XIII

The birds are chirping, the air is fresh, the Dandelions sway swiftly, and the leaves, they touch the ground smoothly.

The weather is so nice, so as my mood for today.

I let my body rest calmly on the floating swan I'm laying at, as I hold the book I'm reading. I can say that the story is flattering, flattering as how the sun kisses my skin, and how my sunglasses protect my eyes from the sunlight.

Everything was all so fine and nice, not until may nahagilip ang mga mata ko.

Standing from afar, two meters exactly from the pool is Sverre. I honestly don't know what brings him here; I mean hindi pa ba enough yung pangba-busted niya sakin? Yes right he just did bust me last time. Kaya naiinis ako ngayon, as in, GRRRRR.

Bakit hindi pa sila magsama ni Adira? Who knows baka nga may nangyari pa sa kanila!

I don't have plan on talking with him right now, but out of confusion, I just arched up my brows.

He has his smile plastered on his face which annoys me more.

Nararamdaman ko ang matulis niyang tingin sa akin. Parang ayaw ko tuloy gumalaw sa kinaroroonan ko.

"Good morning," he bow down.

Mas lalo akong naiinis kaya ay inismiran ko na lamang siya, at itinuon na lamang ang aking atensyon sa pagbabasa.

A moment of silence has reigned. Not until he decided to break it.

"Mahal na Prins-"

Padabog kong isinara ang librong hawak ko, binaba ko rin ang sunglasses ko, at matalim ang mga matang tinitigan siya.

"Ano ba!? Hindi mo ba nakikitang mapayapa akong nakalutang at nagbabasa rito?!" medyo napataas pa ang boses ko.

"I'm sorry but I think you're losing your chances." May sumilaw na kakaibang ngisi sa kanyang labi, ngunit may nakita akong emosyong dumaan sa kaniyang mga mata, hindi ko mawari kung ano iyon. Magaling siyang magatgo't magpanggap.

"UGHHH! You're so annoying!!!" napasabunot ako sa sarili kong buhok dahil sa inis ko sa kaniya. 

"Oh, am I?"

Padabog akong lumapit sa may gilid ng pool at bumaba na sa float, habang hawak hawak pa rin ang libro't antipara.

Lalapit pa sana siya upang tulungan ako, nang itaas ko ang aking kamay, a sign for him to stop.

Nang makalapit ako sa kinatatayuan niya'y hinarap ko siya, I look at him straight in the eye.

"You know what; you've already done enough to annoy me. So just get out of my sight, and don't fvcking come back."

He was slightly startled and looked straight into his eyes. In just a moment and the side of his eyes rose.

At hinampas ko ang libro't antiparang hawak ko sa dibdib niya, I knew na mababasag yung glasses.

Hindi siya nagsalita at malamig lang na tumitig sa akin.

I didn't even felt pity upon chanting those words, kahit na alam kong hindi niya maiintindihan yun.

Nilagpasan ko siya at tumingin muli sa kaniyang gawi.

"Umalis ka na lang!"

Tumingin siya sakin at, "Do you really want me to leave?" Tanong lang iyon ngunit naasar ako!

Hindi ko siya sinagot at naramdaman kong uminit ang magkabilang pisngi ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi. 

"He is your new servant now Athaliah, haven't I told you about it?" She said it pure finality.

Gulat kaming napalingon sa nagsalita.

It's the Queen, and she's standing by the glass door.

"Mahal na Reyna!"

Sverre bowed down quickly.

"M-mom? But why?" Nagpapadyak pang mga paang tanong ko.

"Because I said so." she gave it an end already and turned her back to us.

Now I'm in mix emotions. It took me time para maka-recover at dali-dali na akong bumalik sa aking silid.

I decided to take a cold shower just to calm my nerves down. Que aga aga pa'y na-stressed na ako.

Haysss, lintik na Sverre yan!

Mahigit na isang oras akong naroroon, bago ko naiisipang lumabas na.

I went straight into my walk in closet, shocked to see that my uniform is already prepared lying on the table.

I sat in front of my vanity mirror, then I blow dried my hair first and decided to braid it into a headband.

After that I applied a light make up. Setting powder first, then a pinkish blush on, curled my eyelashes, with mascara on, brushed up brows, and lastly a cherry shaded lip tint with lip shiner on.

Then I wear my uniform already.

