Everyone around Emy was excited to get back to Grey City. Even her maidservants are obviously at ease. Hindi niya masisi ang mga ito, it had always been their place since young.
As for her, she doesn't know what to feel.
Her time in Ming Province felt so quick. Kahit na napakarami niyang nagawa at natutunan sa loob ng halos walong buwan, but still...
Bukod pa doon, she felt like the Grey City is always a war zone for her. Feeling niya sa pagbabalik niyang iyon, the game will resume.
Unconsciously, napahinga na naman siya ng malalim.
"Miss, your thoughts are too deep again." Anika commented with a smile.
"I feel like I just had a vacation in Ming Province. Ah... If one can only stay there longer."
Nagkatinginan ang tatlo. Mukha ngang napamahal na ang Miss nila sa Ming. Well, ot was good place, yes. But one can easily get used to it habang tumatagal.
"Anyway, Miss, may naiisip na po ba kayong iregalo sa Fifth Prince?" Tanong ni Veronica with a smile.
The three of them had witnessed the "closeness" between their Miss and the Fifth Prince for several times. Kaya naman hindi na sila nabibigla kapag minsang umaga ay naaabutan nila na nasa kwarto ng Miss nila ang cloak ng prinsipe o kaya naman ito mismo naroroon.
Hindi na naman nila ulit naabutan ang prinsipe na natulog sa tabi ng dalaga, but they figured na palaging pinupuntahan nito ang Miss nila. Kaya naman walang palya kung magdala ng midnight snacks si Lia para sa dalawa.
Anyway, when Emy heard the question, agad niyang iniwasan ang tingin ng tatlo saka lumingon sa may bintana ng carriage.
"Why do I have to think about that?"
Napangiti si Anika. At times, her Miss is really like a kid.
"Well, he is a Prince and since you two are close, why are you not going to give him any?"
Napaayos ng upo niya si Emy.
"We are not close. We are just mere acquainted with each other." She explained but the faces of her maidservants say that they won't believe her.
Emy was kinda pissed. Kasalanan kasi to nung prinsipe na yun. For several times, these three saw him in her room. Minsan ay sinasadya pa ng prinsipe na iwan ang cloak niya.
At dahil Crown Prince na siya ngayon, mas lalo pa siya ngayong nakakainis.
Tch...
Nasa ganoon siyang pag-iisip ng biglang sumulpot ang prinsipe sa harapan niya.
"Miss Hans, ako bang iniisip mo at parang gigil na gigil ka ata?" He said with a smirk.
"Of course. It was only you who can make me pissed even by a thought."
"I am glad to evade your thoughts then."
Emy rolled her eyes saka niya sinarhan ng bintana ang prinsipe.
She crossed her arms on her chest at saka huminga ng malalim.
But what can she really give to that overbearing Prince?
***
When they arrived the Grey City, everyone became busy.
First, they need to settle. It wasn't easy to go to one city and came back. There are always things to fix and arrange.
Then the preparation for the Fifth Prince's birthday.
Hindi maintindihan ni Emy kung bakit parang pinepressure siya ng mga taong nasa paligid niya.
Just this morning, Feng asked her kung nakabili na daw ba siya ng ireregalo sa Prinsipe. Dinagdagan pa iyon ni Francis ng, "It won't just be a simple birthday party for the Fifth Prince. So one has to effort in giving her gift."
Alam niya ang ibig sabihin nito at mukhang alam din ng tito niya na sinabi na sa kanya ng Fifth Prince ang magiging anunsyo ng Emperor sa araw na iyon.
Hindi tuloy niya alam kung dapat nga ba talaga siyang mag-isip ng maigi para sa ibibigay sa prinsipe.
Hayy...
"Lalim nun ah."
Puna ni Franco sa kanya isang araw. Kasunod niya sila Liu Fu at Choi Kang na agad na bumati sa kanya. She acknowledged them.
"Ano na namang iniisip mong kalokohan at napapabuntung hininga ka ng malalim jan?"
Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Franco.
Pero napaisip din naman siya. The three of them are men. She can survey them about what a man needs.
"Say, you three, what would you like to receive the most in your birthdays?"
Agad namang napaisip sila Liu Fu at Choi Kang.
"Mine is probably one of your prototypes." Sabi ni Liu Fun.
"Mine will be a kiss from my love." Sabi naman ni Choi Kang with a smirk.
Napangiwi na lang si Emy. What could she have expected from them?
Binatukan ni Franco si Choi Kang na agad nagreklamo.
"Sinagot ko lang naman yung tanong niya ah."
"Don't give her ideas." Then Franco looked at her. Naniningkit ang mga mata nito na dati ng singkit. "Yah, Emy. You're getting stressed over that prince again? Samantalang nung birthday ko ay hindi ka naman nag-isip ng ganyan."
Liu Fu realized kung bakit nagtatanong si Emy sa kanila. Somehow, he felt sad because of it.
Si Choi Kang naman ay ngumisi.
"Well, Franco, hindi ka naman prinsipe no. Emy is just setting her priority right."
"Shut up." Pareho nilang saway kay Choi Kang.
"I am not getting stressed. Pero people keep on asking me kung anong ibibigay ko sa Fifth Prince."
"Then just buy whatever in the market. If you want, ako na ang bibili para sayo." Franco's real intention is showing on his face na may nakaplaster pang evil smile.
Emy rolled her eyes. "No, thanks. Baka mamaya ipahamak mo pa ako no."
Sabi nga niya ay maling desisyon ang tanungin sila eh.
Napahinga na lang ulit siya ng malalim saka nag-isip ulit.
***