II

We are now sitting at a long table and eating dinner. I'm sitting in front of my mother and beside my brother, while the king is sitting in the middle.

"I heard that you used your purple eyes again to kill someone," my Mom said while we're eating. Nag-angat naman ako ang tingin sa kaniya.

She's just a typical mother, or a queen...

She's wearing her bias cut gown with her cape on her shoulders. Her hair is tied in a braided bun.

"Is that all you can do?" My brother asked me. He's here right now after skipping his priorities tsk... Favoritism.

He's Prince Cedrick Tyre Lauverés my older brother. He was supposed to be the king but he refused because he loves someone from the palace of Aysel.

What is love? Why does love always bring someone down? Why does love can make you blind? Is it because love is blind?

"It's not my fault that I still don't know what element I belong." I shrugged and eat quietly..

I heard him chuckled a bit and stopped when the king warned him.

You want me to respect the Queen and my brother? Why do I even need to respect them when they can't even respect me and my privacy.

Though, I and Prince Cedrick are not in good term, since something had happened between the two of us when we're still little.

Something that he can't even forgive me..

My mind and heart knows how much I missed and loved him, always. He's still my older brother and we share the same blood.

I somehow think of catching up with him but it ended up ignoring me in the end.

I tried cooking his favorite mean but it ended up in the garbage.

I also tried to buy him gifts when it's his birthday but it ended up in the orphanage.

I just want to have a brother like others, a brother who protect her younger sister.

I never felt that, and I always wanted to felt that.

"Dad, did I met someone before?" I asked when I remember what that guy told me yesterday.

He looked at me confused in his eyes. "What do you mean?" 

"You know exactly what I mean. A peasants?" I raised an eyebrow at him reason why my mother glanced at me.

"No reason to bring up what's your past," he said and eat quietly. 

Are they hiding something behind their shadows? Or was I?

"Princess Athaliah, follow me," my dad command and walked towards our garden.

He looked around before pushing the other wall and let me in. I saw a thin wall, some metal, water, light things, mirror and more...

This isn't my first time here. This is my third time and I didn't do anything, since I still don't know to what element I belong.

"Still didn't find out your element?" He asked, I just shook at him." Then watch me instead," He placed his self in the middle of the metal things

His abilities were mixed Pyrokinesis and Inflammation. So basically he belongs to the fire element, he can create, control and manipulate also generate fire, flame, and heat and burn things. His element is Fire and he use it so well and he deserved what element he belongs!

He can also burn plastics like your so called friends....

He started to warm his hands and a spark started, and next thing happened I'm looking at a swirling fireball.

My eyes were amazed when he burns the light things. The mirror reflects the things he burns and his swirling fireball.

He make an exhibition while burning all the things in front of him. It's interesting while watching him.

"You can feel when someone is watching us, right?" He asked while his eyes were closed.

"Hmm," I answered. He makes the fire bigger than before and I can feel the heat from there.

"What about..." Tinigilan niya ang kanyang ginagawa at hinarap ako. "Pumasok ka na sa Pevanshire Alterwood University--"

"What?!" Talagang napatayo ako nang sumigaw ako dahil sa kaniyang pagpapaalam. "You want me to go there? And be with those poor people?!" Yes, I just yelled at the King.

But I lied... I don't like Pevanshire Alterwood University because of what happened 4 years ago. That University is my nightmare.

That's school is my nightmare, until now. It keeps chasing me like a wild fire.

"You're still the Crown Princess of this palace nothing will change," at talagang kalmado pa siya matapos ko siyang sigawan. "And beside there are also royalties there so I see no problem."

"WHYYYYY?!!!" I shouted and kicked all the metal things in front of me.

"They can help you to find out and explore your elements." He seriously said. "Or maybe you still haven't forgotten about it." Then he left me after that.

I'm fine here why do I need to go there? I don't want my skin will be touch by those people who I don't know.

I hate the people there. I wonder if she's still there. I heard she got kicked out because of her trashy attitude.

Annoyed, I entered my room and approached the balcony where I could clearly see the vast garden.

It is really hard to be a Crowned Princess, when no one dares to understands you and your emotions.

I want to be free... I want to go out and feel the breeze... I want to be free but I don't want to see how cruel the world is.

