Medjo late na na-publish 'to, sorry na. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter!
Dedicated to MarkusJuan!! Thank you for supporting my works :>
Don't forget to play the multimedia above :)
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Masama ang loob ni Luna'ng sinundan ang mga kaibigan niyang halimaw sa lakaran. They've been walking for hours now yet, hindi pa rin sila nakakarating sa palasyo. At mukhang siya pa lang din ang inaatake ng gutom.
Sa bagay, may oras bang hindi siya nagutom?
"Luna, malapit na tayo. Endure it a little longer." Paalala ni Iraia na ikinairap niya.
"Utang na loob, pang-anim na beses ko nang narinig 'yan." Reklamo ni Luna at inayos ang pagkakasabit ng kanyang bag.
Iraia sighed with a warm smile on her face. "Come here, love."
Luna protruded her lower lip and marched like a kid towards Iraia. The latter caressed her face before tapping the tip of her nose, creating a mild explosion of dust on her face.
"Iraia!" Reklamo niya matapos bumahing.
Iraia giggled and pinched her cheeks. "Calm down, sweetheart. Konting tiis na lang, okay?" Wala naman siyang nagawa kung hindi ang tumango.
"We're near."
Lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha at napatakbo sa tabi ni Master Kreme na nasa dulo. Si Master Laidre kasi ay nasa harap, ang sinusundan nilang lahat.
"Talaga, Master?" Ngisi niya kay Master Kreme na binigyan siya nang mapanuring tingin.
"Apat na oras pa lang tayong naglalakad, mahal na prinsesa. Kung sasabihin mong hindi mo na kaya, paliliparin na lang kita." Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang kamuntikan na siyang umangat mula sa lupa kung hindi lang siya mabilis na napayakap sa puno-- thanks to her reflexes.
"Master, hindi ako pagod! Gutom ako, gutom!" Tanggol niya sarili at hinigpitan ang pagkakakapit.
She heard some laughters before her Master finally let her go. Agad siyang tumayo ng tuwid na parang walang nangyari at pinalinsikan ng tingin ang mga kaibigang nag-eenjoy siyang panoorin.
"Masaya akong masaya kayo." Tango niya sa mga ito.
"Malapit na nga kasi tayo, Luna bear." Tumatawang pag-uulit ni Veton.
Inirapan niya ito at hindi na pinansin pa.
She stopped when she became aware of a familiar ambience. When she saw the thresold of the palace—her home—her breathing became unstable.
In between the two flanking towers, a circular symbol was embedded. It features a square and a diamond that overlap with scripture symbols and strokes. Inside was a pyramid, and within that was an inverted pyramid.
Different lights glowed on each end of the triangles as they slowly formed lines that connected themselves while rotating.
Upon the formation of a six-sided star, the gates to the palace were opened.
"Anong pakiramdam?" Nilingon niya si Sefarina na napakalapit ng mukha sa kanya.
Lumayo naman si Luna. "Ano?"
"Bahay mo 'yan oh." Anito sabay nguso sa palasyo habang humahagikgik.
She was at a loss for words. Everything that is happening to her is beyond anything she could have imagined or hoped for.
Although there is no doubt that she is happy, is she contented? That something is still missing beyond this great palace and its high walls.
A piece of her remains missing.
"Let's go."
She took a step forward, followed by another, as she moved behind the students, who had entered the palace with the palace's guards lining both sides.
Luna began to scan the area with her eyes. It wasn't her first time here, but the architecture still astounds her. There are five huge towers visible from her sight, excluding the ones with battlements. Some are barely visible because they are clearly far away from her.
The palace is vast, much larger than those she has seen in movies.
"Hoy." Rinig niyang tawag ng nilalang na kanina pa siyang sinisitsitan.
"Sino ka ba?" Taas kilay niyang tanong kay Veton na umarteng nabaril sa puso.
"Big words, Luna bear." He scoffed. "Ginaganyan mo na ako, salamat na lang sa lahat." Drama nito at tinalikuran ang dalaga.
Luna judgingly examined him from head to toe bago muling nagsalita. "Tapos ka na?"
"Wow, Luna bear!" Gulat na gulat na singhal ng binata.
Hindi na niya nasundan pa ang hinaing ng kaibigan dahil nagsimula nang maglakad ang mga nasa harap patungo sa courtyard and of course, they followed them.
