MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 10 : A Night With the Delinquents

Inis na binunot ko ang d**o. Yes, I am currently pulling the weeds outside the demon's house. After all that drama, we're back to normal. We just kissed. We.kissed. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang nangyari kagabi. It was just nothing then why the hell can't I take it off my mind?

Cross was sick and I took care of him. I saw his weak and vulnerable side. He cried in front of me. I thought that's the start of him opening up to me. But hell, I was wrong. Kaninang umaga, he was back to being himself. A devil's pawn. No, erase that, he himself is the devil.

Pasado alas kuwatro na nang hapon at kanina pa ako naglilinis ng buong bahay. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema ng demonyong iyon because all he did all day was boss me around. After nursing him last night, ito ang ginanti niya sa'kin. Well, ano pa bang inaasahan ko sa lalakeng iyon?

"Hindi ka pa tapos diyan?"napalingon ako sa veranda kung saan galling ang boses. Speak of the devil. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin and as expected, hindi man lang siya natinag doon. He looked like he just got out of bed with his messy hair, loose white shirt and pants. And I hate to admit it but he looked really good in that appearance.

Napalunok ako ng laway as I remembered what happened last night. Agad akong nagbawi ng tingin and focused my attention instead on the damn weeds.

"Don't boss me around, devil."

"Buy me food." Was all he said at pumasok pabalik sa bahay.

Seriously? Kaya naman niyang lumabas na bakit ako pa ang pabibilhin niya? And besides, the moment I'll step out of this house, there's a seventy five chance that I'll be greeted with dagger stares or if luck leaves my side, an actual dagger might actually greet me. Doesn't he know the risks of what he wanted me to do? I am a Princess for Pete's sake! And what does he always say? I am under his protection? Then why the hell am I going out alone if that is? God! He's more complicated than me.

Pabagsak kong nilagay ang nabunot kong d**o that almost took me five minutes to pull. Nagmartsa ako papasok sa bahay and I saw him sitting comfortably on the sofa. He lazily drifted his gaze on me and at that moment, all my rants that were struggling to break free just melted and flew away. My mind went blank as it was occupied with the memories of last night. That wasn't my first kiss but how come it has this much of an effect on me? Ngunit parang balewala lang sa kanya iyon.

"W-what do you want me to buy?" I muttered and maintained my cool. I can't show him I was that affected by our kiss last night. I'll just think of it as an honest mistake. I was slightly drunk and he was drunk and sick, those things could happen.

Nabigla naman ako nang bigla siyang tumayo at pumunta sa harapan ko. I barely managed to look him in the eye. Gusto kong sapakin ang sarili ko kung bakit ngayon lang ako nagkakaganito. Not even once I felt intimidated by any man.

"Whatever happened last night and the night before that was a mistake of mine. I was drunk. Just forget about it."

It took me a moment to realize what he said. Forget? That's what I've been trying to do but strangely, I can't seem to forget about it. And I don't know but I seeemd annoyed with his request.

"I.. of course. That was after just a mistake. The night before last night I was kind of drunk too. And - er - yeah. That was just a drunk man's mistake. You're right. Let's just forget about it."

"Good." He muttered and returned to where he was sitting earlier and focused his attention on the TV.

"Same old." He answered curtly at agad na rin akong lumabas ng bahay.

As I walked my way to Maurice's, I can't stop thinking about what he said. I kicked the peeble bitterly. Is that the line he always say to his bitches after doing their deed? Did he just treat me just like he treat those women? Gusto kong sabunutan ang sarili ko. Why on earth did I even allowed him to kiss me? Why on earth did I even let myself hugged by him last night? I must be insane.

Laking pasalamat ko dahil nakarating ako sa restaurant na pinagdalhan ni Cross sa'kin noon nang buhay. The usual stares were still there ngunit hindi na ganoon kalala. Agad akong umupo sa counter and flashed a timid smile on a big man beside me. He is so huge parang kasinglaki lang ako ng braso niyang punong puno ng tatoo.

His mustache almost reached the counter table. At halos hindi na makita ang mukha niya dahil sa balbas at sa kilay niyang malapit nang magshake hands.

He was just looking at me sternly ngunit dahil sa badtrip ako kay Cross, hindi na ako nagpa apekto sa katabi ko. I focused my attention to the old man in the counter. Well, he's not really that old. Maybe around mid fifties? I granted him my smile and he smiled back too. For a man at his age, I can say he must be handsome during his youth.

Lumapit siya sa direksyon namin.

"What can I get you?" A thought crossed my mind that might be a bit dangerous but could also be fun. I need to relieve my stress.

"A bottle of your strongest drink."

