My Untamed Princess

Chapter 23: The Witch And The Cursed

Masayang umuwi si Will kinabukasan matapos ang pagmamanman na ginawa nila ni Ivan kay De Ocampo. Nakiusap siya ulit kay Chelsea at Ella na bantayan ang prinsesa at i-text siya kung may emergency. He hadn't received any messages from his neighbors so, he assumed that the princess behaved well throughout the day.

Humigpit ang kapit niya sa bouquet ng red roses na hawak niya. It was a peace offering for behaving savagely last night.  Sinadya niya talaga ang dumaan sa flower shop bago siya umuwi.

Seryoso siya sa paghingi ng tawad kay Cassie. And he'll do anything just to earn it.

He was not himself last night. But it's not an excuse to hurt her.

If he can't have her forgiveness today, then he'll try his luck on the succeeding days. He won't stop until he's forgiven.

He first took a deep breath before pushing the door of their unit. He held his breath when he saw her standing in the middle of the kitchen, busy preparing the table for dinner. How did she manage to cook a meal without burning the whole apartment, beats him. But it's the least of his concerns now, most especially when he was just staring at him.

Nang makabawi ito, mabilis itong nagyuko ng ulo at itinuloy ang paghahanda sa lamesa.

Mabilis siyang pumasok sa kabahayan at agad itong nilapitan. He was about to give her the boquet of roses pero mabilis itong umiwas. He felt someone had just punched him in the gut for what she did.

"Umupo ka na. Puwede ka nang kumain," she said coldly.

He hesitantly sat on one of the chair in the small dining table. Kapagkuwan'y muli siyang pinagsilbihan nito nang walang imik. Ni hindi rin ito umupo sa harap niya kahit na inaya pa niya ito na kumain. Bagkus ay umupo ito sa salas, malayo sa kanya, habang nagbabasa ng magazine.

Tahimik niyang kinain ang niluto nitong tinolang manok. Nangingiti siya dahil masarap ang luto nito.

"You cooked it well. It's delicious," komento niya habang maganang kumakain. "Sino nagturo sa 'yo?"

Hindi ito agad sumagot. Ilang beses muna siyang tinanaw sa peripheral vision nito.

"Kay Ella," sagot nito, ni hindi siya tinignan.

Muli siyang napabuga ng hininga, pilit inubos ang pagkaing nasa plato niya. Nang matapos siyang kumain, mabilis na tumayo si Cassie at kinuha ang pinagkainan niya.

"Ako na," aniya.

"No, let me," pagmamatigas nito bago mabilis na kinuha sa kamay niya ang pinagkainan niya at mabilis iyong hinugasan.

She wathed the princess as she fixed the kitched while he’s drowning in shame. So that's how it feels to be treated coldly by the princess.

Hindi siya sanay sa ganoon. Mas sanay siya sa singhal, irap, at pagmamatigas nito. Sanay siya na nakikipagbangayan ito sa kanya. Sanay siya na ang atensyon nito laging nasa kanya. At aminin man niya o hindi, he's kinda missing her-- the feisty her.

Nang matapos ito sa paghuhugas mabilis niyang inabot ulit dito ang binili niyang bouquet. "For you." 

Cassie stared at the beautifully arranged bouquet of flowers for a few seconds before she hesitantly accepted his peace offering.

Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya. Her face was incredibly sad, almost indifferent.

"I'm sorry. I’m really sorry," bulong niya.

She did not reply. Instead, naglakad ito patungo sa basurahan sa backdoor at walang imik na isinuksok doon ang walang muwang na mga bulaklak.

Napayuko siya at nagbuga ng hininga. He deserved that. He f*****g deserve anything that she's doing right now for acting savagely, for being a jerk, and for being an asshole.

Nang bumalik ito sa kusina ay nilampasan siya nito. Pero mabilis niya itong pinigilan sa brsao.

Sandali nitong sinipat ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa braso nito. She slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze, her eyes were almost in slits.

