MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 13 : The Devil's Tale (Part I)

Nagising ako sa katok ng kwarto ko. Napatingin ako sa wall clock ng kwarto and it read 8 A.M. My head throbbed with pain as I got up. I silently muttered a curse. I clearly remembered myself swearing I won't drink Maurice's liquors anymore.

The knock on my room was loud know and I decided to stand up and get it.

"Sandali." I muttered habang naglalakad ako papunta sa pinto. Nang buksan ko ito ay halos humiwalay na ang panga ko sa aking mukha. What the heck are they doing here?

"It seems like you're doing just fine." Saad ng lalakeng nasa gitna habang inaayos ang suot na salamin.

"Hi, sis." Napatingin ako sa gilid nito at nakita ang lalakeng kausap ko lang kahapon.

"Damn. And I was sleepless last night thinking about your well being." Saad ng lalakeng may sugat sa gilid ng labi.

"Ares, Pierce, Exene, what the heck are you all doing here?" Saad ko habang hinihilot ang sentido.

"Visiting you." Ares said at hinawi ako para makapasok siya sa aking kwarto.

"What are you doing?" I asked habang nakatingin kay Ares. Abala siya sa pagtingin sa ilalim ng aking kama, sa drawer at sa banyo. Ano bang hinahanap niya?

"I'm just checking if that Strauss bastard is sleeping here too." Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Nang tapos na siyang magtingin tingin ay inayos niya ang damit niyang nagusot.

"You're thinking that I am sleeping together with Cross!?"

"Well, hindi mo kami masisisi. After what Pierce said that you and that bastard Strauss shared a kiss --"

"Oh God. Shut up Exene! And he has a name, okay? It's Cross. Not bastard Strauss."

"And now, she's taking his side."

"Goodness!"

"We rushed here after what Pierce told us. You love him?"

"What!?" Napatingin ako kay Exene and glared at Pierce afterwards. The latter just gave me an apologetic smile.

"They won't stop arguing kaya sinabi ko sa kanila ang kalagayan mo dito."

"That I love him?"

"What a surprise." Napatingin ako sa bagong dating at halos gusto ko nang magtago sa ilalim ng kama. Cross just got out of bed. Nagising siguro ito dahil sa ingay ng mga kapatid ko.

"C-Cross." Nakita ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Pierce dahil sa pagkautal ko.

"Don't you know that you're trespassing?" Seryosong saad ni Cross habang nakatingin nang diretso kay Ares. The latter returned Cross' intense stares at inayos ang salamin nito. Kailan pa siya natutong magsalamin?

"Sure we do. But you see, our property is here. We can't just leave her here."

"I'm sorry to say but your property signed a contract with me and I am not letting her go until it is done." Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin ko kina Ares at Cross habang sina Exene at Pierce ay mukhang nag eenjoy sa kanilang nasaksihan. At sa pagkakaalala ko, wala naman akong pinirmahang kontrata. Lihim akong napangiti. So Cross doesn't want me to go with my brothers to go back home.

"You're right. Kahit pa pilitin namin siya, hindi naman siya sasama." Napatingin ako kay Exene. Tumahimik na rin si Ares as if he agrees with Exene.

"Really?" Napataas ang kilay ni Cross kasabay noon ang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi niya sabay tingin sa direksyon ko. Agad naman akong umismid at binaling ang tingin ko sa ibang direksyon. 

"That's all what we came here. We have to go." Napatingin ako bigla kay Ares.

"Agad? Stay a little bit longer. Ang sama niyo naman."

"As much as we wanted sis, Mom and Dad did not know we came here. By now, hinahanap na nila kami. Sabay pa talaga kaming nawala tatlo. And Samantha's not really good at lying so in my estimation, right at this moment, Samantha must be telling Mom everything. So we have to go." Mahabang litanya ni Pierce at narinig ko lang ang buntong hininga ni Ares and Exene.

"And I need to go to the hospital." Saad naman ni Exene sabay tingin sa wrist watch nito. Nagtatrabaho kasi siyang doctor doon.

