Background Music: Hold Me Tight by Kim Yeji

I listened to this song while typing this chapter. For a better feels, I suggest you guys to play the background music. Check the multimedia above! That's all, thank you everyone for waiting patiently. Enjoy reading!

°†° «[𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝟏𝟐]» °†°

꧁༺A promise was made༻꧂

//knocking//

⫷ A.S LEE VIEWPOINT ⫸

MARAHAN, ang katok ko sa pintuang nasa harapan ko. Kahit ilang beses ko na itong ginagawa sa loob ng tatlong araw ay binabalot pa rin ako ng kaba sa t'wing ginagawa ko ito.

Unti-unting bumukas ang pinto, makikita ang babaeng nakatayo at may suot na itim na maskara, na lagi nitong suot.

Naalala ko ang mga di ko inaakala at inaasahang mga natatanggap kong utos mula sa amo ko mula nang magpakita ang babaeng nasa harapan ko.

Napalunok ako nang makita ang inis sa magandang mga mata nito at ang walang kangiti-ngiting mapulang labi nito. Nakasuot ito ng magarang peach dress na lampas tuhod at long lace sleeves ang design, na talagang ipinag-utos ng amo niya na designs para dito.

"Sabihin mo sa amo mo, ayoko kumain." napalunok ako sa sinabi nito. Naiiyak sa loob na nginitian ko ito ng magalang. Oh, life. Kung ang amo ko ay demon king, itong kinahuhumalingan nito ngayon ay isa namang demon queen.

Hindi ko inaakala na ang babaeng maiibigan ng amo niya ay nakakatakot din. Hindi bat ang karaniwang mga nasa palabas o novel ay good girl ang mga natitipuhan ng mga bad boy? Yung mabait, inosente, di makabasag pinggan in short anghel.

Pero kabaliktaran lahat. Malayo sa pagiging good girl itong young lady na nasa harapan ko. Hindi naman ito salbahe sa kung sino-sino lang, kapag napo-provoke ito ay manghahagis ng babasaging plato sa mga nobles na kinaiinisan nito.

Ang cruise ship ay naging living hell para sa mga nakasakay. Ang dapat na dalawang oras na lang na end of journey ay umabot na ng pangatlong araw ngayon, na ang may pakana ay ang amo niya. Naalala niya pa ang madilim na mukha nito nang utusan ako nito na gumawa ng paraan upang humaba ang byahe.

"I felt like once this ship stop, she's going to run away." he heard his young lord mumbled.

"...."

"Change our next route. You'd better bet your life on that, Lee."

"Y--Yes!"

I can't afford to upset this young lady. Habang abala ako sa pag iisip ng sasabihin ko para mapapayag itong sabayan ng breakfast ang amo ko ay narinig ko buntong hininga nito.

"Forget it. Knowing your boss, he's going to make things hard for you. You suffer a lot, Lee."

T--Tama ba itong nakikita at naririnig ko?

"Y--Young lady!" hindi ko mapigilang bulaslas dahil sa sinserong pity at sympathy na nakikita ko sa mga mata nito!

Bakit pakiramdam ko talagang alam nito ang nararamdaman ko? T____T

"Yeah, yeah. Hay. You really suffer a lot by serving that fool." console nito na hindi ko alam kung ano o saan galing ang dahilan. Like she really understand and know everything.

Di ko alam ngunit, na-touch talaga ako.

"I--It's my duty, young lady!" singhot ko. Nakarinig ako ng mahinang 'sssh' mula sa kung saan at doon ko lang naalala na may mga nakabantay nga palang mga 'shadows' sa labas ng kwarto ng young lady...

We still don't know her name. Ni ayaw nito tanggalin ang mask niya, ang ending lahat ng mga nasa loob ng cruise ship ay naka-mask. Naging mandatory dahil sa utos ng young lord niya. Maging ang mga staffs at captain ng cruise ship ay mga naka-mask.

Mukhang di nito napansin ang mga shadows.

"Okay, let's go."

"Yes, young lady."

I can't helped but to always admire the elegance and sophistication of this young lady. The way she strolled, sit, drink and eat is very... graceful. Like a monarch that you really have to bow your head down.

Like she's born to rule. Her aura, pressure and intimidating look really resembled his young lord.

"...." Just where did she came from? Which clan miraculously gave birth a girl like her? She's not like the other noble ladies.

