Kinabukasan ay maagang lumabas SI Beatrice ng kanyang silid. Hindi siya halos nakatulog ng nag-daang gabi. Magulo ang isip niya. She can remember her father and aside from that, the thought of JT has successfully occupied her mind.
Hindi man niya aminin ay apektado siya sa mga binitawan nitong salita. Magdamag na laman ng isip niya ang mga sinabi ng binata na gusto siya nito. If only things didn't end up the way it is right now, she knows deep inside that he feels something towards the guy too.
Una pa lamang silang magkita ay nakuha na agad ni JT ang atensiyon niya. Despite barely knowing her, he stood up for her noong inaakala nito na ginagawa siyang panakip butas ng kanyang kababata. When things went sideways with the issue about her father, ito rin ang karamay niya. He never left her side. JT helped him in so many ways. She had a chance to see and talk to her dad because of him too. Aminado siya na napalapit na ang loob niya sa binata. It's just that with what happened, she can't help the surge of pain she feels whenever she sees him. Whenever she sees him, tila nag-rereplay in slow motion ang mga nangyari.
She orderd breakfast nang makababa siya sa restaurant ng hotel. Natapos siyang kumain ng walang kahit na anong abala. She looked around the area because she feels something is missing. There's no JT this morning. She drew a sharp breath before standing up.
"Come on Beatrice. You're not actually looking for him. Just stop thinking about him." Beatrice said talking with herself through her mind.
The day went on and there's no JT at all. Around six in the afternoon when she was just lying on her bed reading the 1984 book written by George Orwell, she heard a knock on the door. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. There's only one person she can think off who would come. Walang iba kung hindi si JT. Hindi naman siya agad makatayo sa higaan because she was contemplating on whether to open the door or not. She heard the knock again and decided to open it.
She thought its JT and she's about ready to push him away again. To her surpise, it wasn't him. Instead, it was his sister. The newly crowned Princess Laurice is on her door.
"Good afternood Beatrice. I'm sorry to come unannounced." Hinging paumanhin naman ni Laurice.
"It's quite alright Laurice or should I say your highness." Sagot naman ni Beatrice na niluwagan na ang pagkakabukas ng pinto at nahagya pang yumukod sa harap ni Laurice.
"Oh! Will you please stop the formality Beatrice? It's just me. Can I come in?" tanong naman ni Laurice na nakangiti.
"Of course! Come on in Laurice." Mabilis namang sagot ni Beatrice na ngumiti na rin sa babaeng kaharap.
"Please, have a seat. Your baby is almost due. You shouldn't be standing there. Do you want anything to drink?" tanong pa ni Beatrice.
"Don't bother Beatrice. I can't stay long. Aldrich is waiting for me. I just have to come here personally." Masuyong sagot naman ni Laurice.
"For what?" tanong naman ni Beatrice na naupo na rin sa settee.
"I'm here to personally invite you to a luncheon gathering tomorrow at the palace. Consider it as a thanksgiving lunch for all the important people in our lives who helped us get through." Nakangiting sagot naman ni Laurice.
"Laurice...I'm not really sure. I don't know if I can." Tanggi naman ni Beatrice na halata mo ang pag-aalinlangan sa boses.
"I know you wouldn't come if I will settle for an invitation. That is the reason why I am here personally. You are a big part of the reason why I have the chance at happiness right now Beatrice. Please don't turn me down. I would really be thankful if you'll be there tomorrow. Please?" pangungumbinse naman ni Laurice.
"Alright...I'll be there. I can't have you beg anyway because I'm pretty sure Aldrich is gonna drag me there." Sagot naman ni Beatrice na may munting nguti sa labi.
"Actually no." nag-aalangan naman sagot ni Laurice.
"What do you mean no?" tila naguguluhang sagot naman ni Beatrice.
"Here's your invitation Beatrice." Ani naman ni Laurice sabay abot ng imbitasyon.
Nang buksan ng dalaga ang invitation ay nanlaki ang mga mata nito at medyo nagulat.
"You sneaky, naughty princess!" Beatrice exclaimed playfully kaya napatawa naman si Laurice.
"Sorry. You have to understand that I had to. I have to make sure that you are left with no choice but to come." Ngingiti ngiti namang sagot ni Laurice.
