Dinala ko siya sa hindi masyadong mataong village. People would go or hang out in the mall nowadays rather than preserve places like this. But I think this is the kind of place Tanaiah wants. Well, I hope so.
We rented bicycles. Our first stop is the backyard cinema. I can feel that she's stealing glances from me. Tss. She doesn't need to do that anyway. I will not say anything if she looks at me. Kaya naman nu'ng nag-focus na ulit siya sa pinapanuod ay siya naman ang pinanuod ko. She became uneasy in the intimate part of the movie. Gusto kong matawa. Cute.
Kaya lang noong paalis na kami ay 'tsaka naman na-flat-an ng gulong ang biskleta niya. I told her to just sit in front of me. I don't know what she's thinking throughout our ride. But I'm so happy to be close like this to her.
"Can we watch them first?"
Nadaan kami sa grupo ng mga nagsasayaw. Tinignan ko siya at tumango. She immediately dragged me towards them. I had fun watching her having fun. Pagkatapos no'n ay tumulak na kami papuntang thermal bath. But I think it's a bad idea that I brought her here.
"Are you really going to wear that?" I looked at the swimsuit she was holding.
"Wala naman akong choice. Lulublob na lang din ako lagi para hindi makita ang katawan ko."
I sighed. There's a lot of people here. Especially boys. Wait. Can I just shoo them away? Ako naman ang Prinsipe kaya kaya kong gawin 'yon.
I rejected the idea and just leaned on the wall while waiting for her. Nu'ng lumabas siya ay agad kong ibinigay ang isang tuwalya. I looked at her body. The swimwear fits nicely on her. I looked at her chest. Tss. I thought she's flat-chested. But I suddenly wanted to curse when I saw how exposed her back was.
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang mapansin ang tingin niya. Niyaya na niya ako sa tubig.
The place is nice. I like their warm water. I noticed that Tanaiah had disappeared beside me. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko para hanapin siya. Where did she go?
A girl blocked my sight.
"Hi!" she said but I didn't bother to look at her. Hinahanap ko ang Prinsesa ko dahil baka nalunod na 'yon. Drown by the men around here. Tss.
"You're not from here, don't you?"
"I don't know kung may mga napuntahan ka ng ibang places dito sa village before here but I can suggest some."
She keeps on talking kaya napatingin ako sa sunod niyang sinabi.
"Have you been to the backyard cinema?"
I nodded.
"Okay okay. What about the sky pub?"
"I haven't."
"I suggest that you go there. They are famous for their classic drinks."
But she doesn't drink.
"And they have an overlooking view. You know, this village is more beautiful at night."
I nodded again. Inisip kong dalhin si Tanaiah doon.
"There's also a famous diner here. They serve the best steak in town."
I noticed that this girl was getting nearer to me.
"And I hope wala ka pang kasamang pupunta sa mga binanggit ko. I'm willing to be your acquaintance."
Hinawakan ko siya at inilayo sa'kin.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but I have a girlfriend."
"Oh really? Where is she?"
Saktong nakita ko na 'yung kanina ko pa hinahanap. She's looking at us.
"There she is."
Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa amin. I smirked because it's like she's going to kill us by her look. Or probably just this girl. Napailing ako. This is bad.
Maya-maya ay ngumiti siya. I was surprised nang dumikit siya sa'kin.
She clung to me. "Who is she, baby?"
Instead of being shocked with what she said, mas lumawak ang ngiti ko.
"This is my girlfriend, Miss." Tinignan ko siya. "What took you so long, baby?" I said and wrapped my arms around her.
She was silent while going to the diner. I wonder what she's thinking. After our dinner, we arrived at the pub suggested by the girl earlier. Maganda nga rito.
I ordered cocktail juice for us. Naupo kami sa may stool sa balcony. I looked at the view and then at her.
"Isn't it pretty?" I whispered.
My heart is pounding hard. Huminga ako nang malalim. I looked at her lips. Fuck. I can't do this anymore.
I closed the space between us, and that's when my lips finally touched hers.
Parang gusto kong suntukin ang sarili ko nang makita ang mga luha sa mata niya nang umamin ako. I hate seeing her cries. Lalo na kapag ako ang dahilan.
Pero bakit gano'n? Kahit umiiyak, ang ganda pa rin. Damn. I'm really crazy for her.
Iyon ang pinakamagandang gabi na nangyari sa'kin simula nang mapunta kami rito. I thought she would reject me. I was surprised that he didn't even let me court her. She's my girlfriend already. Pero siyempre, araw-araw ko pa rin siyang liligawan. I would treat her like she can still slip away from me anytime.