"Let me go," she said sternly.

"Mag-usap tayo, Cassie.”

"Let. Me. Go."

He ever so gently let her hand go.

"Cassie, let's talk," muli niyang pakiusap.

"What is there to talk about, Will? Kulang pa ba ang ginawa mo kagabi? Hindi pa ba sapat na pinaramdam mo sa 'kin na bastusin akong babae? That I don't deserve respect, not from you or any other guy because I'm cheap and filthy," her voice broke as fresh batch of tears fell from her eyes.

He tried to reach for her but she stepped back.

Dammit! He's so weak when she's in tears. And hearing her sobs only makes it worse.

"I'm sorry," he said contritely.

She just shook her head and went inside the room. He would've knocked but after a few seconds she opened it up again. This time, she was holding her bag.

"Where are you going? You know, I can't let you leave," matigas niyang pahayag.

She lifted her head defiantly. "I'm not asking for your approval, Will. I am telling you now that I can't stay in one house with you. I asked Ella and Rica to take me in and they agreed. I'll be staying with them from now on."

"What--"

"I told them that we had... we had a fight. Pero h'wag kang mag-alala, I'll still do the chores and anything  that you ask me to. Just... just... don't come near me again," anito.

Wala siyang narinig na pagsinghal, wala siyang nakitang pag-irap, wala rin siyang narinig na anumang pagsumbat mula rito. Pero bakit gan'on? His chest hurts so f*****g much with her words. Nang lampasan siya nito at naglakad patungo sa pinto ay mabilis siyang pumihit paharap dito.

The sight of her leaving him didn't give him any relief at all even if that's what he's supposed to feel because finally, the witch is leaving. Maayos na siyang makakahiga sa malambot na unan sa gabi. Hindi na siya kakabahan dahil tuwing umaalis siya laging may nakaambang sunog sa unit niya. Hindi na rin siya mapapagod sa pagtuturo ng mga simpleng bagay na dapat sana ay alam ng isang normal na tao para mabuhay.

His life would be just like before. Before he came back in his life and messed it all up… again.

He's supposed to feel great. But great is so far to what he felt right now.

"Cassie," tawag niya rito bago ito lumabas ng pinto. Agad naman itong lumingon. "I know I'm an asshole and I deserve every ounce of your hate. But... at least allow me to earn your forgiveness."

Sandali itong natigilan, pinag-aralan ang mukha niya. 

"Suit yourself. I don't care anymore," walang emosyong sabi nito bago tuluyang lumabas ng unit nila.

And there goes his piece of sanity for the night.

----

"Magandang buhay dahil ang mundo ay puno ng kulay! Bumangon na at magpunas ng laway, nang ang lablayp ay ‘di tumamlay!"

Napangiwi si Cassie dahil sa lakas ng boses na naririnig niya. Base sa timbre, lenggwahe at landi ng boses na 'yon, she knew it was Ella. Unti-unti niyang iminulat ang mga mata upang mapapikit lamang ulit nang tumama ang pang-umagang sinag ng araw sa kanyang mukha. Hindi gaya ng unit nila, dalawa ang kuwarto sa unit ng magkapatid na Ella at Rica. Magka-kwarto sila ni Rica kung saan naroon ang malaking bintana na pinaggagalingan ng liwanag.

"Kuya, ang aga-aga mong magbuga ng masamang hangin! Hindi ka pa ata nagmumumog!" narinig niyang reklamo ni Rica, nakatalukbong pa rin ng kumot.

"Hoy Ricarda, nag-tooth brush na ako no! Kung may naamoy ka mang masamang hangin, 'yon ay nanggagaling mismo sa bunganga mo! Tandaan mo, wala pang isang pulgada ang pagitan ng ilong at ng imburnal na nasa mukha mo! Itsura nitong babaitang ito! Okrayin daw ba ako eh ang ganda-ganda na nga ng morning ko!" litanya ni Ella, tinusok-tusok pa ng hintuturo ang hita ng kapatid na bumalik ata sa pagtulog.

