"Yes, sir!" Yanarym saluted, Achis did not know what she meant by sir but did not ask anything. Sometimes, she just does or says things he won't understand.
As soon as Achis left her, she rolled on the sheets and hugged one of the big pillows on the bed. The night was cold unlike the other nights, today she could sleep soundly without the influence of alcohol. She had to take advantage of this night to rest. These last few days for her were like a landmine.
Avoiding Tala, and even Maki who had discovered her identity but was not making any movements yet. Even Lapil who was like her ticking time bomb, which she doesn't know when he will do something to her. She knew very well that Lapil was not the type of man who would just give up, after all, he was the male lead.
And the most important thing at this moment, she doesn't have to wear another one of the overalls that are making her feverish in this summer season. She yawned and stared at the window. There were no moon and stars today.
She got up and turned off all the lamps, making her room enveloped by the darkness. She lunged to her bed and made herself comfortable before falling asleep.
As everyone was asleep or was drinking and feasting at midnight. Maki was waiting from the corner of Yanarym's room. He's been there from the time she had fallen asleep, watching her. These days, he still could not believe that he was seeing her alive and well. He doesn't know if he should be happy or mad discovering she was breathing but loving another man.
However, upon observing her from day one up to now, he realized that she had changed like she was the Yanar he knew but different.
Because after she aged into a fine lady, she had become docile, demure, and lady-like. She hides in her room every day, not willing to play outside with anyone. Not even interacting with her Baba's people she used to play with.
It's like she came back from what she was when she was a child. Free, unrestrained, pampered, custom and beliefs don't affect her.
However, that latter kind of her came back. He could see it to his very eyes. She loves going outside, eating everything, doing anything, talking to anyone. Most importantly there was a smile on her face, whenever she did things, like a flower blooming in the sun. His little Bai.
He walked to the side of her bed, sat beside her, and gently removed the hair strands on her cheeks. Suddenly, he had the recollection of that certain night, where it all began.
"Maki, I need you to do something tonight." He was done with his shift on guarding the coastline. He was about to sleep when Tala entered his house.
"What?" He asked nonchalantly.
"It's time to end my umbo's life." Maki ceased on what he was doing and pretended to continue setting up his banig on the floor, that's the bed for common people. It was a hand-woven mat made of Buri, or Pandan or seagrass leaves and not a textile. "Maki, are you listening? Tonight is the night you could punish her for acting so high and misleading you! You can have your revenge! And I'm giving you the chance."
"I'm not going to kill her in my own hands if her Baba found out---"
"Of course! I will not let you stain your hands. We will let Datu Achis do that." His brows furrowed, seeing his distorted expression, Tala smiled. "Oh, let me explain," she chuckled.
"You will give her to him, in his bed-chamber. We will let Datu Achis have her chastity, after that, there's only one way for her to live. That is to die. I'm pretty sure, Datu Achis won't marry her." Maki sneered at her.
"You're only in a hurry because she's almost in the age of marrying the son of Rajah."
"Yes, and aren't you as well? Can you attain to see her being held by someone else and love happily afterward? Isn't it better if it wasn't you, no one can?"
Funny enough, Yanar ends up on the person that was supposed to kill her. And she is his bride. Tala was wrong, even the man of his principles Datu Achis could crumble on Yanar's feet. Datu Achis was too in love with her--- Maki could see it in the way Datu Achis peers at her eyes, the way he talks to her, and the way his hands touch her body. He knew because he was on the same page as him.
She was always with the young Datu, whenever or wherever she went. Datu Achis wouldn't leave her side. He couldn't intercept and had a moment to talk to her. But at this time, they were all alone. No one will come here until dawn, the young Datu would probably be drinking with the Kadatuan.
He caresses her face, gulps, and looks up trying to prevent his tears from falling. He could touch her again. He could see her again. He was so grateful to Abba for not taking her away.
"Why did you not come home? I was waiting for you." He whispered as he held her hand and worshiped each of her fingers with his lips. "I miss you, Bai." He uttered as he bent his body to graze his lips on her arms to her shoulder to her neck, cheeks, nose, forehead. He showered her soft kisses as he whispered his words of love for her.
Tears escaped his eyes when he embraced her body to his arms. "I love you, Yanar." He landed his roaming lips on hers, cupping her chin, he gently brushed her thin lips and savory mouth. "You're back, right? Don't leave me again, alright? Right." He beseeches to her gazing at the closed eyes.
Maki laid down on the bed with Yanarym embracing her body tightly.