Complicated~
"Ehem, so, the blue moon necklace is with you all along, Xavier?"
Bumitiw kami ni Xavier sa isa't-isa at lumingon sa kamahalan. He is raising his brow while darting a gaze on us.
"Yes, grandpa. But, I don't even know that this necklace is important to us." sagot naman ni Xavier.
Naglakad ang kamahalan at bumalik sa kanyang kinauupuan kanina. Pinatong niya ang kanyang siko sa mesa saka minasahe ang sariling sentido. "Mind explaining how you got that while this woman have the other one as well?"
Si Xavier na ang nagpaliwanag sa kanyang Lolo kung ano talagang mga nangyari noon. Samantalang ako ay tahimik lang na nakikinig sa kanila.
"You and Clardia really went on an agreement," your majesty stated looking down and seems to think very deeply. "That's why it's a miracle that the revolution that night suddenly ceased and since then, Ursaminor has never done big actions again." Xavier nodded at his grandfather.
"Now that everthing's done, you must return the necklaces. It is a significant
element of Acelatoria and so, it must be kept and treasured. The moon necklaces are very dangerous especially if someone with evil intentions will get a hold of it." nag-angat ng tingin sa'min ang kamalahan. I gripped my necklace tight.
Hindi. Ayoko. This is my Lola's kaya bakit ibibigay ko ito sa kanila. This has a sentimental value for Dad... and also to me.
"I won't give mine. My grandmother owns this, your majesty."
"I told you, woman. Cristina stole that from our planet. She fooled me and stole the moon necklaces!"
"But that can be! How could that even possible! She's a human!" hindi ko na rin napigilan ilabas ang emosyong nararamdaman ko. This is all stupid. Anong kinalaman ni lola dito na matagal nang nasa langit?
"Exactly! Human are greedy and desperate! They will fool around someone just to get what they want. Cristina stole the necklaces when she knew that it's powerful. Then she went away with it and brought it to Earth! Probably your father went here too before to check if there's still other powerful necklaces you can steal from us. And how about you? Are you trying to steal something from my grandson? You grand daughter of a thief!"
"Your majesty!" napataas ang boses ko. "What do you know about us? What do you know about my grandmother?! I can't just believe everything!"
Napapikit ng mariin ang kamahalan saka huminga ng malalim. "Cristina is a woman of her dignity. A woman of her principles. She came here in Acelatoria saying that she's from Earth. I welcomed her. I accepted her. Not even doubting of her intentions. We became lo—no, friends. I trusted her, I cared for her, I protected her, but then... she betrayed me after knowing the existence of that necklaces." your majesty darted a sharp gaze on the necklace I'm gripping onto.
"She destroyed everything we had. Just to... stole it. She ran away without saying anything. She just left like that bringing the necklaces with her. She must've live in peace after that. How about you? How well do you know your grandmother?" he shifted his eyes on me.
"My grandmother died before I could know her. She passed away before I was even born."
Kita ko ang gulat at biglang pagbalot ng kalungkutan sa mata ng kamahalan. Nawala ang galit niya sa isang iglap. Hindi ko lang alam kung dahil ba naging kaibigan niya talaga si Lola tulad ng sinabi niya kanina.
Napasilip naman ako sa kwintas na nasa loob ng aking kamao. This necklace indeed has powers. It is not a normal necklace that we just wear to be an accessory. This can change a person's life or even a whole planet's state. Mukhang tama ang kamahalan. The moon necklaces belong to Acelatoria. Pero ang hirap pa rin talagang tanggapin na ninakaw ito ng Lola ko sa kanila. I wonder kung alam ba lahat ito ni Dad. I hope he don't.
"I will surrender the necklace," I said and started unhooking the necklace. Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko sa batok nang maramdaman ang kamay ni Xavier doon.
"Let me," he whispered near my ear.
Tinanggal niya ang kuwintas at pinatong iyon sa lamesa ng kamahalan. Gano'n din ang ginawa niya sa suot-suot na kwintas.
"Can we go now, grandpa?" tanong ni Xavier sa kanyang lolo saka hinawakan ang aking kamay.
Your majesty nodded, glancing at our hands together. Pahakbang na sana kami paalis ni Xavier nang biglaang may kumatok sa pintuan. Your majesty snapped his fingers, making the door unlocked. Mula sa pintuan ng study, Lucas emerged, walking fastly towards us wearing his usual corporate attire when he's in Earth. May hatak-hatak siyang isang... babae sa kanyang likuran. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng mapagtanto kung sino ito.
Samantha Levisco?!
Hindi akong pwedeng magkamali. Si Samantha 'yon! Bakit dala-dala siya dito ni Lucas? What's going on?
