"Here." pinakita niya sa akin ang treehouse.
It was hidden sa pinakalikod na parte ng palasyo.
"C'mon" tinulungan niya ako umakyat.
May mattress at dalawang unan sa treehouse. There was a also a small table and a chair.
Napakasimpleng treehouse pero it was very peaceful and comfortable.
Humiga kami sa mattress.
"This is a very special place. You're the second person I brought to this treehouse, my mom was the first one."
"I see."
"My mom and I used to sleep here." he smiled.
"The queen?"
"Yes. I came here in Italy when I was 15. My mom said she had this treehouse built when I was just 5 years old. She always wanted me to come here and live with her but she told me that there were so many complications."
"Ohhh, tapos?"
"3 days lang ako nagstay because there were complications nanaman and I had to go back to the Philippines."
I kept quiet while listening.
"I never wanted to interact with Marco and Stefano since we are only half brothers and I felt like they can't accept me. That's why I came to this tree house ever night and spend the night here."
Naalala ko bigla ang sinabi ni Marco na his father is the king and they wouldn't let him know para hindi na maging complicado ang bagay bagay. Hindi siya half brother. If he only knew.
"My mom would come here every night during that 3-day vacation" ngumiti siya. "She had to sneak out of the master's bedroom and come to this treehouse with cookies and milk, we'd spend the night talking about the things we missed."
"Awww. That's so sweet."
"Yeah. She's a great mother. Even though sometimes, hindi maganda ang pakikitungo ko sakanya kapag naalala ko na iniwan niya ako, she still loves me and cares for me."
Naalala ko yung time na nagcheck in si queen sa hotel, he wanted to stay with him but he booked her on another room.
* L A T E R *
"OMG!" napaupo ako.
"Tyler, tyler! Anong oras na?"
Nagising siya "huh? Nakatulog pala tayo!"
"Anong oras na?!"
"7:20"
"Kailangan na nating pumunta sa dining room. Kundi magagalit ang king at queen! A prince and a princess is never late, ika nga, ilang beses ba nila kailangan sabihin yan sa atin?" natawa ako habang tumatakbo pabalik ng palasyo.
"Baka Million. Filipino time!"
"Dalian mo, may 10 minutes pa tayo, kailangan pa natin magbihis!"
"Tugsh!"
"Omg Tyler!!!" binalikan ko siya.
Tawang tawa siya dahil natumba siya sa puddle of mud.
"Ano ba yan, parang bata ha!"
Inabot ko ang kamay ko. Hindi ko naman nakayanan ang bigat niya kaya nahulog din ako.
"Halika na, dali!"
Tumayo kami at tumakbo na ulit papasok ng palasyo.
Sa wakas! Nasa harap na kami ng palasyo.
"hala amg dumi dumi ko na!" tawang tawa kaming papasok.
"Amor mio..."
Napatingin ako sa harap ko. Natigil ang tawa ni Tyler.
"Hi, love!" kinissan ko siya sa pisngi and hugged him tight. "I missed you."
He hugged me tighter and his eyes were full of worry. Ang talim ng tingin niya kay Tyler.
Nakita kong yumuko at umalis na si Tyler.
"Oh no, i got it on you!" Tawang tawa ako dahil puno na rin ng putik ang longsleeve niya.
Still, his mood did not light up.
Hinila niya ako papasok ng kwarto niya. It was the first time na makita ko ang kwarto niya.
It was bigger than mine and it was more modern.
Namangha ako sa architecture ng kwarto niya. It was stunning until...
"Why were you with him?!" Mataas na boses ni Marco and i snapped back to reality.
"We were just kidding around as friends, Marco."
"You know how I feel about him!" his muscles were so tensed.
Parang susuntukin niya na ang pader.
"Marco, love." hinimas himas ko ang mga braso niya.
"I love you, okay? I told you already, you're the only one inside my heart."
He calmed a little. But still nanginginig pa rin sa galit.
"But, he hurt you, amor mio!!"
"He explained everything and now I know it wasn't his fault."
"And you forgave him? Just like that?"
"No, you don't understand. Wait, let's settle this after dinner, okay? i'll tell you everthing. We're honest to each other, right?"
