Typo errors are a lot.
Soundtrack for this chapter, 'Sabihin mo na,' by Top Suzara. Music video provided above.
Chapter 29
Bleeding royalty
Unting-unti namang inimulat ni Ikay ang mga mata niya. She then smiled when she saw Ashton sleeping soundly beside her. Both of them were still naked under the sheets. She sighed as she looked up at the ceiling.
Everything that happened last night was really too fast. She had sex with him again... and Ashton told her that he still loves her.
Naguguluhan talaga siya sa nangyayari ngayon sa kanilang dalawa. Especially when Ashton told her some things - that he would give up his title as a royal prince for her. That he would live his life as a commoner now just to have her.
If only that would be easy.
Malayo ang estado nila sa buhay. No matter how strong their love is... hadlang pa rin iyon sa pagmamahalan nila. She was just nothing but a poor commoner whose parents are a chambermaid and a butler for the royalties. A poor commoner who fell in love with the Prince.
Hindi naman siya nangangarap. Because fairy tales don't exist in real world.
"Katherine."
Napalingon naman siya sa gilid niya at nakitang nagising na rin ang lalake.
She forced a smiled, "Hey."
Bumuntong-hininga naman ito. He cupped her face so she could face him, "What's wrong, love?"
"Everything, Ashton..." She answered as she was staring into his deep brown eyes, "I don't know if this is real."
"Everything is real, Katherine Andrada," Seryosong wika naman nito, "Everything I felt for you was real and always going to be real."
Hindi naman maiwasang matawa ni Ikay sa sinabi nito. May namumuo na ring mga luha sa mga mata niya. This was really too much, "Really? That you still love me?"
"I still love you and I never stopped loving you, Ikay."
Tuluyan na ngang napaiyak si Ikay dahil sa sinabi nito. Hindi niya alam. Parang sasabog siya dahil sa mga emosyong nararamdaman niya. For all these years, buong akala niya ay wala na itong epekto sa kanya.
But maybe, she was just lying to herself afterall.
Ashton still has a very huge impact to her life... he was always deep in her heart all along. And maybe... maybe...
She still loves him too.
"Ashton... I--"
Bigla namang may kumatok sa pinto ng apartment kaya napatigil sila. Napakunot-noo naman si Ashton. Sino namang bibisita sa kanya sa mga oras na iyon?
"Ashton... Sige na." Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya sa sinabi ni Ikay at bumangon na. He immediately wore his black boxers. Pagkatapos ay tumayo na siya at naglakad papalapit sa may pinto.
Ngunit nang buksan niya iyon ay nagulat naman siya sa taong tumambad sa paningin niya.
"Mother? What are you doing here?" Nakakunot-noong tanong niya rito. His mother didn't know where he moved out... but now, she's in front of him - standing together with a two royal guards.
Walang pasintabing pumasok kaagad si Agatha sa apartment niya. Pinagmasdan pa nito ang buong paligid niyon, "You need to go back to the palace, I need you there." Hinarap naman siya nito, giving him a straight face.
"No," He strongly replied, "I won't go back there anymore, mother. I will not come back to you anymore."
Napansin naman niyang nagkasalubong na ang mga kilay nito dahil sa sinabi niya. She looked furious, "And why would you be so reckless, Ashton? I'm your mother--"
Napahinto naman ito. Ashton noticed his mother was staring at someone behind him. Napalingon din naman siya. Ikay, who wrapped the bedsheet around her was already standing there.
"Oh, now, I know why," Agatha smiled at them sweetly, "Because of that low-class girl again, poisoning your mind."
Mas lalo namang kumunot ang noo ni Ashton dahil sa sinabi nito, "She's not a low-class, mother. I love her."
"You don't and you will not, Ashton - because she can never be part of the British monarchy."
"Then I quit, mother," Napansin naman niyang medyo nagulat ito dahil sa sinabi niya, "I'm stripping off my goddamn title, I won't be fucking part of that British monarchy anymore. I won't be the King that you always wanted me to be because I quit being a Prince, I quit being a royalty."
"No! You won't, Ashton!" Galit na sabi na rin nito sa kanya, "I'm your mother and you won't do that!"
