Chapter 05: A Candidate
2428 Words
“Erin, can you please tell to your boyfriend that I don't have any plans of getting involve in royal games?”
Pigil na pigil ang inis ni Savannah simula pa kanina o mas tamang sabihin na buong party ay naiirita na siya. They're now in Carlos' study to talk about the revelation that was thrown at her a while ago. Sinabi kasi ni Carlos na magpapaliwanag ito pero kailangan pa nilang paalisin ang lahat ng mga bisita, kasama ang royal family. Of course, she wouldn't want Rion see her at rage self. She has this characteristics that only a Dominguez child have. Mahirap sila kaaway, iyon ang totoo at kapag ginusto nila 'yon mismo ang mangyayari. Traits that she inherited to her father, Juan Miguel Dominguez.
“Uhm, he can understand English, babe.” sagot ni Erin sa kanya. Tinapunan niya ito ng masamang tingin dahilan upang magtaas ito ng kamay saka lumapit kay Carlos at may binulong.
“Savannah, we hosted the selection.” Frustrated na sabi sa kanya ni Carlos.
“I don't care.” Seryoso niyang sagot dito.
“Can you please hear my explanation first?” Napatingin siya sa kaibigan niya bago binalingan Carlos. Naupo siya sa single seater couch then grab a flute of champagne. Kailangan niya iyon para magawang maintindihan ang mga sasabihin ni Carlos. “Jesus, she's scary to be honest. I never been this scared to a person especially with a woman.” Parehong umarko ang kilay nila ni Erin ng dahil sa sinabi nito. “Okay, here's my explanation. Our house doesn't have any lady successor. We're bunch of guys in the family but our mother suddenly volunteer to be the host noble house of the selection for Cretia Kingdom's Future Queen.”
Binalingan niya si Erin. “Hindi naman nila ako kamag-anak, Erinlea.” Giit niya sa mga ito.
“I will learn your language soon, my Lady.” Sabat ni Carlos sa usapan nilang magkaibigan.
“Sponsorship, iyon ang gagawin nila para lang mapanatili sa kanila ang pabor ng royal family.” sagot ni Erin sa kanya. “To Carlos, you're a perfect candidate on that selection.”
“So, you knew about this? Seriously, Erin? Pinapunta mo ba ako dito para sumali sa larong akala ko'y nag-e-exists lang sa mga libro? Kung alam ko lang dapat nanatili na lang ako sa bahay namin.”
“Look, babe, having the royal family's favor is a great opportunity. Hindi lang siya articulate sa mga explanation kapag 'di political topic.”
“But this is politics and I hate that. My family hates politics especially Daddy. Kilala mo siya at mas nakakatakot iyon kaysa sa 'kin.”
“This country doesn't need a fake queen, Savannah. We needed a queen that will see what the real state of this country.”
Inisang lagok niya ang laman ng champange flute na hawak saka marahas na tumayo. Walang lingon likod siyang lumabas ng study room ni Carlos bitbit ang woolen trench coat at gloves. Pagdating niya sa pinaka-main door, nakita niya sina Vanessa at Rion na magkasabay na lumabas ng bahay ni Carlos. Ang buong akala niya'y umalis na ito kasama ng reyna kanina. It's an eye sore for her but she managed to ignore them. Pinara niya ang cab na huminto sa tapat ng bahay ni Carlos at mabilis na lumakad papunta doon saka sumakay.
~•~•~
Matamang sinundan ni Rion ng tingin ang papaalis na si Savannah. Hindi na siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makausap ito dahil sa pagsulpot ni Vanessa. Idagdag pa na kailangan niyang palagiang nasa tabi ng kanyang inang reyna. No one advise him that the selection will opened it's door now to all the young single ladies of Cretia. Nagising na lang siya isang umaga sa tawag ng bodyguard niya tungkol sa pagtitipon na iyon. The selection opened early maybe to secure that he has a queen before taking over his father throne. What a swift move from the Palace.
“Il y a un problème, Harrion?” tanong ni Vanessa sa kanya.
“There is no problem. I think you should go now, Vanessa. I still have a weeks to roam around.” sagot niya dito.
“Harrion...” Hinaplos ni Vanessa ang pisngi niya.
“I'll be fine, Nes. I just have to do this for myself.” Tumango tango ito sa sinabi saka hinalikan siya sa pisngi bago tuluyang sumakay sa sasakyan. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang papalayong sasakyan ni Vanessa gaya ng ginawa niya sa sinakyang cab ni Savannah. Malalim siyang napahugot ng hininga bago nagdesiyong lumakad pauwi sa kanyang mansyon.
Kinabukasan, maaga siyang nag gayak para mamasyal sa siyudad na mag-isa. Dumaan siya sa paborito niyang coffee shop hindi kalayuan sa tinitirhan niya. Walking around the beautiful city of Cretia is a dream come true for Rion. Isang bodyguard lang sumusunod lang sa kanya sa araw araw niyang pamamasyal. Nakangiting may-ari ng coffee shop ang sumalubong kay Rion ng pumasok siya doon.
“Bonjour!” Masaya nitong bati sa kanya. “Vous optez pour l'habituel?”
