My Untamed Princess

Chapter 2: The Princess And The Vagabond 2

"Arise, Shine!" anang maingay ngunit pamilyar na boses sa tainga niya. Kasunod niyon ang masakit na pagtama ng liwanag sa kanyang mukha. Cassie cursed under her breath and hurriedly shielded her face with her hands.

"Tirik na ang araw, mahal na prinsesa! Bumangon ka na d’yan para makapag-agahan ka na. Hiyang-hiya naman ako kung ipapaakyat ko pa ang almusal mo dito sa kuwarto e may mga paa ka naman po para bumaba," patuloy pa rin ng may-ari ng pamilyar na boses na ngayon naman ay marahas na hinablot ang kumot niya. Dagli ang pagbangon ng inis niya.

"Ugh! Lizzie you're so annoying!" aniya bago dumapa sa kama. Naramdaman niya ang paglundo ng kama sa kabilang bahagi niya. Tiyak niyang umupo si Lizzie sa tabi niya, mukhang wala siyang balak tigilan.

"At talagang ako pa ang annoying, Maria Cassandra? E kung sabihin ko kaya sa ‘yo kung anong pinaggagawa mo kagabi para naman itakwil ka na nang tuluyan pati ng mga braincells mo?" anito, nagmamaldita.

She half-shut opened her eyes and forced herself to recall the events of last night. After a few moments, her heart began to race.

She couldn't recall anything! It was all hazy, blurry, almost black.

She shook her head only to wince when her temples painfully throbbed from hangover.

Napaupo na siya, napayakap sa unan. Singkit pa rin ang mga mata niyang tumitig sa kaibigan. Lukot naman ang mukha ni Lizzie habang nakatingin sa kanya. Muli, umiling siya nang marahas at tiniis ang pagkahilo.

Base kasi sa anyo ni Lizze may tatlong bagay itong puwedeng gawin sa kanya kapag hindi pa siya nakipagusap nang maayos dito. Una, hahampasin siya nito sa braso. Pangalawa, sasabunutan siya nito. At pangatlo, baka buhusan na siya nito ng malamig na tubig para siya tumino.

Yes, Lizzie Escudero's temper is one that you wouldn't want to mess with. But she keeps on testing it because he can't help it! Masayaran lang ng alak ang bibig niya, nawawala na siya agad sa sarili niya, Hence, according to her father, her rebellious acts. At base sa pagkakatitig ni Lizzie sa kanya, mukhang may ginawa na naman siyang eskandalo kagabi sa birthday party nito.

Ngumiwi muna siya bago tumikhim.

"Did I... strip?" pabulong na tanong niya.

Umiling ito. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag. The last time she stripped naked was when...

She quickly shook her head as an awful scene from two years ago entered her mind.

"Worse than that," matigas ang mukhang sambit nito.

Lalong kumabog ang dibdib niya. She caught her breath. Pakiramdam niya lalong lumobo ang ulo niya.

"Did I..." Napalunok siya. "Did I... end up in bed with someone?" alanganin niyang tanong.

Her facial muscles tensed. Mabilis niyang pinakiramdaman ang sarili. Masakit ang katawan niya but not necessarily down there.

Nanlalamig na siya.

Lalo namang nalukot ang mukha ni Lizzie at inirapan siya.

Oh my God!

That's Lizzie's you-better-get-yourself-act-together-or-I'll-slap-you stare.

"Please tell me it's not Raymond? Oh my God!" nagpapanic na sabi niya habang sinabunot-sabunotan ang sarili niya.

She's sure Raymond was there last night, she saw him. Raymond was her suitor of four years. And though she clearly told him that they better stay as friends, Raymond just won't listen! Hindi naman masama ang itsura nito at galing din ito sa maayos na pamilya, but he's not just her type.

He's annoying, no erase that, he's infuriating!

"Of course, you did not sleep with someone last night.  Dahil sa oras na manghihila ka palang ng lalaki papaunta sa isa sa mga kuwarto dito sa bahay, I've longed strangled you to death, princess," sarakastikong sagot ni Lizzie, nakangiti.

Relief flooded her chest.

Thank God!