"And Dad need some help with the negotiation he made with Ithalia and the Lesser Kingdoms" Saad naman ni Ares slightly frowning.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. I guess hindi ko na sila mapipigilan. As much as I wanted to make them stay, inisip ko na rin ang kahihinatnan kapag narito silang lahat. Tiyak na malaking gulo ang magaganap. Hindi ko alam kung gaano kalaking gulo kapag nalaman ng mga tao dito na narito ang tatlong anak ng lalake ng taong nagpalagay sa kanila dito. Iniisip ko palang, kinikilabutan na ako.

"Right. It's really better if you should go." Sang ayon ko.

Naglalakad na silang tatlo palabas ng kwarto ko nang biglang tumigil si Ares.

"Ah. About that contract you said. I understand that you have to make her to those things because she seems to enjoy it as much as you do..." Bahagyang tumingin si Ares sa'kin sabay ayos ng salamin niya at binalik ang tingin kay Cross.

"But I do hope you won't make out just anywhere. Not on your rooftop and certainly not on some random falls. I'm worried at my twin's reputation as a Princess." Saad ni Ares at agad na umalis. Tanging kami ni Cross nalang ang natira sa kwarto. At daig ko pa ang nilagnat dahil sa init ng mukha ko. Why does he have to say it?

Nakakabinging katahimikan abg bumalot sa kwarto. I can't seem to say a word after what Ares just said. That just means he saw everything. And they've been monitoring me from the very start.

"Your brother's quite an observer."

"That was not an observation. That was clearly the art of stalking." I said habang nilalabanan ang pagkautal. Damn you Ares.

Napatingin ako kay Cross as I felt his stare lingered into me. I shifted uncomfortably.

"You drink too much these days." 

He said. And that confirmed my thoughts of how I got into my room when I clearly remembered I was at the rooftop.

"The weather's getting cold here. That's why."

"As you say so." Kibit balikat niya aa if unconvinced by my words. Akmang lalabas na siya ng kwarto nang tumigil na naman siya. Sunod sunod ang paglunok ko ng laway nang bigla siyang lumingon at lumapit sa'kin. Too near that I had to look up dahil sa tangkad niya. He lowered his head para malevel ito sa akin dali dali ko namang inatras ang mukha ko palayo sa kanya. A smirk played on his lips at halos magwala na ang loob ko dahil doon. Kailan pa ako kinilig dahil sa ngiti ng isang lalake?

"You're not a good liar aren't you?"

"W-What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, he raised his hand with a small piece of paper. I wasn't sure what that was but there was some kind of scribbles on it. And that was when I realized. The paper. The bloody paper. Akmang hahablutin ko ito nang mailayo na niya ito agad. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Have you ever heard the word privacy?"

He shrugged and maintained a distance from me in case I grab hold of the piece of paper.

"I think so. But you were waving this paper in front of me last night insisting I should eat it and threatened my hands to be cut offif I don't. I am just an ordinary person so what should I do? Grab the paper of course. We don't want my hands to be cut, do we?" A mocking smile played on his lips and how I wished I could just disappear somewhere.

"Oh for goodness' sake! We know I can't cut your hands!"

He shrugged at umalis siya sa kwarto still wearing his triumphant smirk and I almost grabbed the pillow and throw it to the door.

Muntik naman akong mapamura nang bigla namang bumukas ang kwarto at sumilip siya doon.

"And by the way, you have a habit of not wearing a brassiere when sleeping. That's good for you 'cause I have read an article about wearing brassieres when sleeping and cancer but please, if someone knocks on your door, try to wear one. Maawa ka sa mata ng makakakita sa'yo. Wala namang laman." He sadi at dumapo ang tingin niya sa bandang dibdib ko. Matagal nagdigest sa aking isipan ang kanyang sinabi. A smirk played on his lips at sinarado ang pinto and I was left there dumbfounded. For a second there, I thought he was just concern for me ngunit hindi ko inexpect na hahantong ulit iyon sa isang insulto - a thing he's good at.

"You insulting p*****t! Get back here and I'll cut everything from you" Hindi ko mapigilang pamulahan ng mukha. Why does he keep enphasizing I'm flatchested?

