⬛CAMERON⬛
"The plane was finally landed, Sir." I opened my eyes at tinignan ang flight steward na nakatayo di kalayuan sa akin, I nodded at him at saka tumayo at lumakad papunta sa exit ng private jet ko.
Pagkabukas ng isa pang flight steward ay tumambad sa akin ang private airport na para lang sa mga kamag-anak o bisita ng royal family ng Thunycea.
Bumaba naman ako sa hagdan at sumalubong sa akin ang royal guards, may isang lumapit sa akin at sumaludo at ganun din ang ginawa ko.
"Welcome back, Knight Cameron" He greeted.
"Where's the King?" I asked
"In the palace, waiting for you" He said and I nodded. "This way Sir" He said at iginiya naman niya ako papunta sa isang putting Range Rover. White is the color of royal family kaya di na ako magtataka kung bakit puti ang kulay ng kotse na iyon.
"Knight Cameron! It's been a while!" Ani ni Kiegan, my personal assistant noong dito pa ako naninirahan.
"What's up Kiegan? Wow, you grown up" I commented, huli kaming nagkita he's just 19 years old that time.
"Time flies so fast Sir." He said
"Yeah, time flies so fast and here I am back again after....10 years?" I asked
"Its 11 years Sir" He said habang nagda-drive ito. Tumingin naman ako sa labas at marami na nga ang nagbago. May mga bagong establishments na itinayo.
"Thunycea really changed while I'm away, how's the kingdom?" I asked.
"King Leo reached his retirement age, the people still guessing who will be the next King or Queen" Kiegan explained and I nodded. "Maybe it's you Sir, he wouldn't call you all the way from the Philippines for nothing" He said and I chuckled.
"Kiegan, I'd rather be a business man than to be a king of this country" I said
"Why Sir? I can see that you will be a great leader" He praised.
"So you're seer now Kiegan?" Natatawang tanong ko dito.
"Sir, if ever you will be the crowned prince. I will protect you with all of my life Sir" He said
"Oh c'mon Kiegan, don't get your hopes up" I said, dismissing the topic about me being the King of this country.
Wala talaga akong interes pagdating sa mga ganyang usapan.
Pumasok naman ang kotse na sinasakyan ko sa isang pamilyar na malaking gate, di kalayuan ay natatanaw ko ang ilang mga royal guards at may lalaking nakatayo duon na para bang hinihintay ako.
Nang huminto na ang kotse ay may nagbukas ng pinto sa side ko at kaagad naman akong bumaba at tinignan kung sino ang naghihintay sa akin, I almost choked ng makita ang hari.
Kaagad naman na lumakad ako palapit sa kanila, nang makarating ako duon ay kaagad na sumaludo sa akin ang ilang royal guards.
Bahagyang yumuko ako bilang pagbibigay galang, naramdaman ko naman ang pagtapik niya sa balikat ko.
"It's been a while Knight Cameron." Ani ng hari.
"Yes it is my king" Ani ko, he smiled.
"Let's go inside? I want to discuss some things on you" He said at saka tumalikod at lumakad na papasok.
Ipinalibot ko ang paningin sa paligid ng mansion na tinutuluyan ng pamilya ng hari, marami na talaga ang nagbago.
Nakarating naman kami sa tinatawag namin na 'Throne Room' kung saan duon ginaganap ang ilang mga meeting kapag may bumibisita na presidente or kahit sinong matataas na pwesto na galing ibang bansa.
"Have a sit" Utos ng Hari at naupo naman ako sa upuan na malapit sa kanyang trono. "I know you're wondering why I called you here." He said at kumuha naman ito ng scotch sa gilid niya at saka nilagyan ito ng yelo.
"I'm in the age of retiring and I need the one who will step up on the throne to lead this country." He started, hindi naman ako sumagot at hinintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin. "My daughters, they asked their freedom from this place and I think this is the time to bring them back here." He said.
"You mean, we will be having a Queen?" I asked
"Yes." He answered at saka uminom sa scotch na hawak niya. "I called because I want you to find the crowned princess and bring her back here in Thunycea." Ani nito
"I guess you want me to find Princess Jasmine?" I asked but he just shrugged his head.
"It's Harriet, I chose her because of her braveness and straightforward attitude. We need that in our kingdom." Ani nito, napaisip naman ako.
Paano ko naman mahahanap ang babaeng iyon?
"If you successfully find her, you will be the crowned prince. You two will rule together" He said
"Honestly your highness, I don't want to be a king" I said at halatang nagulat naman ito sa sinabi ko. "I want a normal life." Dagdag ko.
"Everybody wants the crown, Cameron" He said.
"And I'm not one of those people." Sagot ko, tumango-tango naman ito at saka inilapag ang baso na hawak niya at tumayo, tumayo na rin ako.
"I will be honest also Cameron, you are fit to be the next king of this kingdom." He said.
"Your highness, I'm just a knight not a prince" I said.
"I'm also a knight back then, but look where am I" He said
"My King, I'm really sorry but I don't want to be a king. I will find the crowned princess and I will bring her back here." I said, he sighed at saka inilagay ang kamay nito sa balikat ko.
"It's will be a big loss for the kingdom if you will not accept the offfer, but I will give you more time to think. I hope you will choose the right decision." Ani nito at tinapik-tapik ang balikat ko at saka tumalikod na sakin, bahagya namang yumuko ako habang papaalis ito.
Nanghihinang umupo ako ulit sa kinauupuan ko at napasabunot sa buhok ko.
Ano na naman itong pinasok ko?
.
.
.
"I told you Sir, the king will choose you as the next king" Kiegan said excitedly. Babatukan ko na ang isang to.
"And I told you, I don't want to be a king" I said habang naglalakad sa hallway kung saan nanduon ang mga picture ng dating mga nakatira dito.
Huminto naman ako sa tapat ng portrait ng ama ko, I smiled at saka tinignan ang pangalan niya.
Knight Angelo Van Monserrate
"I'm still wondering why they didn't put your portrait there" Kiegan commented.
"Cause I don't want to." I said at saka ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad ko. Napahinto naman ulit ako ng makita ko ang portrait ni Queen Aurora.
Inilabas ko naman ang cellphone ko at pinicturan ang portrait na iyon.
Habang tinitignan ko iyon sa gallery ko ay hindi sinasadyang nailipat ko ang picture.
And in that picture, Ariadne is there.
Pabalik-balik na tinignan ang picture ni Ariadne at ang portrait ni Queen Aurora.
Their eyes, parehas na parehas iyon.
Tumingin naman ako kay Kiegan na tinitignan ang mga naka-display na mas maliit na portrait duon.
"Kiegan, I'm allowed to go right?" I asked
"Yes Sir and the king told me that I will be coming with you, why Sir?" He asked.
"I think I found Princess Harriet."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pagpasensyahan niyo na ang aking english kung meron mang wrong grammar :)
And ipapa-alala ko lang, Thunycea is just a fictional country :)