"I can! I fucking can!" He hissed, "I don't fucking care anymore even if you're my mother... and you aren't anymore, Agatha because I'm dethroning my title and I'm not that fucking prince son of yours!"
Tama na. Sumusobra na ito. Pagod na pagod na siya sa pakikialam nito sa buhay niya. He's too damn tired with his mother controlling his whole life. He's fucking done with all of her manipulation - with all of her schemes - just to make him the King and not Jordan.
Hindi naman ito nakapagsalita kaagad dahil sa sinabi niya. He noticed hurt from his mother's eyes but he's done. He's fucking done with everything.
"Just go out, Mother. You're not welcome here." He said coldly. Hindi naman ito nagsalita pa at agad na tinalikuran siya. Sumunod naman dito ang dalawang royal guards at tuluyan na nga ang mga itong nakaalis sa apartment niya.
"Ashton..." Naramdaman naman niyang hinawakan ni Ikay ang braso niya. He turned his head back at her. She was looking at him worriedly, "Y-You don't need to s-strip off your title... I'm--"
"Katherine," Ashton took a deep breath. Hinawakan naman ng isang kamay niya ang pisngi nito, "I don't want to make another choice that I'll regret again." He said in a deep serious voice, his eyes boring at her intensely.
"I don't want to lose you again, Katherine."
By that, his lips met hers again.
●●●
"I'm so sorry, hijo. Kahit ako ay hindi rin niya kinakausap," Ani ni Eduardo kay Jordan nang tinawagan niya ito sa kabilang linya. Nasa northwing living room kasi siya ng Buckingham Palace. He called the President to ask about his wife, Julia Marie. Hindi niya kasi ito makontak sa phone nito.
"Nagtatampo kasi iyon, bakit hindi raw natin sinabi sa kanya na ipapauwi mo siya sa Pilipinas. She's even mad at me, Jordan kasi pumayag daw ako. She's emotional."
Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya sa sinabi ng presidente, "Nasaan 'ho ba siya?"
"Nasa isla, sa Sto. Rosario, pinasamahan ko kay Mr. Tiongzon. Nandoon siya kina Agnes at Lucio. Ayaw niya kasi dito sa Malacañang. She's really mad at us, son."
Jordan just frustratingly sat on the couch behind him, "Sige po. Maraming salamat po. Tatawag na lang po ako ulit. Pakisabi po kay Julia... na tumawag ako." He then ended the call.
Napahilot naman si Jordan sa noo niya. It has been a week since his wife went back to the Philippines. Gabi-gabi rin niya itong tinatawagan pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nito kinakausap. Kahit din ang presidente ay 'di rin nakakausap ang asawa niya. Talagang nagtampo ito dahil sa ginawa nila.
He sighed again. He's really been stressed out with the on-going investigation of the bombing and then about Idris. Nitong mga araw, ay lagi siyang binabagabag sa mga sinabi nito sa kanya. He can't be the King because he's an illegitimate child.
That why the British parliament didn't question King Edmund or him for ascending the throne. It was in the rule that an illegitimate child can never acquire such position. Idris even told him that the King might did some atrocities para lang siya ang maging hari.
Well, he never wanted to be the King in the first place...
All he wanted was to prove himself that he's worthy... he's worthy to have Julia as his wife.
"Zach!"
Napatigil naman si Jordan nang may tumawag sa kanya. Matagal-tagal na rin siyang hindi tinatawag sa pangalang iyon.
From there, he saw a very familiar man coming near to him. Napatayo rin naman siya.
"Fucking Elliot?" He couldn't believe it. Elliot Solano. His old bandmate in his band before, 7PM.
"Heck yeah! How are you, man?" Nakipagkamayan naman ito sa kanya. Somehow, he was really glad to see an old friend again. Matagal-tagal na rin silang hindi nagkikita ng mga bandmates niya. Magmula 'nung mawala siya at naging Hari, he never heard of them again.
"I'm... I don't know, this royalty shit is too fucked up for me," Jordan joked. Nagkatawanan naman silang dalawa at naupo. He really missed his old life... when he was still a rockstar, a lead singer of a very famous band.