"Grandpa," bati ni Lucas sa kanyang lolo nang makalapit. Nanlalaki pa rin ang mga mata kong nakatingin kay Samantha. She looked at me too, pero agad din siyang nagbaba ng tingin. Si Lucas naman ay pinasadahan din ako ng tingin saka bahagyang nangiti.
"I guess my timing is just right." he said, smirking.
"Who's this woman you are with, Lucas?" tanong ng kamahalan.
"Samantha Levisco, grandpa. A pure Acelatorian who came from a girl-birth-giving clan. She will be the wife of Xavier." Lucas glanced at his cousin.
Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko! Anong sinasabi ni Lucas? Si Samantha? Isang Acelatorian? At siya ang magiging asawa ni Xavier? Pero ako ang asawa ni Xavier!
As my jaw dropped here, your majesty is slowly nodding, seems very satisfied of what his grandson has said. "Yes, you're just right in the timing, Lucas. I'm glad that you have accomplished your task at last. I don't know that you just need pressure,"
Ano? Ito ang sinasabi niyang pinapagawa sa kanya ng kamahalan? Ang madala si Samantha dito sa Acelatoria? Para ano? Para siya ang maging asawa ni Xavier?
I looked at Xavier. He has knitted brows. It seems like he's not aware of this too.
"Grandpa, what is this about?" Finally, he asked his grandfather.
"I'm sorry, Xavier. I haven't told you this. I asked your cousin Lucas to find another wife for you. A pure Acelatorian one," your majesty glanced at me.
"But why? Clardia is here."
"She's a half-human. Although her mother is a girl-birth-giver, we still can't assure if she can give you an all daughter children. Remember, that's our priority for your marriage." naramdaman ako ang pagluwag ng pagkakahawak sa'kin ni Xavier.
"Then, what will happen to her?"
"Lucas will take care of Clardia. He will bring her back to Earth. This woman will take her position." your majesty pointed out Samantha.
Lumapit sa'kin si Lucas. He gently wrapped his arm around my shouder and pull me with him. Inangat ko ang aking tingin kay Xavier, umaasang hindi siya papayag at pipigilan ang paghila sa'kin ni Lucas.
Namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata nang maramdaman ko ang unti-unti niyang pagbitaw sa aking kamay. Hindi siya lumingon sa'kin. Tila wala talagang paki-alam.
He completely let go of my hand. My heart ache. As if someone pierced it. Or maybe someone really did. Not physically, but emotionally.
Akala ko ba... gusto mo rin ako? Pa'no mo 'ko napakawalan ng gano'n-gano'n na lang? Bakit hindi mo man lang ako pinaglaban? Bakit ang dali mo 'kong binitawan, Xavier?
As much as I want to bombard him with questions now, ako rin ang pumigil sa aking sarili. Asking now wouldn't help. Isa pa, my mind's in a mess, my heart's in a mess. My whole system is in a mess. I don't even think I can talk now.
Lucas gently caress my shoulders. He's smiling at me. If I still have the same feelings as before, I should have been curving my lips at him too. I should have been glad as well. Pero wala. Kabaliktaran pa ang nararamdaman ko. I'm hurt and frustrated. Kung kailan ayos na ang lahat, kung kailan okay na akong maging asawa ni Xavier, kung kailan bumalik na ang ala-ala ko... saka naman mangyayari ito. Parang pinaasa lang ako ng tadhana.
Bakit tuwing may magandang mga nangyayari, kasunod na noon ay kamalasan? Dapat ba talaga gano'n? Gano'n ba talaga kalupit ang pagkakataon?
"Are you okay?" Lucas asked me. I slightly nodded. "Grandpa, can we excuse ourselves now?"
"Alright. I'll talk to your cousin and his new wife for the meantime." parang may sumaksak sa puso ko nang sabihin ng kamahalan na may bagong asawa na si Xavier. Kanina lang ako pa 'yon. Ngayon hindi na.
Bago pa kami makatalikod ni Lucas, I shot a glance at Xavier again. Still hoping to see a bit of concern and hesitation from him. He was looking at me too. With cold eyes. Devoid of any expressions. Halos tumulo ang luha ko nang masaksihan iyon. Pero tumalikod na 'ko at lumabas bago pa iyon mangyari.
Hinarap ako ni Lucas sa kanya nang makalabas na kami sa study. He held my face gently.
"Why are you crying?" his voice was so soft that it makes me cry even more. Pinahid niya ang mga luhang lumandas sa aking pisngi gamit lamang ang kanyang mga daliri. "You were this happy, huh?"
I just nodded at him and forced a smile. He hugged me. Napahagulgol na 'ko dahil doon at sinubsob ko ang aking mukha sa kanyang dibdib.