Napatingin ako sa dibdib ko. They're not small. Sadyang iba ang taste ng demonyong iyon. Bakit ko ba siya nagustuhan? Damn. Binabawi ko na ang sinasabi ko. I don't like him. Totally don't like him. Maybe he just put a temporary infatuatory effect on me or maybe put a spell on me ngunit nawala rin iyon kaya bumalik na ako sa dating huwisyo.

Napagpasyahan ko nalang na maligo at mag ayos. I stayed in my room and pretended asleep. I don't want to hear him bossing me around today. I'm too tired.

Nang bumaba ako ay naabutan ko si Cross na nakaupo sa sofa at nanunuod ng TV. I noticed that hindi na masyadong mainit sa labas. Naramdaman niya ang presensya ko kaya tumingin siya sa'kin. He eyed me from head to foot.

"We're going somewhere."

"What?"

"Let's go." Saad niya at pinatay ang TV. Wala akong nagawa kundi sumunod nalang.

Habang naglalakad kami ay tanong ako nang tanong kung saan kami papunta ngunit tahimik lang siya. Napansin kong dumadaan kami sa parehong daan noong papunta kami sa bahay ni Lola Karing.

"Are we going to Lola Karing's house?" Tanong ko hoping that he'll answer ngunit wala pa rin.

Napadaan kami sa Manivian falls at naalala ko anh sinabi ni Big Max na dito inilibing ang pusa niyang si Vanesa. Maybe I'll pay a visit kapag nakauwi na kami.

To my surprise, lumagpas kami sa bahay ni Lola Karing.

"Cross?" Napatingin siya sa'kin.

"Yeah?" Sa wakas sumagot rin ang isang 'to.

"Where are we going?"

"Malalaman mo rin." Saad niya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Sumunod nalang ako.

Maya maya pa ay tumigil siya sa paglalakad. I roamed my eyes around at napataas ang kilay ko. It's all trees in here. The place we're standing is spacious ngunit pinapaligiran ito nang mga puno. A huge rock is situated on our right at halos hindi mo na ito mahahalatang bato dahil sa mga halaman na tumutubo dito. Sumunod ako kay Cross nang maglakad siya papunta sa malaking bato. And I was surprised how he shoved the vines to the side and showed me a magnificent view.

Sa likod ng malaking batong iyon is like a new world. This island never failed to surprise me everytime! Sumunod ako sa kanya nang magsimula siyang maglakad and as soon I entered, rinig na rinig ko ang ragasa ng tubig. Hula ko'y konektado ito sa Manivian. There's a huge water basin na agad kong ikinagalak. Gusto kong magtampisaw doon ngunit naalala ko ang nangyari the last time I decided for a swim. I certainly don't want to embarass myself anymore. And what's more embarassing is the fact that my brothers may be out there watching us. If another situation happens, hinding hindi ko kakayanin ang kahihiyan.

"If you wanted to swim, go ahead. Don't worry, there's no eel there. Just frogs." Napangiwi ako dahilan para tumawa siya nang mahina.

"I wanted you to meet someone." Napatingin ako sa kanya. Sumunod ako nang maglakad siya. And we stopped in front of a square stone. May mga preskong bulaklak sa paanan ng bato. And alam ko na agad ang ibig sabihin noon.

Napatingin ako kay Cross and sadness is visible in his eyes.

"Mom." He said. Almost a whisper but enough for me to hear it. Bigla naman siyang tumingin sa'kin and signalled me to greet his Mom too. And I did.

Nagtataka lang ako kung dito ba namatay ang kanyang ina. Kung katawan ba ng ina niya ang nasa ilalim ng batong iyon. Cross seemed to read my thoughts nang magsalita siya.

"Her body's currently in Macedon. I made this myself para dalaw dalawin ko since I can't go to Macedon for now."

"I see." Suddenly I felt sadness. I felt his sadness. Kahit hindi niya ipahalata iyon ay ramdam ko. Nangungulila na siya sa kanyang ina. Ni hindi niya madalaw ang tunay nitong puntod.

Mahabang katahimikan ang sumunod. We were indulged in our own thoughts, thinking of all the possibilities  that could have happened if we chose the other way laid upon us. I had my own regrets and what ifs. And I am certain Cross had his too. And I can't bear to even think about it.

