August's POV
"He's my father?" I asked incredulously. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi? I just freaking saw this man as a God! Tapos malalaman ko na siya ang ama ko? Then what am I?
"Yes. He is your father and beside him, is Mikaella. They are my friends but they are a normal mortals." Sagot ni Queen August pero napakunot noo na naman ako sa sinabi niya.
"Mortal?" I am referring with my father. I know he's not mortal. Imposibleng magkamali ako sa nakita ko and even Harithus, that cat brat confirmed that he's a God though I did not know that he's my father at that time.
"Yes. Your mother is mortal while your father is........a mortal as well." Sagot nito sa akin. I can even hint the delay of the answer when she spoke about my father.
"I see." Sagot ko na lang. I can feel that Queen Snow knows something but not willing to say anything about it. It is not my attitude to pry. I am contented with what I know about my parents, especially they are no longer here, so it really doesn't matter to know them very well, to every detail of it. I don't want to complicate my life.
"We never knew that you are the daughter of Mikaella and Clandestine. I knew that it's impossible for them to create a child—so we aren't able to know when Mikaella conceived you and born." Saad nito na halatang malugkot. Her old voice makes my heart ache. "You were born with your sister but—I'm sorry dear if I have to talk about your sister... I know you are still moving on from her death."
Ako naman ngayon ang nanigas. Did I heard it right? Queen Snow said, Augusta is dead? Or did I just heard it incorrectly?
"She was........?"
"We did not expect it. She was terribly ill." Saad naman ni Queen Ruth.
I did not expect this. Why did she die? She lived in the past! Then why she's dead? I did not even noticed that a tear already escaped from my eyes. I didn't know. Why the future was changed like this? Dapat walang namatay! But how can I dispute it? She died because she was ill. She did not die because she was killed.
"We are really sorry dear for your lost." Hingi ni Queen Snow.
I smiled silently and pretended that I am okay. I am not okay at all but I have to force a smile in front of them. I won't ruin this because of my personal feelings. This is how I taught when I was a spy. Fake it till you make it.
"It's was fine your highness. I already accepted it." I wonder why I did not stutter at all on saying those words. Even my voice is already about to crack kaya napainom ako ng tea at muntik pa akong mapaso dahil mainit pala ito.
"Are you okay Dear?" Nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni Queen Ruth.
Tumango naman ako.
Pasalamat ko na lang at iniba na nito ang usapan. Kahit papaano ay nabawasan na rin ang masamang pakiramdam ko. Hindi na namin namalayan na madilim na pala sa labas dahil sa masarap na kwentuhan namin.
"Mother and Grandmother, you're taking all of her time already. It should be my time already with her." Reklamo ni Cayden na pumasok na pala ito rito dahil matagal na rin kami ditong nag-uusap.
"You're too obvious that you are in love. August will leave you if you are too clingy, son." Sita naman ni Queen Ruth dito kay Cayden.
"He's really just like his Grandfather." Komento naman ni Queen Snow.
"Did I just heard you were talking behind my back, babe?" Biglang sulpot naman ni King Yuan na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko. His presence is very overpowering.
I saw how Queen Snow rolled her eyes. It seems like they only aged in physical aspects but not by heart.
"I always talk behind your back so what's the deal?" Reklamo naman ni Queen Snow rito.
"It's a big deal to me. You said this grandson of mine is just like me. I couldn't agree more." Saad pa nito at bumaling naman ito kay Cayden. "I'm proud of you grandson. You grow up into a fine man."
That's the first time I saw King Yuan was soft. His personality is quite famous by being cold. Now, he's showing this side that only his family members knows.
"Thank you Grandpa." Sagot naman nito na ngayon ay parang bato na naman sa tigas ng anyo nito.
"Let's eat." Biglang saad naman ni King Yuan at lumapit ito ay Queem Snow at inalalayan ito. His expression is now covered with coldness and void.
I am too amazed on how can he able to switch from the warm one into a cold one in just a snap. Or maybe he's really used to it that's why it looks easy for him.
"Let's eat love." Bulong naman niyo ngayon sa akin kaya tumayo na ako.
Agad naman itong pinalibot ang braso nito sa bewang ko. We are walking down the hall to the dining room. When we reach the dining room, I already saw the food that made my mouth water.
