Kapitel 199: Allow Me

>Sheloah's POV<

I woke up early, around 5:30AM and I decided to take a walk around the garden. I took a deep breath of the morning air as I sat on the bench.

I needed this… I have cried myself out last night. Now I'm feeling all better. We have grave plans that would start later and I have to pull myself together. Now, my mind is clear. I wouldn't let my mother's sacrifice go all to waste.

Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Kreiss papunta sa akin. "Hey," pagbati niya sa akin and I just smiled at him slightly.

"Ang aga mo," sabi ko sa kanya at tinabihan niya ako.

"I wake up early to have some morning jogs from time to time. Well, I'm actually surprised to see you awake this time," sabi ni Kreiss at napatingin ako sa kanya.

"I needed… some time to cool myself down. Ngayon, okay na ako," sabi ko sa kanya and he smiled at me, concern evident on his lips.

We stayed silent for a while until he spoke again.

"Last night… I was meaning to tell you but it was not the proper time. Pati naman ngayon pero I had to say this before everything gets down to business later," sabi ni Kreiss at nakuha niya atensyon ko.

"Ano 'yon," I asked and he looked at me.

"There's another reason why the men in our family give the gem to the one they love. It also serves as a proposal for marriage," sabi niya at nagulat ako.

"Pero Kreiss—" I was about to reject when he suddenly spoke.

"Don't get me wrong, princess… I'm not asking for your hand in marriage," sabi niya sa akin and I sighed.

"Then why did you give it to me." I asked then he slightly chuckled.

"Tell me first, Sheloah…" He trailed off then he suddenly looked serious. "Do you love Veon?" His question had taken me aback and I suddenly coughed because it surprised me a bit.

I was hesitant a bit… nabigla bakit niya tinanong sa'kin 'to pero sinagot ko parin. "Oo," sabi ko sa kanya at nginitian niya ako but there was sadness in that smile.

"You still haven't answered my question," I told Kreiss. Hindi pa niya sinasabi kung bakit niya binigay sa akin ang gem. Sabi niya it's not for marriage… then for what?

"I have a different kind of proposal. I want you to be my girlfriend once this whole thing ends," deretsyohang sagot niya sa tanong ko at bumilis tibok ng puso ko. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.

He really sounded serious.

Bakit ako? Hindi ko maintindihan. I'm not the kind of girl na nagugustuhan ng lahat but he still chose me.

"Sheloah, I'll take care of you. I always call you princess and I promise I'd treat you like one. I will never let you doubt the feelings I have for you and believe me… just trust me. Allow me… allow me to enter your heart." He confessed his feelings, sounding genuine.

He claimed that he had loved me since our first encounter. We only met recently and his feelings are suddenly this intense? Even then… he really sounded serious. But my heart… my heart yearns for Veon.

I still chose a man who doesn't love me… over a man who's head over heels for me.

Nagulat ako noong kinuha ni Kreiss ang kamay ko at nilagay niya sa dibdib niya, malapit sa puso niya. "There is love in my eyes… but why are you the only one who can't see," tanong niya sa akin at nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.

His words… are pulling my heartstrings.

"I…" I trailed off as I removed my hand from his chest. "I'm sorry," sabi ko na lang sa kanya. With those words, it is already enough as his rejection.

"I don't want your apology," sabi niya sa akin and I met his eyes again. "I just want you." He kissed my cheek and he left me alone in the garden as I stared at his back, leaving my sight.

I took a deep breath and released it. I didn't know how long I held it in, but it calmed my beating heart. Kreiss really sounded genuine but then… I still couldn't bring myself to choose him but it did make me think of him. I put my hand over my chest where my heart is.

Kreiss left me thinking and my heart pounding.