"A bottle of fresh milk." Sabay kaming napalingon sa katabi ko. He did not just say milk, didn't he? Nakataas ang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa'kin. Right. He must be thinking how can a small and skinny girl like me drink something like that while he settled for milk. Or he must be thinking that I am crazy to drink in a foreign place like this.

"I know." I muttered na mas lalong ikinunot ng noo niya.

"I must be crazy, huh?" dagdag ko pa. Dumating ang inorder ko and I can see a worried expression on the old man's face. The guy beside me also received his milk. Sabay naming binuksan ang mga bote naming at sabay din naming nilagok iyon. Kalahati pa lang ang naubos ko when I decided to stop. It was strong indeed. It burned my throat.

"What must be the reason you are alone?" napatingin ako sa nagsalita. It was the old man.

"Could you please tell me your name, old man? I don't want to address you as an old man in my mind." I heard him chuckled.

"Maurice."

"Alright, Maurice. You know why I'm here. That jerk was just bossing me around all day. Who the hell does he think he is? Now I am here because he sent me to buy him some food. Is he paralyzed or something? Isn't that something he could've done by himself? Why the hell would he order me and buy his food alone? I thought I was under his protection -" tinungga ko ulit ang bote and I felt my facial muscles contract as I tasted the alcohol. This is too strong and weirdly, I liked it. 

"-tapos ngayon hinahayaan niya akong magpunta dito ng mag isa? Where was all that talk? Wait, maybe it was just all talk after all! That damned evil bastard. After what he did -" nabalik ako sa aking ulirat when I realized something. I almost said that. God!

"Excuse me, can I get another bottle, Maurice?" I smiled timidly at him at agad naman siyang umalis para kunan ako ng maiinom. I looked at the man beside me and he was just looking at me intently. Now that I stopped talking, napansin kong tumahimik ang paligid and that when I decided to look around.

I nearly sank in my chair nang makita ang mga titig ng mga tao sa restaurant na iyon. Napalunok ako ng laway. They're not mad, aren't they? I looked at the man beside me.

"Was I too loud?" tahimik kong tanong sa kanya. He was just looking at me intently. Don't tell me he's mad too? Napalunok na naman ako ng laway.

Nabigla naman ako nang bigla siyang suminghot and eventually let out a small cry. And that small cry turned to a wail. My jaw almost dropped while looking at him. He was a huge man yet he cried like a baby. Idagdag pa ang hawak niyang isang bote ng gatas. Napatingin ako sa paligid and all the people were back to normal. They were back to what they were doing earlier. Napatingin ako pabalik sa katabi ko.

"Here's your drink." I looked at Maurice to ask for help but he just shrugged his shoulders. Tumikhim ako and faced the man beside me.

"Uhm - " 

I wasn't able to finish what I was about to say dahil mas lumakas ang iyak niya. God! Ano bang pinagdadaanan ng taong ito?

"K-kung may problema ka, I can - "

"Si Vanesa." He said in between his cries. Vanesa?

"Okay? What happened to Vanesa?"

"Vanesa patay na."

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa sa kanya. Vanesa. She must be his wife or daughter.

"I'm sorry."

"Nalason si Vanesa." Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng awa sa kanya. That was just so cruel. And mabe he witnessed how his wife or daughter died.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. Is Vanesa your wife?"

Suminghot siya ng isang beses at umiling iling.

"Vanesa is my cat."

This time, my jaw really dropped. So Vanesa's not a daughter or a wife but a cat? Tinungga ko nalang ang kalahating bote na nasa kamay ko. I am drunk already. Alam ko iyon. This drink they gave me is actually very strong.

"I think you need to go home." Narinig kong bulong ni Maurice sa tenga ko.

"Why? I'm starting to enjoy it here. And since when did they play this upbeat music? I love it!" napatayo ako para sumabay sa tugtog. My head is spinning ngunit hindi ko na pinansin iyon. I was just trying to relieve my stress ngunit hindi ko naman akalaing ganito kalakas ang inumin nila. 

I felt someone grab my arm and it was Maurice.

"I will give you what Cross told you and you have to go home. Delikado ngayon dito kapag ganitong oras lalo na sayo." I looked at him questioningly.

"Your accent is quite different." I muttered at binitawan na niya ako at pinaupo sa silayang naroon. Hindi ko man lang namalayang dinala na pala niya ako sa kusina. He was looking for something at hindi na ako nag abala pang tingnan kung ano iyon.

"Yes. I am from Macedon actually. I was born there."

"Really? How did you end up here?" the moment I asked that, pinagsisihan ko iyon agad. The moment I looked at him, sadness was all over his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Maurice, I-"

"Me and my brother got separated while living there. We were still 18 years old that time. He was taken by someone I don't know and I was taken by the Monarch. That's why I ended up here." Hindi na ako nagsalita pa.

