MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 7 : An Assassin For A Companion

It's been four days since the ninja's unexpected visit. May improvement na rin akong nakikita sa pakikitungo ng mga tao sa'kin. Kung noon ay lahat ng populasyon nila ang ayaw sa akin, ngayon parang kalahati nalang.

I stopped what I was doing nang makitang nakaharang ang dalawang paa niya. I glared at him but he seemed too bored to even care. I moved the mop at sinadya ko talagang tamaan ang paa niya. He looked at me at sinamaan ako ng tingin. Sinamaan ko rin siya ng tingin. How can I clean kung nakaharang ang paa niya?

I motioned my head to lift his feet up and he boredly lifted it up.

"Alam mo, mababawasan ang boredom mo if you help me clean this whole house instead."

"Too tired."

"Tired? Isn't that supposed to be my line? All you did was boss me around!"

"Exactly. I'm too tired bossing you around. I did not know it would be this tiring." Honestly, konting konti nalang masasapak ko na ang demonyong 'to. Pinipigilan ko lang ang sarili kong hampasin siya ng sofa.

"Glaring won't kill me, Princess." He muttered habang nakatutok pa rin ang inaantok niyang mga mata sa TV.

"At least I tried." I glared at him once again and continued what I was doing. Tapos na rin ako sa paglalaba. God! My arms are about to rip from my body. How did I end up being a servant of a devil?

I just hope Ares or Pierce will find me already at kunin na nila ako dito. But knowing Pierce's ability, he's like a surveillance camera na may mga mata kahit saan, he probably have located me already. But there's a voice in my mind that doesn't want to go home yet. It's paradise here. At gusto kong manatili muna dito kahit sandali lang.

Even though I ended up being a maid to a perverted delinquent, I'll try my best na hindi siya hampasin ng lamesa. You might find me floating around their lake. And we don't want that to happen, right?

Agad kong binuhat ang isang timbang tubig na kulay brown na dahil sa mop. Kung titingnan mo ang kulay ng tubig para akong naglinis sa gitna ng palayan. Bakit ang dumi nito?

"Make that quick. You have to buy groceries later." Napatingin ako sa kanya and exasperatedly sighed.

"Me? Ako lang? Mag-isa?"

"You heard me."

"Are you nuts? Alam mo namang halos buong populasyon ng mga tao dito ayaw sa'kin and now you're going to send me to buy some groceries? Alone!? Do you want to find me floating around the lake, Strauss?"

"I'm tired. Shut up." Kung hindi lang ako pinigilan ng pagod ko, kanina ko pa sinaboy sa kanya itong isang timbang tubig na kulay brown.

"Alright. Maghahanap nalang ako ng makakasama." Kung kanina'y nakafocus ang attention niya sa TV, ngayon, he is darting a glance towards me as if I said something foreign.

"Who?" Tanong niya habang naniningkit ang mga mata. I just shrugged.

"Maybe someone will offer his or her help." Mas lalong naningkit ang singkit niyang mga mata.

"You just said almost all of the people here hated you."

"Exactly! Then why the freaking hell are you sending me off alone to buy some groceries? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung saan makakabili."

"Remember that time we went into Lola Karing's shack?"

Of course! Bakit ko makakalimutan ang araw na iyon? It was memorable-but not in a positive way.

"You mean that market na nadaanan natin?" He looked at me boringly.

Sinimangutan ko siya.

"Pray I will get home alive."

He went back into watching TV. What am I expecting? Na magbago ang isip niya't samahan nalang ako? No. Get used Muriel. He's a devil, alright.

I immediately washed myself and just wore a tee and jeans. I looked at Cross na nanonood pa rin ng TV. Wala talaga siyang planong samahan ako. Sinamaan ko nalang siya ng tingin at lumabas ng bahay.

I also wore a cap atleast to cover my face. Halos lahat ng taong nakasalubong ko, they smiled at me. Some even wished me a good day. Oh how I hope my day will be good today. I am known to be Life's favorite victim. Me being here in this island is one perfect example.

"Holy heavens -- " napatalon ako sa gulat when I heard a sharp sound and a sharp thud beside me. Nang tingnan ko ito, it was a sharp metal blade. Naningkit ang mata ko as I examined the sharp thing. Actually, it doesn't need any examination for me to identify who the owner of these blades.

"Flux." I muttered as I turned behind me to confirm my thoughts. Ngunit walang tao sa likuran ko. I scanned my eyes around to see his glowing white hair ngunit wala akong nakita. I looked at the blades again at nagmadaling naglakad papalayo sa mga ito. Mahirap na. They might explode.

I arrived at my destination without any troubles. I heaved a deep sigh and stared at the small piece of paper in my hand which contained the list of the things I should buy.

Napatingin naman ako sa palengke that seemed impossible to enter. Napakaraming tao ang naroon. Hindi ko maiwasang isiping makakalabas pa ba ako ng buhay mula doon. I cursed the devil again. Kung siya sana ang narito ngayon, the people here would make a way for him and that would be so much easier. Why is he doing this to me?

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Wala na akong magagawa. I'm already here and cursing that jerk won't help me. Inayos ko ang sombrerong suot ko and forced my way in the crowd.

Halos himatayin ako sa amoy. The foul odor from the displayed fishes, the smell of heat, and the smell of sweat from the people all combined to make my head ache. Hindi pa rin ako nakakalabas mula sa kumpulan ng mga tao and when I saw a not so crowded place, halos lumundag na ako sa tuwa.

I managed to get out of the hell pit and smiled triumphantly nang makalabas ako doon. I looked at the crowd where I just came out at napangiwi. Inamoy ko ang sarili ko and was thankful na hindi ako nangangamoy pawis.