"Please, stop crying, Halley. You're making me feel bad," he chuckled then, caress my back.
Sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang aking sarili. Tinanggal na ni Lucas ang pagkakayakap niya sa'kin. I tried to fix myself by wiping my hands on my face. Kumuha naman ng panyo mula sa kanyang bulsa si Lucas at siya na mismo ang nagpunas ng aking mukha.
"How could you still be beautiful after crying?" sabi niya matapos punasan ang aking mukha.
"L-Lucas,"
"Yes, baby?"
"I-I'm confused. Pa'no napunta dito si Samantha? Pa'no siya naging Acelatorian? B-Bakit siya na ang magiging asawa ni Xavier?"
"Hmm, okay, let's talk about that over there," inalalayan niya ko maglakad tungo sa isang lounge dito sa second floor. We sat on a couch, hinarap niya muli ako sa kanya at hinawakan niya ang dalawa kong mga kamay.
"Halley, I'm sorry if I surprised you about this. Hindi rin kasi ako sigurado nung una kung makukumbinsi ko ba si Sam. And yes, she an Acelatorian matagal ko nang alam. Since the first time I saw her. She's a friend of mine that's why I'm hesistant to ask her for this. Pero para sayo, ginawa ko, Halley." he caressed my hands gently, as if it's so precious for him. "Pagbalik ko sa Earth, pinuntahan ko siya agad, I offer her this. I beg her, para lang pumayag siya, hindi ko kayang magsakripisyo ka, Halley. At hindi ko kayang mawala ka sa'kin,"
Nangunot ang noo ko. "And she agreed? Just because you begged at her?"
"Listen, Halley. Sam is not happy with her life in Earth. She's been lonely all those years when her parents died. Gusto ng mga magulang niya bago sila mamatay na magkaroon ng kasama sa buhay ang anak nila. Na tatanggapin siya bilang kung sino siya. And I think this is it, Eros will be that one. You've been with my cousin right? Even if he's cold most of the time, he also has some good in him. I know Eros won't force her for anything, and maybe, someday, they'll learn how to love each other."
Lucas smiled at me, pero nasaktan ako sa huli niyang sinabi. Hindi nga naman impossible 'yon, ako nga nagustuhan din ni Xavier, kaya malamang, matutunan niya rin magkaroon ng nararamdaman para kay Samantha.
But something's really bothering me other than that. Hindi ko talaga maisip na pumayag si Samantha dahil lang doon. I mean, we're not just talking about fixed marriage here but also, being on the other planet. She must've been so desperate to run away from her lonely life in Earth to immediately agree with Lucas.
"Bes!"
Napalingon kaming dalawa ni Lucas sa tumawag sa'kin. It was Zain with Kiefer, Nebula, Celeste, Sgt. Harvey and Greg. If I'm not just feeling so broke inside, I should have been complementing their outfits now. They're all looking formal and presentable.
"Oh, bakit parang kakagaling lang sa iyak nitong kaibigan namin, Lucas? Anong ginawa mo ha?" sabi ni Zain nang makalapit na sila sa'min.
"It's not that, Zain," he chuckled. "You guys can finally go back to Earth,"
Sabay napatingin sa'kin si Zain at Kiefer nang may mga nag-aalalang tingin. Pati na rin si Celeste ay napatingin ng gano'n sa'kin. They exactly knows now why I cried.
"Uh, dude, can we excuse Clardey for a while? We just have something to talk about." si Kiefer.
"Sure,"
Sinama ako nila Zain sa kanila, Celeste joined us too. Tinapunan naman ako ng mga nagtatakang tingin ni Greg. I just looked at him and turned away. Alam kong dapat niya rin itong malaman dahil kaibigan ko siya pero hindi ngayon. Nakitang sumunod mula sa likuran namin si Sgt. Harvey. Pipigilan ko sana siya but, Celeste went near me and said that he needs him to protect us.
Naintindihan ang sinasabi niyang nang bumaba kami sa ground floor. Doon ang venue kaya naman ang daming mga mata ang nakapukol sa'min. Hindi lamang basta iyon tingin kundi mga nanlilisik na mga mata. Lalo na sa'min nila Zain. Halos lahat ng nakikita ko ay lalaki, bilang na bilang sa mga daliri ko ang mga babae.
Lumabas kami ng palasyo, at huminto lang ng mapunta kami sa isang parang hardin na kami lang ang tao.
Binantayan kami mula sa malayo ni Sgt. Harvey pero tanaw pa rin naman namin siya. Mukhang naiintindihan niya na kailangan namin ng privacy ng mga kaibigan ko.
Agad akong hinawakan sa siko ni Zain at hinarap sa kanya. Her brows were furrowed at halatang nag-aalala talaga siya sa'kin. While Kiefer and Celeste just shot me a stare.