I want to feel someone touch me and watch me aim for what I really want.

I want the best for everyone, but the the word 'Best' is not enough for everyone.

There's always a bad person around outside. There's also a bad person inside this palace. There's a thief outside. There's a thief who wants to steal the crown here inside the palace. Nothing change but I'm safer here rather than outside.

"Princess Athaliah," I woke up when a maiden entered my room without knocking !!

"It's so early!" Nag-unat pa ako. Nakita kong medyo madilim pa kaya batid kong madaling araw pa lang.

"Maaga rin po ang pasok niyo sa unibersidad," Napabalikwas ako ng tayo dahil sa narinig ko.

"Me? I'm going to that University this day?!" Tanging pagtango lamang ang kaniyang sagot sa akin. "As in TODAY?!"

My nightmare is always chasing me...

"Your uniform is in the closet and everything you need is already in there." Umalis na siya pagkatapos nun.

Inis akong naligo at matagal ko pang tinititigan ang uniform ng paaralang iyon. Iba ang uniform ng royalties kesa sa mga regulars.

Princess royalties wear long-sleeved with pleated skirt. Fashionably chic designed in its cut & details with matching button accessories that makes it look lavish & expensive. Regulars wear wrap skirts and they reach down to just above their calves. They're paired with thigh high socks and brogue shoes colored in lavender and white respectively.

Prince Royalties wear Coat and trousers with a tie that's well matched, which makes one look like someone who is definitely of noble birth in the society. The difference is regular doesn't wear Coat they wear V-neck sleeveless blazer.

All Coat and Blazers have the school symbol on the breast pockets and, while it's completely up to them, many students wear distinct accessories, often as a way to show their school spirit.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The uniform fit me so well. I dried my hair and made a bouncy curl on it's ends. After that I wore my purple turban headband to complete my look.

When I went downstairs I saw the driver preparing the Limousine, so I walked towards him to stop what he's doing.

"I prefer the State Limousine." Nauna ako sa kaniyang magtungo sa sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako ng ibang guwardya.

I prefer state Limousin, because it only suite for me than the Limousine it's look so expensive, I want it to be simple today.

Pst, it's also purple.

The Pevanshire Alterwood University is located in the Pevanshire Heartley City where Herst Fort is also located.

I saw how the bridge appears when the driver pressed the remote, so we can cross. I saw that some other people stopped what they're doing when they saw us.

They gather again like yesterday and bow down until I came down..

The Pevanshire Alterwood University is near so the guards follow me until we arrived at the school. I saw many students playing... Throwing some shits and kicking some stone?!

I avoided the pebble when it almost hit me. My guard grabbed me and immediately blocked my direction.

"Ku senti vish imoir??" I calmly asked them while smiling.

I can say that they're regular, because of their uniform.

Napalunok silang nagtulakan patungo sa kinaroroonan ko.

"Paumanhin mahal na Prinsesa hindi naming alam na ika'y naririyan," aniya habang nakayuko ang isang lalaki. He's wearing a blazer means he's a regular.

"Ken Ivoís?" I asked him who he is...

"Ako po si Stefan, at itong dalawang kasama ko ay sina Luis at Theo," nanginginig pa ang boses n'yang sumagot sa akin.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin at pumasok na lamang sa loob ng malaking gintong gate.

May nakita akong ibang royalties pero hindi ko sila nilapitan dahil hindi ko nagugustuhan ang unang pagkita ko sa kanila. Ang ilan sa kanila ay alam na hindi ko pa nalalaman kung sa anong elemento ako nabibilang at ang iba naman ay walang alam at walang pakialam.

May tatlong building sa paaralang ito. Ang unang building kung saan nag-aaral ang mga Royalties, ang pangalawa kung saan nagaganap ang mga paligsahan, at ang pangatlo kung saan nag-aaral ang mga regulars. May isang tulay na papatawid papunta sa building ng Regulars dahil ito ay isang limitasyon sa kanila.

There's also a temples behind the buildings.

When I entered the campus, I was welcomed by the group of guys. They're dancing and seems like their enjoying every steps they make. I can hear the beat of the music coming from the field.