Pero mukhang pumalpak yata ako,
"Tinulak ka ba talaga ni Princess Tanaiah?"
Namumugto ang mga mata niya akong tinignan. "Yes, she pushed me! Someone can testify for that. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit niya ginawa 'yon. Mayve... she has a huge grudge for me."
Napaisip ako. Bakit naman gagawin ni Tanaiah 'yon? I know her. She's not that kind of person. Alam ko dahil lagi kong pinapanuod ang mga kilos niya nu'ng wala pa kami rito sa kwento.
Kinausap ko siya tungkol doon. At parang gusto ko na lang suntukin ang sarili ko nang makita na naman ang mga luha sa mata niya. Damn me. I'm hurting her.
"Oo, nagselos nga ako pero hindi ko itinulak si Nicole! Hindi ko rin siya itinulak para lang manalo!"
"Yes. I know. I'm sorry, my princess."
I sighed. I should stop being a trash boyfriend.
Bumawi ako. Everything was fine. I don't mind living in this world forever if she's with me. Pero siyempre, mas gusto ko pa rin siyang ipakilala sa mga totoo kong magulang. My mother will surely like her.
I'm so damn happy with her. But I know, being in a relationship is not just about happiness. Ilang araw akong naging busy dahil sa mga kailangang gawin sa Palasyo. Isa na roon ang pagpapanggap bilang fiance ni Nicole.
Ngayong araw ay nandito kaming royalties sa Palasyo. We're doing a photoshoot for our wedding magazine. Kasama dapat dito si Tanaiah. But since she got expelled and people are thinking that she really harmed Nicole, hindi na siya pinasama. Which is really unfair.
Tinignan ko si Nicole. Maniniwala na ba ako sa prinsesa kong may saltik talaga ang isang 'to? Tanaiah said she didn't push her and I believe in her words. Kaya bakit gano'n ang sinabi niya kung hindi naman pala 'yon ang nangyari?
"Uhh, try to kiss her on her forehead, Prince Ashton, to make it look like you're really a couple in the photo."
Halos mapairap ako sa sinabi ng photographer. Here's this shit again. Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Daryl na nangingiti. He enjoys seeing me doing shit.
Nang binigyan kami ng limang minutong break, agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at tinext si Tanaiah. Hindi siya nakapag-reply agad kaya baka nasa school pa.
Nang matapos ang shoot, tinext ko ulit siya at sinubukang tawagan. Pero gano'n pa rin, she's not answering it. Napabuntong hininga ako. Is she mad? Ilang beses na kasing hindi natutuloy ang lakad namin. I'm losing time for her.
Naglalakad ako sa hallway nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Nang makitang ang prinsesa 'yon ay kaagad kong sinagot ang tawag.
"A-Ashton!"
Napakunot ang noo ko. She seemed scared.
"What's the problem?"
"N-Nandito ako n-ngayon sa school at may mga---"
"The fuck?"
I glared at whoever snatched my phone.
"Who's that? Mamaya na 'yan."
It's Nicole.
"What's your problem?" Kinuha ko sa kanya ang cellphone pero wala na ang kabilang linya.
"Pinapatawag tayo ng Queen."
She should have waited me finish the call. Bago sumunod sa kanya ay t-in-ext ko muna si Tanaiah. Habang kinakausap ng Queen ay panay ang tingin ko sa cellphone, nag-aabang sa reply niya. I'm worried. Based on the tone of her voice, it looks like she's in trouble.
Kaya naman nang matapos ko ang mga pinagawa sa'kin ay nagpunta agad ako sa bahay nila. I doubt she's inside of their mansion because it's still school hours. Maya-maya pa siguro ang uwi no'n. Kaya sa labas na lang muna ako naghintay at kinuha ang cellphone ko para i-text siya.
Napatuwid ako sa pagkakasandal sa sasakyan nang may dumating. I narrowed my eyes to see the car. Nang makilalang kay Daryl 'yon ay napakunot ang noo ko. I put my phone back inside my pocket when I saw Tanaiah.
Did Daryl fetch her?
Pinapanuod ko lang sila. I can't tell if something's off with my Princess dahil medyo malayo ako sa kanila. My eyes widened a bit when she hugged Daryl.
Hindi ko na nagawang magpakita sa kanya. I'm pissed. That hug is surely nothing but why the hell she's not answering my texts and calls when she seemed okay? At bakit si Daryl ang sumundo sa kanya kung pwede namang ako?