Akmang maglalakad na ako nang may mabangga akong bata -- wait no, siya ang bumangga sa'kin. His brown hair is a mess at marumi ang mukha niya. Nakaupo siya sa lupa dahil sa impact ng pagkakabangga niya sa'kin.

I leveled my face to his and smiled. I saw something red and round na tinatago niya sa loob ng kanyang damit. Akmang tutulungan ko na siya patayo nang may marinig akong sigaw ng isang lalake. May dala itong kahoy.

"'Wag mong pakawalan iyan! Magnanakaw ang batang iyan!"

I looked at the child and horror can be seen in his eyes. If he's caught he'd be beaten to a pulp. Napatingin ako sa mansanas na tinatago niya. Napatingin din siya sa'kin. His eyes pleading. I smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Umalis ka na. Ako na ang bahala dito." Agad naman siyang ngumiti at tumakbo papalayo.

Nang makarating ang matanda sa gawi ko, masama ang tingin na binibigay niya sa'kin. Oh god.

"Babayaran ko na ho ang mansanas --" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang hilahin ako ng lalake.

"Kasabwat ka siguro ng batang iyon, ano?" He said while still dragging me. His nails are already diggin into my skin and it stings.

"Hindi po! Babayaran ko nalang po ang kinuha niyang mansanas!"

Binigyan niya ako ng nakakamatay na tingin.

"Bayaran mo ako pagkatapos kitang parusahan. Hinayaan mo lang siyang makalayo at hindi ko matatanggap iyon. Kaya ikaw nalang ang paparusahan ko." I used all my force to get off from his strong grip and luckily, I did.

"Hindi naman po yata tama --" hindi ko na naman natapos ang sasabihin ko nang makita ko siyang akmang ihahampas na ang kahoy sa'kin. I closed my eyes and waited for it to land on my body ngunit wala akong naramdaman. Instead, I heard a cry from that old man.

Nang buksan ko ang mga mata ko, I saw him sitting on the ground while holding his hand na may nakatusok na-- wait, is that a metal blade? It looked exactly the same as the one I saw earlier.

"Shame on you. I will pay for all your rotten apples. You corrupted asshole." May narinig akong babaeng nagsalita and was surprised to see a well dressed lady. Nakawhite tshirt siya na pinaibabawan ng black coat, she wore black jeans and a black combat boots. We have the same taste in clothing, I see. Nakalugay ang buhok niyang kulot sa dulo and her face is bare yet I can say she's a beauty. Matatalim ang tingin niya and her features are fierce.

Napatingin siya sa'kin ang signalled me to follow her. Agad naman akong sumunod sa kanya while looking at the man na naguguluhan kung anong uunahin niya-ang sugatan niyang kamay o ang perang binigay ng babae na nakakalat sa lupa.

"You're not from here." I said. Halata naman sa kanya.

"You too." Napansin niya sigurong nagulat ako kaya tumingin siya sa'kin. "You're Princess Tamina, right?"

I slightly nodded and she gave me a light bow. We continued walking. Nang makita kami ng iba'y sila na mismo ang tumatabi para padaanin kami. I don't know is she's giving them glares or what but the people here seemed to fear her.

"Those metal blades, was that yours?" I looked at her. Napatingin naman siya sa'kin and recognition painted on her face.

"Oh. It was you who almost got hit with my blades. I'm sorry. It slipped from my hand. I was about to apologize to you but you suddenly ran." I gave her an awkward smile as I recalled what happened earlier. I ran because I thought those might explode. Damn this paranoia.

"Buy the things you need. I'll accompany you hanggang sa matapos ka. As what I've observed, most of the people here doesn't like you." I glanced on my surroundings.

"Tama ka." Nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang tumigil sa paglalakad.

"That was rude of me. Your Highness, I am June Brianna Atkinson. An assassin." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang self introduction niya. Assassin? Bakit ba lahat ng nakikilala ko mga -- what should I call it? Bizarre? Extraodinary?

I smiled at her awkwardly. Should I introduce myself too? Tamina Muriel Ailani Magnussen. A Princess.

I shook my head for my stupid thoughts.

Surprisingly, natapos ko ang aking pamimili nang matiwasay thanks to Bree - that's what she wants me to call her - who was giving off a scary aura that automatically translates to don't-be-stupid-to-mess-with-me. I guess assassins have that kind of vibe. Being with her reminds me of Yuan Flux. That perverted ninja has a playful yet dangerous vibe.

"Say, do you happen to know Yuan Flux?" I asked as we walked along the shore. I removed my slippers para tumapak sa tubig dagat. There are girls swimming and yes, they're naked. Bree wasn't surprised to see those women so I assumed matagal na siya dito.

"Siya ang pinunta ko dito because I had to teach that deceitful bastard a lesson. But he's concealing himself pretty good."

"Oh." Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit galit si Bree sa white ninja na iyon.

"Why do you know him?" She asked. Ano bang isasagot ko? That Flux once flew one of his shurikens to our direction causing Cross to wound his hand? Or Flux once climbed into my veranda and told me he was thinking of my body every single damn day? What should I tell her?

"If you see him again, smack his head. You have my permission. He's a perverted bastard." She said which saved from answering her first question.

"You bet!"

I saw her let out a smile and stopped walking. She then slightly bowed which made me awkward.

"This is as far as I can go, Your Highness."

"You don't have to do that, Bree. We're not in Oregon. And thankyou very much."

She smiled and walked away. When she completely disappeared from my sight, I walked my way to the devil's house. Nang makapasok ako sa loob ay walang tao. Saan na naman nagpunta 'yon?

Oh well. At least walang manggugulo sa'kin para makapagluto ako ng tanghalian.

I started doing the chores thinking that I should've invited Bree for lunch. That totally slipped my mind.

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