Although Emy was trying her best to hide it, pero halata ng mga mahahalagang tao sa buhay niya ang biglaang pagbabago ng aura niya.
They knew that it is because of the wedding dress.
Sa totoo lang, nahihiwagaan sila sa dalaga kada may magpapaalala sa kanya na ikakasal na siya nitong mga nakaraang buwan. She was just shrugging off. As if she's not really care.
But seeing Emy now, they are certain, ngayon pa lang nagsink in sa dalaga ang mangyayari.
Napahinga na lang ng malalim si Diana as she was observing Emy all throughout the party.
Hindi niya maiwasang mainggit dito, sa totoo lang.
When she married Prince Vio, his family was very cold to her. It was only the Emperor and the Empress who accepted her neutrally. Ibang iba sa pakikitungo nila kay Emy.
Well, they can't blame them. The lady is really notched higher than her. These past few months, she had learned to accept her weaknesses. Lalo pa nga at madalas niyang kasama si Emy kaya naman talagang napupuna niya kung gaano kahanga hanga ang dalaga.
But of course, she won't say that to her or to anyone. Diana is still proud at times.
Besides, truth be told, Emy reminded her of Samantha. At kahit pa pigilan niya, deep within her, she missed her best friend. And silently, pinagsisisihan niya ang ginawa sa kaibigan.
She realized how worse of a person she is. Kung makakarma man siya dahil sa nagawa noon, she just hopes na hindi madamay ang anak niya.
Agad niyang ipinilig ang ulo at ibinalik sa kasalukuyan ang isip. Then she stood up and walked towards Emy.
"Emy, samahan mo ako sa restroom."
Emy was just too glad to get away from the crowd kahit na sa kaunting oras man lang. Kaya walang dalawang isip na sinamahan niya si Diana.
"Where is Diadem?"
Diana flicked her forehead.
"Ouch. What's that for?"
"Call her Princess Diadem. Hindi ka pa napapangasawa ni Prince Sebastian kaya galangin mo ang anak ko no."
Natahimik naman ulit si Emy at pinansin ang sinabi ni Diana. If it was a normal day, baka pinatulan na niya ito. But not now.
"Come on. Don't get worked up too much. Marriage is just a union, a partnership."
"For a lifetime."
Natahimik si Diana for a moment.
"What are you being afraid of? It is not like masamang tao si Prince Sebastian. Lugi ka pa ba? Crown Prince na yun no."
"Tch. I am not like you no. I am not gonna marry because of status."
"Then don't."
Emy grimaced. "Are you trying to convince me now so I won't marry him?"
"Why would I do that?" Diana rolled her eyes. "Choice mo yun no. You can marry him because of status or marry him because you feel something towards him. It is up to you. But either way, you still have to marry him."
Napailing na lang si Emy. Lalo lang sumakit ang ulo niya dahil kay Diana. Alam naman niyang she was just trying to comfort her. Pero seriously...
***
Hindi pa nauubos ang mga bisita nila ng pumasok na sa kwarto niya si Emy.
Hindi na niya kaya ang pagod.
Agad naman siyang tinulungan nila Anika para linisan ang katawan niya at para maginhawaan na rin siya. As soon as she's done, agad niyang dinismiss ang mga ito.
Her eyes focused on the pile of gifts on the table. Napailing na lang siya. She will just look at them tomorrow.
Curious din naman siya sa regalo ng mga kaibigan at pamilya niya pero dahil pagod na siya ay bukas na lang.
Then her eyes drifted on the window.
Emy rolled her eyes.
That person must be busy right now.
Well, it is not like gusto niya itong makita. She simply wants to rest her tired body.
Emy looked away from the window saka tumalikod mula dito. She had to sleep now.
Patulog na sana siya when she heard a knock from the window. Agad siyang napabaling dito and stared at it.
Again, a gentle knock was heard.
She decided to stand up and approach it. Pero hindi niya agad iyon binuksan.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
Her heart started beating abnormally as she heard that voice.
Ilang buwan na ba magmula ng huli niyang makausap ang binata? Kelan nga ba ang huli nilang pagkikita?
Matagal tagal na din. The Prince was always busy with wars. Kung mapupunta man ito sa Grey City ay sasaglit lang ito upang makita siya pero aalis din agad.
"Are you still there?" Tanong ni Sebastian from the other side of the window.