"Okay, after fifteen minutes, Cross' food will be done. So just rest in there. I'll wake you up when this finishes up." He turned his back on me para asikasuhin ang niluto niya.

"Maurice, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"You have a different language there, right? In Macedon?"

"Yes."

"So how do you say 'I like you?' in your language?"

***

"Yeahhh!" I screamed at the top of her lungs as I raised the glass. I started to move my body kasabay ng masayang musika. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako napunta sa gitna ng entablado at nagsasasayaw doon. I can also hear screams from the people around me. Indikasyon na nagsasaya rin ang mga ito.

"Let's morning the night!" I screamed habang nilagok ko ang isang basong alak. I felt my head spin and the burning sensation of my throat. Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na ngunit wala na akong pakialam doon. Hindi ko na rin matandaan kung bakit ako narito. I don't know if it was because of the beverage I drank but it seemed like I lost track of everything around me. The drink Maurice gave me was strong indeed.

I continued to dance in the middle of the dancing crowd. The girls around me started to strip naked. Somehow, hindi na ako nagulat and I don't know if it was due to the effect of alcohol or sadyang nasanay na akong makakita ng hubad na babae sa lugar nito. I still continued dancing.

When I opened my eyes, I saw everyone stopped dancing at nagpalinga linga. Napatigil na rin ako sa pagsayaw because the music stopped playing.

" 'Ey. Who stopped the music?" Tanong ko sa isang lalake and he just shrugged. Nagpalinga linga ako to see what's going on nang biglang humawi ang mga tao doon giving way to someone. When I saw who was that, saka ko naalala kung bakit ako nasadya rito. Damn. I was supposed to buy him food. Right? I stopped recalling what I was task to do dahil bigla akong nahilo. He was walking towards me hanggang sa nasa harapan ko na siya.

"Ah. Right. Same old. Yes. Maurice is still cooking it right now so --"

"Shut the f**k up. Do you know what time it is?" Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit siya nagagalit. Maaga pa naman. And besides, I was waiting for Maurice while he's cooking Cross' food.

Nagpalinga linga ako hoping to find a clock ngunit wala akong nakita.

"Uhm. 5 o'clock?" I guessed. Nabigla naman ako nang bigla niya akong hilahin sa pulso. I protested ngunit sadyang mas malakas siya sa'kin kaya wala akong nagawa kundi magpatianod nalang. Nang makarating kami sa counter, I saw Maurice sitting there giving me an apologetic look habang inaabot ang isang supot. Ah. Cross' food. Kinuha ko naman ito and gave him a smile.

"Thankyou, Maurice." I waved goodbye to him pati na rin sa mga tao doon habang hila hila ako ni Cross.

"Goodbye!!!" I shoutes hanggang sa nakalayo na kami sa restaurant doon.

Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang huminto si Cross. I roamed my eyes in my surrounding. Gabi na. I looked at the sky. The moon was bright.

"I didn't know the moon is so early today."

"f**k early. For your information Princess it's 10 pm. You went out of the house at 4. Who cooks something that takes 6 hours?" Napakamot naman siya sa kanyang ulo.

"Oh. That is weird. I really thought I was there for just one hour. And here." She extended her arms to give Cross his food ngunit hindi iyon tinanggap ng lalake.

"And you were drinking together with them! Alam mo ba kung anong pinaggagagawa mo?"

"Well, it's not like I drank and got naked there or something --"

"f**k!" She flinched nang hawakan siya ng lalake sa magkabilang balikat.

"You really had no idea, don't you? Those men were feasting their eyes on you while you were dancing there. Kung hindi ako pumunta doon --"

"You let me go there alone. You said I am under your protection but hinayaan mo lang akong pumunta doon mag isa. Ngayon nagagalit ka just because those men were feasting their eyes on me? May pakialam ka pala? Sino bang nagpapunta sa'kin dun in the first place?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagagalit sa ganoong bagay. It was no issue to me at all - going out alone. But I reckon I had to let out my rage even to the lamest reasons.

I saw how his jaw clenched and his lips formed a thin line. I mentally cursed the alcohol. He's even handsome in my eyes when he's mad. And I hate it. Why the rudy hell am I seeing him in a different light? I hate myself for appreciating every little detail of him. Since when did this start? Ah. The kiss. It must be. Maybe I had this the moment I met him here or maybe back there in the palace. I'm not sure. But one thing's clear for me though. And I just realized it now.

I think I've fallen for him the first time I saw him. And the kiss. That kiss served as the trigger for my heart to burst open.

I let out a bitter smile.

"Damn you, Cross."

And I felt slowly dragged by the darkness.

* * *