“Oui.” Tugon niya saka ngumiti. Ginala niya ang tingin sa kabuan ng coffee shop upang tingnan kung may naka-upo ba sa paborito niyang pwesto.
“J'ai un nouveau client.” Balita sa kanya ng matandang may-ari sa kanya. “Une belle dame qui aime lire et concevoir des vêtements,” anito saka tinuro ang kinauupuan ng tinutukoy na babae. A wide smile flashed on his lips upon recognizing who the lady is. It is Savannah who's currently enjoying her cup of hot chocolate. Inabot sa kanya ng may-ari ang order saka tinungo ang pwesto ni Savannah.
“Is this seat taken?” tanong niya sa dalaga.
“T-taken... by you,” anito saka muling nagtuon ng tingin sa binabasa. It's a book written by William Shakespeare. The classic Romeo and Juliet.
“Parting is such a sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight 'till it be morrow.” Rion said a piece of line from book that Savannah's reading. “It's a lovely yet tragic story.” Inangat niya ang tasa ng latte na kanyang in-order kanina saka sumimsim doon. “What if there's no life status that hinders the two of them?”
“Then, this will never be published. It's the renouncing that made this story beautiful. Love and sacrifice, two words that moved everyone's heart.”
“Will you do the same thing as they did?”
“If love is worthy and can make me happy, I will go against all odds.” Napangiti siya ng dahil sa sinabi nito. “The weather is deceiving.” Nakita niya kung paano itapat ni Savannah ang kamay sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa kanya. “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee. The more I have for both is infinite.” Savannah recites the famous line from book which everyone finds it romantic.
You just made me fall for you... aniya sa isipan.
“Are you busy today?” tanong niya sa dalaga.
“Not that much. I'm done running errands that Erin asked me to do.”
“Great! Come with me,” naglahad siya ng kamay dito. Sinulubong nito ang tingin niya saka nag-isip kung tatanggapin ba ang kamay na kanyang nilahad. “Trust me, my Lady.” Savannah smiled then, take his hand.
~•~•~
Humigpit ang hawak ni Savannah sa bandang tiyan ni Rion ng bumilis ang pagpapatakbo nito sa motorcycle na kanilang gamit. Hindi niya alam kung saan sila pupunta ngayon. Basta sinabi lang nito na magtiwala siya dito. Gusto na niyang iwasan ito ngunit hindi kailanman nagtugma ang sinasabi ng puso at isip niya. After what she saw last night, how compatible Rion and Vanessa was and the crazy fact that no Prince can fall nor choose a commoner like her, Savannah literally forgets about everything.
Sinubukan niyang lumabas para makapag-focus sa dine-disenyong damit na siyang ipapakita niya kay Vio ngunit kahit saan siya lumingon ay may anino ni Rion na kanyang nakikita. News about the opening of the selection spreads everywhere. Every single ladies tried their luck to be Rion's future queen. Malabo naman ang laban kung tutuusin dahil may isang katulad ni Vanessa na umaaligid dito. She did some research about that noble woman who loves to do charity works. Maganda ang background ng pamilya at nag-iisang anak ng Cretia's Defense Minister.
“A planetarium?” Takang sambit niya ng huminto ang motor ni Rion sa harap ng isang gusali. Sa labas makikita ang malaking signage ng lugar na iyon. “Why did you brought me here?”
“You love staring at the night sky that's why we're here.” Simple nitong sagot sa kanya. “I got curious the with celestial bodies suddenly.”
“It's a hobby that me and twin always do together back our homeland.”
“You have a twin?”
“Yes and we really have a same face. You can hardly spot the difference.” Inaya siya nito pumasok sa loob at doon pinakita ang pictures nila ni Ciara. “Her name is Ciara Vienne Dominguez. A singer and she have huge fandom inside and outside of our country.”
“You really have the same face. How do people differenciate you?” Hinawi niya buhok saka pinakita ang nunal niya sa may batok katabi ng pulang birth mark.
“That made me feel ugly. The only reason why I always let my hair down whenever I'm wearing these kind of clothes.”
“It's beautiful, Savannah.” Muli niyang tinakpan ang pinakitang birth mark at nunal gamit ang mga buhok.
“You're just sugar coating the words you say.”
“So, you'll represent the House of Allea in the selection?”
Napatingin siyang muli kay Rion. Hindi pa niya napapag-isipan uli ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. Hindi niya kasi magawang ma-proseso paano nasabi ni Carlos na perfect candidate siya para sa selection na magaganap. Kanina nakita niya lahat ang posibleng sumali sa nasabing selection. Those women are come from well off political families in Cretia. Pinaka-mahirap kalaban ay si Vanessa na sinasabing kababata pa ni Rion.
“Why there's a selection for the queen?”
“They do it for the sake of entertainment. They're just using the fact that I need to have a queen before taking the throne. Personal gain purposes, I must say it's pre-existing.”
“Don't you like to choose a queen?”
“Honestly?”
“It's up to you.”
“I don't because I find it boring.” Napatawa siya bigla. Isang saglit ay muli niya nalimutan na prinsipe ang kanyang kasama. “What's your star sign?”