Agad na tumalina ako at pinagbuksan ito nang makarating kung nasaan ang young lord namin na parang haring naghihintay at nakaupo sa itim na sofa na pang dalawang tao. Sa harap nito ay ang mga nakahandang mga pagkain. Walang ibang upuan kundi ang sa tabi lang nito.

Walang karea-reaksyon ang young lady na para bang inaasahan na niya ito, umupo sa tabi ng young lord niya na hindi inaalis ang tingin mula ng pumasok ang young lady at hindi tinatapon sa iba ang tingin.

"Let your secretary joined us."

?!!

Biglang nagtaasan ang mga balahibo ko nang makita ang malamig na tingin ng amo ko sa akin.

His piercing stare is very terrifying.

T____T

Young lady, please...

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang pinalo nito ang dibdib ng young lord niya.

"Don't be like that, Zayron. You don't know how loyal he is towards you, that even your nemesis cut off his limbs, he won't betray you till the very end." the young lady expressed sincerely, while staring straight towards my young lord with a hint of sadness and flashes of pain in her eyes.

Anong ibig sabihin ng young lady?

"You have to promise, okay?" she said convincing calmy towards my dazed young lord.

"Okay." he nodded... obediently.

"...." nakita ko na lang ang sarili ko na kumakain kasama ng mga ito.

"How about this, baby, I'll promise to treat him well, if you don't plan on escaping."

Boss, I'm here? Pakiramdam ko maeempatso ako sa sobrang pda live show sa harapan ko.

Here I am. Watching how a demon king coaxing and doting the girl he just met a few days ago. Na-love at first sight ba talaga itong amo ko? Sinilip ko ang kunot noong mukha ng babaeng katabi ng amo ko na parang sinasaway itong mag-behave. Kung titingnan mo ay aakalain mong sobrang tagal na nilang mag-on sa sobrang natural ng mga kilos nila.

It's like, this is what it's supposed to be. She's the only girl who can make his young lord act like a normal being, I mean humanly.

He's a demon, alright. I sighed.

"No you promised, I don't fancy men who broke their words."

"My kitten is hard to please."

"Fool. Naglilikot na naman yang kamay mo!"

-___-

Can I excused myself?

I saw my young lord snake his arms around her waist. Is he really my young lord who always found women, disgusting? Na ni ayaw madikitan at may baon palagi na set of gloves ay disinfection alcohol?

Doon ko lang napansin na wala itong suot na gloves...

He's really serious.

Is this a good news?

"I'm done, young lord, young lady. Thank you."

Tiningnan ako ng amo ko na parang gusto na akong paalisin agad. Nakatanggap naman ako ng tango sa young lady, ngunit bago ako makalabas ay may itinanong ito.

"How's the girls we saved?" she asked na parang bigla nitong naalala.

"They are fine. Dahil hindi pa rin safe ang identity ng mga ito ay nasa loob lamang sila ng kwartong pinaglagyan sa kanila at hinahatiran ng pagkain."

"Oh? Okay, I'll visit them later, I have something to ask. You may leave." Magalang na nag-bow ako at bago ko pa man masarado ang pinto ay narinig ko ang boses ng amo ko na kinatindig ng balahibo ko!

"Finally, I can be alone with you, I don't know why I'm so anxious, I thought I would lose my mind. But being with you made me feel better."

Mabilis na sinarado ko ang pinto sa takot.

My young lord losing his mind... So scary!

"Shadows, bantayan niyo ng maigi ang young lady. Our young lord said he will lose his mind if..." hinayaan kong hindi tapusin ang salita dahil alam na nila ang ibig sabihin.

Napabuntong hininga ako at tinungo naman ngayon ang ilang Elders ng Callum Clan na nandito rin. Kailangan ko na namang harapin ang mga ito dahil walang panahon ang amo ko.

T____T

* * *

⫷ OPHELIA VIEWPOINT ⫸

How magical and interesting. I thought blankly while I'm being hugged. Naalala ko ang unang pagkakataon na nagkita kami ng lalakeng ito noon. At that time, I was on the run, escaping. From who, you ask?

From the Evander and Night Clan.

"...."

They can't tolerate me anymore, so they want and decided to erase me, the very root and cause of the Territorial War that was happening in the both clans.

