Erased~
Your majesty?
Inangat ko ang aking tingin sa chopper na kakalapag lang sa harapan ng Eros palace kung nasaan din kami ngayon. Lumabas na sa loob ng spaceship sila Mom at Dad na nakatunghay na rin dito.
Your majesty emerged from it. He walked fastly towards us with obviously knitted brows like he is in a bad mood. Nang makalapit ay pinakatitigan niya muna ako pati ang mga magulang ko at sila Zain bago nagsalita.
"Inside." he shortly said before he continued his fast pacing.
Lumingon muna ako kila Mom at Dad bago naglakad at hinila ang aking maleta pabalik sa loob ng palasyo. Naramdaman kong sumunod sila sa'kin at gayun na rin ang aking mga kaibigan.
Nang makapasok na kami sa loob ay sumalubong sa'min si Xavier na kasalukuyang kaharap ang kan'yang lolo. Mr. Lincoln and Lt. Neud is behind him standing with posture. When he noticed our presence, his eyes immediately laid on me and I can still see the delight it reflects.
"Grandfather," he lightly hugged your majesty upon greeting him but, the latter's straight and serious face didn't changed a bit.
"Xavier, we have to talk." matigas na sabi ng kamahalan sa apo.
"Alright, grandfather." tumango siya at saka muling tumitig sa'kin.
"Mr. Lincoln, get their luggages and bring to it to their respective rooms. And Lt. Neud, escort them to the conference room then, summon all the royals there as well. We have an important announcement to make."
Kaagad sumunod ang dalawa sa kan'yang utos. Mr. Lincoln asked us to put our luggages at the side, and so we did. While Sore eyes gaze on us before he made a gestured to follow him. Binigyan niya pa ako ng masamang tingin saka tumalikod.
Kung wala lang ako ngayon sa harap ng kamahalan, baka inirapan ko siya. Halata namang dismayadong-dismayado siyang hindi natuloy ang pag-alis ko. Sa kabila noon, sumunod na lang din ako sa kanya kasama ang aking pamilya at mga kaibigan. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang labis na pagkunot ng noo ng lolo ni Xavier. Sa totoo lang, kinakabahan ako dahil ngayon alam na ng kamahalan na nandito ang mga kaibigan ko pati sila Mom at Dad. Baka iyon pa nga ang rason kung bakit mukhang mainit ang ulo niya.
Patuloy lang kaming bumuntot kay Sore eyes hanggang marating namin ang tapat ng isang double door room dito sa pang-apat na palapag ng palasyo. This is the first time I set my feet here in this floor and well, it's not that different from the other three. Maybe just a little bit more empty since it seems like it is not usually used.
Binuksan niya ang mga pintuan at pinatuloy kami sa loob. Pagpasok ko doon ay bumungad ang isang mahaba at malaking kahoy na mesa sa gitna. Meron ding mga cushioned na upuan ang nakapaligid dito. I roamed my eyes around and saw all the curtains down. The room is so enclosed that no sunlight can pass through it.
Naupo kaming lahat sa isang banda ng mesa habang si sore eyes ay muling lumabas ng silid.
"Parang lilitisin tayo dito bes ah," Zain said as she suit herself on the sit beside me.
"Huwag naman sana." I whispered.
Matagal-tagal din kaming naghintay bago may muling nagbukas ang silid. Nagsunod-sunod sila Greg, Lucas, Xanthal, at Samantha na pumasok sa loob. They sat on the sit opposite to us. A minute after, Tito Cranstan also entered, taking the seat at the middle. Silenced ensued the atmosphere inside the room. Nakikipagtinginan lang kami nila Zain sa aming mga katapat samantalang ang mga magulang ko naman ay walang kibo.
Tumikhim si Tito Cranstan bago nagsalita. "Uhm, so, I heard that you can't leave the planet now after you had some issues with your spaceship, Radley."
Mukhang walang balak sagutin ni Dad ang sinabi ni Tito, pero dahil halos lahat ng nasa kabilang banda ng mesa ay nakatuon ang tingin sa kan'ya, napilitan siyang sumagot.
"Yes. That's right." Dad answered without even giving a look on Tito. We went silent again before Greg's the one who decided to break it.
"I'm really wondering on what important announcement does Granny and Xav have to say." he said, looking at all of us in the room.
"Honestly, I'm as clueless as you Greg. Let's just patiently wait for them here to—Oh, speaking of the two."
