Matapos ang exclusive party para sa birthday at anniversary ng royal couple ay ang panglahatan naman na party.
It was indeed a tiring week for them.
But Sebastian stayed more with Emy for a few more days.
Emy realized na kapag wala si Xeno sa Grey City, may off si Sebastian. Hindi tuloy niya maiwasang mahiling na wala na lang lagi si Xeno para laging maraming oras si Sebastian.
Anyway, she also realized na five and a half months na ang tyan niya. It was indeed fast.
Tatlong buwan at kalahati na lang at manganganak na siya. Somehow, that thought gave her a cold feet.
Naaalala na naman kasi niya si Diana. Maybe it wasn't a good idea na nandoon siya ng manganak ito.
Pero kada sasabihin niya iyon kay Sebastian, he will just hug her.
"What's there to be scared? I will be with you so you don't have to worry."
He will always say that too.
Napapanatag naman si Emy dahil doon. Well, she's willing to do this as long as hindi siya mag-iisa. Besides, excited din naman siya sa magiging baby niya. Will it be a boy or girl?
***
The next days, Emy and her friends are surprised dahil sa napapadalas na pagbati sa kanya ng mga asawa nila Tirso at Zirco.
Even the three wives of Vio ay binabati din siya which was making Diana's mood sour.
Minsan, kahit sa lugar na hindi naman sila dapat naroroon ay makakasalubong na lang bigla ni Emy ang mga ito at babatiin siya.
She was tactful though. They seemed to want to talk to her pero mabilis niyang naiiwasan ang mga ito.
"What's with them?" Lucy asked one day.
"Obviously, they wanted to befriend her dahil bukod sa may lima siyang bank accounts, asawa din siya ng Crown Prince." Diana said.
"Huh?! If I know, they just think you are too lucky to have me as friend kaya naman gusto din nila akong maging kaclose no."
Anyway, Emy found out that it wasn't just her na nilalapitan ng husto ng mga tagaRoyal City na ito.
Even Franco was being approached. Hindi nga lang nitong mga babaeng nasa palace. But their family members na lumipat na dito sa Grey City because of their marriage.
And Emy is suddenly felt bad about this.
"Iwasan mo ang mga iyan, Franco."
She told him.
Kasalukuyan niyang kasama ang apat habang naglalakad lakad sa Grey Academy. She and Sebastian dropped by dahil na rin may kailangang gawin ang lalaki dito sandali.
And while he was doing it, she decided to visit her cousin and his friends. At eto nga ang ibinalita sa kaniya nila Choi Kang.
"Kung pagbabawalan mo ang pinsan mo, hindi na makakapag-asawa yan." Sabi ni Choi Kang.
"He can marry anyone except those from Royal City. They obviously are planning something. Even I is getting approached in the palace."
"Ano namang mapapala nila kay Franco?"
"Basta."
"Okay. Stop this talk now. First, wala akong balak na pansinin sila. I felt weird actually. Isa pa, they are from Royal City. I am still not satisfied in their existence here in Grey City."
"Good. Just always have that in your mind, Franco. As for marriage, kung gusto mo ng magpakasal, I will be willing to introduce women to you."
Choi Kang laughed.
"Hulaan ko, it is either Alessandra or Lucy."
"Brother Choi Kang, stop contradicting me."
He just laughed at her.
Napailing na lang si Franco.
"Yah, Emy, nagpunta ka lang ba dito para jan?"
"Nope. I didn't know about it. Pero mabuti na lang at nagpunta ako dito or else, hindi ko malalaman na may mga tagaRoyal City na palang umaaligid sayo."
"Tch. Oo na no. You don't have to lecture about it." Then he suddenly put his arms on her shoulder. "Anyway, when is your due? Malaki na yang tyan mo. Hindi ba dapat nasa bahay ka na lang at nagpapahinga?"
"Do you wanna kill me? Pregnant women have to walk a lot. Sabi nila pampabilis daw yun manganak. And my due is 3 months by now."
"Wow... Malapit na."
"You should visit me in the palace too. Kung hindi pa ako bibisita sa inyo, wala pa akong magiging balita sa inyo."
Franco softened. "Fine, fine... We will visit you."
"Often."
"Often."
Doon lang ngumiti si Emy.
Sakto namang dumating si Sebastian.
"Sorry, it took me a while." He said.
Agad namang nagbago ang expression ng apat.
"That's fine. I was with them kaya hindi ako nabored." Emy said then she walked beside him. Doon niya lang napansin ang itsura ng apat. She rolled her eyes.
"Come on."
Franco just looked away but he still had his annoyed expression.
"Franco, you seem unhappy about me."
"Seem? I actually am unhappy about you."
"We should sit and drink about that. But for now, let me enjoy this free day of mine with my wife."
"How can we even have a drink? I heard you are too busy doing tasks and missions from that Xeno. Anyway, rather than spend your free time to us or to anyone else, just be with Emy. She needs you more than anyone else in this city.
"Her due is almost there and yet, I heard she's still doing things for you... alone"
"I did them for my own satisfaction."
"Shhh..." Saway sa kanya ni Franco. He is still annoyed at Sebastian.
"I understand your concern, Franco. I also admit that my performance as her husband is still below acceptable.
"And I also know that you are unsatisfied about the royal palace lately, but please, think of your actions first before doing them. Baka mamaya, mas maapektuhan na pala si Emy."
"Don't use my cousin against me."
"I am not. I am just letting you know. Kapag napahamak si Emy dahil sa ginagawa niyong apat, I will not be lenient at all."
"Excuse me. What is this talk all about?"
Natahimik lang sila.
"Sebastian..."
But he just smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Ask your cousin some other time. But for now, let's go and enjoy the day."
Gusto pa sanang magtanong ni Emy pero hinigit na siya ni Sebastian.
But who says makakapag-enjoy nga sila ngayong araw?
In the midst of their date, biglang nilapitan ng isang guard from Royal City si Sebastian at sinabing ipinatatawag siya ng Emperor.
Walang choice si Emy kundi ang bumalik na lang sa Royal Palace kasama ng asawa.
Anyway, she still needs to talk with Alessandra and Lucy about the happenings in Grey Academy. The two are obviously hiding something to her.
***