Season 2
Chapter 13
Isang malakas na singhal ang kumawala mula sa aking bibig. Napailing na lang ako at lumabas mula sa aking silid. There I saw maids on their backs murmuring so loud. My brows creased as I see them hanging out and not doing their duties.
Another one, pinapasama nila ang araw ko.
Sumama ng muli ang aking timpla nang napansin lamang ako nang pinansin ko sila.
“What are you mumbling there? It is noisy.” Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagtaray at ang lamig ng aking boses. Agad silang humarap sa akin nang nanlalaki ang mga mata. They looked surprised and terrified at the same time.
“W-We beg for your pardon, lady Arisia.” They said in unison and bowed in forgiveness. Ilang beses pa silang yumuko hanggang pinagkrus ko ang aking mga braso.
“Get out of my sight.” They swiftly got out of my sight. Saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa labas.
I was out in a picnic seeing the scenery of capital while relaxing out of stress of what is happening these days. Naningkit ang aking mga mata nang makita ang isang pamilyar na lugar kung saan kami nakarating kagabi.
“H-He is a damn kid.” I cannot help but to stutter of what flashed through my mind.
T-This kid... the audacity to land his lips on mine.
Napatigil pa ako at muntik ko na siyang itutulak nang maalala na may mga taong nanonood sa amin. I mentally sighed.
I should just play with his plan.
Out of no choice, I closed my eyes and encircled my arms around his neck. I tilted my head to answer his kiss in a gentle manner. Sinigurado ko na hindi ko imumulat ang aking mga mata dahil ayaw kong makita ang pagmumukha niyang kinukutya ako. I felt his smirk in the middle of our kiss.
Is he teasing me?
Umangat ang aking kilay at pasimpleng kinagat ang kanyang ibabang labi. A smirk lifted from the side of my lips. I was expecting him to back out of what I did but he suddenly deepened the kiss that stunned me. Hindi ko napigilan na idilat ang aking mga mata. His brown eyes met mine that made my heart flutter loud. I can feel my cheeks burning.
How dare I blush over this prince? He is just a kid, a naughty kid that is annoying me.
I tightened my arms around him and leaned at my back so his arms also tightened around my waist to support me. Kakagatin ko pa sana ang labi nito nang dahan-dahan niyang inalis ang kanyang mga labi mula sa akin. I silently glared at him. Umalis na ako mula sa kanyang kabig. Hindi ako tumingin mula sa mga naiinggit at nasisiyahang mga tao at kinuha ang kamay ni Heiden. I intertwined them and gave him a smile, an irritating smile from the inside. Saka ko siya hinila sa lugar na walang tao. His knights followed us and I gestured them to leave us alone. Tumingin pa sila kay Heiden. He nodded at them and they left us in an instant. I clicked my tongue.
They still will not follow what I order?
Nang nasiguro ko na hindi na nila kami binabantayan ay binitawan ko ang kanyang kamay. I glared at him when he did not let go. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. My jaw clenched as my glare did not left him. Kalaunan ay kusa niya rin na binitawan ang aking kamay.
“Are you done?” Paninimula ko at pinagkrus ang aking mga braso. It was to stop myself from drawing his sword and pointing it at him.
I should endure.
“You want another kiss?” He initiated. Isang masakit na tingin ulit ang itinapon ko sa kanya. He just scoffed and smirked. Napasamid ako.
I want to wipe that smirk from his face.
“Baka ikaw ang may gusto, mahal na prinsipe.” Sarkasmo ko.
“I was just doing it for you.” Niloloko niya ba ako? He is confusing me.
I gritted my teeth.
“Because of the king’s order?” Tumaas ang aking kilay.
“Because of the king’s order.” He shrugged.
“Good. I do not want a misunderstanding.” Tumaas-baba ang tingin ko sa kanya bilang kutya. Tumaas ang kanyang kilay bilang sagot.
“Bakit? Ano ba ang naisip mo nang hinalikan kita?” Napatigil ako sa kanyang sinabi at tumalikod.
“Wala.” Irap ko.
“Really? Did it not made your heart flutter? Was it not romantic?” My fists balled. Ramdam ko ang aking pag-iinit. Sinamaan ko ulit siya ng tingin.
Ano ba ang sinasabi ng prinsipe na ito? Is he really out of it?
Napaawang ako.
I cannot believe this prince is saying such things straight out from the novel. Why is he saying this to me? Should he not tell it to Snow? This cliche prince and his cringe lines...
Napalapit ako sa kanya at sumingkit ang kanyang mga mata.
“Ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo? Have you lost your mind? And what romantic? It is cringe, Your Highness.”