I patted his back na mas lalong kinahigpit ng yakap nito.

We are really alive, huh?

"Who are you."

"...."

"How dare you made me like this."

"...."

"Tell me. What do you want."

"...."

He grabbed both of my shoulder while glaring at me dangerously.

"I'm not here because of you. I don't want to see you. I don't want your attention. I don't want any relationship with you. I don't want anything from you. Your life, your wealth, your authority. I don't want it."

"It's a coincidence. You're right, I sneaked in, not for you or anything related to your clan, young master Callum, the rightful heir of the Callum Clan." I said sarcastically at tinanggal ang mga kamay nito sa'kin.

Seryoso ko itong tiningnan na ngayon ay madilim ang ekspresyon na nakatingin sa'kin na para bang di nagustuhan ang mga sinabi ko.

"Not...here... Because of me, huh?" his forehead furrowed as he slowly reapeated my line with his handsome face with a livid expression.

I know this kind of expression on this tyrant's handsome face. He'll do something terrible! This guy!

Agad na lumayo ako dito mas lalong nagpadilim ng mukha nito at pagtagis ng panga.

He's mad.

"Come here."

"...."

Nakita kong pumikit ito ng mariin at huminga ng malalim at pinalambot ang ekspresyon na tinawag muli ako.

"Don't be scared, now, come here."

"...."

Danger alert. Code red... No it's code black! Huminga ako ng malalim at mabilis na binuksan ang pinto at tumakbo palabas!

Kailangan kong makatakas!

* * *

⫷ THIRD PERSON VIEWPOINT ⫸

In the middle of the night, there was a silhouette of a predator strolling leisurely and searching for his prey. His raven eyes was gloomy, because his frightened kitten ran as far as she could. His eyes darkened. It's been one hour...

"....." the shadows are in panic because until now, they can't the girl, their young lord fancy, every where.

"Hm.." the three shadows that are guarding saw the predator, their young lord, suddenly stop.

"...Don't follow me." declared solemnly.

Walang nagawa ang tatlong shadows at bumaling ang isang tao na tila natanggalan na ng kaluluwa at mas lalo silang nakaramdam ng takot dahil sa wala sa sarili itong bumubulong.

"We're dead. We're doom. I heard he's going to lose his... mind."

"...." Namumutla na nagkatinginan ang tatlong shadows dahil sa narinig na bulong ni Assistant Secretary Lee.

Somewhere, in a room there are a group of old men, discussing...

"What a pity, we are stuck here without anything."

"I heard your men are dead, they were caught by the young lord."

"Don't mention anymore, Elder Trevon. I'm very mad right now, now that I can't have playthings in my bed."

"Control yourselves, we can't touch anything here. They are all young and fresh nobles."

"...." nabalot ng katahimikan ang loob ng silid at bakas ang gahaman sa kanya kanyang mga mata dahil sa salitang 'young' at 'fresh'.

"Tsk. It's that lady's fault! If she didn't suddenly appeared! All our plans would be underway! It's all because of her! Just who is she? You still don't find any information about that young lady?"

"We can't find anything. When we are investigating... The young lord ordered us to stop, if he hears that we still continue... We are doom."

"....."

"Just who is that lady to make the young lord like this?"

"... Elder Ares even advice the young lord that we should be careful about that lady but... He became furious."

"F-furious?"

"....."

Nabalot muli ng katahimikan ang silid. Their young lord, being furious, made them stop breathing and trembled in fear.

"Where is Elder Ares?"

"He's still fine but he got on the bad side of the young lord."

And they knew, being on the bad side of their young lord, means... being stripped on his good graces.

Naalala nila ang isang taong hindi nagustuhan ng kanilang young lord. Ipinatapon ito sa malayo hanggang sa mabalitaan nalang nila ang sunod sunod na kamalasan nito at hindi nagtagal ay mas pinili na lamang nito na kitilin ang sariling buhay. Hindi nadamay ang pamilya nito at ngayon ay tahimik na nabubuhay. May kaunti parin silang impluwensya at hindi pinakikialaman ngunit, wala ng masyadong nakikisalamuha.

Hindi rin mabubuti ang pamilya ng Elder kung kaya't walang naaawa o nagtatangka na imbitahan pa ang mga ito. Nang mangyari iyon mas lalong tumatak ang takot ng mga ito sa bagong 'successor'.