"What happend, Clard?" tinatanong niya pa lang ako, parang tutulo na naman ang aking luha.
"Xavier has another wife now, Z-Zain," I said with my blood shot eyes.
"Huh? Anong ibig mong sabihin, Clardey?" si Kiefer.
"Lucas brought Samantha Levisco here. She's a pure Acelatorian, and she will now be the wife of X-Xavier."
Zain and Kiefer's jaw dropped. I know, it's really surprising that Samantha is an alien too. Sa bagay, kung pagbabasehan ang pisikal na kaanyuan, wala namang pinagkaiba ang mga tao at Acelatorian. Bukod na lamang sa magkakaibang kulay ng buhok at mata nila na hindi naman kahina-hinala.
Zain and Kiefer tried hard to removed their shocked expressions and put back their concerned look. "So, what did Prince Xavier said about it? Or what did he do?"
Napatahimik ako sa tanong na 'yon ni Zain. I bit my lower lip to forbid myself from sobbing. It's really what hurts me... yung wala siyang ginawa.
"Clard..."
"H-He did nothing, Zain. He did nothing..."
Hindi ko na napigilan ang pag-agos ng aking mga luha. Celeste went near me, her eyes full of empathy urged me to hug her and release to her my feelings. I continued to sob, naramdaman ko ang pag-alo sa'kin ni Zain sa likod at bahagyang pagyakap niya rin sa'kin.
"Okay lang 'yan, Clard.... nandito kami para sayo, naiintindihan ka namin."
Kanina ko pa gustong ilabas itong nararamdaman ko na ito. Hindi ko naman magawa kay Lucas dahil masasaktan siya. Alam kong ginawa niya ang lahat para mailigtas ako, but then... I can't appreciate it... because I'm hurt. Because of my new feelings for his cousin.
I'm thankful cause my friends are here. I can't imagine myself now without them. Sino na lang ang dadamay sa'kin kung wala sila? Sino na lang ang magpapagaan ng loob ko tuwing ganitong nasasaktan ako? Salamat dahil nandito sila, salamat dahil mga kaibigan ko sila.
Humiwalay na 'ko kay Celeste at ginawaran ko siya ng ngiti. Kahit hindi akma sa nararamdaman kong ito ngayon, nagawa ko pa rin dahil masaya ako na nandito siya para sa'kin.
Lilingon na sana ako kayla Zain nang may naaninag akong lalaki mula sa madilim na bahagi ng palasyong ito. He's on a black tuxedo. Para rin siyang isang panauhin sa party kung titingnan. My heart beat fast out of nervousness. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng mapagtanto kung sino iyon.
Dad...
Si Dad 'yon! I'm very certain! Nang makita niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya ay agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin at lumakad palayo. Hindi na 'ko nag-alinlangan at agad ko siyang sinundan.
"Dad!"
Hirap na hirap akong tumakbo para masundan siya. My ball gown hinders me to run fast as I want to. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod sa'kin nila Zain. Pati ata si Sgt. Harvey ay naalarma sa ginawa kong pagsigaw.
Tumigil lang ako sa pagtakbo ng mapunta na ulit ako sa maliwanag na parte ng garden. Lumingon-lingon ako sa aking paligid. Bigla na lang siyang nawala! Kung si Dad talaga bakit siya tumakbo? Bakit hindi niya 'ko hinarap?
"Ms. Clardia, are you alright?" tanong sa'kin ni Sgt. Harvey nang makahabol siya sa'kin.
"Y-Yes, Sergeant,"
"Clardey, what happend? Bakit bigla ka na lang tumakbo? And why are you calling Tito's name?" tanong sa'kin ni Keifer na nakasunod na rin.
"I saw Dad, Kief. Nandito siya! I saw him!"
"Clard, pa'no ka nakasisigurong si Tito 'yon? Saka pa'no naman siya mapupunta dito?" si Zain.
"Zain, Dad said that they will also save me from here. And you know their job! Kayang-kaya niyang makarating dito! I clearly saw his face. There's no doubt, si Dad talaga 'yon!"
"Clardey, we still need to be sure that it's your Dad. We can't just assume something." si Kiefer.
Tama si Kiefer. Kailangan ko munang makasiguro. Pero kung sa akin lang, I'm confident that it's Dad. I saw how he recognized me when our eyes met.
"What's happening here?" sakto naman ang pagdating ni Lucas kasama si Greg sa naiisip kong paraan para masabi kung si Dad nga iyon.
"Lucas, can you bring me now to Eros palace, please? I have to check on something."
Kita ko ang pagtataka sa mga mata ni Lucas but, he also agreed at last.
Everything's getting complicated now.
ฅ'ω'ฅ