“Sirius.” Tinuro ni Rion kung nasaan iyon sa sa milkyway nasa ulunan nila.
“My star sign's belt is pointing at yours.” Orion, one of brightest and best known constellation at the night sky. “The night you left...” Napatingin siya dito at doon lang niya napansin na sobrang lapit nila sa isa't isa. “Why did you say that you're trying to find a way out?”
Damn that memories of his! Bakit ba niya naalala pa iyon? Tanong niya sa sarili.
“I don't know why I actually said that. J-just forget about it.” Akma siyang tatayo upang lumayo dito ngunit mabilis siyang napigil nito. “What?” Bumilis ang t***k puso niya ng dahil sa paghawak nito sa kanyang kamay. “What are you doing?”
“A thing that I won't regret in the future,” Rion said then leaned down until their lips touch. It's soft kiss at first that becomes passionate and deep later on. Savannah found herself answering Rion's kiss and arms already wrapped around his nape. No one but the dark ceiling is their only witness.
~•~•~
“Saan ka galing?” tanong na pumukaw sa kanyang pagdi-daydream habang nakasandal sa dahon ng pintuan ng flat nila. Kakahatid lang sa kanya ni Rion at hanggang sa mga oras na iyon ay nasa alaala pa din niya ang nangyaring halikan sa pagitan nila. Savannah could still felt Rion's lips on hers. Iyon ang dahilan kaya hindi niya nagawang sagutin ang tanong ni Erin. “Earth to Savannah. Savannah to Earth.” Sambit ng kaibigan niya na tuluyang nagpatigil sa kanyang pagdi-daydream.
She walked towards the couch and plopped herself there. Nilabas niya sa dala-dalang cloth bag ang sketch pad at cellphone na halos mapuno na ng mga mensahe galing sa mga pinsan niya. Inisa isa niyang buksan iyon saka binasa ang mga mensahe. Everyone misses her so much and some sent a congratulatory greetings for the successful fashion show. Nakarating kasi sa mga kaanak niya ang balita at mga article sa ginawa niyang pagrampa sa fashion show ni Vio Montreal.
“Huy, saan ka nga nanggaling. Kanina ka pa kaya hinihintay ni Carlos dito. Kaso nainip na kaya umuwi na siya.”
“What will I gain if I joined the selection?” Seryoso niyang tanong kay Erin.
“Hmm, power, crown, and a hot husband?”
“Seryoso kasi, Erinlea! Ikaw itong pilit ng pilit sa akin na sumali doon para pagbigyan iyang boyfriend mo na pala-desisyon.”
“You can change the perspective of this country in choosing their queen and maybe the history, too. Just like what Kate Middleton did when she married Prince William.”
“Or be more like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry?”
“That one is impossible. You can't asked Prince Rion abadoned the throne and go with you and live outside the Palace. He's the only successor of the throne.”
He has an older sister...
Gusto niyang sabihin iyon ngunit mukhang siya lang ang nakaka-alam tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Rion trusted her that story about his older sister who's busy volunteering outside the Palace. Muli siyang napaisip saglit ngunit bago pa magsalita ay naunahan na siya ni Erin.
“Does this mean you joined the selection? You'll help my Carlos?”
“I don't know yet.” Bumagsak ang mga balikat ng kaibigan niya. Desidido talaga ito na tulungan ang boyfriend. Mukhang kay Carlos na nito nahanap ang kasiyahan na inaasam. “Erin, if a guy kissed you, is that mean he likes you?”
Wala siyang alam sa gano'n dahil parehong vocal sina Silas at Mateo sa nararamdaman sa kanya noon. She don't know if they're just brave than Rion. Dapat ba tanungin niya ang dalawang ex-boyfriend?
Probably not, Savannah. Remember that you're here to design and be known to use it in entering Hollywood. Paala niya sa sarili. But I can't just resists, Rion! Angil niya sa kabilang bahagi ng isipan.
“Naghalikan kayo?” Bulalas ni Erin.
“Oo.” Hinampas siya nito ng unan sa braso bago tinabihan sa couch. “Kiss lang 'yon and it's not your thinking, Erin.”
“Ano pakiramdam ng makahalik ng royal blood?”
“May sparks at ang magical.” Kinikilig niyang sabi sa kaibigan. After ni Silas, ngayon lang siya ulit kinilig ng sobra. She's thankful and grateful of them. Gusto niya ngang mag-thank you sa dalawa kaso baka maging conflict pa ngayong may mga stable relationship na ang mga ito. “Do you think he likes me?”
“Simula palang gusto ka na 'non. You can see through his eyes. The way he looks at you during the fashion show. I never seen and met a guy who looks at you like that. He's far different from Mateo and Silas but their great guys too. Basta naiiba si Rion.” Nayakap niya ang unang ginamit na panghampas sa kanya ni Erin kanina. “So, sasali ka na ba sa selection?”
“Should I join that game?”
“For me, you should since it's your guy already. Will you let him marry other woman?”
Syempre hindi pero malaki ang kapalit ng desisyong gagawin ko, aniya sa isipan. We barely knew each other. Is that enough to sing of love? Tanong niya sa sarili.
- Writer
