A Happily Ever After

Chapter Five

Halata naman na hindi totoo ang sorry na sinabi niya. I click my tongue in annoyance and jerk my head in a direction where I couldn't see the Prince. But my eyes found the Enchanting man again. He's looking at me with wide eyes and furrowed eyebrows, an expression mix of surprised and angry. He first studied my face, then stared daggers at Prince Ellis. Pakiramdam ko konting galaw lang ng Prinsipe ay hindi siya magdadalawang isip na harapin ito kalabannin.

People around us are starting to notice the intense atmosphere we created in the middle of the ball room. Kahit na tuloy tuloy pa rin ang musika, ang karamihan sa kanila ay marahang tumigil at pagmasdan kami. I fist my hands to calm myself. Shit, shit. Ganito ba lagi ang dinadatnan ni Princess Blaidrah? The thousands of eyes that seem to always watch her? Everything feels so freaking suffocating in this world.

Halos gusto ko nang layasan ang lugar na ito, at siguro, hatakin din ang Enchanting na lalaki na iyon palabas dito. Pero hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Sigurado ako na lalo lamang ako maliligaw kung aalis ako dito.

Prince Ellis must thank the other people in this room who are genuinely enjoying the event. Also to the fact that this is technically an event for Princess Blaidrah — another person— despite that I am using her body. The last thing I must do is to ruin this. I must respect the Princess and her dignity.

Without looking at anyone, I step back into Prince Ellis' space, making it an invitation for us to continue dancing. Prince Ellis understands what I meant and takes my hand and waist again.

Wala namang umimik sa aming dalawa at patuloy lang namin sinabayan ang musika. Isa isa rin namang inalis ng mga tao sa paligid ang kanilang mga mata sa amin at bumalik sa sarili nilang mga ginagawa. I let out a breath, something I never knew I've been holding for so long.

Prince Ellis' hands on my hand and waist are cold and heavy. It's freaking uncomfortable. Dumagdag pa ang mabigat na tensyon sa aming dalawa.

Especially when his eyes are still engrossed in me, trailing every inch of my face with those bizarre blue eyes. Just how weird can he be? His grip on my waist is getting tighter, his breath against the skin on my bare neck leaves distressing goosebumps. Shit, shit, he's way too close. Too close.

The annoying small space between us seems to flare something inside my chest. Somewhere from the point where my heart is currently beating fast. The flaring sensation grows warmer, spreading across my shoulders and to my arms, then to my hand under Prince Ellis' grasp.

Bago ko malaman kung ano ang nararamdaman ko, bigla nalang ako binitawan ng Prinsipe at halos itulak ako palayo sa kanya. Nakataas ang mga kamay niya habang tinitgnan ako na may nanlalaking mga mata, na para 'bang isa akong dumi na bigla nalang lumitaw at nahawakan niya.

Surprisingly, iilan lang ang nakapansin sa nangyari kaya ilang ulo lang ang lumingon sa direksyon namin.

"What in the name of god?" Dinig kong bulong ng Prinsipe bago niya pinunas sa vest niya ang kanyang mga kamay.

What in the name of God 'nga naman kasi ang nangyari sa akin? I glanced at my arms, and realized that I am in a fighting stance. Fighting stance, of all reactions. My other leg under my puff ball gown is a foot step backward. Both my fisted hands are leveled on my face, as if I am protecting it.

What the hell. Parang automatic ang katawan ko matapos niya akong itulak palayo sa kanya. And it feels like I've done this before, countless times. From how my instincts reacted. I've done this before, to protect myself from an attack.

What the hell.

My cheeks suddenly scorched hot in embarrassment. Lalo na muli na namang nabalik sa amin ang atensyon ng mga tao sa paligid, definitely studying my posture. Shit. Dahan dahan kong binaba ang mga kamay ko at inayos ang porma ng binti ko. I awkwardly fisted the skirts of my gown and gaze at the ground.