Chapter 39
NAKATITIG lang ako sa kawalan ng biglang may mga kamay na humawak sa mga balikat ko.
"Okay ka lang ba?" Nakangiti akong bumaling kay Matthew at tumango.
"Ano na ang gagawin mo ngayon? It seems like may hinahabol padin sila sa inyo."
"Wala silang makukuha sa akin. What are you saying? I am just Victoria. An orphan child from Sta. Catalina." Napailing ito sa sinabi ko.
"So kamusta na si Evans ngayon?"Wika ko habang hinahaplos ang huling regalo sa akin ng aking pinakamamahal.
Charlie Evans, part of the Mintaña's student council, dared to get a valuable item from me. Pero hindi nila ako maiisahan.
Inutusan ko ang mga Diyel na alamin kung bakit nangahas kuhanin ni Evans ang isa sa mga librong pinakaiingatan ko. It turns out that Amanda Crey's family held Charlie's family hostage, blackmailing him to do things unwillingly. Hawak nila sa leeg si Evans at kung hindi gagawin ng huli ang mga inuutos ay mawawala ang pamilya nito.
Too good for him I am not the same Victoria anymore so I get my book, help him, and get informations I needed.
"Good. They're good. Ilang taon na din ang nakalipas pero hanggang ngayon hindi parin maka move-on ang pamilya nila."
"This is what I am telling you, innocent people are at stake if the feud will not be finish."
"Pero hanggang kailan? Kailangan ko ng bumalik. I can't stay here anymore. I have responsibilities too." Nahihirapan niyang wika.
Nilingon ko siya at nginitian. "You know, you can return to your place anytime you want. Walang pumigil sa'yo I am sure my sister will not be angry."
"Years had passed still I can't forget her..." Malumanay na wika nito at naglakas papalabas ng bahay.
Sumunod ako sa kanya hanggang tumigil kami sa harapan ng isang kahoy. I smiled while looking at the white flower blooming in the trees.
"For some it may look stupid, we were just ten, yet a decade later I can't still forget anything." Natatawa siya habang sinasariwa ang nakaraan namin.
"I know.."
"Walang magagalit sayo kapag aalis ka Matt, you help me enough. I am sure my sister is proud of you." Tumingin ito sa gawi ko at tila minimemorya ang mukha ko.
He sighed and look up at the sky. They were blue and no signs of cloud appearing. Cold winds brushing in our body when he returned his gaze to me.
"You look the same yet I didn't feel anything towards you.." Masuyo niyang hinawakan ang mukha ko.
I smiled.
"I am not her, Matt. Will never be." Binitawan niya ang mukha ko at tumango.
"Alam ko.. at lagi kong pinagsisihan na sumama ako sa mga magulang ko pabalik ng Lille."
"Walang may kasalanan okay? Walang mangyayari kapag patuloy padin nating sisisihin ang sarili. Someone taught me that."
"I'll go back to Lille, to finish somethings but I promise to go back here. Is that okay?"
Kumuha ako ng ilang pitas ng flordeline mula sa puno at binigay kay Matthew.
"You may heard news in Lille but know that I am always safe."
"You are Victoria. I am always sure you are safe specially that the Greek Prince is now here." Nanunudyong wika nito na ikinataas ang kilay nito.
"Hindi kayo mapaghiwalay ng prinsipeng iyon. Heto nga at baka ibaon na ako sa lupa dito sa kinatatayuan natin." Lumingon ako at sumalubong sa akin ang malalamig nitong tingin sa pwesto namin.
"My flight will be 1900 from now. Mag ingat kayo. You know the Rothschild. They're uncontrollable anymore."
"See you again.. Matthew..." Tumalikod na ako sa kanya para pumunta sa pwesto ni Onyx.
"Till next time... Victorique...."
NAKAUPO lang kaming dalawa ni Onyx sa may lanai. Nagpapahinga at umiinom ng dumating ang isa sa mga diyel.
"It's been a long time Inah, how is paris?"
"Can I wish to speak to you privately?" Wika nito ngunit hindi nakatingin sa akin.
"It's okay dear, hayaan mo na yang prinsipeng iyan."
"B-but."
"Cattryna." Agad naman itong tumango at lumapit sa pwesto ko.
"Mas lumala na ang nangyayari. They keep on insisting that the primrose is not in the maze palace and if the prima will not show for the next ten days ay mapipilitan silang pasukin ang maze palace."
