Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Temple Mysteries
A/n: Have you added That Royal Betrothal to your reading list yet? Please do
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Zara
I sighed in agony as I kicked my leg with lots of reluctance. The sun was beginning to rise as it seeped through the tree. Looking forward, Zack seemed tired too, but continuously smiled to himself. He seemed to love the forest. He seemed to love the concept of looking for a temple because he admired adventure. Urrgh! So, his loss.
I recollect what he told me earlier about that “We both know you want this as much as I do, so stop being hardheaded and kiss me back when I kiss me you next time, Zara”. He had smiled confidently. What was with him, really? He made me want to do awkward things. That feeling where you constantly worried if everything you’ve ever thought you are is just a lie. That was how he made me feel.
I look down to his leg as I try to keep up with him in my sprained leg. I was quite reluctant when he offered a piggy back ride cause I didn’t want to be painted out as a damsel in distress in anybody’s world. My eyes quickly scanned his muscular build, following his ass. They were kinda sexy and…
“Sexy ass, huh?”, he said still walking but ignored him. How did he even figure out what I was thinking? Was he some kind of shaman or what?
“Yours don’t look bad either. I love its shape”, he said again when I didn’t reply him. Fuck me, did I just hear right? Did he just make reference to my lady bump?
“Really, Zack?”, I said narrowing my eyes at him. He came to an abrupt stop and looked back at me. “Yes, really”, he muttered but loud enough for me to hear him. “There’s a thousand reasons I should ignore you, right now”, I spit out. Of all things why did he talk about my butts?
“You could. But won’t, will you? We have to find this “Mystery Temple””. He said as I scoffed loudly. “I don’t need your help, you know. Don’t think for a moment that I do”, I reply giving him what I think is a smart comeback. “Okay, aren’t we back to that again or should I remind you of how you can’t resist me?”, he said in utmost confidence. For a moment, I actually admire his boldness and want him to actually remind me.
Sorry, what?
“Flatter yourself”, I say in two simple words. This makes him bulge his shoulder taking a step, then another step to me dominantly. He poised like a model in a runway trying to steal the show. “Not another step”, I cry out in panic. He shouldn’t come closer. I always lost myself in him. This was his advantage and he knew it. “And if I do?”, he asked with his chin up.
“I’ll—I’ll chop off your balls and sell it at the lowest price at bid market”, I rush out without thinking. Narrowing my eyes at my own word, I’m quick to raise my chin. “It will be your loss then”, he retorted. “What? Never! Not even in your dreams”, I reply. “Want to chop off my balls? Then I’d like to see you do it.”, he closed the distance between us and stared daringly into my eyes. I let out a whimper of panic as I felt the heat between us. It was breathtaking and I didn’t like that fact. Never wanted to feel this way, I didn’t want to lose myself.
“Wh- What?”, I said surprised. He was only a breath away from me. With a sinful hand, he pulled my chocolate brown hair into his hands. My black dyes were beginning to wear off.
“I want you”, he simply said closing his lips with mine. All I could think about was just too much. Emotions, wonderings, chaos. He had planted his lips on mine and leaned a hand on my waist, this was just bad; my weakness. And, it made everything feel right. I didn’t want it and wanted it at the same time.
Afraid.
It made me feel afraid.
I unbelievably gave in as I fiercely worked my mouth with his. I was going under, lost in newly found emotions as my body shuddered in desire. Were those tears? I ask myself bitterly as my eyes welled up.
He held my chin as he slowly withdrawed, kissing me briefly on the forehead and rubbing the small of my back also slowly. I felt like I was in a new environment as light poured through myself and Zack illuminating everything around us. I quickly rubbed away my tears so he didn’t notice.
“Um. . .Zack?”, I cried out as something like a pathway opened through the forest. It seemed misty as we heard unmistakably sound of waterfall. I immediately aimed to move forward to interrogate but he held me back. “I’ll go first”, he said but I defiantly went forward muttering ‘ladies first’ under my breath. He held my back again but this time, I held him. So, I decided we go together.
I scanned through the place. It was brightly lit with sunlight seeping through the exceptional tall trees. I opened my mouth in an ‘o’ shape in surprise as we examined the place.
There was a tag at its entrance which read: “Welcome, you have broken this seal with a true love’s kiss. Goddess Juno awaits you in the temple”. I looked at Zack’s expression. He seemed short of words.
“True love’s kiss? Could it mean you and me? They are definitely mistaken”. I say. Almost immediately, we hear a bell. It sounded like a warning. “Wait a minute. Waterfalls, tall trees, sunlight and temple? I think I got this, Zara”, he said.
“What...?”, I trailed off.
“This is a legend, Zara. I’ve read this story before. It was about a poor woman named Tamara who had twins and sold one of them for a loaf of bread. Poor woman, she couldn’t afford to see her children die in hunger”.
“Yeah? How does that link to this, Zack?”, I asked perplexed. “It does, listen. So, the other child stayed and watched his mother work her bones off to provide for him. This inspired him to work and find his sister. Many years later, he grew up into a big merchant and bought a slave who unknown to him, was his sister. He ended up falling in love with her and marrying her.”
“And?” “The gods they worshipped in those days got angry and stroke the husband with a terrible illness. The wife prayed to the gods to spare her husband which they did but asked for something in return. That she devoted herself to a temple in a town called ‘Juno’ to preside over failed marriages like hers. She accepted the condition and bade her husband goodbye”, he concluded.
“So, that’s the reason for her name?”, I asked. “I’m afraid, yes”, he breathed out as we scanned the place. I notice that our hands are still entangled with each other. Thus, this makes me remove it in distaste. Was I in love with Zack? Definitely not. Could it be that the note foretold our future?
Great Zara, since when did you believe in the supernatural?
“And what happens to me?”, I ask.
“There is no you, Zara. There is only us”, he retorted smartly.
I silently wondered what his problem was. Magical things were happening around us and just look at what he said.
Yet, I fretted with one thing in my mind. One thing was for sure. . . I would never be able to get over this temple’s mysteries.
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