Samantha's weekdays were spent like that. Kada dismissal, sasabihin niya kay Franco na makikipagkita siya kay Lucy at saka mauuna ng umalis.
Sinundan niyang minsan ang dalaga at doon nga ito nagpunta pero hindi na siya bumaba sa kabayo niya para pasukin pa ito.
He was still curious though kaya naman kinompronta na niya si Lucy isang araw.
Lucy told him that she's helping Emy about the initiation day. Ayaw pa nga nitong sabihin ng una pero kinulit niya ito.
He doesn't know kung nainis niya ba ang dalaga dahil sa pangungulit niya. She wasn't even looking at him.
Napaisip naman siya about kay Emy. At first, he thought bakit kailangan pa nito na kay Lucy lumapit para lang sa gagawin sa initiation day eh andito naman siya. But he realized that Emy must be needed a female guidance. Napakamot na lang siya sa ulo niya.
He was about to thank Lucy pero nakaalis na ito sa harap niya. Mukha atang nasobrahan siya sa pamimilit. Babawi na lang siya bukas dito.
***
Kinabukasan...
Lucy was startled ng makita sa labas ng classroom niya si Franco. Of course, she was panicking for a moment. Kahit hindi siya ang pakay ng binata, ganun talaga ang epekto nito sa kanya.
"O, Franco, anong ginagawa mo dito? May lakad ba tayo?" Tanong ni Jules sa kanya. Magkaibigan sila at parehas na nagpapart time sa court.
"Hindi naman ikaw ang ipinunta ko dito eh."
Nagulat si Jules dahil doon. Pero bago pa siya makapagtanong ay nakaalis na sa harapan niya si Franco. Dumeretso siya sa harapan ni Lucy na sa loob loob ay mas lalo pang nagpanic.
"D-do you need anything?"
He smiled at her which caused her heart to beat frantically.
"Hindi na kita napasalamatan kahapon. Umalis ka kasi agad eh."
"You don't have to."
Pere umiling si Franco saka bigla siyang parang nahiya. Inilagay niya ang isang kamay niya sa batok niya at yung isa naman sa bulsa niya.
"Atsaka, I might have inconvenient you kahapon dahil sa pangungulit ko. Gusto kong bumawi. How about we have lunch together?"
Napanganga si Lucy. Totoo ba to? Is he really asking him for lunch?
"Ayieee... Nagbibinata ka na ba, Franco? Bakit inaaya mong maglunch si Lucy?" Mapanuksong sabi ni Jules sa kaibigan at inakbayan pa ito.
Hindi napansin ni Lucy na pinagtitinginan na pala sila ng mga kaklase niya. Agad siyang pinamulahan ng mukha.
"Sira." Sabay batok ni Franco sa kaibigan niya. "Tinutulungan kasi ni Lucy si Emy para sa Initiation Day. Kaya naman gusto ko siyang pasalamatan para sa pagpayag niyang istorbohin ng pinsan ko."
"Naks naman. Napakamapagmahal mo naman palang pinsan."
"Di mo lang alam no."
Tapos nagtawanan sila.
"Sumama ka na, Lucy. Wag kang mag-aalala sasama din ako. Panigurado kasing manlilibre itong si Franco."
"Wag ka ng sumama."
"At bakit naman?"
"Baka mailang lalo si Lucy."
Tumawa naman si Jules. "Since when did become sensitive about girls?"
"Shut up."
"Hahaha... Iba talaga ang epekto ng pagdating ni Emy sa inyo. Parang di na kita makilala ah."
"Sira ka talaga." Tapos ay tiningnan ni Franco si Lucy. "So?"
"O-okay."
Told you, she's the kind who will grab any opportunity para lang makasalamuha si Franco.
"Great! Tara na."
Tumayo naman si Lucy at sumunod kay Franco.
***
It was a blissful experience for Lucy ang makasama ng ganun katagal si Franco at makasabay pang kumain.
The guy was obviously trying his best to make her feel comfortable and have a conversation with her. She could tell na hindi ito sanay sa ganoon and somehow, it made her feel special.
Syempre, hindi niya pinahirapan ang binata. Kapag nagjjoke ito, tatawa siya. Kapag may sasabihin ito, she pays attention and sometimes, give her thought about it. At kapag nagtatanong ito ay agad niyang sinasagot.
Franco, on the other hand, appreciated her cooperation. He never asked any other girls to eat with him kaya this kind of thing is very new to him. Akala niya, magiging sobrang awkward silang dalawa. But somehow, even he enjoyed talking with her.
Lucy is a smart and fun lady. Kaya din ito nakasundo agad ni Emy. Napuna kasi ni Franco na hindi palakaibigan ang pinsan niya. But Lucy was able to befriend her. Mukhang hindi naman sa aloof si Emy. Sadya lang talaga siyang mapili sa kaibigan.
Nag-usap pa sila about sa iba pang topics hanggang sa nagdecide silang bumalik na sa campus. May panghapong klase pa rin namn sila eh.
"Thank you." Pasalamat niya kay Franco ng alalayan siya nito pababa ng carriage.
"I should be the one thanking you again." Saka tumawa ang binata. "Well, see you around."
Tumango siya saka nauna ng umalis. She can't contain her smile anymore. It was like a dream for her. She almost skipped while walking dahil sa saya niya. She knew it silly pero in this world where full of scheme and heartaches, she wants to take this opportunity to at least be like a real teenager.
Lucy had an urge to look for Emy and hugged her. Kung hindi dahil sa dito ay hindi ito mangyayari sa kanya.
Hindi na naman siya nahirapan na hanapin si Emy. The lady was just ahead of her. Mukhang pabalik na ito sa klase niya. She was about to call her ng may biglang humarang sa dalaga.
It was the Fifth Prince.
She thought na nagkataon lang yun. But when Emy tried to evade him, he still blocked her way.
Emy looked around at agad siyang nagtago. Nang wala siyang nakita na ibang tao sa paligid ay nginitian niya ang binata. Then they said few words to each other. The guy also smiled at Emy.
Lucy gasped as she realized something.
"No, that's not it. I just have... I just have someone important to meet today."
So was it the Fifth Prince? Kaya ba hindi niya masabi kung sino ito?
Napatakip na lang ng bibig niya si Lucy saka napangiti. Of course, Emy is beautiful. Even in her opinion, her beauty is out of place in this Grey City. She obviously stood out even in her simplicity.
"I have to confirm if it really was the Fifth Prince." Lucy thought to herself bago umalis na doon.
Meanwhile, hindi naman talaga nagngingitian ang dalawa. If Lucy had taken a look from different angle, she could have seen that it was a smirk that they have given to each other.
The Fifth Prince stopped her from walking back to the classroom. Luckily, there's no one around them.
When she asked kung anong kailangan nito sa kanya ay nginisian lang siya nito. Sabay sabing, "I am watching you."
Saka ito umalis na.
Napailing na lang si Emy. Hindi niya alam kung bakit parang wala lang sa kanya ang sinabi nito. Maybe because she knows na kung may iba pa mang mas nakikinabang sa ginagawa niya ay ang Fifth Prince ito.
If Emy destroys the Black Council, pabor ito sa kanya bilang Presidente ng Supreme. And if she ruins Prince Vio for killing Marco, then it is also still a favor for him as he wants the throne that much.
Napaling na lang si Emy. She has more important things to do now than to deal with the threats of that guy.
***