The Cursed One

2 | The Girl Without a Name

She ran as quickly as possible at the back of the house. The morning was cold and she has drunk a glass of milk while hiding in the kitchen. She wasn't supposed to drink that but she knows she won't be given any breakfast this morning. Kumuha rin siya ng isang pirasong tinapay at itinago iyon sa loob ng admit bago tumakbo sa likod. 

Abala ang iba sa paglilinis sa buong bahay. Some were cooking food a lot more than necessary. She heard visitors will be coming today. They might be selecting kids whom they're going to adopt. Thinking about it makes her relieved. Having visitors means she gets a free day for herself. The Miss has told her before to hide every time a guest arrives. And every time, she runs to the forest at the back of the orphanage and spends the whole time until she hears Miss Roan's voice calling her. The forest has become her hiding place.

She stopped running and froze on her feet as she beheld what's in the back of the house. 

The rain was pouring heavily that night. Alam niya iyon dahil napakahimbing ng tulog niya kagabi dahil doon. But she might have forgotten something before she went to sleep last night. 

And that was to gather the firewood back into the storage kaya ngayon ay basang-basa ang mga ito. She is certain they won't be able to make a fire. And without fire, they won't be able to cook food. Her siblings won't be able to eat anything this morning. And that is because of her carelessness. 

She could already imagine the hatred in their eyes as they would look at her and blame her for the Miss's wrath. 

"I'm doomed," saad niya sa sarili ngunit may bigla namang nagsalita sa likuran niya. 

"Why?" 

She jumped on her feet and was ready to run away from the stranger but then as she turned to see who it was, she couldn't move. Her feet were glued to the ground and she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She knows him. She saw him a lot in parades every Harvest Festival. The Royal Family sits in chariots and parades all over the city. It isn't hard to recognize someone like Reagan Serranova. 

The boy looked at her curiously and it was as if her tongue was cut too as she couldn't even mutter a single word. Anong gagawin niya? Miss Roan clearly told her not to show herself to the guests of the orphanage. Ngunit magiging bastos naman siya kapag tatakbo siya palayo sa Prinsipe na hindi man lang ito binabati. 

So after a quick curtsy, agad siyang tumalikod at tumakbo but the Prince was quick and was suddenly in front of her. He has teleported himself in front of her. She instantly knew she will never get away with him if he wishes to. 

He tilted his head and studied her. She became conscious of the Prince's stare. 

"Do you know me?" asked the Prince. She was told by Miss Roan to lie to every visitor in the orphanage but she couldn't possibly lie to a Prince. So she simply nodded. 

She heard the Prince groan dahilan para mapatingin siya dito. Nakasimangot ito. "I was hoping you wouldn't know me." 

Napakurap siya at napatawa. But then she realized she shouldn't be laughing. "I apologize, Your Highness." 

Ngunit sa gulat niya'y tumawa rin ang lalake. "What for?" 

"For laughing." tahimik niyang sagot.

"You're the first person I know who's ever apologized for laughing." Tumingin ito sa mga basang panggatong sa likuran niya. "Now I see why you said you were doomed." 

Napayuko siya sa lupa dahil sa hiya. Even the Prince knew about her carelessness. Ano na lamang ang gagawin niya?

But then the Prince walked past her and to the firewood. He placed his hand on top of them and suddenly, steam started to rise from the woods. No, mist. He's taking the water out of the firewoods. 

When he was done, he gestured his hand to the firewoods and she was just amazed. Such amazing power, she thought. All she has is her speed, her strength, and her fast reflexes. As far as she can remember, she doesn't any powers like the Prince. 

But then again, how could she even compare herself to a Prince. He is a Prince and it is normal for him to have something as powerful as that. 

"I see you're not impressed," the Prince said and she blinked. 

"It was...amazing, Your Highness." 

The Prince narrowed his eyes towards her. She stared back. She knows it's rude to meet the Prince's eye without permission but nobody's there with them and the Prince doesn't seem to mind. 

"What's yours?" The Prince jerked his chin towards her. 

"I don't have a magical power, Your Highness." 

"For gods' sake, drop the honorifics. We're the only ones here. Nobody can hear you." 

"I...I don't have magical power," she said, feeling awkward and anxious without saying the honorific. She was expecting him to laugh at that but he didn't. 

"I see," he only said as he rubbed his chin. 

Then silence covered between them. But then the Prince said, "I didn't get your name. I'm Reagan. What's yours?" He extended his hand and she stared at it. 

She couldn't utter a single word. Iyon ay dahil wala siyang pangalan. Miss Roan said she just didn't have one and that they were inclined not to give her one. She stared at the Prince's extended hand, not knowing what to say. 

"Your Highness?" someone called from behind them and that's when she realized it was Miss Roan. Nakatingin ito sa kanya and she knew she'll be reprimanded later.

He turned to look behind him and when he faced the girl he saw earlier, he saw no one. But he could feel her presence not too far. He sighed and walked towards the orphanage administrator.

She ran to the forest, her heart was beating fast. She's thinking of an excuse to tell Miss Roan later as to why she was talking to the Prince. The Prince talked to her first and she was just being polite and answered the Prince's questions.

Ngunit alam niyang hindi siya paniniwalaan ni Miss Roan. She will be reprimanded nevertheless. They somehow find a reason to scold her. Sanay na siya.

She stopped by a cliff where she could see the city. Payapa doon at sariwa ang hangin. Napagpasyahan niyang manatili muna sa lugar hanggang sa makaalis ang mga bisita. She already did something bad today, she doesn't want to add something to that.

Kaya naman nang gumabi ay saka siya nakauwi. Kumakalam ang sikmura niya habang naglalakad. All the other children are already in their beds, preparing to sleep. And she was in the kitchen, finding food to eat. Nang may mahanap siya ay agad niya itong kinuha. Ngunit maglalakad na sana siya palabas ng kusina nang may tumikhim sa likod niya.

She knew that sound very well.

"Where have you been, girl?"

She slowly faced Miss Roan. "I was in the forest, Miss."

The woman did not answer and studied her. "You did not put the firewood in the storage. Finish your meal and gather the firewoods for tomorrow. It would be embarrassing to have the Prince dry them again for you," the woman said and walked away. She stood frozen and realized the Miss knew about what the Prince did. Perhaps she also knew it was the Prince who talked to her first kaya naman hindi siya nito pinagalitan.

She finished her meal quickly and gathered the now dried firewood and went to her room. She has a separate room from others. Sa loob ng kwarto niya nakalagay ang mga walis at iba pang gamit panglinis. She was fine with it. So long as she has her own bed, a pillow, and a blanket, it is fine.

Days passed that Miss Roan continued being nice to her dahilan para magtaka siya. Miss Roan's nicest gesture was probably when she let her have a bed to sleep. Days passed and she continued receiving meals on time and Miss Roan doesn't reprimand her for every mistake she makes. She was tempted to make as much mistake as possible just to test how long until Miss Roan's patience runs out. But she doesn't want to risk the hot meals. 

But one day Miss Roan indirectly told her the reason she was being nice. 

"The Prince said you're his friend and that he will visit soon." It was what Miss Roan said to her while she was making fire for the kids' meal. And she figured Miss Roan was nice to her all the time because the Prince might visit anytime. 

She found herself waiting for the Prince to visit again but it never happened. The Prince considered her as a friend even though she was extremely rude to him. And she let herself delve into that dangerous idea of being the Prince's friend. 

She wished she could see him again. Because she never got the chance to thank him for drying the firewood that day. 

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