still don't know if they are going to ransack the place, since another kingdom pop up."

"Even though we are not sure, I came here to give our findings, to be ready in case it happen," he said. Tumango naman ako at tumingin sa kaniya.

"It's the same date with another Kingdom?" I asked. He nods his head and hands an envelope.

"It's inside of what we have found out with our investigations, it also has the report for the other case. We still don't know who's behind this, since we doesn't have any clues who's it," he said.

"I'll send my other assistant to help you with finding the lead. I only have one condition," my father said. He glance at me before looking at his highness.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa ginawa niya at nagtatakang tinignan ni Lord Pickett.

"I'll see what I can do with it, Sir Lucian," he politely said. Napataas naman ang kilay ko roon, gumagalang na siya ah. Nagbagong ugali na ba siya?

"Just be sure that my daughter will stay out of this issue." Napatayo naman ako bigla kaya nakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagkahilo, pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasang magreklamo sa aking Ama.

"Dad!" tawag ko sa kaniya. Pero hindi niya ako tinapunan ng tingin at diretso lamang siya nakatingin kay Lord Pickett.

Pickett glanced at her before looking straight at Lucian. He nods his head and extends his hand for a handshake.

"I promise you that," sagot naman nito. Hindi naman ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya at nilakihan siya ng mata pero hindi niya ako pinansin.

Tumingin naman sa akin ang aking ama. "This is too dangerous for you, we have an enemy who's still an anon and if you stick your nose in this, you'll get hurt," he tried to explained. I chuckled and shook my head in disappointment.

"Really?" sarkastikong saad ko rito.

"This is not about you, it's about the safety of others and this enemy that we have. So it's better that you stay out of it," pinal niyang saad.

"I already sold my safety with the devil and now you're saying that?"

"I joined their group because I know that it's right for me to do it, since I could lend them a help. But didn't you realized that it could also put me in dnager?"

"I talked to his highness and I told him that your role is just the brain. You provide the help, the plan, the process, but you should never be in the fight." Kaagad naman akong napatingin kay Lord Pickett pero nakatingin lamang siya sa akin ng seryoso.

"I will not let you in danger, I agreed with you-- joining them and that's all. But this time, I am not letting you do the work. Let us handle it," dagdag niya pa. Nakapikit naman ako nang mariin at napadila sa aking labi.

"I am not going to talk about this again. My decision is already final, you two may leave now," striktong saad niya. Bumalik na siya sa upuan niya at nagkunwaring binabasa ang papel na hawak-hawak niya.

I heavily sighed and shook my head in disappointment as I glanced at his highness, Pickett before storming out of my father's office.

Inis na inis akong naglakad papaalis, ngunit naramdaman ko ang paghabol sa akin ni Pickett. Ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lamang naglakad.

"When the duke ordered it, it should be follow and I can't do anything but to agree," katwiran niya. Napatigil naman ako sa paglalakad at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa kaniya.

"Really? That's what your going to use to excuse what you did to me?"

"Your father is right, he don't want to harm you by putting you in danger. That's the best thing to do, you may help us in other things. But this matter is just too much," sambit niya pa.

"It's my mother's family that we are talking about, your highness," inis na saad ko rito.

"If one of them are harmed then it's my responsibility to know what happened. It's my own family that I have, they are my mother's siblings, nieces', nephews and father. So why can't I intervene?" pagtatanong ko rito. He sighed, and held both of my shoulders.

"Look, either I-- don't want you to be in danger. The Duke and I agreed for one thing, and that's to protect you." Kaagad naman siyang napakunot ng noo at napailing.

"Protect me from what?" inis na tanong nito. Mukha namang na-taken aback ito sa tinanong ko.

Kaya naman kaagad ko siyang tinignan ng seryoso. "What's with the protection, Pickett?" mariin kong saad dito. Napahinga naman siya ng malalim at napabitaw sa aking balikat.

"You have a fever, Lacy. It's better for you to rest early." I chuckled with that and shook my head.

"Stop avoiding my question. For the last time that I will going to ask you this, and you're not going to give me an answer then I don't have a choice but to tell the King that I am officially cancelling this engagement on the day of his birthday," pagbabanta ko rito.

Pickett's face darkened and he clenched his first and clenched his jaw. He looked at Lacy with a threatening look.