Napalingon kaming lahat sa bukana ng silid matapos ang huling sinabi ni Tito. Your majesty and Xavier both went in. The former took the seat opposite to his son while the latter sat on his right side.
"Lt. Neud, where's Aunt and Uncle?" Xavier asked to Sore eyes who just joined us in the conference room.
"General, Prince Lander and his wife can't come right now for they have an important scheduled meeting as well, according to the Prince." he answered.
"Alright. Not a problem. You may excuse yourself now."
Sore eyes bowed down before exiting. Muli na namang nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong kuwarto at tila biglang nagkaroon ng kakaibang tensyon sa loob kahit wala pang nangyayari.
"I'm not aware about these foreign visitors in this Palace." Your majesty finally spoke, obviously referring to my parents and friends. I swallowed hard and held my hands together.
"Grandpa, it's my fault I—"
Hindi naituloy ni Lucas ang kan'yang sasabihin nang magpatuloy ang kamahalan.
"You all conspired to hide this from me." he eyed his grandchildrens and son. "But, I will let this pass."
Halos nakahinga sila ng maluwag lahat sa naging tugon ng kamahalan. Kahit ako ay gumaan ang kalooban. Akala ko mapaparusahan na kami, eh.
"Cool! Thanks, Granny! Anyway, is that already your important announcement to us?" Greg raised a question.
Your majesty failed to answer him on the point instead, he shifted his gaze to his grandson Xavier who's looking at him too. Nagsimula na naman akong kabahan nang saglit magtama ang mga mata namin ng kamahalan. Mariin niya itong sinara at saka huminga ng malalim. He then, looked at all of us in the table.
"No," ang malalim na boses niya ay umalingawngaw sa buong silid. "The announcement is about who will be Xavier's wife. Again."
Lumakas ang kabog ng puso ko sa aking narinig. Pati ang mga kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa ay nagsimula nang magpawis. I tries hard to convince myself that I just heard it wrong or I just misinterpreted what your majesty has said.
No, hindi p'wede.
Kagaya ko ay tila nag-iisip din ang iba kung tama ba ang kanilang narinig dahil biglang tumahimik ang lahat. Sinamantala naman ng kamahalan ang oras upang linawin ang kan'yang sinabi na mas lalo lang nagpagulo sa aking isip.
"Clardia will be Xavier's wife again. And it's final. They have my blessing."
My hands trembled as I swallowed a lump on my throat. I know that I have all their eyes now but, I didn't dare to lift my gaze on them. Zain held my hands under the table and looked at me with concern. Binaling ko ang paningin sa kanila at nakitang ganoon din si Kiefer.
"What are you saying, your majesty?" napatingin ako kay Mom nang bigla siyang magsalita. "Didn't you already found another woman for your grandson to marry? Then, why are you involving my daughter again to this stupid marriage, huh?"
Nakita ko kung pa'no mangunot ang noo nila Xanthal dahil sa pananalita ng aking ina sa kamahalan.
I held my Mom's arms, "M-Mom,"
"Mrs. Royaldes," I lifted my gaze on Xavier as he spoke. "It is because your daughter is the only woman I'm willing to marry. I only want Clardia to be my wife."
Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ko sa sinabi niya. Parang kaunti na lang, sasabog na ito sa sobrang kaba at nerbiyos. Lalo na nang magtama ang mga mata namin. May gusto akong sabihin pero 'di ko magawa.
Why are you doing this, Xavier?
"This announcement is pointless." my Dad said as I noticed how his face darkened. "Clardia will go back to Earth and I would not let her be part your family. If you will excuse us now, we'll leave."
Your majesty just gave my father a stare. Dad didn't anymore waited for a signal from him and he suddenly stood up then gripped my hands. Hinila niya ako patayo sa aking upuan at palabas ng conference room.
"D-Dad," I muttered as we have left the room. His grip was too tight that it already hurts me.
"I'm sorry, anak," he removed his hands. I saw how Dad held both of his waists and heaved a heavy sigh. I know that he's calming himself. Maya-maya lang ay sumunod na rin sa'min sa labas sila Mom, Zain at Kiefer.
"Radley, ano nang plano mo?" tanong ng aking ina sa kan'yang asawa.
"Aalis na tayo dito." diretsahang sagot ni Dad.
"Uhm, Tito, p'wede ko po bang itanong kung paano yung spaceship niyo?" nag-aalangang tanong ni Kiefer.
"Iiwan natin dito. Basta ang mahalaga, maka-alis na tayo sa palasyong 'to."