"Perfect" I said to myself.

I decided to get out already, not expecting to see Sverre standing by the side of the couch.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Sinong nagpapasok sayo rito?"

Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"Mahal na Prinsesa kumain na po muna kayo." He point at the tray na may lamamg pagkain sa ilalim ng mesa.

I look at him and arched up my brow.

"Hindi ako nagugutom, sayo na lamang yan kung nais mo."

"Ngunit ito ay para sa inyo Prinsesa." He's really pushing me ha.

"Ibinibigay ko na nga sayo, diba? Ano ba ang hindi mo maintindihan dun?"

Ughh he's just so annoying!! O nasaktan lang ako?

"At tsaka bakit ka nga nandito?"

He just looked down.

"Because I want too," he whispered something.

"What are you whispering there? Did you just curse me?!

"I didn't!" He defender. "I said, because I am your servant and I need to be with you always, ALWAYS."

Oh that hit me.

I felt something in me, but I'm trying to deny it.

So I got my tings for school at lumabas na sa silid ko't iniwan na siya.

I sat on the couch waiting for the butler to prepare the car.

I didn't notice na nandito na rin pala siya sa baba.

Not until I saw an apple by my peripheral vision.

I look up to see who it is,

Once again it's Sverre.

"What now?" I shot.

"Apple for you, I think you haven't eat yet."

I smiled sweetly at him before getting the apple from his hand.

"Salamat, ngunit hindi nga ako nagugutom!" pasigaw kong sabi at itinapon ang mansanas sa kung saan, bago ako magtungo palabas.

I saw the state limousine already there, kaya naman ay pumasok na ako.

Hindi ko na hinintay pang may magbukas ng pinto ng sasakyan para sa akin.

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes.

Naramdaman kong may pumasok na sasakyan kaya ay idinilat ko na ang aking mga mata, only to see Sverre again.

"What the, ang kulit mo rin ano? Bakit ba andito ka na naman ha?"

Matalim ang matang tinitigan ko siya.

"Again, I'm sorry, but I 'Sverre Nicolas Casteril' is your servant. So you can count on me to always be there for you. "

Ang haba din talaga ng pasensya niya, ah?

"I already know your name. But servant lang naman kita, you're not my driver."

He smiled at me bago niya pinaharurot ang sasakyan paalis ng palasyo.

"Utos po ng mahal na reyna,"

I chose not to talk anymore.

I spent my whole day sa school na bad trip, lalo na't he's just around.

I walk straight papasok sa room ko ng tawagin ako ng aking Ina.

She gestured me to follow her that lead us to balcony.

"How was your day Athaliah?"

Wish did she really ask that?

"Well, well I'm annoyed." tanging naging sagot ko lamamg.

"Why? Don't you like the way he works? I mean, I see no trouble in him, so why is that Athaliah?"

"I-I, uhmm -"

"Do you like him, Princess?"

"W-what!? No, of course not, why would I?!" Ughh soo in denial naman.

"Are you sure? I think you like him hija."

Napaawang na lamang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya.

"No worries he's a nice guy, you don't have to hate him."

"Nice guy, huh." I sarcastically laughed.

"But he's a regular always remember that," mariin niyang dagdag. "Do not be deceived by the word love."

She assured me, and then she left me there all alone.

I sighed deeply.

"I guess, I should stop being rude."

But I just can't let myself fall deeper with him. I'm scared that he won't feel the same way, the way I feel for him.

The next day I felt the weird atmosphere nang makarating ako sa dining area. I saw Sverre talking with my mom and dad's face looks worried and I don't know why.

"Are you okay, dad?" I asked. Napasulyap sa akin sila mama at Sverre nang magtanong ako.

"Maybe he's just tired, Crown Princess..." My mother gave me a pure smile. "You may go." Aniya kay Sverre.

What are they talking about earlier? Sumulyap pa sa akin si Sverre at tumango bago umalis.

"You only have 5 days before the Coronation, Athaliah." Mariin na pagbigkas ng aking ama. "Do you even care about your crown?" I was shocked because of his sudden question.

"Don't pressure her," my mother said but he didn't even spare a glance at her. "Just give her time." She smiled to me again.

"Finish your food and go to your school." Tumayo na siya at iniwan kaming mag-ina.

What's with his sudden mood?