“Right. Because you like that son of a bitch.” Natabingi ako sa kanyang sagot.
“What?” Angil ko.
“Why? Tama ako, hindi ba?” He scoffed. He also crossed his arms. Hindi makapaniwala akong tumingin sa kanya.
Seriously, what is going on with him? Kulang na lang ay masasabi ko na nagseselos siya kay Rionsky.
“Why are you talking like that to the crown prince? We are in public.” I corrected him.
“I did not mention it was him.” Napatikom ako sa kanyang binatong mga salita.
He is right, though.
I sighed.
That was stupid of me. “See?” Napalunok ako at tinignan siya ng pabalik. I confidently knotted my brows.
“Then how about you?”
“What about me?”
“You and Snow. Akala mo ba ay hindi ko alam na nagpapanggap lamang kayo na wala na upang hindi ko na siya abalahin pa? Well, you are wrong about that, Heiden.” I sweetly smiled. Suminghal rin ako.
“You are also wrong about that.” Napakunot ako sa kanyang sagot.
What does he mean?
“Wrong about what?”
“We already separated a long time ago. Before the trip.” Napatawa ako sa kanyang sinabi.
Is he serious of what he is saying?
“I do not believe you. Do not lie in front of my face.” Malamig kong sagot.
Sa tingin niya ba ay paniniwalaan ko ang kanyang mga sinasabi? I know how loyal and how he loves Snow. There is no way that he will just let her go like that.
Aalis na sana ako nang naramdaman ko ang mahigpit niyang hawak sa aking kamay. “Let go of me.” Sinubukan kong kumawala. He gave me a glare.
“Then I am warning you.” His voice went cold. His eyes are screaming like a beast, danger. I bit my lower lip. “Stay away from that motherfucker.” Nang marahas kong hinila ang aking kamay ay nabawi ko ito mula sa kanya.
“Do not cuss.” Malamig ko siyang tinignan.
“I’ll kill him if you still see that motherfucker. I don’t want my fiancee going near others.” Aniya. Blanko lang akong tumingin sa kanya. Hindi ako umimik. Later, I exhaustedly snorted.
“What, Heiden? Gusto mo na ba ako? You love me?” My eyes squinted as a small smirk rose from the side of my lips. Kaunti akong napatabingi.
“And if I said yes?” Kaunti akong napatigil. He sounded serious that it is believable. I nibbled my lips.
Hindi ko alam ang aking paniniwalaan. Ang libro ba o ang nasa loob nito? This is so confusing.
My lips parted as I gently gritted my teeth. I pursed my lips.
“Huwag ako. You will make me fall for you then what? Alam ko na ang mga estratehiya na iyan, Heiden. So do not bother. I will not do what you expect me to.” Matiim kong sagot.
“You will find out when I am serious or not, Arisia.” Seryoso kong narinig bago ako lumisan mula sa lugar na iyon.
What is really happening? Did it also happen because of my interference? I mean, a simple move can be a big change but really? From a side villainess?
“Damn it.” I muttered. I also realized that I am getting lost. I bit my lip out of frustration.
Where am I?
Mga tunog ng mga kabayo ang aking narinig na papalapit sa aking direksiyon. I clicked my tongue as I recognized the carriage. It stopped in front of me. The door opened. Lumuwa ang pinaka-ayaw kong makita ngayon. Napairap ako nang makita ang ngisi niya habang prenteng nakaupo.
“My fiancee should not walk back to the palace. Don’t you agree?” I clicked my tongue and swallowed my pride as I sit beside him, making sure that we will not be that close. The whole ride, I did not threw him a single glance. Sumandal lamang ako sa gilid at ipinikit ang aking mga mata.
When I opened my eyes, I was at my bed. I found out that the annoying prince was the one who brought me here. And it pissed me off. I sighed.
Still, I will not do what he wants. I already swore to myself that I will be his villainess.
“Why are you scoffing, my lady?” I almost jerked when I heard Hilda beside me. I did not notice her.
“Hilda, you were there.”
“Kanina pa.” She give me a meaningful smile. Tinaasan ko lamang siya ng kilay.
“Why are you here? Do you have something to report?”
“Yesterday, my lady, I was about to report but you were not here.”
“I was... with some bastard.” Tumikhim ako nang maalala ko ang hindi magandang pangyayari kahapon.
“Oh, don’t be shy, my lady.” Hagikgik niya na nagpasama ng aking timpla. My eyes squinted as if knowing what she is referring about.
“Shy?”
“Everyone knows what happened last night at the center.” Hindi ako nakasagot at napahawak lang sa aking noo.