Natatawa siyang bumangon sa kama at mabilis na inayos ang pinaghigaan niya. She needed to quickly fix herself. Kahit hindi pa maayos ang pakiramdam niya, kailangan niyang ipagluto ng agahan ang kapre sa kabilang unit.

"O, gising na si Cassie. Ikaw Ricarda borlogs pa rin diyan. Kaya ka hindi nabibiyayaan ng ganda, talino, at lablayp dahil mahilig kang humilata!" si Ella ulit na niyugyog na ang kapatid upang gisingin. "Bumangon ka na! Male-late ka naman sa eskwela!" Bumaling ito sa kanya.  "Goodmorning ganda. Sige na lumabas ka na para masaksihan mo ang magandang balita."

"Ha?"

"Basta girl, sige na, lumabas ka na. Baka mausog pa ang grasya," sagot nito bago muling binalingan ang kapatid.

Nagtataka man, mabilis siyang lumabas ng kwarto. Agad na sumalubong sa kanya ang amoy ng sinangag, kape, tocino at piniritong itlog. It smelled like mornings in the mansion.

"Goodmorning!" said the familiar voice on her back. Agad siyang lumingon. There she saw Will holding a paper bag from her favorite coffee shop and a bunch of roses. Again.

Napakurap siya. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I told you, I'll earn your forgiveness. So, today is 'Please Forgive Me Day 1'.

Sandali siyang napatanga. He just won’t give her peace of mind, would he? Umalis na nga siya sa poder nito, pero sinusundan naman siya nito.

Crazy jerk!

"Puwede ba Will, tantanan mo 'ko?" naiiritang sabi niya.

"No. I'm serious. I won't stop till you say I'm forgiven. But you don't need to force yourself to forgive me, just allow me to do...this. Everyday," alanganin nitong itinaas ang mga hawak nito bago nagkibit-balikat.

She scoffed. Nagjo-joke ba ‘to? “Everyday? Seryoso ka?”

Lalo itong tumitig sa kanya. “I mean it. I’d do this everyday until you forgive me.”

“So what if I don’t forgive you? You have always hated me anyway.”

Hindi ito sumagot. Umiwas din ng tingin. And for the first time in years, the kapre was speechless.

Nagbuga siya ng hininga.

“Fine. Let’s see how long you can do this game of yours, Mr. Johnson,” walang gana niyang untag dito maya-maya.

Ngumiti ito bago iniabot sa kanya ang hawak nitong bulaklak. "Flowers for you. And of course, coffee and bagels for the witch…" Napapikit ito, ngumiwi, at ipinilig ang ulo. "I mean the princess.” pagtatama nito.

Umirap siya kunwari. "Thank you. Now, leave," utos niya.

"Okay, enjoy your breakfast."Nagbuga ito ng hininga at napakamot sa batok nito. "I'll be home late tonight," dugtong pa nito.

"I don't wanna know," she wanted to sound indifferently.

"But, I want you to know."

She rolled her eyes. "You're irritating," napapairap niyang komento.

"Fine, I'm going," pahayag nito bago alanganing tumalikod upang muli lamang humarap sa kanya. "Can I at least give you a goodbye tap on your shoulder?"

"Sure, go ahead."

He extended his arm and gave her a light tap on her right shoulder and said, "Take care. Have a great day."

He gave her a forced smile before finally leaving the apartment.

Naiwan siyang nagtataka, naiirita, at kinikilig nang bahagya habang hawak ang bigay ng kapre sa kanya.

Malapit na tuloy siyang maniwala na mangkukulam talaga siya. Ano ba nag ginawa niya kagabi? It was as if Will was under a spell or magic she unknowlingly cast on him. Kung ano man iyon, hindi rin niya alam.

Well, she have the rest of the days she had left on the 90-day exile to find out.

For now, she's looking forward for Please Forgive Me Day 2.