"You did worse than that, Cassandra!" inis na dugtong nito, tinapik pa ang noo niya.  "Two men almost killed each other because they fought over you. You promised to have s*x with the one who will win and guess what, both ended in the hospital. Intensive Care!" nanlalaki ang mga matang pahayag ito, pinagdiinan pa ang dalawang huling salita.

Nalukot ang mukha niya. "I don't... remember doing that?"

Umirap si Lizzie. Her friend mumbled and repeated what she said in a sarcastic way of mimicking her.

"Kasi nga lasing ka po, kamahalan! At saka, anong trip mo ngayon? Pagsabungin ang mga manliligaw mo? Is that the new entertainment for you, Cassie? Nandadamay ka pa talaga ng ibang tao sa kagagahan mo!" gigil na litany nito, ilang beses pang hinagod ng kamay ang buhok nito.

Nanulis na ang nguso niya. "Who in their right mind would fight over a girl for s*x? Labas na ako dun Liz. They chose to do it to themselves," naiiritang sagot niya.

"Because Cassie Echavez, the untamed princess, said so!" mabilis nitong sagot, kunsumido. Inabot nito ang tainga niya at binigyan iyon ng hindi kagaanang pingot.

"Aray ko!”  reklamo niya. “That hurts, Lizzie!" dugtong pa niya habang minamasahe ang isang tenga.

"Talagang masasaktan ka sa akin dahil inumaga kami ng mga pulis for questioning!” Umikot na ang mga mata nito, napatayo na rin. “God, muntik nang mag-hyperventilate si Mommy kaninang mabungaran namin ang mga pulis sa sala! Kaya ikaw, h’wag mo kong iniinia. At 'pag sinabing bumangon na bumangon na, kung ayaw mong kaladkarin kita pababa!" Magaan nitong hinigit ang buhok niya.

"Ouch! That hurts!" reklamo niya.

Umingos ito. “Para ‘yon lang nagrereklamo ka?” Mabilis nitong hinampas ang braso niya. Napasigaw na siya. “See, ‘yan ang masakit.

Brutal talaga itong si Lizzie, lalo na kapag naiinis. Pero sanay na siya. They were BFF's since elementary.

"Ano gising ka na kamahalan?" Humalukipkip na ito, naghintay sa sagot niya.

Patamad niyang minasahe ang nasaktan niyang braso. "With your voice and stunts, even the dead would wake up.”

Agad itong umirap. " Haha! Very funny. Sige lang, mag-asar ka pa. Pagbibigyan kita. Dahil pagbaba mo, naghihintay na ang hahatol sa you’re Your parents are downstairs."

Agad siyang natigilan. "They... they knew?"

"Of course they knew! You're all over the news, Cassie! Your face is in the middle of the black and blue faces of your lovers," patuyang pahayag nito.

Shit!

Napayuko siya sa puntong iyon, pumikit at muling nagbuga ng hininga. Napansin siguro nito ang pagtamlay niya kaya ito lumapit sa kanya at hiniwakan siya sa balikat.

“Hey, just talk Tito Ernie into it. Just quit the yelling and rolling of the eyes and you’re good to go. I’m sure he’ll understand,” alo nito sa kanya.

Though Lizzie is her bestfriend, there are still some secrets about her Lizzie didn’t know. Secrets she never really intend for her friend to know.

She faked a smile and looked at Lizzie. "I know. I’ll just tell Dad that it’s the men and booze," aniya bago muling nagbuga ng hininga.

Lizzie chuckled. “Yeah. It’s the men and booze.”

Napangiti na rin siya. "I'll just take a shower.” Tumayo na siya at dumiretso sa banyo.

"Bilisan mo," pahabol pa nito nang nasa loob na siya ng bathroom.  "At h’wag kang tatakas, Cassandra. Kakalbuhin na talaga kita!" pagbabanta nito.

Hindi na siya sumagot pa. Natatawa niyang binuksan ang shower.

----

"It's been two years, Will. Kumusta ang Sweden?" tanong ni Eric Samaniego kay Will. Nagsalin ito ng alak sa dalawang crystal glass. Binigay nito ang isa sa kanya.

 Eric is the owner of Samaniego Security Agency, ang elite security agency kung saan siya nagtatrabaho bilang bodyguard at CIA asset. He and Eric used to work in the now defunct The Organization. A group sanctioned by the CIA and was composed of elite protectors known to guard the famous and ultra-rich.

