IKAWALONG KABANATA - tr. CHAPTER 07
Ikaw ang tatapos sa akin
You will end me
DIWA
I said yes.
“Is that your final answer?” he asked.
I nodded, feeling the weight of my decision.
“But you will not harm another woman again,” I said weakly. “Even if I bore you, you will not seek another—”
“I will not,” he interrupted swiftly. I looked up at him, searching his eyes for any hint of deception. “I will seek no one but you.”
He stood, and I found myself looking up at him as he drew closer.
“You promise that? Can you keep your word?”
He nodded, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Yes.”
Fear gripped my heart as he reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek with a tenderness that felt out of place. My breath hitched, and I fought the urge to pull away. His touch, though gentle, felt like a shackle binding me to an uncertain fate.
Slowly, he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. My body tensed as his lips met mine. The kiss was soft, but the intensity behind it was undeniable, making my heart pound in my chest. His arms encircled me, pulling me closer, and I felt trapped, the reality of my choice crashing down on me.
His lips moved against mine with a possessive hunger, each kiss a reminder of the power he held over me. I trembled, the kiss both intoxicating and terrifying. My mind screamed to pull away, but my body remained frozen, caught in the whirlwind of emotions.
When he finally pulled back, his eyes bore into mine, filled with a mix of desire. “I promise, Diwa. I will never seek another. You are mine, and I am yours.”
I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “And I am yours,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
He smiled, a triumphant smile that made my stomach churn. The warmth of his embrace felt suffocating, and I wondered if I had made the right choice. I had survived, but at what cost?
“You will sleep with me tonight,” he whispered, and I nodded.
“Please let me take a bath first,” I pleaded. “I was working for a whole day planting rice, Rajah. I am dirty.”
He studied me for a moment, then nodded, releasing me. I could feel his eyes on me as I moved away, the intensity of his gaze like a physical weight.
I took my time bathing in the river, savoring each moment in the cool, flowing water. It was a rare reprieve from the harsh realities of my life, and I let the water wash away the dirt and grime from the long day of planting rice. I scrubbed my skin until it was raw, trying to cleanse not just my body, but my troubled mind as well.
Eventually, I made my way back to the Rajah’s home. The air felt heavier with each step, the weight of what awaited me pressing down on my shoulders. When I entered, I found him seated, his headwrap and jewels conspicuously absent. He looked... magnificent. With his hair down and his headwrap gone, I could see his features clearly. The absence of his usual adornments revealed a gentler, more beautiful side of him that I had never seen before.
His eyes met mine, conveying a silent command. Without a word, he pulled me onto his lap, his grip firm and possessive. I seated myself on top of him, his large frame engulfing me, and up close, I could clearly see his tattoos and marks.
“Diwa...” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "A slave, a serf. You are but a young woman, ignorant of the ways of the world; and if I were to kill you, you would be utterly defenseless..." The Rajah's voice grew gentle, sweet like honey. As he brushed aside my long hair, which served as my only covering, I realized he sought more than just my voice or my life.
"Yet... of all the lands I have conquered, of all the enemies I have slain... Diwa, I know you are the most..." He murmured softly in my ear. "Dangerous..."
His words hung in the air, thick with meaning. I could feel his breath against my skin, his hands exploring with a possessive gentleness that belied the power he wielded. My heart raced, a mixture of fear and something else I couldn’t quite identify.
As his lips brushed against my neck, I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I will take good care of you.”
His reassurance was both comforting and unsettling, his touch igniting a fire within me that I struggled to contain. I wanted to believe him, to trust in his words, but the reality of our situation loomed large in my mind.
With a shaky breath, I nodded, allowing myself to be swept away by the intensity of the moment. As his embrace enveloped me, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us, and if I would ever truly be safe in his arms.
"Why are you like this? Why with me, and only me?" I queried softly as his lips tenderly grazed my chest, my hair cascading over my bared skin. When his touch reached my breasts, a gasp escaped my lips, my fingers instinctively entwining in his hair. It was a sensation entirely new to me, a blend of anticipation and nervousness that compelled me to hold onto him tighter.
“You’re asking me why?” he asked, gently removing my skirt. “Because you will end me, Diwa. I knew it from the first time I saw you—you will end me.”
I-I don’t understand.
"Rajah!" I gasped, taken aback.
In an instant, the anger and fear that had gripped me evaporated, replaced by something I couldn't understand. Rajah's touch was electric as his hand gently caressed my skin.
"Has no other man touched you like this?" he whispered, his voice a seductive murmur.
I shook my head, unable to speak.
"Good," he murmured approvingly, his gaze traveling languidly down my body. A delicious shiver coursed through me as he leaned in closer—
I closed my eyes in anticipation, feeling his lips and tongue graze my chest, igniting the desire simmering within me.
"You're so beautiful, Diwa," he breathed against my skin as he gently laid me down. "You deserve every treasure the world has to offer, and I will give them all to you."
My hands explored the contours of his firm, bare chest. He was simply magnificent, a living embodiment of strength and allure.
The night felt endless, the weight of his presence overwhelming. I knew that tonight would change everything, and as I surrendered to his touch, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for me.
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