"Yeah, you really left me with no choice as the luncheon gathering has been ordered by the King." Natatawang ganti naman ni Beatrice sa kausap.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" nakangiti pa ring tanong ni Laurice.
"Well I guess the answer is yes. I have to remember?" sagot naman ni Beatrice kaya pareho silang napangiti.
"Thank you Beatrice. Anyway, I have to get going now. My husband is waiting for me." Ani pa ni Laurice.
"Take care Laurice." Ani Beatrice habang inihahatid sa may pintuan si Laurice.
"Oh! By the way, I'm sure someone's gonna be really happy to see you tomorrow." Pang-aasar pa ni Laurice sabay kindat sa dalaga.
"Laurice!" reklamo naman ni Beatrice na halata mong nahihiya.
Tawa na lang ang tanging naisagot ni Laurice habang naglalakad na ito palayo.
Maagang nag-checkout si Beatrice sa hotel kinabukasan. She needs to be presentable sa luncheon gathering sa palasyo. Matapos niyang makapg-ayos ay nagpahatid na siya sa driver patungo sa palasyo. Iginiya siya ng butler kung saan naroon ang pamilya. Rinig niya ang kasiyahan ng mga ito.
"Sorry, am I late?" ani naman ni Beatrice na dumating na pala.
"Oh God! Beatrice! No just on time, have a seat." ani naman ni Laurice.
"Thank you." ani naman ni Beatrice
"I'm glad you came Beatrice. " ani naman ni Aldrich
"How can I say no. It's an order from the King." ani naman ni Beatrice kaya napatawa ang mga naroon.
"Blame my wife. She said I can't even hold her hand if I won't manage to let you attend. " ani naman ni Andrei kaya namula naman si Shanice.
Ang upuan na lang sa tabi ni JT ang bakante kaya doon na pinaupo si Beatrice.
"Good afternoon Beatrice. " ani JT ngunit hindi ito sumagot at bahagya lang tumango na hindi man lang tinitingnan ang binata.
Beatrice found the seating arrangement awkward at that moment. Ang huling pag-uusap nila ni JT ay hindi maganda. Napagtaasan niya ito ng boses at pinaalis. She can't do anything at that moment but to go with the flow and act as if she is not bothered by his presence.
"Come on Beatrice. You can do this. You've been trained all your life to act as if nothing's wrong even if it's bothering you." Beatrice said to herself na tila pinapalakas ang loob ng sarili.
Si JT naman ay hindi mapigil ang pagsulyap sulyap sa dalaga. Kita ang paghanga sa mga mata nito dahil napakaganda ni Beatrice sa suot nitong dress.
Napatigil lang ang lahat ng biglang mapasigaw si Laurice. Mukhang gusto ng lumabas ng anak nito. Agad na isinugod sa ospital si Laurice. Si Devon na ang nagmaneho kasama si Aldrich.
"Go ahead dad. I'll drive my car to the hospital." Ani naman ni JT sa ama niyang si Jarrod ng taningin siya nito kung sasabay ba siya pagpunta sa ospital.
Tumango na lang si Jarrod bilang tugon sa anak at nagmamadali ng umalis.
Sa parking area naman ay inabutan ni JT si Beatrice na papasakay na rin sa kotse nito.
"Beatrice..." hindi naman napigilang tawag ni JT sa dalaga.
Agad namang napalingon ang dalaga ng may tumawag sa pangalan niya. Si JT ang nakita niya at mabilis itong nakalapit sa kanya.
"I really need to get going right now Beatrice but there's something I need to tell you." Anas ni JT ng makalapit sa dalaga.
Hindi naman makahanap ng isasagot si Beatrice kaya nakatitig lang siya sa binata.
"I was wrong..." simula ni JT
"Wrong about what...?" nagtatakang tanong naman ni Beatrice.
"I'm sorry Beatrice...but I don't really like you..." tila naman hirap na sagot ni JT
Sa narinig ay nakaramdam ng sakit si Beatrice sa hindi niya malamang dahilan. Agad nagbaba ng tingin ang dalaga bago sumagot dahil parang hindi niya kayang tumingin sa mga mata ni JT ng mga sandaling iyon.
"It's...It's alright...I'm glad. Glad to hear that...but I really have to go now..." sagot naman ni Beatrice na nag-iwas na ng tingin at humakbang na papasok ng kotse.
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