Ngumisi siya. "Gano’n pa rin, same pa rin ang spelling," aniya bago uminom sa baso na may alak.

Eric chuckled before sipping a drink form his own glass.

Naroon siya ngayon sa opisina nito. He’s coming home after a two year stint with the Swedish Royal Family. He was careful to come home this time. Ayaw niyang matunugan ng Daddy niya ang pag-uwi niya.

Two years ago, when he was working for The Diamond Raine Alejandro, the heir to biggest diamond empire in the world,  nalaman ng ama niya ang pag-uwi niya sa Pilipinas. And he sent people to talk to him, trying to fix their father and son relationship. But he's not yet ready to face his father. He had been living a free life for almost ten years now. Away from the suffocating life he had while he was growing up.

Sure Nick Johnson, his father, was the best business man when it comes to steel manufacturing. But he is the worst father one could ever get. He didn't even realized what he had been doing to his older brother not until Clark took his own life one winter afternoon on his rented apartment in Boston. It was severe depression that killed his brother. Clark was 21 and he was 18. He had seen how the rules imposed by Nick Johnson to them, his sons, had taken its toll at Clark's mental health. Clark's death was a wake up call for him. He deliberately failed the Harvard Business School Exam and eloped with his then girlfriend, Kareen Montero, one of his Fil-Am schoolmates in senior high. They actually planned to get hitched in Vegas. But, Nick Johnson paid the Monteros. Kareen broke up with in him in Vegas instead of marrying him or so he heard from Brad, his cousin.

He balled his fist when he felt a sudden ache in his heart. He never regretted the life he had for the past years but he regretted the could've beens. All people who are getting older are all emotional when they face their could've beens. Who knows, he could've been happy with Kareen by now. They could have had children—a boy and girl like he had always dreams. Or perhaps a twin.  He could've been running his own shipping company by now instead of looking after rich people.

Mapait siyang napangiti. Ang daming sana.

Pero kahit na anong gawin niya, sana pa rin ang lahat ng iyon dahil pinagkait iyong mangyari lahat ni Nicholas Johnson sa kanya.

Damn that old man!

The life he had now was unplanned. It was actually suggested by Brad so that he'd live his life away from his father. He used to be part of the US Marines and was training to be a Navy Seal. Kaso, natunugan ulit iyon ni Nick. And being one of the most influential businessman in the US, Nick Johnson did all his best to pull him out of enlistment so that he would return home. But a certain man named Chief Sandoval came to him while he was still on training and gave him another option— be a protector in The Organization. He took that chance and gained his freedom from the hand of Nick Johnson.

He huffed and downed the whole glass of scotch that was on his hand.

"Parched?" pang-aasar ni Eric.

"Just drowning the sentiments, boss. Diet ako do’n sa alak e. H’wag mo na ‘ko ulit ipadala do’n. Damn royals and their rules," aniya, habang nagsasalin ulit ng alak sa baso niya.

"So, what are you planning to do?"

"I will take my mother’s farm back. Ibinenta raw ni Nicholas e sabi ni Brad.” Napailing siya. “Nag-uulyanin na ‘ata. Kung anu-ano nalang naiisip ni tanda," dugtong pa niya habang dinadala ang baso ng alak sa kanyang bibig.

"Oo nabalitaan ko nga rin. Sandali," anito bago inilabas ang isang folder sa drawersa mesa nito. "Inunahan na kita. Alam ko naman, ‘yan din ang gagawin mo pagdating mo." Inabot nito sa kanya ang puting folder.

Tinanggap niya ang folder at nagmadaling binuklat niya iyon upang mapamura lamang dahil sa nakitang pangalan na nakasulat sa kopya ng deed of sale.

 The name was familiar, he knew the man to be exact, he's family friend. He's the same man who tried to talk to him on fixing his relationship with his father two years ago. He even used his daughter to get to him. To seduce him. But he loves his freedom and he's not ready to give it up.

Never.

Muli siyang napatingin sa papel na nasa harapan niya, sa pag-asang magbabago pa ang nakasulat doon.

The printed name on the deed of sale was, Ernesto Echavez.

He cursed before downing another glass of scotch.

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