VI

Have you ever heard a story about a girl who had a friend...? And that friend of her betrayed her like what Cinderella's stepsisters did to her?

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"The badass girl is back!"

"Tsk... As if she deserves to be here"

"Adira is a cheap girl!"

"She's back,"

I heard a few students gossiping when I enter the school campus. I saw a crowd near the field and I went towards them to see who the badass is.

"What's with the no--" My eyes widened when our eyes met.

I could see nothing in her eyes. I can't see any pain and sympathy in her eyes. All I can see is amusement and jealousy.

I saw how the expression of Prince Lazarus, Theophilus, Thomas and Princess Zariah changed when they saw me staring at this person they called badass.

"So It's true that the badass is back," I sighed as she was shocked to see me after four years.

"Wala bang pa welcome diyan, Prinsesa Athaliah?" She asked sarcastically.

I glanced at her whole being. Shee came back as if nothing had happened in our past. She was talking to me as if she had done nothing wrong. Very casual.

"How about this kind of welcome?" I took a juice that a student was carrying and poured it on her. I saw her eyes widen, not expecting what I did. "How do you feel, ADIRA?" Instead of being annoyed, he just sneered at me.

"Nothing ... I felt nothing," she was about to approach me when  Prince Lazarus blocked her in front of me.

Prince Lazarus' shoulders rose and I was even more blocked when Adira took another step.

"Wait for me to remove every thorn that clings to your heart," I looked at her sharply. I saw the amazement in her eyes. "I'am not called Athaliah for nothing."

"Masyado ka namang hayok sa kapangyarihan, Prinsesa," ngisi niyang sabi sa akin.

"Kung ako hayok sa kapangyarihan, ikaw hayok sa pagkakaroon ng kaibigan," iniwasan niya ang tingin sa akin. "It's pathetic that you're using money to buy friends." Muli siyang natigilan sa sinabi ko.

She doesn't show it to others but I can clearly see in the emotion in her eyes that she is hurting and that is one of my pleasures, to see her suffer!

"Adira Felicie Bizellane," pag banggit ko sa buong pangalan niya. "Do you wanna hear a sec--"

"What's the secret?" I heard a cold voice from behind us. When I was about to turn around, he was the one who took the initiative and approached Adira.

Suddenly my blood heats up when I see him grabs Adira by the waist and support it standing up.

I tried to look calm as I looked at the two of them in that position.

Kung kaya lang kitang patayin ay kanina ko pa ginawa...

"Why are you fighting?" I thought Adrian was the one he asked, but it was me because I had his vision.

Oh, so it's my fault now?

I saw other royalties and regulars watching me. Suddenly everything that happened before came to me, how people treated me here!

How they made my heart as hards as the stone ...

How they make me look like I have no rights ...

"Do you even know me, Sverre?" My eyebrows furrowed as I asked him that. The way he talk to me since first day is so disrespectful.

How they used my name in the school we owned. 

Noon 'yon at ngayon ay sa kanila ko naman ipaparanas ang lahat ng mga ginawa nila.

I will never forgive them... Never even her.

My friend...

I've been thorned all the years and I suffered all alone.

"Do you know the difference between fighting and taking revenge?" I did not look at him because I knew he was angry. I also do not know if it is revenge or if my blood just boils when I see her.

"But is that reason enough for you to retaliate--"

"Is that enough of your criticism especially since you know nothing, novice?

"Sverre, do not interfere," I heard Adira say to him then gave me a glanced. "No matter what you do I will not stain my knee just to kneel to a worthless princess like you!"

Walang pinagbago, retard.

"Adira, I'm worth it no matter what," I smiled at her. "Hindi ko rin sana dudumihin ang mga palad ko kaso--" I slapped her very hard and I could clearly see the mark of my hand on his cheek.

Sverre was about to approach me when  Prince Lazarus blocked again so that no one could approach me.

"Sverre, do not enter the line I drew if you want to live in peace."

"I don't care what happens to me when it comes to friends!" He shouted at me while not removing his hand holding Adira.

"You're too sweet for your friend," I said sarcastically while looking at his hand wrapped around Adira's waist. "You don't even know how to let go."