He's merciless and ruthless, even to his kins. The Patriarch and the Clan Master are not even interfering on the young lord's affairs and decisions.

Even when he punished his cousins, the prideful young nobles. He made his cousins, kneeled outside their manor, for three days, without eating and drinking. Like he was declaring a warning.

A warning to everyone in their clan. To not dared to do any funny towards him.

"Haa..."

What the group of Elders didn't know. In a corner, there's a lady hiding while listening and fiddling a small thing in her fingers.

"....."

The room was surrounded of heavy silence because of their topic. She knew about everything they are talking about. She's getting bored, but she have to hide. She mentally sighed.

"About that Master R." Rinig niya na nagbigay atensyon sa'kanya.

"We have to convince him to hunt him."

"It's going to be difficult. The young lord seems not interested."

"The Evander Clan, they also don't want to join the hunt."

"How about the Night Clan?"

"They still didn't announced their instance."

"If we can't convinced the other great clans, we can just convinced the Night Clan."

"A pity, the Lamarca Clan, are still quiet as ever but we can't still underestimate them."

"Hmm..."

"I heard something is going on, on them?"

"Hm, right, they are searching a girl. It seems like they found a lead about the missing child of Castillion."

"!!!" the hiding prey was taken aback.

"They carried their search in utmost secrecy and they close every information. But, one thing is for sure..."

"... They found the legitimate child of Castillion."

Napaatras ang babaeng nagtatago sa isang sulok, ngunit nanigas ang buong katawan niya nang maramdaman sumanggi ang likod niya sa pader at malanghap ang pamilyar na pabango.

"Found you." The predator whispered to his prey. Unti unting nagsalubong ang mata ng dalawang tao.

//clack//

Natigilan ang mga nagpupulong sa loob ng silid ng makarinig ng tunog.

"Who!"

Zayron Callum, the predator who finally found his prey, without further ado and he take her away from the secret door, his prey was hiding.

"Who goes there!"

She's silent. They heard the commotions behind their back.

Alam nila na kaunting sandali lang ay maaabutan na sila ng mga ito. Tahimik lang siyang hila ng lalake na tila walang pakialam kahit na maabutan, bagay na ayaw mangyari ni... Ophelia.

They already found her suspicious. Even if the guy in front of her is powerful, she can't and she don't want to be the reason, that they questioned him. Even if he's favored by the Patriarch and the Clan Master.

She took her hands away but he immediately hold it tightly without hurting her.

"Stop being a fool."

"What is it this time, baby?"

She knew this behavior, he don't care whatever he's doing just he can get what he wants!

"Damn.."

"Don't be afrai-"

He was stunned when he was pulled aggressively by his little lady and he exhaled sharply and heavily when she closed their distance. His raven eyes was filled of his woman sight.

As soon as she got close to him, he smelled again the barely noticeable rose fragrance, not too sweet and not too overwhelming.

She slowly raised her gaze.

"Shut up." His mind went blank when his little lady grabbed the back of his head.

And there. He finally tasted the red lips that he's craving for in the last few days. The lips that he controlled not to ravish, to lick, to kiss.

He groaned low. Every move she made, every act, seduced him. It was simply impossible to maintain reason

"Where! Find the rat that's spying!" the shouts are getting near but...

His mind, his whole being and attention is being sucked by the mask lady with amber eyes in front of him. He snake his arms around her waist, possessively.

He coveted her like a beast, and she comforted him by trapping him between her legs as if she was taming him.

Ophelia was so overwhelmed and could hear his heart thumping hard and rapidly.

She got carried away, and she lose herself. With eyes closed, she didn't saw, that the moment she close her eyes, their pursuers was already near them. She didn't know and saw that the beast that was kissing her, suddenly opened his eyes, he dangerously looked at the people behind her back, like giving them a warning, his eyes piercing so dangerously, his gaze are promising them their ending if they disturb him.

It was the beginning of a long night.

The paled and scare witless Elders saw thw cruel look on the young lords eyes, and with their men, they immediately escaped quietly.

And now, without any disturbance.

Her lips, as red as petals, were swallowed by him.

His tongue, which slipped into her mouth, persistently clasped her tongue and coveted her.

And that night. A promise was made.

'I am the only one who can be with you.'

'I am going to make that true.'