Missing Home

Kabanata Quince

"MAGANDANG GABI, MISSY!" bati pa ni Aleira habang hinihila ang kumot niya.

She crinkled her nose and cover her eyes with a pillow, "Five more minutes please!"

"Bumangon ka na dahil pinapatawag na tayo ng reyna at hari para maghapunan!"

"Inaantok pa 'ko, pwede bang hindi na kumain?" nakapikit pa rin na tanong niya.

The bed is too comfortable that it makes her wanna stay all day. Pakiramdam niya ay hinihila siya ng kama, na kapag tumayo siya ay isang malaking kalapastangan. Ang kamang hinihigaan niya ay napakalambot na sa sobrang lambot ay inaantok siya.

"Hindi pwede! Magagalit ang hari at reyna kapag pinaghintay pa natin sila. Sige ka, baka imbes masarap na ulam ang makakain mo baka ikaw ang maging hapunan ng mga leon."

Ang leon ang naging mahiwagang salita na nakapagpabalikwas sa kanya mula sa pagkakahiga. Who wants to be eaten by the lions anyway? She'd rather eat than to be eaten by creature. Kinusot niya ang mata at naghikab pa. She stretched her arms and then her leg, kahit na antok na antok pa siya.

"Magbibihis lang ako saglit, pwede mo ba 'kong hintayin?" parang lasing niyang tanong. Hindi pa rin buo ang kanyang diwa, like any moment she'll doze off to sleep.

Tumango si Aleira. "Bibigyan kita ng limang minuto. Bilisan mo, dahil nagtitipon-tipon na sila sa labas! Isang kalapastanganan pa naman na ang hari at reyna pa ang unang umupo kaysa sa mga bisita."

Halos lumipad siya patungong paliguan upang makapaghilamos. She was fast like she was on a race, hindi naman bago sa kanya ang ganitong sitwasyon dahil noong nasa normal na mundo siya ay parati siyang late sa klase. Kadalasan late siya ng gising dahil sa madalas siyang mapuyat kapanunuod ng mga palabas.

After she was done making herself presentable. She made sure she looked presentable, na mukha siyang mabait kahit hindi naman. She opened the door and she saw Aleira waiting outside her room, umangkla siya sa braso nito at ngumiti nang napakamis.

"Tara na!"

"Ang bilis mo, ha!" gulat na gulat nitong saad. Namilog pa ang kukay kape nitong mga mata.

She laughed. It was easy for her, hindi naman siya naligo. At kung maliligo man siya baka mas matagalan pa siya. At the end of the hallway, a servant was waiting for them. The servant guided them to the dining hall. The dining hall was already set, the Maharlika's are already there except for the king and the queen. The servant led them to their seat, she sat beside Prince Vard who was eyeing her. She just raised her brows at him, while across Prince Vard was Princess Daiana who was glaring at her.

"Ang tagal mo. Alam mo bang hindi pwede mauna ang hari at reyna kaysa sa mga panauhin?" patutsada pa ni Prinsesa Daiana sa kanya.

"Daiana tigilan mo 'yan. Nasa hapag kainan tayo," saway pa ni Prinsipe Vard rito.

She almost stick her tongue out.

"Buti nga sa 'yo. Masyado kang mapang-api!" she said to herself while pouting her lips.

"Ang hari at reyna ay dumating na!"

Nagsitayuan silang lahat. They bowed down a little as a sign of respect to the king and queen. The king signaled everyone to sit down saka lang sila umupo lahat. The table was filled with various foods. Her eyes locked on the grilled meat, takam na takam na siya sa inihaw na karne. She was about to reach for the meat but Vard flicked her hand. She whimpered in pain and glared at Prince Vard.

"May langaw lang naman, eh!" pangangatwiran niya pa. Kahit wala naman, umiiral lang talaga ang katakawan niya. Nakalimutan niyang siya pala ang nagsisilbi at hindi ang pinagsisilbihan.

Prince Vard widened his eyes, pero hindi siya nasisindak. Isang tikhim ang nakapagpatigil sa kanilang dalawa. It was the king, he was observing their every move.

She faked a laugh.

"May langaw po kasi," she even beamed a smile.

Ngumiti ang hari sa kanya. "Ano nga ang iyong pangalan hija?"

"Missy 'ho, Kamahalan."

"Kakaibang ngalan, saan pamilya ka ba nagmula?" he continued to ask.

"Ah—sa hindi po kilalang pamilya! Isa lang po akong serbidor ng inyong anak, Kamahalan."

Napalitan ng pagkadismaya ang tuwa sa mukha ng hari. She knew he think she was someone from a wealthy family. But who cares? She'd rather be a normal person who can choose whoever she wants to be than to be a royal who can't even decide for herself.

"Sayang kay gandang bata. Aakalain mo talagang nagmula ka sa isang mayamang pamilya dahil sa iyong tindig at postura," the king said making the atmosphere eerie.

"Aking kamahalan, huwag na nating pag-usapan ang estado ni Binibining Missy. Maganda siya at walang sayang roon, panigurado iibigin siya ng mayayamang tao," the queen interfered making her grimaced.

"Panigurado, bibihagin niya ang puso ng isang mayaman. Hindi pa rin masasayang ang iyong ganda kung gagamitin mo ang iyong utak, Hija."

She wanted to scream, to opposed. She doesn't need a mans money to be perfect, she can have her ways. Kasalanan ba ang magmula sa pamilyang hindi kilala at mayaman? Kasalanan ba ang umibig sa isang mahirap? Kung pagmamahal ba ang paiiralin ay isa ba iyong katangahan?

She suddenly felt sad, how the King sees her. How shallow the definition of women's worth in society. Does being poor makes a woman's worth less? Magiging mahalaga ka lang pala kapag may kaya ka. Nawalan siya nang ganang kumain, she suddenly wants to go bed and sleep all day.

The queen glanced at her and smiled. Her lips curved in a small smile. The king and queen started to eat and everyone followed. She ate only in small portion. She became silent the whole duration of dinner, ang mga maharlika, hari at reyna lamang ang nagpalitan ng mga kuro-kuro.

Samantalang sila ay ng mga serbidor ay tahimik na kumain.

Kung sa mundo niya ay ipinaglalaban ang women's worth and power. Sa mundo ng Ardeun, ni wala nga 'atang ganoon. Women's are only accessories to men, and women's worth depends on their family and education background. The dinner ended, everyone was exchanging thoughts and she was not in the mood. They were assisted as they went back to their room.

Nagpagulong-gulong siya sa kama, habang tinatakpan ang mukha ng unan. She screamed all her frustrations for minutes and sighed as she stare at the ceiling.

A soft knock ruined her momentum.

Hinayaan niya ang katok, baka sakaling mawala ito. But it didn't stop, she stomped her feet as she went up.

"Sino yan?" she asked before opening the door but no one answered.

She had to open the door, she plastered a fake smile. She saw Prince Vard, her reaction immediately changed.

"Bakit?" walang ganang tanong niya.

He didn't say anything but he just walked inside and looked at her directly.

"Paumanhin."

Just one word and it made he paused for a while.