"Yes. What do you want? I am about to rest."
"Open the window."
Nangunot ang noo ng dalaga. At kelan pa natutong magpabukas ng bintana ang binata? Hindi ba at sa kakapalan ng mukha nito ay sanay na sanay na itong basta na lang binubuksan iyon at pumapasok sa kwarto niya.
Pero gaano man karami ang tanong sa isip niya, in the end, she still decided to open the window. (A/N: rupok ni ate gurl 😂😂😂)
Agad na tumambad sa kanya ang mukha ni Sebastian. He automatically smiled upon seeing her. But when he met her eyes, his expression changed into something else.
Was it longing she saw there?
Sebastian faked a cough when he realized the way he looked at Emy. Unconsciously, namasahe niya ang dibdib niya. How can she easily make his heart ache just by seeing her face? Napahinga siya ng malalim.
Then he saw na nagcrossed arm si Emy saka tinaasan siya ng kilay.
His lips hooked up.
Uh-oh... Will she nag now?
"Since when did you learn to knock on my window?"
From a small smile, Emy saw it turn to a huge shippish smile.
"Well... I told you before, hindi na kita papasukin sa kwarto. But due to some circumstances, I forgot that and entered your room kapag bibisitahin kita nitong mga nakaraang buwan."
Emy rolled her eyes.
"So ngayon mo pinapractice yan kung kelan..." Napatigil agad si Emy.
...kung kelan isang linggo na lang at ikakasal na tayo.
That's what she was supposed to say.
Napuna naman ni Sebastian ang pagtigil ng dalaga. He smiled gently and approached the window. Saka siya nangalumbaba doon at tiningnan ang dalaga.
"Is it still too weird for you?"
Napahinga si Emy.
"It just sank in me today ng ibigay sa akin ng mama mo yung wedding dress na regalo niya."
Sebastian looked at her incredulously.
"And here I thought your friends are doing well in drilling in your mind about our marriage." Napapailing na sabi ni Sebastian. Then he reached her head and knocked on it gently. "Just how thick your skull is?"
Agad namang tinapik ni Emy ang kamay niya saka siya inirapan. He just laughed at her.
Then parehas silang natahimik.
They are not looking at each other but they are very aware of one another.
"Emy..."
"Ummn..."
"Happy birthday."
"Tch..."
Sebastian chuckled and reached for her hand. Saka niya isinuot sa palasingsingan ng dalaga ang isang singsing.
It was a simple jade band ring.
"They told me we should have engagement ring noon pang maging fiancee kita. But I couldn't find a perfect ring.
"And so it took me a while to make that."
He was not looking at her habang sinasabi iyon. If he did, he should have seen the small smile on Emy's lips na agad ring nawala.
"You should not have bothered, you know. I am sure your father has an heirloom to pass down."
Doon napatingin ulit sa kanya si Sebastian. And here he thought she will be touched at his effort.
"Tch. Thank you sa appreciation ha."
Napatawa lang si Emy.
"Pero seryoso? Do you like it?"
Emy looked at the band.
"You know I am not fond of jewelries. But... this is better than those extravagant rings I am seeing."
Sebastian sighed in relief.
"Thank you."
He was almost caught off guard. And when he looked at Emy, she was smiling at him. Again, his chest hurt.
Agad niyang naisara ang bintana dahil doon na ikinagulat ng dalaga.
"Tch..." He heard the girl from inside.
'Your fault. You should not have looked at me like that. Alam mo ba kung gaano kahirap ang hindi pumasok sa kwarto mo at hindi ka yakapin?' Sebastian thought saka napahinga ng malalim.
"Happy birthday ulit."
Hindi na sumagot si Emy.
Nainis ata ang dalaga dahil sa ginawa niya.
Napahinga na lang siya ng malalim.
One week...
Just one more damn week...
***
Emy, on the other hand, got pissed dahil sa biglaang pagsara ng binata sa bintana.
When he greeted her again, agad niyang nilock ang bintana at saka bumalik na sa kama niya.
But her eyes fell on the ring on her finger.
She removed and carefully looked at it. Did he really make this?
That's when she saw the carvings inside it.
Hindi na niya napigilan ang mapatawa ng malakas.
That's the ugliest carving she had ever seen.
Napailing na lang siya then put the ring back on her finger.
My Queen, huh?
***