"Prinsesa Athaliah?" Isang tinig ng lalaking pamilyar sa aking pandinig ang aking narinig mula sa aking likuran.

Nang lumingon ako ay sinalubong niya ako ng may malaking ngisi sa kayang labi.

"You again?" walang emosyon kong tanong sa kanya at pinagmasdan ang kabuuan niya.

He's wearing his uniform but with something on his hair like a bandana, like the other guys who's dancing.

"They...," His eyebrows rose as he look into my eyes, seriously now.

"You mean us?" nagtataka ko siyang pinagmasdan nang lumapit siya sa grupo at nakipag batian.

"What the--"

"This is my troupe no need to be shock, hide your dirty attitude behind your flawless body, " did he just disrespect me? He even winked at me! This guy is getting into my nerves.

So this peasant is also dancing?

"Sumasayaw kayo? Great," naiilang kong sabi sa kaniya. "So, anong tawag sa grupo niyo?"

"Improbus," naka ngiting aniya. "Ang ibig sabihin ay Heartless."

"Nice name. It definitely suits you, HEARTLESS PEASANT," dinuro ko pa siya na ikinagulat ng kanyang kasamahan.

"Ikaw prinsesa sumasayaw ka ba?" His tone is different, as if he's asking a insulting question.

"Yeah, Sumasayaw ako... Ballet but I stopped." I smiled at them. The bell rang so it's a signal that I need to go to my classroom.

Ballet dancing is my only talent. I can sing but unfortunately I wasn't blessed with a beautiful voice. Ballet is my only hope when I'm feeling lonely.

My mother used to dance when she was also in high school and college. She used to dance ballet, like I do.

"You're going?" Tanong nito sa akin at tanging tango lamang ang isinagot ko. "Le me bring you to your classroom, your majesty-" Hindi niya natuloy ang balak niyang paglapit sa akin nang harangin siya ng mga taga-bantay ko.

"He's my..." Nilingunan ako ng mga gwardya. "Friend," Nakakaloko siyang ngumisi sa akin.

Since when did we became friends?

"So, where's your first class?"

"Woah, are you really like this?"

"What this?" He even point the whole of his body.

"Yes, that!"

"I'm just being me,"

Just like he said he took me to my class. Fortunately, he did not try to touch me because many eyes were looking at us.

While in class I just listened to what the teacher's teaching and wrote what she'd wrote.

I was so happy when our class ended today. My guards greeted me as I exited the classroom. The small bag I was carrying I gave to my servant who is also my friend in the palace

"Is he the guy who come to you earlier?" He pointed the horse giy.

"Let me handle him," I patted his shoulder and walked towards the horse guy. He's at the bridge and holding a white lotus.

"Hey you Horse Guy, whatever!" I rolled my eyes when I saw him laughing at me.

"Sverre," he introduced and took my hand. "Lotus, it's symbolises purity," he put the lotus in my hand.

"Do you know that Lotus is one of my favorite flowers?" Hinawakan ko ang mga petals ng Lotus. It's pure as white and it's soft like a baby's hand.

I was distracted when I felt his eyes on me...

"I kinda' distracted by your hair," he said as he look at the end of my hair. "Is that natural?" Biglang tanong niya at hinawakan ang dulo ng buhok ko agad ko naman itong iniwas.

"It's natural. I'm born this way..." I said. Hinayaan ko ang Lotus sa tubig na dalhin ito ng maliit na alon sa kung saan siya nakatadhang magtungo.

"Weren't you being bullied because of that?"Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa aking buhok.

"I was," I shrugged. "But when you start to love your flaws, and gradually you will turn into a happy soul."

Inilagay niya ang kaniyang kamay sa tubig saka ako winisikan. Agad akong umilang at hinarangan ang aking dalawang kamay para hindi mabasa ang aking mukha.

"Sverre stop it!" Suway ko sa kaniya pero ni hindi man lang siya natinag. Winisikan ko na rin siya.

Tumakbo ako sa gilid ng maliit na ilog. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagbabasa sa akin.

I laughed at this moment. I never heard myself laughing surreal because I'm purely happy and contented. Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory that you wish you could experience again.

I will surely treasure this, because it's one of the best memories that I got to laughed so hard because of pure happiness.