"They're that desperate?" Dali itong tumango sa akin. Nakikitaan ko ng takot ang mukha nito kaya hinahawakan ko ang mga kamay nito.
"You don't have to be scared."
"Ayoko lang na maulit-ulit ung nangyari dati. Hindi natin alam ang mangyayari kapag may masamang mangyayari sa prima. Of all people you should know that."
Bumuntong hininga ako at mas lalong hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay niya.
"Ano pa ang ginawa nila?"
"They're sabotaging our factories in France, alliancing with other families who wants to oust the De Blois."
"So they're starting."
"They know that they can't stand winning without the support of other aristocrats."
They are lots of people who want to bring De Blois' down and I wouldn't let them. Alam nilang hindi sila mananalo habang buhay pa ang prima.
Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang marinig ko ang tanong ni Onyx.
"Who are you really, Victoria?" Kahit ang batang Quinzona ay napatigil sa tanong ng prinsipe at bumaling ang tingin niya dito.
"You don't have the right to ask Ms. McCurly such questions." Malamig na wika ng Diyel.
"I thought you read the book, Greek Prince?"
"Haven't finished it because some bastard tried to stole it."
"I'm just curious, you address her as Ms. McCurly yet she isn't part of the De Blois' household. Tell me Victoria? What's your secret?"
Napatawa ako sa sinabi ng griyegong prinsipe.
"I'm just Victoria McCurly."
THIRD
"Prima.. ano na ang plano natin?"Tanong ng babaeng nakabestida habang kalong-kalo nito ng anak na babae.
Kahit nagdalang tao at nanganak ng dalawang beses ang babaeng nasa harapan ay hindi padin maipagkakaila na isa ito sa magagadang babaeng kabilang sa pamilya ng mga De Blois.
"Looking for all the families who wants to take us down." Napangiti ang babaeng kausap nito ng makita ang bata na gustong umalis sa yakap ng ina.
"I told you I can do this alone, you don't need to help me. Pinakawalan na kita. Gusto ko na mamuhay kayo ng pamilya mo na masaya."
"How can I do that? Andito ka pa din sa bahay nato? Maze Palace may be a paradise to the people outside but this your personal prison. You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"You're making plans without telling anyone. We are not the same family anymore. Hindi na totoo ang sinasabi nila."
"As if we're gonna let you." Napalingon ang dalawang babaeng nag-uusap ng may biglang nagsalita.
Wheesus Pteronov started walking towards their direction.
"I'm not the same 8 year old boy, Prima. I can help, we and Cine can help. Kahit magtago ka pa saamin ay hindi ko mapapayagan iyon."
"You're not thinking, mapapahamak kayo."
"Ang what cost we'll gonna pay for our safety? Your life? That's preposterous!"
Marahas na lumingon ang nakakatandang kapatid sa tinatawag nilang prima.
"Tell me you're not going to do that? You know of all people what will happen if you'll be in the hands of the people! Do you want to start a war?!" Galit na pahayag nito.
"Don't shout you have a daughter in here." Hindi pinakinggan ng panganay sa magkakapatid ang sinabi nito at galit padin ang tingin ang kapatid.
"You're not thinking straight Victorique!"
"I'm sorry okay! I'm sorry!" Napabuntong hininga ang tinawag nilang Victorique at humingi ng paumanhin
"Makikipag-usap lang naman ako, who says I'm gonna let them have me."
"Good."
"I heard you gave Vail Rothschild one of your roses." Napangiti siya sa sinabi ng bunsong kapatid.
Ahh... Vail Rothschild. Sabi nga nila hindi madaling mamatay ang masasamang damo. Still living and moving rightly at the age of 89.
"I picked it in my favorite rose garden. Isn't it wonderful?"
"So how was he?"
"Still kicking and living like nothing happened 10 years ago. What will happened if I strip him and their family bare... gaya nang pagkuha niya sa mga magulang natin. We will make it sudden and left them with nothing."
"Wicked."
"I may be a change person but the old me is still me. Like how they showed no mercy to my family I will give them the same ferocity 20 times fold."
"Tout le monde est à votre merci en ce moment." (Everyone's at your mercy right now.) Ngumiti nalang si Cynthia habang ginugulo ang buhok ng anak.
Niyakap ni Wheesus ang tinatawag nilang prima at mahinang bumulong sa tenga nito.
"Know that you'll never be alone in this fight. You have us and you can rely to us anytime."
"I know and I will.."
TBC.