"Radley," lumingon kaming lahat sa pintuan ng conference room nang magbukas ito. Tito Cranstan went out from it.
"Ano na naman ba, Cranstan?" my Dad asked with a smug look on his face.
"I apologize for that sudden decision of father and my son. Pero manatili muna kayo rito. Linawin natin ang lahat."
"Hindi na kailangang linawin pa iyon. I won't let my daughter stay here any further because she will not be safe around your family."
"If that so, then let the children rest first tonight. Naguguluhan na rin at napapagod ang mga bata, Radley. Hayaan mo muna sila magpahinga ngayong gabi dito."
Sa sinabi ni Tito, binaling ni Dad ang tingin niya sa'min ng aking mga kaibigan. I looked away from him. Tito's right. I'm confused right now. I'm confused as hell but, I can't even utter words to ask everything I want to clarify.
"Radley, tama siya. Let the children rest here tonight." my Mom said to Dad. The latter glanced at us once again then, gradually nodded.
"Fine,"
***
Kailangan ko siyang maka-usap.
I am now walking along the hallway of the third floor. Kakatanong ko lang kay Mr. Lincoln kung nasaan ang kan'yang Prinsipe na si Xavier. Sinabi niya naman na ito ay nasa balkonahe kung saan madalas itong nakatambay at sumisinghot—este kumakain ng paborito niyang ice cream.
Oo, naiinis ako sa kan'ya. Nakakairita siya. Pagkatapos ng mga sinabi niya kanina mukhang wala man lang siyang balak magpaliwanag sa'kin. Talaga lang, huh? That brat.
He didn't even talked to me before I leave as if he knows that our spaceship will fail. And after that, his grandfather just announce that I'm his wife again. Ugh! Parang plinano ang mga nangyari!
Napabagal ang paglalakad ko nang makalapit ako sa salaming pintuan ng balkonahe. I saw Xavier there... with somebody else.
Even if the glass door is closed, Samantha noticed my presence and turned her gaze to me. Because of that, her companion as well shifted his eyes.
Agad akong tumalikod sa kanila at naglakad paalis. Pero napansin ko na lang na lumulutang ako pabalik sa aking pinanggalingan. I rolled my eyes as I just let him to control my body.
He brought me to the balcony and face myself to him. Samantha excused herself and leave us alone in that place.
I looked away from him and crossed my arms. Eventually, my feet finally met the ground again.
"You're so still heavy,"
Kunot-noo ko siyang nilingon at nakitang minamasahe niya ang kan'yang sentido.
"Why? Did I asked you to lift me up?" I arched a brow.
"No. But you're leaving before you could even come to me." he said like his very sure that I'm there for him. Well, gano'n naman talaga siya, he usually state not ask.
"Aren't you still talking with Samantha? Do you expect me to interrupt with your conversation? I don't even know how did she noticed me."
"Samantha has enhanced hearing. She probably heard your footsteps coming here."
"Whatever,"
Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili na paikutin ang mga mata ko. Mukhang close na sila ni Samantha ah. Bakit kailangan ako na naman ang maging asawa niya? Nakakairita ka, Montevilla. Ang gulo mo.
"Actually, I just talked to her first then, I will go to you and explain everything that happend earlier." he said and went to the balustrade to lean over it.
At talagang siya pa ang unang niyang kinausap?
Kumalma ka, Clardia.
Xavier turned around me holding two popsicle ice creams. He then extended one to me. I just gave it a stare.
"You have to get this. We have an agreement." he didn't brought down his hands but, I still not get the ice cream.
"What agreement are you saying?" I furrowed my brows.
"You took away Nebula from me today. And in exchange of that, here is your ice cream allowance."
Pinikit ko nang mariin ang aking mga mata bago padabog na kinuha ang popsicle ice cream sa kamay niya.
"Ang lamig-lamig dito sa balkonahe gusto pa ice cream ang kainin." I spat upon leaning on the balustrade as well and putting the food in my mouth.
"You're aware now that you're the one who influence me to eat ice cream, are you?" he asked. Saglit na sumagi sa isip ko na baka naintindihan niya ang sinabi ko, pero malamang random question niya lang ito.
"Now that you tell me, I just remembered."
Sinabi mo pa ngang sa tingin mo, si Halley ang iyong the one. Ugh.
"The night that you gave me an ice cream to suppressed my tears, I also started to use it like a cigarette to overcome my depressions. You see, I have a lot of those in my room."