The spell that seemed to bind the silence was broken when Cross spoke.

"We should go." Napatingin ako sa kanya nang tumayo siya kaya agad na rin akong tumayo. He looked at the stone he placed there in remembrance of his mother and I did too. I said my goodbyes and Cross was silent. I know he was saying his goodbyes.

We made our way back to where we walked earlier and that's when I remembered something.

"Cross. Let's stop at the falls just for a minute." He stopped walking and eyed me.

"You want to swim again?" He raised his brow.

"No. I have to meet someone."

And his brow even rose higher.

"And who would that be?" He faced me with eyes scanning my whole being as if expecting to find answers by doing it.

I waved my hand impatiently and started walking ahead of him.

* * *

Pabalik balik ang tingin niya sa akin at sa malaking bato hindi kalayuan sa Manivian.

"So...you're saying, ito pala ang sinasabi mong dadalawin mo?" Saad niya habang nakatingin sa bato. Tumango tango naman ako.

"Si Vanesa. I promised Big Max that I will visit his cat once I got the time."

"I see." Napatikhim siya at napatingin sa'kin. "So what're you gonna do after here?"

Napatingin ako sa tubig ng Manivian Falls. At mukhang nakuha niya ang ibig kong sabihin dahil napatingin din siya sa tinitingnan ko.

"Don't tell me you actually wanted to go swimming?" Tanong niya na ginantihan ko ng ngisi.

"Hindi naman na ako nakashorts ngayon. Mabuti nalang. Kaya okay lang." Napataas ang kilay niya

"So what if sa damit mo pumasok? Ah. I think that's alright. Wala namang iipit sa eel kapag nagkataon. You're flat, remember?" Hindi ko alam na kaya niyang mag assure ng tao gamit ang kanyang specialty sa pang aasar. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin dahil walang patutunguhan kung makikipagsagutan pa ako sa kanya.

Agad akong lumusong sa tubig and I shivered as I felt the water touch my skin. Agad akong umupo sa batong naroon and watched the waterfall.

Maya maya pa ay naramdaman kong may lumusong sa tubig.

"I thought hindi ka maliligo."

"May sinabi ba ako?" Napaismid nalang ako. Sungit.

Hindi na masyadong mainit dahil malapit na ring mag alas kuwatro sa hapon. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata and all I heard was the rasping of the trees as it danced with the wind and the peaceful flow of water na nagpapakalma sa sistema ko.

I opened my eyes and looked at Cross. And I was surprised to see him close his eyes too. Napangiti nalang ako. I hope his mind is peaceful right now.

"Cross."

"Hmm?"

"Tell me about your childhood."

"I'm too tired."

"Sige na. Wala naman tayong ginagawa dito." I heard him chuckled. Well more like a mocking chuckle.

"Believe me, there are many things a man and a woman can do." Idinilat niya ang kanyang mga mata and looked at me. "Specially if they're alone in an isolated place." Hindi ko maiwasang pamulahan ng mukha dahilan para humalakhak siya ng tawa na labis kong ikinagulat. He juat laughed.

"Silly. What were you thinking?" He said in between his laughter. Damn. Ako pa ang lumabas na dirty minded ngayon.

"Ways how to kill you."

"Nah. You can't do that. You can't even touch an eel."

"Tsk." I muttered and watch the waterfall instead. Wala kaming pag uusapan ngayon.

"Three days after you arrived here, I received a news that my Dad was killed by my uncle." Napatingin ako sa kanya. And I was shocked by his news too. Alam kong tapos na ang giyera sa Dark Monarch ngunit hindi ko natanong kay Pierce kung anong nangyari kay Deflon.

"I'm sorry."

"No. We should be the one sorry. It's rude but I think my Dad should pay for all he did." Nakatingala siya sa tuktok ng falls habang nagsasalita. Ramdam kong nalulungkot rin siya sa pagkawala ng kanyang ama. It's his dad afterall.

"My Dad. He changed when my Mom died." Panimula niya. I drifted my gaze from his face to the waterfall and prepared my ears for the things he's about to say,

Because I'm about to hear his tale.