"I'm sorry for that. He's just so worried about your crown."Saka rin ako iniwan at sinundan ang aking ama.

Nang matapos ako ay nakasalubong ko na si Sverre. Hinahanda na ang sasakyan para ihatid ako sa paaralan.

"Mahal na prinsesa," pagtawag niya sa akin pero hindi ko siya pinasin at padabog na sumakay sa sasakyan.

I spent my whole day at school thinking about my parents and my crown. Ako lang ba dapat ang maghanap dahil akin ang korona? Magulang ko sila pero parang sila pa ang walang ginagawa para tulungan ako.

Now, I questioned myself if I really deserve to be a ruling queen in the palace.

Nang matapos ang klase ay agad kong kinuha ang mga gamit ko. Napag-isipan kong magmuni-muni muna sa may tulay at pagmasdan ang mga lotus na nasa ibabaw ng tubig.

Kumuha ako ng isang puting lotus at pinagmasdan iyon. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Sverre sa akin noon.

Lotus, It symbolises purity.

"Mahal na prinsesa," tinig ni Sverre na nagmumula sa likuran ko. "Umuwi na po tayo at dumidilim na."

Ayaw kong masanay na lagi siyang ganito. Ayaw kong masanay na lagi kaming mag kasama. Kapag lagi kaming magkasama ay mas lalong mahuhulog ang loob ko sa isang tulad niya.

Para sa kaniya ay ginagawa niya lang ang trabaho niya para mabuhay. Pero para sa akin ginagawa niya iyon dahil nag-aalala siya para sa akin. Magkaiba kami ng naiintindihan sa kilos ng isa't-isa.

Tumayo na ako at sumunod sa kaniya patungo sa sasakyan. Hindi ko na siya hinintay na pagbuksan pa ako.Sa halip ay ako na ang kusang bumukas at pumasok.

Sobrang bigat ng nararamdaman ko sa araw na ito.

Walang sinong nagsalita sa aming dalawa. Napapansin ko siyang napapatingin sa akin mula sa salamin 
ng sasakyan.

Agad akong bumaba nang makarating kami sa harap ng palasyo. Nagulat ako sa aking nadatnan.

Mga katulong na nakahilera sa isang malawak na sala saka ang iba pang driver at guards. Anong nangyayari?!

Nakita ko ang reyna na nanggagalaiti sa galit at ang hari na pula na naman ang pisngi.

Nasa may pintuan lang ako upang marinig kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nila. Hinila ko kaagad si Sverre nang papasok sana siya sa loob.

"Shhh..." Pagtatahimik ko sa kaniya dahil gusto na niyang pumasok sa loob.

Now I realize why I feel so heavy since I woke up this morning.

"Ilan?" Agad akong napalingon sa Reyna nang magtanong siya. "Ilan kami?!"

Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin?!

"Keturah," malungkot na pagtawag sa kaniya ng hari. "Hindi ko sinasadya."

"Samuel, bakit sa lahat siya pa?!" Napansin kong gumaragal na ang kaniyang boses. "Bakit sa lahat ng babae siya pa?" Nasasaktan siya...

Hindi ko mawari ang kanyang sinasabi dahil ngayon lamang ako dumating.

"Keturah," muling pagtawag niya. "I'm very sorry---" muli siyang sinampal ng aking ina.

"You're sorry for what, Samuel?!"

"I'm sorry because of my mistakes."

"Samuel, you're not sorry for your mistakes. You're not sorry on why you cheated on me. You're not sorry why you got her pregnant before. You're sorry because you got caught!!"

He cheated? He got other girl pregnant? He hurt my mom... He's not worried about my crown. He's worried about his mistakes.

"And if you really are sorry, you should've told me about it in the first place. But you didn't, you chose to kept it for years."

Hindi ko na natiis at nagpakita na ako na ikinagulat nila.

"Is it true?" Tanong ko sa kanila. Gulat ang nakaukit sa kanilang mga mata:t mukha nang nakita ako. "Totoo ba?!" Naramdaman ko nang tumulo ang mga luha galing sa mga mata ko.

"You liar!" Sigaw ko sa hari. "You're a cheater!"

"Crown princess Athaliah..." Pagtawag niya sa akin pero puno ng galit ang buong sistema ko.

"Bring them right away here and I want to meet them." Madiin kong utos sa kaniya. "Let me give them a sword words."