"Xavier, let's stop this casual conversation like nothing just happend. Why don't you explain to me now about what your majesty has said in the conference room?" tuloy-tuloy kong sabi sa kan'ya. Tinitigan niya ako sa mata at hindi naman ako nagpatalo. At last, he heaved a sigh.
"I told grandfather that I want you as my wife... And, that I—"
"What do you really want, Xavier?" hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin niya. "Before I leave, you keep letting me feel that you can't wait until I will be finally out of your planet. Now, you're saying that you want me to be your wife, meaning that you want me to stay. You're so confusing and unpredictable, Xavier."
"Clardia..."
"You know what? It's better if you will just make an announcement again tomorrow, that everything today is merely a joke." I did not break a stare with him, retaining my serious tough face. "Let me leave peacefully and don't make it hard for me anymore."
Akmang iiwanan ko na siya doon nang biglang niya akong hilahin sa palapulsuhan at halikan ang aking mga labi. Hinawakan niya rin ang magkabilaan kong pisngi upang hindi ako makagalaw. Nabitawan ko ang ice cream na aking hawak-hawak sa kabila kong kamay.
Sinubukan ko siyang itulak pero sa patuloy niyang paghalik sa'kin, I felt powerless and weak. His kiss was slowly eating the fury inside me and it started to corrupt my mind. It just made me close my eyes and feel his lips taking over mine.
"Mahal kita, Clardia. Huwag mo 'kong iwan..." he said in between his kisses.
***
"Oh, anak, ang aga mo magising ah. Why? You need something?"
My Dad asked as he opened the door of their room after I knocked.
I shook my head. "No, Dad but... can I come in?"
"Of course, sure."
I went inside and roam my eyes around a bit before sitting on their bed where Mom is still laying her back. I covered myself with the comforter as Dad squinted his eyes on me.
"Darling, seems like your daughter's going to say something," he said upon sitting on the bed's edge.
"Yes, I guess so..." Mom sit up and look at me as she opened her eyes.
Parehas na sila ngayon ni Dad na nakatingin sa'kin habang nanliliit ang mga mata. Napabuntong-hininga ako bago magsalita.
"Mom, Dad..." I trailed off. "Do you remember the alien boy I told you when I was a child? You just went back home that morning, Dad. You remember?"
Saglit silang natahimik at hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang kanilang pagtitinginan. Nangunot naman ang noo ko sa pagtataka.
"C-Clardia, hindi ba sinabi na namin sayong... hindi totoo iyong nakita m-mo?" nag-aalangang tanong ni Mom.
"Mom, ako ang nakakita at alam kong totoo 'yon. I even told you that I gave him one of the moon necklaces pero hindi pa rin kayo naniwala kahit isang kuwintas na lang talaga 'yung natira sa'kin." I insisted.
"At ano ngayon kung totoong nangyari 'yon?"
Bahagya akong nagulat sa paraan ng pagsasalita sa'kin ni Dad pero binalewala ko na lamang ito. I swallowed hard before answering him.
"It's Xavier, Dad. Siya 'yung batang 'yon..."
"Pa'no mo naman nalaman?"
"Because he has the blue moon necklace. 'Yung bigay ni Lola. At tungkol nga pala doon Dad, your majesty mentioned that—"
"Clardia." Napahinto ako sa aking sasabihin nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. "Sinasabi ko sayo, panaginip mo lang ang lahat ng iyon kaya, kalimutan mo na dahil babalik ka na sa planeta natin at dati nating buhay. Naiintindihan mo?"
"Pero Dad! Bakit ba ayaw niyong maniwala? It's obvious that I'm right and I'm telling the truth!" I failed to stop myself from raising my voice.
"Bumalik ka na sa kuwarto mo at magbihis ka na. Aalis na tayo."
"Puro ka alis, Dad! Why won't you listen to me first? Parang hindi na ikaw ang tatay na nakilala ko."
Tumayo na 'ko sa kanilang kama at naglakad palabas ng kuwarto. Pero bubuksan ko pa lang ang pinto ay muling nagsalita si Dad.
"I'm sorry, anak... I'm just protecting you..."
Sa kabila noon ay nagpatuloy pa rin akong lumabas ng kanilang kuwarto. Nanatili ako sa labas ng pinto habang kinakalma ang aking sarili. I know I'm at fault too and I should apologize as well for raising my voice to Dad and being a little disrespectful to him. Slowly, I opened their door again but before I could swang it wide, I was froze to my place.
"Demi, I told you, you should have completely erased her memories."
Erased my memories?
ฅ'ω'ฅ