Of course, all will know. What happened was in the eye of the public, good grief. “The second prince kissed you, right, my lady? Was it good?” Napairap ako.
She and her curiosity.
“Hilda.” I warned her.
“Ah, I’m so envious of my lady. That was romantic.” Pang-aasar niya sa akin kasama ang nakakainis niyang ngiti.
“Hilda.” Pag-uulit ko.
“Why do you react like that, my lady? May gusto ka ba sa pangalawang prinsipe?” Napatigil ako sa kanyang mga sinabi.
“Wala.” Umiling ako. Sumingkit ang mga mata niya sa akin.
It was not that I like him. If he was not just a jerk to me at first and did not pissed me off, I would have like him but he is not my type. Isa pa nahuhumaling lamang ako sa kanyang kagwapuhan. It does not mean that I like him. It goes the same for Rionsky. I am not just made for love. “Wala nga. You are persistent.”
“But that was surely effective, my lady. That rumor about you and the crown prince got swept in an instant. Parang wala na lang ang tsismis na iyon.”
“I see. What about the report?”
“The kind and queen has called for the only princess of Fairoh kingdom to be wed to the crown prince.” Ilang beses akong kumurap.
“What?”
“Chill, my lady.”
“Just go on.”
“It seems that Fairoh and Ronschwald are planning an alliance. They want the crown prince and the princess of Fairoh to be engaged and wedded as a mark of the alliance. The princess will arrive a few days later, a ball will be held and they will announce it.” She explained. I folded my arms as I think about it.
“Does he know?”
“No, my lady. The talk was discussed at a royal room. I was the one who have infiltrated when I investigated.”
“Dalawa lamang ba sila ng reyna?” She nodded.
“Should we inform His Highness, my lady?”
“No.” I shook my head. “He will find out, anyway.” Tumayo na ako at bumalik sa loob nang maramdaman ko ang antok. I went to my chambers and napped.
A blurry image, I can see someone’s build sitting in the sofa. Somehow, he is familiar.
“You awake?” A cold, baritone voice.
Nananaginip ba ako?
Pumikit ako at muling ibinuka ang aking mga mata. A clear vision now greeted me and I realized who the man beside me is. Agad akong bumangon. I threw him a serious look. He just looked at me with a bored face.
This man. He has the audacity to relax at my room.
I cleared my throat.
There is nothing wrong, anyway, since this palace is his but I should at least have a little privacy.
“Kailan ka pa naririto?”
“Since you were sleeping.” Napakunot ang aking noo sa kanyang sinagot.
“Is staring at someone sleeping your habit?”
“It depends on the person.” I rolled my eyes and gulped.
“Like Snow?” Sarkasmo ko.
“Like you.” Ilang beses akong napakurap sa sinabi ni Heiden at napailing. I felt a little shiver. Hindi maipinta ang aking mukha. “Lady Arisia of house di Vonce.” Tuloy niya at ni-klaro pa.
How do I get use to this act of his?
“Stop your pretentious act.” I scoffed. Tumayo na ako at aalis na.
“Wait.” Aniya. Tumigil pa ako at tinignan siya. I even backed a bit when he casually handed me a bouquet of roses. My eyes squinted. “Roses.” He cleared his throat when I just stared at it.
May malalanghap bang lason dito? Or are the thorns poisonous?
“Ayaw ko.” I said in suspicion.
“It is an honor to receive a gift from a prince.” He gently shoved the bouquet to me so I ended up holding it. I silently gritted my teeth. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang akmang aalis na siya.
I do not even feel his sincerity. How should I even accept it? Halata naman sa kanyang seryoso at masungit niyang mukha na ayaw niya talaga akong bigyan ng ganito. Well, it is not like there is a difference to his normal, everyday face.
“I do not like it.” I clicked my tongue. Bumaba ang aking tingin sa balot ng rosas at sumingkit ang aking mga mata nang makita ang pinanggalingan nito. Napasinghal ako. “The next time you give me flowers, it should be from a different shop from where your beloved works at.” Our eyes met after. His beast-like eyes stared at me. It may just be me but it looked like he smirked in amusement.
Is anything funny?
“So I should give you flowers next time?” Hindi ako nakasagot. My own words went back at me. I pursed my lips and licked it. Lumunok na lang ako. I ended up bitting my lip in silence. Umirap na ako at padabog na lumabas na. Malakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib nang makalayo na ako. Napatingin muli ako sa aking hawak at itinapon ito.
“Annoying.” I muttered. My body shook as I gritted my teeth.
He is going crazy. No, he already is.
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Chill lang kayo, mga Rionsky simps... 😊