IKA-APAT NA KABANATA - tr. CHAPTER 04
Ang Selos ng Asawa ng Rajah
The Jealousy of Rajah's Wife
DIWA
The days and nights continued in a relentless cycle of labor, fear, and anger. But as time went on, it became harder to ignore the changes happening around me—and within me. Each night the Rajah summoned me, and each hour we spent together brought a deeper turmoil. And it wasn’t just me who noticed.
His wife, Vray, was becoming increasingly distant and watchful. At first, I thought her aloofness was simply part of her high-born demeanor, but the atmosphere changed. Each glance she cast my way was laden with meaning, each movement held a hidden intent.
"Diwa," Lila called as I made my way back to my hut for some rest. "The Rajah is calling you."
Again?
I nodded silently. Even though I knew this place didn't belong to the Rajah, I understood it came from another Datu, and based on what I had heard, the Rajah was from a distant land, and the place we were in now was not his home.
"I'm here, Rajah," I announced as I stood at the entrance of his home. I entered quietly and carefully, but I froze when I saw that the Rajah was not alone. His wife, Vray, was also there.
Our eyes met. There was an emotion there, but I was too exhausted to decipher it.
"Leave us," the Rajah commanded.
I felt Vray’s eyes on me. As she left the room, her steps were light but purposeful, like a predator’s. I saw the tension in her shoulders, the flash of jealousy in her eyes.
"Diwa," the Rajah called, pulling my attention back to him. His eyes blazed, but his tone was cold and commanding. "Come closer."
I stepped forward, my heart pounding with fear. He sat before me, his hands cradling my face, claiming me with his touch. "Sing for me," he ordered, his fingers trailing down my neck, sending shivers through my body. It felt strange, his touch lingering longer than necessary. As time passed, he grew increasingly comfortable, his fingers exploring as if I were his own.
And I am not his.
As I sang, I felt the weight of his gaze, but more than that, the weight of Vray’s eyes from outside the room. When I finished, she re-entered, her eyes burning with jealousy. She said nothing, but her presence was a tangible threat.
The next day, while I was busy with chores, Lila approached me, her eyes filled with concern. "Diwa, be careful," she whispered, ensuring no one else could hear. "I feel Vray's anger. It doesn't bode well."
"What should I do?" I asked. "I have no choice but to obey the Rajah. I cannot disobey him or I will be beheaded." It was a harsh truth; one I couldn't ignore. Despite my desire to defy him, the consequences were too dire to contemplate.
"I know," Lila said, squeezing my hand. "But remember, the Rajah is not your only enemy. Be cautious in every move you make, especially when Vray is near."
Fear and anger gripped me as the days passed. Nights grew increasingly difficult under Vray’s piercing gaze, filled with fury and jealousy. One evening, when the Rajah called for me again, I felt the cold, sharp sting of Vray's jealousy intensify.
As I entered the Rajah’s home, Vray stood in the shadows, her eyes glinting with malice. The Rajah’s touch, once merely possessive, now felt like a dangerous game. I could sense Vray's presence like a looming storm, ready to unleash her wrath.
"You sing beautifully, Diwa," the Rajah said, his voice a rough caress, fingers tracing the line of my jaw with an unnerving tenderness. His eyes held a dark promise, an intensity that both frightened and entranced me. I swallowed hard. The Rajah's face was close to mine. I glanced at him briefly, our eyes meeting for a moment before he paused, but I quickly looked away. He is beautiful, and his beauty is scary and dangerous.
But Vray’s silence spoke volumes. Her presence was a reminder of the peril I faced, not just from the Rajah, but from her as well. Each night, the tension grew thicker, and my fear deepened.
One night, as I sang, I felt Vray’s eyes burning into me, her jealousy palpable. The Rajah’s gaze never wavered from me, but I knew that Vray’s anger simmered just beneath the surface.
After I finished, the Rajah's touch lingered, his fingers trailing down my neck. "You are really is fortunate, Diwa," he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous whisper.
I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak. His touch, once merely commanding, now felt possessive and threatening. He finally released me, his eyes never leaving mine. "Go, rest now. Tomorrow will be another day."
I left his home on unsteady legs, feeling the weight of Vray's gaze follow me. The night air was cool against my heated cheeks, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
In the days ahead, the tension between Vray and me continued to grow. Her jealousy was a constant threat, a reminder that my position was precarious. I had to tread carefully, for one misstep could mean my doom.
As the sun set each evening, I braced myself for another night of uncertainty and fear… anger. I had survived this long, but I knew the danger was far from over. Vray's jealousy loomed like a storm on the horizon, and I could only hope to endure until I found a way to escape.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day of work, I returned to the Rajah's home with a heavy heart. I found him sitting by the fire, his eyes reflecting the dancing flames. He looked up as I entered, his gaze softening slightly.
"You are late, Diwa," he said, his tone more weary than angry.
"I apologize, Rajah," I replied, bowing my head. "The work took longer than expected."
He nodded, waving me closer. "Come, sit with me."
I obeyed, sitting across from him. The warmth of the fire was comforting, but the presence of Vray lurking in the shadows made me uneasy. She stepped into the light, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me.
"Why do you keep her here?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "She is nothing but a slave."
The Rajah’s eyes flickered with irritation. "Vray, I have my reasons."
"Reasons?" she scoffed. "Or is it simply that you enjoy her company more than mine?"
"Enough," he snapped, his voice echoing in the room. "Leave us, Vray."
She glared at him, then at me, before storming out of the room. The tension in the air was thick, and I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back.
The Rajah turned his attention back to me, his expression unreadable. "Do not mind her."
I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond.
"Sing for me," he said after a moment, his voice softer. "Your voice soothes my troubled mind."
I nodded, beginning to sing a familiar melody. My voice filled the room, blending with the crackling of the fire. The Rajah closed his eyes, his face relaxing slightly as he listened. For a brief moment, the tension seemed to ease, and I allowed myself to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, things might improve.
But as the final notes of my song faded away, the reality of my situation crashed down on me. The Rajah’s gaze turned sharp once more, his demeanor shifting back to one of cold authority.
"Go and rest now, Diwa," he said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. "Tomorrow will be another day."
I nodded, leaving his home with a heavy heart. The night air was cool against my skin, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The days ahead would be filled with uncertainty and fear, but I had survived another night.
As I made my way back to my hut, I couldn't shake the feeling that Vray's jealousy would soon reach a boiling point. Her anger was a storm brewing on the horizon, and I could only hope to weather it long enough to find a way to escape.
In the following days, Vray's actions became more overt. She would watch me with a venomous gaze, her presence a constant reminder of the danger I was in. One morning, as I was fetching water from the well, she approached me, her eyes burning with anger.
"You think you can take him from me?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
"No, Vray," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I have no intention of—"
"Silence!" she snapped, her hand striking my cheek. "You are nothing. A mere slave. Do not forget your place."
I bowed my head, swallowing the pain and humiliation. "I am sorry, Vray."
She sneered at me before turning on her heel and walking away. I watched her go, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anger. Her jealousy was a constant threat, a reminder that my position was precarious.
As the sun set that evening, I braced myself for another night of uncertainty. I had survived this long, but I knew the danger was far from over. Vray's jealousy loomed like a storm on the horizon, and I could only hope to endure until I found a way to escape.
******