"What are you going to do about it, your highness?" nang-aasar na tanong ng babae sa kaniya.

He sighed, and calmed himself first before looking at Lacy, coldly.

"Someone leaked an information that you were the one who helped us with Tareev Codes and they are planning to hunt you down." Lacy unconsciously slightly opened her lips in shocked.

Binuka niya ang mga labi niya upang magsalita sana pero walang ni isang salita ang lumabas rito.

Napatawa siya nang bahagya at naguguluhang tinignan ni Pickett.

"W-What?" Nakaramdam siya ng takot dahil baka isang araw ay makita na naman niya ang sarili niya na pinapatay o kaya ay ang pagwawakas ng kaniyang buhay sa pangalawang pagkakataon.

"We still don't know who got that information but rest assured that we are doing our best to find this person. We also baited Zeros since he's the one who's always inside and monitoring each cells inside of the jail," sabi niya sa akin. Binaba niya ang mukha niya upang pumantay sa akin at tinignan ako nang diretso sa mata.

"If you think that this isn't the reason for the protection that we want for you, then I don't know what it is," seryosong saad niya.

I licked my lips and shook my head. "This can't be..." wala sa sariling saad ko. Naramdaman ko ang pagtaas baba ng aking dibdib at ang hindi normal na paghinga ko.

Nanlalaki ang aking mata at may takot na tumingin kay Pickett.

"I-- I d-don't want t-to d-die..." Nanginginig ang aking mga kalamnan kasabay ng aking katawan. Napahawak ako sa aking buhok at napatakip sa aking tenga.

"I... I can't die a-again..."

Nagsalubong naman ang kilay ni Pickett at nagtataka sa mga sinabi ng dalaga. Parang kailan lang nang bantaan siya ng lalaking nagtatahi at gumagawa ng mga damit at mukhang hindi siya natakot noon.

Pero iba ngayon, mukha siyang takot na takot at para bang may tinatakbuhan siyang isang bagay na nangyari na sa kaniya.

Kaagad itong hinawakan ni Pickett sa dalawang braso at bahagyang inalog upang pakalmahin. Ngunit hindi ito natinag at kung ano-ano pa ang sinasabi nito.

"Hey!" tawag niya ulit rito. May takot sa mga mata nito nang tumingin sa kaniya.

"No one's going to die, okay? I am going to protect you," Pickett said. That's to assure Lacy who's trembling non-stop.

"I-- I don't want to d-die..." paulit-ulit na saad nito. Kaagad naman siyang hinila papalapit ni Pickett sa kaniya upang yakapin nang mahigpit.

Nanginginig pa rin ito, kaya naman hinaplos-haplos niya ang ulo nito at binubulungan ng mga pampakalma.

"You're not going to die, Lacy. I am here," he said, and hugged her tightly.

"I'm going to protect you at all cost," he gently whispered to her ear, and lighlty kissed her head.

Lacy's breathing calmed a little bit when she smelled Pickett's perfume. But she doesn't know why she can't pull away or push him away from her.

She just let Pickett to hug her, upang kumalma na siya nang tuluyan. She unconsciously held the hem of whta he's hearing. Mas lalo niyang binaon ang mukha niya sa balikat nito at napapikit na lamang.

Nakaramdam siya ng pagkahilo at para bang bumibigat ang katawan niya. Kaya naman hindi na niya napigilan.

"No one's going to harm you, as long as I live, Lacy. No one," he whispered at her.

Ngunit may napansin siya na para bang bumibigat ang dalaga sa bisig niya, kaya nang tatanungin na niya sana ito ay muntik na itong bumagsak.

Buti na lamang ay hawak-hawak niya ito kaya kaagad niyang naalalayan ang dalaga.

Paulit-ulit niyang tinawag ang dalaga at tinapik ang pisngi nang paulit-ulit, ngunit hindi ito nagising doon niya lamang napagtanto na sobrnag init ng dalaga at para bang inaapoy ito sa lagnat.

"Sh*t" mura niya, at kaagad na binuhat ang dalaga na para bang lantang gulay sa kaniyang mga bisig.

Kasasabi ko lamang na poprotektahan ko siya. Sana pala hindi ko na siya sinama kanina, saad niya sa kaniyang sarili.

How ironic I am. Tsk.