Someone poked her from the back. She turned to look at Pream who's now pointing the towers using his lips.
"Though we have the least number of people among all kingdoms, our palace is the biggest." Bulong sa kanya nito.
She kept nodding.
She was well aware of their kingdom's position at the top of the pyramid from the start, which is why she had expectations when she imagined Renvela.
She imagined golden structures, a wealthy and well-organized community, and even prim and proper people.
Fortunately, it didn't disappoint.
"Kaya masarap din ang pagkain." Dagdag niya pa bago napalunok nang maalala ang lasa ng mga pagkain dito.
"Wala ka namang ibang napapansin bukod sa pagkain, Luna lang." Rinig niyang singit ni Sefarina habang ang kamay ay nakakapit sa braso ni Arrow na kausap si Damien at Master Kreme.
"Wala ka rin namang ibang napapansin bukod sa bangkay na hawak mo." Lait niya kay Arrow na biglang lumingon.
Napatalon si Luna sa takot nang makaramdam ng lamig sa talim ng tingin ng kaibigan. "Totoo naman ah." Bulong niya at dahan dahang tumabi kay Iraia na naiirita na sa pam-mwisit ni Veton.
Sefarina stuck her tongue out on her at sinandal pa ang ulo sa braso ni Arrow.
"Umarte ng naaayon sa relasyon ha, kung meron." Parinig niya at kumaripas ng takbo matapos magsimulang habulin ni Sefarina.
Enfys, who's beside Master Laidre, stopped her by holding her shoulders. "Luna, behave." Seryoso nitong utas kaya napa-zipper na lang siya sa kanyang bibig.
"Students."
Lahat sila'y napaangat ng tingin na hindi kalaunan ay yumukod din matapos silang salubungin ng hari na lumabas mula sa great hall ng palasyo.
Pasimpleng sinilip ni Luna ang amang nakasuot lamang ng simpleng polo at slacks. Ang bibig niya'y napa-'o' habang dahan dahang tumatango. Kahit ano ata ang isuot ng ama ay imposible pa rin itong hindi makilala bilang hari.
When the king noticed her eyes, she immediately grinned like a fool, earning her father's squinting eyes.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Thank you for inviting us." Magalang na bati ni Master Laidre kaya napunta ang tingin ng hari rito.
"It's my honor, Laidre." Tinapik ng hari ang balikat ng Master bago sila muling binalingan.
"Rise, children." Ngiti nito sa kanila.
"My people will assist you to your rooms to let you settle down first. Afterwards, we'll eat lunch all together and tour you around the palace to explore and try various activities."
Bumuka ang bibig niya para sana itanong kung ano iyong mga hinanda nito para sa kanila kaso isa isa nang umalis ang mga kasama niya na dinala ng mga hana papunta sa iba't ibang parte ng palasyo.
Pati ang mga kaibigan niya'y nawala na sa paningin niya.
"Your Highness." Sinenyasan niyang manahimik si Lucas at pasimpleng nilibot ang tingin.
"Ang kulit mo, isusumbong na talaga kita." Banta niya na ikinatawa naman ng huli.
"Let me escort you to your room, Princess."
Her eyes widened and was about to run away when some guards blocked her way. She laughed nervously before turning to the other direction and much to her dismay, may mga guards na rin.
"Pakisabi kay papa, magtutuos kami mamaya." She taunted after stomping her feet to lead the way.
Tumatawa namang sumunod sa kanya si Lucas na ginaya siya patungo sa main tower. Kamuntikan na nga siyang umatras nang maalalang hindi lang pala siya ang bisita rito sa palasyo. Paano kung mapagusapan na naman siya?
"Hello, divine." She squinted her eyes and gave her father a knowing look who's now spreading his arms.
She tsked. "Papa. Papa." Iling iling niya bago sinalubong ang yakap ng ama.
King Ophiluous sighed in contentment. "You look pale." Komento nito habang sapo ang kanyang magkabilang pisngi.
She frowned and patted her growling stomach. "Mamamatay na ata ako sa gutom, papa." Drama niya na ikinatawa lang nito.
"Come on, you better fix yourself before heading downstairs to eat." Akay sa kanya ng ama papasok sa kanyang kwarto.