Dahil sa pagkain, pansamantalang nawala sa isipan ko ang nangyari kay Augusta. The food looks scrumptious. Agad naman kaming umupo lahat and the chambermaids helped us on taking our food.
Nagsimula na din kaming kumain and I was not talking nor looking to others. I have my full concentration with what I am eating. The food taste so good and I cannot afford to think anything other than food.
"So Cayden and August, when are you gonna get married?" Biglang tanong ni King Skylar at napatakip na lang ako bigla sa aking bibig dahil muntik ko ng mailuwa yun. Shit, I did not see that coming!
"Drink water love.." saad ni Cayden na katabi ko at hinihimas niya ang likod ko. "Father, can we talk about that some other time? You'll choke her to death by surprise." Dinig kong reklamo ni Cayden sa ama nito.
"Your marriage has been delayed for years Cayden. What's taken it so long? I need my grand children." Sagot naman ni King Skylar.
Parang ako naman ngayon ang di makahinga sa pinagsasabi nila. Hindi ba nila napapansin na ilang na ilang ako sa pinag-uusapan nila? For pete's sake parang gusto ko ng lumubog dito sa kinauupuan ko at maglaho sa Pandora.
"Father, we will get there. She's not ready yet....." sagot ni Cayden at hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang tunog ng lungkot sa kanyang boses.
If I remember correctly, he asked me to marry him but I rejected it, that hurt him. His face is blank but I know he is just trying to mask his feeling. I know Cayden too well for me to say that. Dahil kung hindi ko siya kilala, I will think that he's okay at wala lang sa kanya yun.
"Not ready? August?" Biglang nabaling naman ngayon ang tingin nila sa akin.
Parang hindi ko na magawang kumain dahil sa mga tingin nila ngayon na nagtatanong. Bakit ganoon sila? Wala ba akong karapatan na hindi maging ready? Tsaka that was a long time ago for freaking sake! Kung alam na nila na nagbago na ang takbo ng kapalaran nila, Cayden must know that I already agreed about the marriage but since it was changed basically that was changed as well.
"Ahm..." hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba sasabihin. Sino ba ang aayaw kay Cayden? He all has it. Sobrang gwapo, matalino, mayaman, masama ang ugali sa ibang babae kaya mahirap pagselosan ang ganitong lalaki. Kahit marami pa ang aaligid dito ay mahihirapan kang magaselos dahil sa ugali nito.
"What?" Takang tanong ni Queen Snow.
I glanced at Cayden na ngayon ay naaaliw na nakatingin na sa akin. Fuck, he's smiling there at tuwang tuwa ito dahil nacorner ako ng pamilya niya while here I am almost sweating bullets dahil sa ilang at kaba.
Goddamn you Cayden! Gusto ko yung isigaw sa mukha niya pero hindi ko naman magawa.
"I-I.......was thinking that.......we should finish studying first.......before we get married—"
"—you're accepting now my proposal?" Biglang sabat naman ng hinayupak na Cayden.
Halos samaan ko naman ito ng tingin. I was trying so hard not to look so negative in front of his family pero itong lalaking ito sasagarin na ata ako. "........Y-yes."
He grinned widely and suddenly he kissed me pero mabilis lang yun. "Finally, you agreed. I was already planning to impregnate you if you will still say no—"
"—Cayden!" Halos namula naman ako sa sinabi nito. Nakakahiya! Buntisin ba naman daw ako? At sinabi pa talaga niya yun sa mismong harap ng mga magulang niya! Wala ba siyang kahihiyan sa katawan?
"What? I did not said something bad." Insosenting sagot pa nito and he faced his plate and continued eating like nothing happened like he did not said anything.
Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at tumungo na lang din ako sa pagkain. Bakit ba kasi sumama pa ako rito? Pakiramdam ko pinagkaisahan ako nilang lahat. I feel like I am being bullied here.
"That would be three years from now. Oh time flies so we should prepare for their wedding." Natutuwang saad ni Queen Ruth and everybody is laughing aside from King Yuan and Cayden. Mga taong bato talaga ang dalawang ito.
Ni hindi na ako sumali sa usapan dahil nag-uusap na sila sa detalye ng kasal. For pete's sake, that's three years from now! Kung makapag-usap sila akala mo within this year na ang kasal namin! Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagkain. Kakain talaga ako ng marami pambayad man lang sa lahat ng sinapit ko ngayon araw.
To be continued...