Protecting the Royalties in Our Hearts (#1 - SY)

PROLOGUE

★☆★

"4th year college student of Sky Hexton International School, Stawnzell Stewart, passed away after an abduction incident caused by her very own family, Stewart and Rizala."

Blanko kong tiningnan ang balitang 'yon sa malaking TV sa harap. Kahit ang pagkurap ay hindi ko magawa habang nakikinig do'n.

"The Stewarts were already caught by the authorities after being exposed with their illegal transactions, corruptions, kidnapping, murder, and a lot more criminal cases, but the Stewarts had escaped with the help of Rizalas later on and performed the said abduction. The Former Dean of Sky Hexton, Hiddeordo Stewart is the mastermind of-"

I turned the TV off and sighed heavily. Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko o kung ano ba dapat ang maramdaman. O kailangan bang may maramdaman sa lahat ng sitwasyon?

Tahimik na lumabas si Troov pagkatapos ipakita sa akin ang balitang 'yon. It was just a replay. That news came out 3 months ago.

Gulong-gulo ang isip ko sa lahat pero alam kong totoo 'yon. I don't exactly remember what happened that night but I know it's awful. More than an awful word actually. It was horrible. Reason why... I am like this...

I was paralyzed. I was in coma. I can't remember... Kung may mga bagay man akong naaalala ay hindi ako sigurado kung nangyari nga ba 'yon o panaginip ko lang. I can't move my legs, my arms, and my hands properly. Napalunok ako. Nanatili ang tingin sa nakapatay na TV at gustong matulala. Ayoko ring pakinggan ang kasunod pa.

I didn't mind the sharp pain in my head as I stared at it before turning my eyes at the ceiling while I'm laying on bed. Nanggigilid mga luha ko kasabay nang pagbilis ng hininga. Sa loob ng mga nagdaang buwan, alam kong gising ako... pero hindi ko alam ang ginawa ko. Nakalimutan ko. Nakalimutan ko ang iba. Nakalimutan ko ulit! Parang ngayon lang ako tuluyang nagising at napagtanto ang lahat lahat. Pero baka makalimutan ko na naman! Hindi ko maintindihan!

I closed my eyes and calmed myself. Tears escaped my eyes, not because I'm sad. Anong ginawa nila sa 'kin?

Hindi ko alam.

I remember some events but I can't tell if it really happened. Of course I remember some events in the past, I should and I can't just forget it like that! Hindi puwede! Gusto kong magwala pero iniisip kong baka makasasama lang 'yon sa kalagayan ko.

Namamawis ang aking mga kamay kahit malamig naman ang paligid. I opened my eyes and parted my lips, wanting to breathe deeper because my thoughts are suffocating me. Pero nahagip ng mga mata ko si Wayne. Sa pintuan ng kuwartong hindi ko alam kung kanino.

Kumalabog ang puso ko at unti-unting kumalma ang damdaming gustong maghinagpis. My lips trembled when I tried to say something but words won't come out.

I'm so confused with everything. So confused... Alam kong matagal na akong nandito. Hindi ako makalabas. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako makakalabas. Seryoso siyang naglakad palapit sa akin sa kama. Kumunot ang noo ko at napansin ang dala niyang paper bag.

"Hi," marahang sabi niya.

I tried to speak but I just can't. Pinatong niya ang paper bag sa lamesa sa gilid.

"I bought you something."

Kinuha niya ang upuan sa gilid at nilagay sa tabi ng kama ko. Naupo siya roon at tiningnan ako. He swallowed hard and stayed silent for a moment. Blanko ang mga mata niya at madilim. I noticed some changes in him. Humaba ang buhok niya. Mas lalong nadepina ang kagwapuhan ngayon. Ito... Ito ang hindi ko dapat makalimutan. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan.

But... did we fix what's between us? Did we talk that night? It wasn't a dream, right? The coronation night happened for real, I'm sure. It wasn't a dream. Mas lalong lumalala ang sakit sa ulo ko habang tinitingnan siya.