Hinayaan na siya ng kanyang papa dahil aasikasuhin pa raw nito ang mga pinahandang pagkain para sa kanila which made her squeal in excitement. Halos hindi na nga siya magkandaugaga while trying to find something to wear inside her luxurious closet- the reason why she only packed foods na naubos na rin niya.
"Nakakalula naman dito." Ngiwi niya at kinuha ang damit na pinakamalapit sa kanya.
"Princess." Literal siyang napatalon sa gulat habang pilit tinatakpan ang katawan. Nagsisimula na kasi siyang maghubad nang pumasok ang isang babaeng hindi naman niya kilala.
"The King ordered me to assist you, Princess."
Alanganin siyang natawa at napaatras. "Hindi naman na kailangan."
Tatakbo na sana siya para tumakas nang may dalawa pang babaeng humawak sa magkabilang braso niya at sapilitan siyang dinala sa loob ng banyo.
"Papaaaa!"
—
Mag-isang nakaupo si Luna sa gitna ng napakahabang lamesa habang magkasalubong ang kilay. Those girls really bathed her and even made her wear a dress!
But it's not her main concern, ang tanging gusto niya lang ay kumain na.
"The sun's about to set pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako nakakakain. Ito na ata talaga ang katapusan ko."
Her shoulders sagged as she heard and felt her stomach grumble in hunger. There was no specific reason why she was always hungry despite the fact that she was always eating.
Perhaps it's because she's been deprived of it for more than a decade.
When she heard the sound of a chair being pulled, her gaze was drawn to the man in black.
Damien sat next to her, his legs crossed.
"Gutom ka na rin ba?" Nakapalungbaba niyang tanong, nagbabakasakaling hindi lang siya ang nag-iisa.
Instead of answering her, Damien tilted his head to the left to face her at saktong nagsipasok ang mga Hana na kapwa may bitbit na mga pagkain.
She watched them placed all the foods on the table bago masayang tinignan ang kanyang kasama.
"Are these mine?" Excited niyang tanong sa binata na tumango lang.
Isusubo na sana niya ang piraso ng steak na hiniwa niya kung hindi lang bumukas ang malaking double door at nagsipasukan ang kanina pa niyang hinihintay.
She pushed her tongue inside her cheek before letting go of the fork.
"Right. Ngayon pa kayo nagsidatingan." Mahina niyang reklamo at tinaliman ng tingin ang plato niyang puno na ng pagkain.
"Go on." She unbelievably looked at him who unexpectedly encouraged her to eat.
"Seriou-"
"Lunaaa!"
Inis na tumayo si Luna at tinutukan ng tinidor si Sefarina na biglang lumiko at nagtago sa likod ni Enfys.
"Wow, these are delicio-" Tinampal niya ang kamay ni Iraia na kukuha na sana ng pagkain niya.
"Mine."
"You'll finish all of that?" Gulantang nitong tanong.
"Nakakagulat pa ba 'yon?" Enfys told them and sat beside Pream who whistled because of her comment.
"Foul." Ngisi ni Arrow na inambahan niyang tutusukin ng tinidor.
When the King and his brother, Beau, arrived, they fell silent. She tried to look at her uncle for a split second, but her gaze quickly returned to the foods placed in front of her.
Her attention span wasn't particularly good, given that she could only hear her father's toast despite her mind being clouded solely by food.
Veton burped after eating. "Gago, pareng bro. Masusuka na ata ako sa sobrang busog." Anito kay Damien at halos maduwal na.
Almost all of them said the same thing except for her who's still eating with all her heart.
She took a sip of the freshly squeezed orange juice before resuming eating.
"Hindi naman natin 'yan ginugutom diba?" Nahihiwagaang tanong ni Pream.
Tumango naman si Enfys. "Siya nga ang umuubos ng pagkain sa Teadra."
"Best friend... okay ka pa ba?" Concern na tanong ni Sefarina sa kanya.
She didn't mind them though.
Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagkain hanggang sa finally, nabusog na rin siya. She happily stretched her arms out when she noticed that she's the only one left inside the dining area.
"Huh? Iniwan ako?" Nagtataka niyang tanong habang naglalakad papalabas.
She roamed around just to make sure but they really left her!
"Grabe, ang babaho talaga ng mga paa." Hindi makapaniwala niyang sabi at tumakbo para habulin sila.
