XXII

No one must fade, but she who wear the crown. - Nos

-

"Calm down first," Marxia ordered because people were screaming.

We are already in the middle of the stage, all the candidates. Women and men are just in different lines.

After what happened earlier, the answer and modeling of the candidates now here we are waiting for the result.

Marxia is already holding the Card containing who will win.

"Woah, are you ready?" Marxia asked us then slowly approached Adira, next to me.

"Marxia is ready. I know my name is there." She bragged.

Marxia laughed slightly at her then turned to me with a smile plastered on her lips.

"Can you mention my name again?" She pleased.

I laughed at her before she handed the microphone on me.

"Marxia, your beauty is fascinating." I said, smiling at her.

She touched both of her cheeks while her eyes were on me.

"Is that true?" I only nodded to her.

"Woah," she shouted into the microphone, maybe because she's flattered. "Okay, so now I will announce who will be presented as Mr. and Ms. Alterwood." She announced when she finally recovered.

I looked where my parents were. They were not staring at the stage. The three of them seemed to be talking to each other.

My forehead furrowed as I noticed the Queen is mad or something.

Seems like her blood is boiling right now.

I tried to call Marxia so I could get to where my parents were. But she's  busy with the people, asking them who will win.

"Bakit Athaliah, gusto mo na bang umalis dahil alam mong talo ka na?" Nakataas ang kilay niyang tanong sa akin.

"Skáse," I said angrily to her in Greek.

She was stunned as if she did not understand what I was saying.

"Fucking regular," I whispered and ignore her presence.

The duration of Marxia's announcement makes me bored and making me worry more and more ( Twice ).

"Okay, that's right," Marxia said and slowly opened the card. "I will announce who will be presented the Mr. Alterwood."

We heard drum rolls and it stopped when Marxia spoke.

"This year's Mr. Alterwood is," the drum rolls sounded faster. "Is," he turned to the men. "Sverre Nicolas Casteril!"

All of the sluts were screaming for him.

"Sverre ko 'yan!"

"Anakan mo'ko Sverre!"

"Baby!"

"Sana pala sumali ako!"

The other women were thirsty for him. The heck... Feels like I wanted to kill someone!

Sverre marched in front of everyone.

Marxia turned to me so I raised an eyebrow at her. She just smiled at me then turned to Sverre.

"Congratulations, Sverre!" Marxia congrats him. Two people, a woman and a man, approached. One and holding a crown and the other is holding the title.

He had to go down a little so that they could match and the woman put his crown on him.

I was shocked when the woman suddenly kissed his cheek.

I just avoided looking at him and looked in my parent's direction.

I was shocked when they all stood up and the conversation became even more serious.

"What are they talking about?" I whispered the question then looked at Sverre.

He worriedly smiled at me. Then went to the side.

"Sverre," Marxia suddenly called him. "Whoever wins Ms. Alterwood I have an order for you," 

Sverre's two eyebrows rose as Marxia's words seemed unexpected.

"A-ano iyon?" He stammered a question to Marxia.

Marxia smiled foolishly at him. "Simple lang naman ang utos ko. Ang mananalo ay hahalikan mo."

Sverre and I looked at each other because of what marxia said. What if Adira won? Hahalikan niya rin si Adira hayss...

"Please announce the winner!"

"Who's the lucky girl?!"

"Oh my gosh!"

"Let it go!"

Sigaw ng karamihan..

Marxia was excited so she went to the middle of the stage.

"There are two cape for Mr. and Ms. Alterwood and they will wear it when we finally find out who the lucky girl is," she slowly open the card.

Even I was nervous about the result. I took a deep breath then exhaled loudly ( dragon ka ghorl?)

"And Ms. Alterwood is," she faced the microphone to the people and they were saying different names. "Ms. Alterwoon of the year is crowned princess Athaliah Neriah Lauvéres!"

I proudly marched towards the center and so did Sverre. I waved to the crowd and kissed them using my hand and threw the kiss into the air.

Some of them seemed to catch my flying kiss.

"Bago ka naming kokoronahan ano ang sigaw ng lahat?" Tanong niya sa lahat ng nanonood.

"Kiss!"

"Lips!"

"Itulak na yan!"

"Kiss na ang tagal!"

Sigaw nilang lahat.

I shyly turned to Sverre and he automatically held my chin.

"Nakakatunaw ang iyong ganda, prinsesa," His hoarse voice said.

He stared at me for a long time until he looked down at my nose and down to my lips.

He touched the edge of my lip and stroked it, and when he let go of it he put it on his lip.

"Lips to lips hindi ganyan!" Sigaw ng isang lalaki mula sa kinauupan niya sa malayo.

Sverre and I both laughed.

"Halik, sa labi raw," bulong ni Sverre sa akin.

He was about to kiss me when we heard something from above.

"Mom!" I yelled, calling her but all of them went outside.

I was far away, I could see and hear them but they didn't seem to feel my presence.

"I have endured it all, Samuel," I heard my mother, the Queen, say. "Even if it hurts," she pointed at her chest.

Only now, I have seen the Queen hurt like this.

"I love you with all my heart," she sobbed. "But why are you asking to tear us apart?" She asked but the King didn't answer her. "Why are you asking me to let go of the strings between us?"

I can't take this anymore...

"What strings?" Gulat sila nang makita nila ako.

"Athaliah," the three of them widened their eyes.

"Wow, just wow," hindi makapaniwala kong sabi. "If you want her to let go of the strings, then I will let go too," I threaten him.

Perhaps because of the king's anger his hands suddenly lighten up, fire was there.

"Do you call this a family?"

"Athaliah enough," he begged.

"This isn't the family I want! This isn't the family I grew up with! But suddenly this family you called, are slowly fading,"

"Athaliah, stop," my mother pleaded and held my elbow.

"It does not mean that you are my king and my father I do not care anymore," His hands lit up even more. "Yes you're the king and the people needs you and that filthy fucking woman," I pointed Galiah.

I am not crying because I need to be strong for my mother.

"You can break me at all cost," I turned to my mother. "But you can't break her because you will pass through me before you can hurt her. Once you touch her your life will be miserable," It was a promise.

In a flash his swirling fire suddenly flew in our direction. I saw the shock in his eyes and wanted to stop what he did but it was too late.

I pushed my mother away and faced the swirling fire.

The fire slowly hit my chest where the heart was located. I felt the heat there, especially when I slowly fell off the ground.

"Mom, my heart again," the last word I said before I was welcomed by the darkness.