"Obviously, you've been busy like hell. Naririnig ko sa mga balita. You're not anymore just Zachary Knight, you're the King." Napailing na lang ito, "It must be hard for you. Sa dami ng pinagdadaanan mo. I could never imagine. Kahit nga pagpasok ko dito sa palace, napakastrikto."
Jordan just smiled, "How are the others?" He asked, pertaining his other bandmates.
"They're fine, we have our solo careers now actually. I'm even here to sign a contract for some music label. And I knew you were here kaya ako dumaan dito."
He was really happy about what Eli just said. Kahit kasi nadisband ang 7PM, he was glad his bandmates found another careers. Minsan din naman ay nababalitaan din niya ang mga bandmates niya sa mga career nito. Like how Floyd and Eli became popular solo singers. Tapos si Isaac naman na drummer nila, joined the acting industry.
His bandmates are really doing good with their lives.
"Nagtatampo sa 'kin si Julia," He suddenly said. Narinig naman niya ang pagtawa ni Eli sa tabi niya.
"Well, you can still sing, right?" Ani nito nang tumigil na ito sa pagtawa, "If you need some help, 7PM is always gonna be there, ZK."
●●●
"Julia, hija, dumaan muna tayo sa simbahan mamaya, ha? Magsisindi lang kasi ako ng kandila para sa piyesta." Ani ni Agnes kay Julia habang tinutulungan niya itong magsara sa tindihan nito sa palengke. Sinamahan niya kasi ito buong araw sa pagbebenta ng mga isda at mga gulay.
"Sige po. Magsisindi rin po ako." Aniya rito. Nang matapos sila ay nagsimula na silang maglakad na dalawa. Siya naman ay napahawak sa lumalaking umbok ng tiyan niya. She's in her second trimester of her pregnancy and because of it, she's really been extra careful.
At talagang nagtatampo siya ngayon sa Daddy niya at asawa niya. It has been more than a week since she came back in the Philippines and a week since she didn't bother to talk to them. Naiinis kasi siya, hindi kasi siya sinabihan ni Jordan beforehand na iuuwi pala siya nito sa Pilipinas. He decided things without her consent. Naiintindihan din naman niya ito dahil para naman din iyon sa safety ng baby nila... but he didn't tell her, instead, binigla siya nito at inuwi kaagad sa Pilipinas pagkatapos madischarge sa ospital.
Tapos, ang Daddy naman niya ay matagal na palang alam ang plano ni Jordan but her father as well didn't bother to tell it to her. They acted on impulse without her consent.
Kaya naman sa inis niya ay hindi niya kinakausap ang dalawa. Pumunta na lang siya sa isla dahil at least doon, hindi siya mastrestress.
Ilang minuto naman ay dumating na rin sila sa labas ng simbahan. Napakunot-noo naman siya nang maraming mga taong nagkukumpulan sa labas na parang may tinitignan sa unahan. Gumagabi na rin sa mga oras na iyon.
Ngunit parang namang huminto ang mundo niya nang may biglang tumugtog na banda. (Sabihin mo na by Top Suzara, play the music above).
Then a very familiar man in front, started to sing.
"Gusto kong magpaliwanag sa'yo. Ngunit 'di kinakausap...'Di inaasahang diringgin mo, oh, nakatingala sa ulap..." He started, piercing his deep blue eyes into her.
"Alam kong nasaktan na naman kita. Ngunit 'di ko naman sinasadya... Hinding-hindi na mauulit, sinta... Sana'y maniwala ka..."
He then started to strum his guitar, together with his bandmates. His 7PM bandmates.
"Sabihin mo na kung anong gusto mo. Kahit ano'y gagawin para lamang sa'yo... Sabihin mo na kung papano mo mapapatawad..."
"Ilang araw mo nang 'di pinapansin. Ilang araw pang lilipas. Nakatanga sa harapan ng salamin. Naghihintay ng bawat bukas..."
"Lahat naman tayo'y nagkakamali... Sinong 'di nagsasala? Ngunit kung paano babawi sa pagkakamali...Yan ang mahalaga..."