But because she's wearing a platform boots, she tripped.
Inis siyang napahinga ng malalim habang nakasalampak pa rin sa sahig.
Should she just ditch them and lay comfortably on her bed? Not even a single soul realized that she's not with them!
"What are you doing?"
She raised her head and noticed Damien's brow furrowed. His gaze moved from her eyes to her knees. Nagtagal ang titig niya roon na tila may inaalala bago marahang napangisi.
Tinanggal nito ang kanyang mga kamay sa loob ng bulsa ng pantalon nitong suot at nang makalapit sa kanya'y agad silang tinulungang makatayo. Nagmamadali itong naglakad papunta sa kanya bago siya tinulungang makatayo.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before crouching down to remove the dirt that had piled up on her knees and even fixed the hem of her dress without touching her bare skin.
"I tripped." Binigyan niya ito ng hilaw na ngisi.
Damien looked at her from below, his eyes lifeless but amazed. He arched his brow and even tilted his head, as if he didn't believe her explanation.
"Did you?"
"Bakit naman ako magsisinungaling?" Inosente niyang sagot pabalik.
"You weren't clumsy before." He stood up, murmuring.
"Huh?" Takang tanong ni Luna dahil hindi niya ito narinig.
Instead of responding, Damien took a step closer to her and smoothed her hair, which had been sticking out, before motioning her to follow him.
Agad naman siyang humakbang para masundan ang binata. Panay naman ang linga niya sa paligid habang pilit inaalam kung saan siya nito dadalhin.
Natigil lang siya nang ilahad ng binata ang kamay nito para alalayan siya. Napatingin siya rito at sa hagdanan paakyat sa battlement ng tower.
"Anong gagawin natin sa taas?" Kuryoso niyang tanong habang tinatanggap ang kamay nito.
"Careful."
She frowned as she nearly tripped on the steep stairwell. Good thing that Damien was beside her to prevent her from falling.
"Tiara, stop being a brat!"
"Huh? Me na naman?!"
Nakarinig siya ng tunog nang banggaan ng mga espada kasabay ng mga hiyawan.
She squinted her eyes and took a step away from the last step of the stairs, only to find that their schoolmates were playing with swords.
According to the shape and structure of their swords, as well as the insignia, which is identical to the symbol embedded on the gates, they were their kingdom's traditional swords.
Bibitaw na sana siya para bumaba at makisali roon nang lumiko sila patungo sa southeast tower. Doon niya nakita ang mga kaibigan niyang pilit lumalabas sa manmade maze na naka-set up malapit sa great hall.
"Ano 'yan? Ayoko d'yan!" Mabilis niyang tanggi.
"Hi, Luna bear!" Kaway sa kanya ng tanga niyang kaibigan mula sa taas ng puno.
"Mahulog ka sana!" Bati niya pabalik na hindi niya inaasahang mangyayari talaga.
She laughed her heart out habang ine-enjoy ang mga murang sunod sunod na pinakawalan ni Veton sa kanya.
"Ah, that was a good laugh." Komento niya bago siniksik ang sarili sa crenel kung saan makikita niya ng mas maayos ang kaganapan sa baba.
Masaya niyang pinanood ang mga kaibigan na maglaban para makalabas sa maze. Tanging si Sword lang ang piniling makipaglaro sa mga Pharaohs na ngayon ay nakikipag-away kay Sefarina.
"Mga tanga talaga." Hagikgik niya bago binalingan ang katabi.
"You don't wanna join them?" As she expected, tinignan lang siya nito.
Binigyan niya ng naiiling na tingin ang binata bago muling pinanood ang mga kaibigan. They're now all facing each other, halos lahat sila'y iniikot ang ulo at braso na tila nagw-warm up.
"Ready na ba kayo, mga bobo?" Maangas na tanong ni Veton at tinanggal pa ang pagkakabutones ng kanyang dress shirt.
"Stop flaunting your body." Rinig niyang reklamo ni Iraia.
She looked at him from head to toe as her face grimaced. "There's nothing to appreciate."
Mukhang hindi lang siya ang natawa nang matameme si Veton at mahuli sa kaguluhan na sinimulan ni Iraia.
"Anak." Napalingon si Luna at nagulat nang makita ang ama niya.
"Papa?"
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
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