Kinabukasan, pumasok na ako sa klase. Gano'n din sa mga sumunod na araw dahil hindi na gano'n kabigat ang mga civic duty ko. I didn't dare to text or call the snob princess again. Bakit pa kung hindi rin naman niya sasagutin. And yes, I'm still pissed because of what I saw. Paulit-ulit kong kinukumbinsi na wala lang 'yong yakap na 'yon pero kada makikita ko si Daryl sa classroom ay parang gusto ko siyang suntukin. Lalo na nang lumapit siya sa'kin ngayon.
"Prince Ashton, I need to tell you something."
Sinamaan ko agad siya ng tingin.
"Woah. What did I do?"
Tumayo ako at lumabas ng classroom para makapag-usap kami. Baka nga hindi lang usap ang gawin namin dahil baka tuluyan ko na siyang masuntok. I need an explanation why my princess would hug him like that.
"It's about Tanaiah." Nag-seryoso siya.
"What about her? Is this about when she hugged you?"
"Wait, did you see that?"
"Tss."
Natawa siya kaya sinamaan ko ulit siya ng tingin.
"Is this why you're glaring at me these past few days?"
Hindi ko siya sinagot at nanitiling seryoso.
"That hug was nothing. She's just thankful for me."
Napakunot ang noo ko. "What she's thankful for?"
Imbes na sagutin ay tinanong niya rin ako. "Are you not in good terms with her because you're jealous of what you saw?"
Hindi ako sumagot. Nanatiling matalim ang titig ko sa kanya.
"Look, hindi na siguro piniling sabihin ni Tanaiah sa'yo dahil baka mag-alala ka but she've been bullied. The day you saw us was also the day she was in trouble. My cousin which is the Director of the school called me."
What?!
Umalis agad ako sa harapan niya.
"Saan ka pupunta?"
"Kay Tanaiah."
I heard him chuckle. "I'll go with you."
Habang nasa sasakyan ay inisip ko 'yung mga araw na naging busy ako. 'Yung mga araw din na hindi ako nagparamdam sa kanya dahil sa selos. Damn. She should have told me. Pero paano niya nga sasabihin sa akin kung busy ako?
I'm fucked up.
Sumunod ako kay Daryl pagkababa ng sasakyan. He said we'll go to his cousin's office first to ask for Tanaiah's classroom. Kaya lang, pagkarating namin doon ay naka-lock ang opisina.
"He's not here?"
Sinubukan ko ring pihitin ang door knob.
"Maybe he's in the meeting. Let's go. Magtanong na lang tayo sa professor."
Naglakad na siya palayo. But I immediately advanced myself again to the door when I heard something. I kicked it as hard as I could when I recognized her cries.
"What are you---"
It was like darkness enveloped me when I saw her lying on the table while her face was full of tears. I'm not dumb to not know what's happening, so I didn't think twice to grab the asshole and punch him. I have never been into fights, and I know to myself that I'm not capable of killing someone, but it looks like I'm wrong.
I've never been this mad in my life. All my rational thoughts left me. Hell, I don't fucking care if this bastard's face is already showering with blood.
"Please. Tama na."
Nang marinig ang iyak niya ay unti-unti akong natigilan sa ginagawa.
Agad ko siyang niyakap. "Ssh. I'm already here."
"I'm sorry, my princess. I'm sorry." I kept on whispering to her.
As much as I want to sue that asshole, ipinaubaya ko na lang kay Daryl. My priority is my princess. She needs to breathe. I made sure that everything was okay first regarding what happened before I brought her here to Cape Vista.
Nang mag-gabi at habang tulog siya ay nanghiram ako ng laptop sa baba. Pinanuod ko ang mga cctv footage ng school nila na s-in-end sa'kin ni Daryl. Nakaramdam ulit ako ng matinding galit nang makita ang mga pinagdaanan niya.
Is this really a fucking fairy tale?
I know that Daryl's handling these things already, but I want to make sure that all these people would be sued once we go back, and I want them to be out of Valiente. Lalo na ang gagong nagtangka sa kanya sa CR.
I looked at Tanaiah who's sleeping. She didn't deserve all of these.
We spent our day doing water activities. Halos lahat ay hindi pa niya nagagawa kaya talagang pinilit ko siya. I want her to try and explore new things.
I can't help but smile watching her doing the flyboard. I've tried this already, so I told her I’d just watch her. She's a brave girl. Akala ko'y aayaw na siya nang malamang hindi ako sa sasama. But she can still manage without me.
I made unforgettable memories with her in this story, and our stay here is one of those. Seeing her happy makes me happy already. I'm enjoying watching her enjoy.
I didn't know that I would be able to fall this hard for this princess. And I don't know what I can do if anything bad happens to her again. I might be a villain here and not a prince if she gets hurt again.