"Sabihin mo na kung anong gusto mo. Kahit ano'y gagawin para lamang sa'yo. Sabihin mo na kung papano mo mapapatawad..."
"Sabihin mo na kung papano mo mapapatawad..."
Kaagad namang pumalakpak ang mga tao matapos itong kumanta. Bigla naman itong bumaba mula sa maliit na stage sa harap. Nilapitan naman agad siya nito habang ang mga tao na nasa paligid nila ay pinapanuod na rin silang dalawa.
"Julia." He called her name, it was deep... and sexy.
Nagsimula namang kumabog ang dibdib niya. Hindi niya inaasahan na pupuntahan siya nito sa isla. Nakatayo lang ito sa harap niya at nakatitig sa kanya. Siya naman ay nakatingala rito.
"Z-Zach..."
Oh god. Why did she feel some butterflies in her stomach? Parang tuloy siyang teenager sa nararamdaman niya.
And fine. She really found Zach's voice sexy especially when he sang earlier. Mas sexy kasi ang dating nito maging rockstar kesa maging Hari ng United Kingdom.
"I missed you." He said huskily. Nanlalandi na naman ba 'to?
"I missed you--no! Nagtatampo pa ako sayo! I'm still mad at you, huwag mo 'kong kausapin." React kaagad niya at inirapan ito. Tinalikuran na niya ito at nagsimula ng maglakad. Muntik na! Inis pa rin naman siya rito at ang swerte naman nito kung papansinin niya ito kaagad na parang walang nangyari.
Ngunit bago pa man siya makalayo ay nagulat naman siya nang bigla siya nitong buhatin. He carried her in a bridal style way.
"Z-Zachariah! T-Teka! Ano bang ginagawa mo?! Ibaba mo 'ko! Inis pa ako sayo!" Nagsisigaw na siya pero ang mokong ay tinatawanan lang siya. Kakainis! Inis na inis pa siya! Gustong-gusto talaga niyang kalmutin ang pagmumukha nito!
Hindi niya alam kung gaano sila kabilis dumating sa bahay kubo. Ito 'yung kubo kung saan sila tumira 'nung magkabalikan na sila.
Ibinaba naman siya nito at pinaupo sa maliit na kama. Lumuhod naman si Jordan sa harapan niya kaya magkapantay na sila ngayon. Jordan was just smiling at her.
Itinaas naman ni Julia ang kilay niya rito, "Bakit mo 'ko tinitignan ng ganyan? Inis pa 'ko sayo!" Sinabunutan naman niya ito pero natawa lang ito ulit dahil sa ginawa niya. Mas lalo tuloy siya naiinis!
"I'm sorry for deciding things on my own, Ma... I should have told you and asked your consent." He replied softly. Parang nalusaw naman ang inis niya rito dahil sa sinabi nito.
Inirapan naman niya ito. She then crossed her arms, "Dapat lang! Asawa mo 'ko pero hindi mo 'ko sinasabihan sa mga desisyon mo. Sa susunod talaga 'pag binuntis mo na naman ako, lalayas kami ng mga anak mo at hindi mo na kami makikita ulit!"
Jordan chuckled, "I know and I'm sorry. I promise, it won't happen again, Ma. Hindi na mauulit iyon dahil nakakabaliw kapag hindi kita kasama."
He suddenly held her two hands and kissed both of it, "I missed you so much, Julia Marie."
Tinignan naman ito ni Julia ng masama, "Pasalamant kang buntis ako at may pregnancy hormones ako! Tumayo ka na at i-kiss mo na ako! I miss kissing you already!"
Natatawang tumayo naman ito at kaagad hinalikan siya. Napahiga na ng tuluyan si Julia sa kama habang nasa ibabaw na niya ang asawa niya.
"I missed having sex with you." He naughtily said as her eyes got widened because of it. Hinampas niya ito sa balikat. Natawa na lang din siya. Kahit siya naman ay miss na miss na rin ito...
"Baka bombahin tayo ulit dahil sa kalandian mo, Zachariah!"
//
***Maybe until Chapter 35 lang ang Bleeding Royalty. Just stay tuned for updates!
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