The Fifth Born

CHAPTER FOUR

"Did you see what I did earlier? That was amazing!" Hindi maitago sa boses niya ang sabik sa ginawa niya sa field kanina. She scored a goal! And she couldn't be more proud! 

It's the first day of school and she woke up a little too early today. Hindi niya alam kung nakatulog ba siya ng maayos o ano. She felt ecstatic and very excited. And now, she played soccer and scored a goal. 

"Surely you've been playing soccer in your palace." Bored na saad naman ni Zyon habang ang dalawang kamay ay nasa likuran ng ulo.

 Papauwi na sila galing sa school and she coould feel  Zyon probably had the most tiring and bothersome day of his whole life just because of her. She knows she promised to be a bother but she can't help it! She'll try not to bother him that much. 

"I don't. Father won't allow me. It's unladylike," she remembered how her father would scold her for sometimes practicing together with the royal guards and her brothers. Her brothers don't mind it. 

"Seriously?" Tanong into. She just nodded. 

"Sylvia, the palace's tutor, is usually the one who scolds me if I skip lessons to practice in the courtyard." She said. She knows he's listening so she continued. 

"I usually practice martial arts with the royal guards, if not with my  brothers. That's where I learned how to fight." 

"You spar with the royal guards?" He chuckled. "You're nuts."

"So are you." She saw Zyon's brow lifted. 

"At bakit ako nasali?"

"Nakikipagsuntukan ka rin naman ah? What's the difference?"

"You're a girl and I'm a guy. That's the difference. And it's not really normal for a girl to have fist fights with her brothers and the royal guards. Plus, you're a princess."

"Being a princess is just a title anyway. Just because I am one doesn't mean I have to be all lady like. I have to learn to defend myself or other people at least."

"Defend yourself from who, exactly?" 

"From people like yesterday and from that night I first met you," 

Zyon did not reply and continued walking. 

"Why are they after you?" tanong niya sa lalake. He just gave her a sideward glance, as if thinking whether he should tell or not. 

"I don't know." He only answered. Either he's too lazy to talk about it or he really doesn't know. 

"I joined a chess club, by the way." she said, breaking the silence. 

He snorted. "How's a club fun with only two members?" 

"Dalawa pa ngayon. At the end of the month, we'll be hundreds."she said proudly. She could see it already.

"Don't exaggerate it too much baka madissappoint ka." Zyon let out a chuckle but she just smirked. Zyon's underestimating her too much. 

"You can join our club, Zy!" 

"When hell freezes, maybe." 

"Just wait and see. My brother's really good at chess." 

"I don't see any connection," 

"Well, there's online this chess competition and if someone from my club defeats my brother there, then that would make the club popular." 

Zyon stopped and leaned close to her. "Great idea. Then your brothers could find you if that happens. Keep going,"  Zyon smirked. And Sam was caught off guard not only because Zyon's got a point but also because of his distance from her. Thankfully it's getting dark already and Zyon couldn't see how red her face is.

"You're right," Saad niya sabay atras. Parang lahat ng confidence niya sa katawan nawala nang makitang gano'n kalapit si Zyon sa kanya. Agad siyang lumayo at agad namang naglakad. Humabol naman sa kanya ang lalake wearing a smug look on his face na mas lalong ikinainis niya.

- - -

"You're supposed to substitute it." Kinuha ni Sam ang papel na hawak ni Zyon. Pursigido siyang maging tutor nito dahil ilang beses itong nahuli ng teacher na natutulog kanina. Hindi ito nakikinig sa lahat ng discussions. Turns out, it's Zyon's description of a school. A place where you can sleep.

"Damn that!" Pabagsak na nilagay niya ang ballpen sa mesa at kinuha ang cellphone at naglaro nalang. She sighed. It was so hard to persuade him to study with her. 

"You're hopeless, Zy." Napailing nalang si Sam. She's confused kung bakit pumupunta pa ito ng paaralan gayong hindi naman ito nakikinig. She finds school a fun place. But based on her observations, majority of the students dislikes going to school. She somehow understands. 

"Why do you dislike studying?" She curled her knees and faced Zyon na busy sa paglalaro. Hindi ito sumagot. Bored na bored ang expression nito at parang hindi man lang siya narinig. 

"Hey!" 

Agad siyang tumayo sa sofa and raised her hands hawak hawak ang cellphone ni Zyon. Bigla kasi niya itong kinuha habang naglalaro ito. Tumayo naman ang lalake and tried to reach for the phone but Sam is on the sofa kaya mas mataas siya kay Zyon.

"Give it back." Pilit inaabot ni Zyon ang cellphone ngunit sadyang ayaw paawat ni Sam.

"I have a proposal for you." Saad ni Sam habang pilit na itinataas ang cellphone para hindi maabot ng lalake. She saw him smirked.

"I can get that phone from you so I don't need any of your stupid proposal," 

She rolled her eyes. "Accept my proposal and I'll give this back to you." Ginantihan niya ito ng ngisi.

"No,"

"Okay then," Sam smirked at ipinasok ang cellphone sa loob ng bra niya. Zyon's jaw dropped. Sam's still wearing her triumphant smirk.

"You did not just.." Zyon stared at where his phone is. 

"Oh. I just did. And you can have this back once you accept my proposal."

"I'll just buy a new phone."

"Well I heard you have important files here. Might as well check it out later." Saad niya crossing her arms. Napasabunot nalang si Zyon sa buhok niya and looked at her. Annoyed look visible on his face.

"Alright. Anong proposal mo?" Ngiting matagumpay ang lumabas sa labi ni Sam when Zyon finally surrendered.

"If you topped the coming exams. Or at least be one of the top scorers then you'll get a chance to ask me anything you want me to do. Anything at all.

Zyon let out a laugh. "Anything at all?" he raised a brow. 

"Err, anything that doesn't extremely violates my rights..." 

"I don't need anything from you, though. This is very unfair on my side." 

"You get to study with the princess and ask me a favor, a question, anything you want!" 

"Wow, what an honor," Zyon said sarcastically. "I don't really need a favor or a question right now. I need my phone." 

"It doesn't have to be now. Think about it later. Accept it first. And you'll get your phone back. It doesn't mean you have to ask right now. Pag isipan mo muna. Maybe you'll find it useful one day."

Zyon rolled his eyes. 

"Fine, fine. Just give me back my phone." he stretched out out his hand and Sam took his phone out and gave it to him. The slight blush on his face did not escape her eyes.

"It's a deal, then." 

"Whatever," 

She can't help but grin while looking at his back as he walked to his room. 

"Tomorrow, Zyon. We'll start tomorrow!" 

* * *