Tumango siya ng napakahina.
"Now , let's get you cleaned up." aya ko sakanya.
Isa isa kong tinanggal ang buttones ng polo niya.
Natatawa pa rin ako kasi napuno talaga ng putik yung polo niya.
Hinayaan niya lang ako, he was just looking at me the whole time.
Inalis ko na ang longsleeve niya and I touched his chest.
I saw his chest tense up at my touch.
"You're amazing, Marco." sabi ko sa mga mata niya while appreciating how attractive he is.
Pumunta ako sa closet niya and picked a white longsleeve. Parang halos lahat naman dito white longsleeve.
Pinasuot ko sakanya at binuttones.
I fixed his collar.
"Soon, our life will be like this, amor mio." he smiled and kissed me on the forehead.
What does he mean?
Pero let's just focus on his beautiful smile. Sa wakas, ngumiti na siya at kumalma na. Akala ko hindi na siya kakalma.
"Now, I better clean up. I don't want your mom and dad to see me like this."
Tumawa siya. "Go ahead, mi amor." he led me to the door and I left.
Naligo ako ng madalian at tumungo na sa dining room.
Andun na si Tyler, as usual, nakayuko.
Still the same seating arrangement pa rin.
King, queen, and Tyler on the right side. While ako, si Marco, and si Stefano sa katapat nila.
"Well, what did you do today, Ms. Elena Mia?" Tanong ng queen
Tyler looked at me and his eyes were saying 'no'.
"I had.... Umm I had..." Naku! Ano bang sasabihin ko?
"I groomed the horses and watched some cooking shows."
Tama na ba yun? Ano ba yan! Gagawa nalang ako ng storya, mali mali pa!
"And what have you learned from the cooking shows?"
OH MY GOODNESS ANONG SASABIHIN KO!!!!
"I watched umm.." ano ba ano ba.
"how to cook filipino Adobo." yun ang unang pumasok sa isip ko.
The queen's eyes lit up, napangiti siya.
"Adobo? Ang tagal ko ng hindi nakakakain nyan." Her face really gave it away, she got excited.
It was the first time I heard her speak tagalog. I was shocked kasi akala ko nalimutan niya na. She always talked to me in English.
"Ahh opo. Nakakamiss na rin po."
"Tama, anak. Nakakamiss na nga."
"Ehem." kunwaring pag-ubo ni Prince Stefano. Halatang wala siyang naiintindihan.
"Stavo solo parlando di un famoso piatto filipino chiamato "adobo" che è maiale addolcito con salsa di soia." pag-explain ng queen.
Narinig ko ang adobo so siguro inexplain niya? Haha
"Ms. Elena Mia, it would be an honor if you could cook adobo for lunch tomorrow."
The queen? Requesting me to cook? Nakakahiya.
"Tyler can help you. I think you have become great friends at the hotel you worked in."
Huh? Eh diba nga galit siya nung nakita niyang pumasok ako sa kwarto ni Tyler? Ba't ngayon na I'm with Marco, okay lang sakanya?
Marco's smile went away.
"No mama, I'll help her." sabat ni Marco.
"No. This is a Filipino dish, Marco. They know it best."
Tumahimik si Marco.
"Well then, I must say, I am excited for tomorrow." the queen smiled at me and touched my hand.
Tumayo kami ng sabay sabay at pumunta na sa kanya kanya naming kwarto.
*
"knock knock"
I opened the door.
"Marcooooo!!!" I greeted him with a big smile and a tight hug.
"You're so happy today, mi amor."
"I just had a fun day today, that's all."
"About that.." he got serious. "Care to tell me what I have missed?"
Inexplain ko sakanya ang lahat ng nangyari kanina.
From the horse stables until the mud part. Inalis ko nalang yung treehouse since I don't really know if Marco knows about it. I wanted to be completely honest, though.
Tutal. Wala namang masamang nangyari.
*LATER*
"Marco, just know that I don't have feelings for him anymore. We're just beginning to be friends. Only friends, okay? I promise."
"You promise?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, then I should leave, amor mio. Have a good night." he locked the door and left.
Hay linock nanaman, akala ko ba may tiwala? Hahaha
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