"Huwag kang masyadong magpanggap na matapang Princess Athaliah," madiin na sabi ni Adira dahilan para mag kulay lila ang aking mga matang nakatingin sa kaniya. "Kasi kilalang-kilala ko kung paano ka noon."

"What I was then it's because of you," I looked even more at her. "What I am now thanks to you." I bowed slightly and gripped her jaw tightly. "Your dress, your expensive clothes and your belongings. Everything comes from my gold. Do not brag if you have nothing to boast about."

Tumayo ako at agad na nagspray ng disinfectant sa aking kamay.

"Oh my! Why does the ends of your hair change its color!?" Princess Zariah asked while she's looking at my hair.

Then I look at it, she isn't lying, it has changed. No one knows why it changed but only me and my self.

"I'm the girl who walked onto the thorns and vines of trees with no one by my side. I'm the girl who suffers just because I deal with some nonsense stuffs like you. I'm that girl Adira. Never forget that girl!"

"Thanks to me, then?" She raised her eyebrows which made her uglier.

"Don't flatter yourself, you were never even a player at my own game, you were just a loser who keeps on training her self, but never gets the chance to be better." Saka ko siya tinalikuran.

Naramdaman kong sumunod ang mga kaibigan ko sa aking likuran. Hindi pa rin bumabalik sa dati ang kulay ng buhok ko kaya kailangan kong kumalma.

"What was that?" Tanong ni Prince Theophilus nang makarating kami sa classroom.

"A cheap fight?" Patanong kong sagot sa kaniya dahilan para sumingkit ang mga mata niya sa akin.

Hindi na kami nakapag-usap pa dahil dumating na ang teacher namin. Nakipagbatian pa kami saka siya nagsimula.

"What type of crown were you trying to wear?" The teacher asked and she got my attention because of her question.

I'am a Crown Princess and what type of crown am I trying to wear? All I know is that I want to wear the crown for the people of Pevanshire Heartley City.

"Was it Wealth for the Throne, Fame for the Palace, or Love for one person?"

I opened my Notebook and I wrote my thoughts about her question.

If I will wear a crown I would chose those three but with different responsibilities.

- Princess Athaliah

Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko na bumalik na ang babaeng iyon. Babaeng hampaslupa!

"What about you Crown Princess Athaliah?" Tanong ng Teacher saka ako tumayo.

"If I will wear a type of crown I will choose Wealth for the Palace, Fame for the Country, Love and Peace for the People of Pevanshire Heartley City." Nakita kong sumilay ang kakaibang ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"Very well said, Crown Princess." Walang emosyon akong umupo at hindi pinansin ang kaniyang sinabi.

Pero bigla atang nagbago ang aking isipan. I want to wear a crown to make that girl suffer.

Nakita kong napapatingin pa sa akin ang ibang royalties habang nasa klase kami. Kitang-kita ko rin ang pag-aalala nila Prince Lazarus.

I'm glad na bumalik na ulit ang kulay ng buhok ko dahil kumalma na ako.

"Is that Prince Marius?" Tanong ni Princess Zariah sa akin.

Biglang may light bulb sa ulo ko nang may naisip akong kakaibang plano. Nandoon si Prince Marius sa field at nandoon din si Adira malapit sa kanya.

Here goes the best actress...

"Prince Marius!" Pinilit kong gumaralgal ang boses ko at nagpanggap na pinapahid ang luha ko sa mga mata.

"Why? What happened?" Malambing niyang tanong sa akin at isinubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya.

"She's... She's back." I sadly complained to him. I felt him turn to Adira causing his breathing to get heavier.

"Did she hurt you?" Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya Saka ngumuso.

"She's Adira... The girl I told you before." Malaki ang mga mata niya at yinakap ako ng mahigpit.

"I'm here I will not let that happen again, okay?" Nakatingin pa rin siya kay Adira.

Adira likes Prince Marius before and so let the game begin.

We went to the park before going home para human daw ang pakiramdam ko kahit papaano.

What does it feel to love someone, at the same betrayed by someone?