MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 4 : Not So Bad After All

I rested my body on my bed. Yes. May kama na ako. Turns out, the fourth room I opened earlier was for me. Can you believe it? Mabait pala ang demonyong 'yon?

Nagreklamo pa ako sa kanya kanina na ilipat ko nalang ang kama ko sa pinaka unang kwarto. Duh. I don't want to hear moans in the middle of the night kung magdadala man siya ng babae. But he just rolled his eyes at me and told me that the rooms are soundproof. So magdadala pa rin talaga siya ng babae. I expected him to answer he won't bring his girls in his room anymore but well, I expected too much.

Bumangon rin ako agad at kinuha ang tuwalyang nakabalot sa buhok ko. It's been a long time since I've done this. Usually, I have Heira dry my hair and prepare my clothes. She even do my make up and all. Doing these things by myself again seems new to me.

Speaking of Heira, kumusta na kaya 'yon? She's been with me since I was 5 years old. She's seven years old when I met her. And from then, she took care of me. But during our escape with Ares and Pierce 'nung time na nahiwalay ako sa kanila, I've never seen Heira that time. Pinauna silang inilikas sa palasyo so I guess she's doing fine sa kanilang probinsya.

Napatingin naman ako sa suot kong damit. It's just a simple t-shirt and an inch above the knee khaki short. Good thing Cross and I found a store na nagtitinda ng matitinong damit. I just bought several T-shirts, jeans, slippers, and shorts.

I decided not to buy any bikini because aside from the fact na hindi ako nandito sa lugar na ito para magbakasyon and that I am considered a hateful tourist here, the people don't seem to wear bikinis while swimming. And I am not saying that I should swim nude too. Nararamdaman ko lang talagang 'pag lumusong ako sa dagat, pati dagat handang patayin ako. That's how they hate me. Pati mga walang buhay sa paligid nila seem to ooze with a hateful aura towards me too. And it's scary.

I heard a loud knock on the door and alam ko na kung sino iyon. Binuksan ko ang pinto and there he is standing in front of me habang nakacross ang mga braso sa dibdib niya. His expression is blank when he eyed me from head to toe. Can't he just do that secretly? Hindi 'yong sa harap ko talaga siya nagbibigay ng nakakainsultong tingin. The way he looked at me ay parang iniinsulto na niya ako ng ilang beses sa utak niya judging from his frowns.

"Do I need to remind you of your task?" Sinimangutan ko siya. Aling task ang sinasabi niya?

"Which one? Do I need to remind you that you wrote not just one task but bloody four of them?"

"Five."

"Anong five? Magluto, maglaba, maghugas at maglinis ng bahay. Alin doon ang gusto mong gawin ko ngayon?"

"Five. You forgot you have to entertain me."

"Uhh... Entertain you? Ngayon na?" I saw him smirked.

"How will you entertain me then?"

"I'll sing in front of you? Or dance?" 

Once again, he smirked. Nagiging habit niya yata 'yan ah.

Nagulat naman ako nang ilapit niya ang bibig niya sa tenga ko and said,

"My definition of singing is that you sing my name in pleasure. And dance? What would you prefer? You dancing on top of me, or me on top of you?" Lumayo siya sa'kin and plastered on his gorgeous face is a lopsided smirk. He made his way down the stairs.

"Make dinner." Sabi niya habang pababa siya ng hagdan. Ako? Nakatanga sa harap ng pintuan. It took me a while to digest what he said that he just talked dirty in front of me.

"p*****t!" Sigaw ko but I wondered if may pake pa siya doon.

Padabog akong bumaba ng hagdan at nagpunta sa kusina. I saw him drinking something in the counter. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at padabog na binuksan ang kanyang fridge. May laman na iyon. Kumuha ako ng mga sangkap na gagamitin ko at padabog na nilagay iyon sa mesa. Kinuha ko rin ang kutsilyo at padabog na hiniwa hiwa ang gulay.

"You know, you can't kill me just by that."

"Eh eto?" Nilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya and the knife just below his chin. Hindi man lang siya nagulat.

"I may be your prisoner, hostage or whatever you call that --"

"And my servant."

"-- but I won't be one of your bitches. Don't treat me like I am one of them, Strauss." We were indulged in our own staring contest then he clicked his tongue at bumaba ang tingin niya sa bandang dibdib ko.

"I won't treat you like one because you're not qualified anyway. Your brassiere is showing. Puro foam. Flatchested maid." Nilagok niya ang kalahating baso ng alak and smirked at me. Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

"Hoy Strauss! 'Wag mo 'kong piliting isampal 'to sa pagmumukha mo ha."

"For a princess, you are quite a vulgar talker."

"Only when you're the one I'm talking to. And you're still a high schooler why are you drinking?"

"This is a criminal's island, Princess. We have no rules here aside from not killing each other. And for the record, I am already 21 years old. I just went to that school because my father told me so." Napataas ang kilay ko. Magkasing edad lang pala kami nito. I'm 22 years old.

"Not killing each other? Eh bakit kating-kati silang paslangin ako?"

"It's because hindi ka taga rito and that you are just some idiot na naligaw. An idiot with no sense of direction. And on top of that, you're the Princess of Oregon, the daughter of the King who placed them here. D'you expect them to hug and and kiss you?" Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin

He has a point. And he just called me idiot two times in a sentence. Unbelievable.

Binalewala ko lang siya ang started cooking. If Samantha is spending her time fighting with the royal guards, Pierce on his chessboard, Exene on his cats and Ares on his library, I spend most of my time in the palace's kitchen, watching Chef Van's cooking. At mukhang magagamit ko ngayon ang natutunan ko sa kanya.

Thankfully, natapos ko ang pagluluto without throwing the pans at Cross. Tahimik lang rin naman siyang umiinom sa counter kaya matiwasay akong nakapagluto. Oh wait. He would sometimes say comments na wala dito, wala doon. Pinipigilan ko lang talaga ang sarili kong hampasin siya ng chopping board.

I served him dinner at tiningnan lang niya iyon na para bang pinag iisipan niyang makakain ba iyon o hindi. It may not look like Chef Van's cooking but it's edible.

"You won't resort to poisoning me, won't you?" I smiled sweetly at him at kinuha ang plato niya at sumubo ng isang kutsara and sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"It's edible at kung nagtatanong ka kung may lason ba iyan o wala, you got your answer. Walang nangyari sa'kin so that means you can eat it. 'Wag ka nang umarte. Kesa naman 'yong lawa ang kainin mo."

"It's law-oy."

"Whatever."

"It's my favorite food."

"Oo na!"

"Change the spoon."

"Bakit na naman?"

"You used it. Are you expecting me to use that same spoon?" Napapikit nalang ako ng mariin. Konting konti nalang masasapak ko na ang demonyong 'to. Anong akala niya sa'kin?

Padabog akong tumayo at kumuha ng kutsara. He just smirked at nagsimula nang kumain. Akmang susubo na ako nang tawagin niya ulit ako.

"Water." He briefly said kaya tumayo naman ako at kumuha ng tubig. Inilapag ko iyon sa harap niya at nilagok niya iyon. Uupo na sana ako nang binigay niya sa'kin ang baso.

"More."

"Kinareer mo na talaga ang pag alila sa'kin ano?"

"If that's what you call it."

Sasagot pa sana ako nang makarinig kami ng malakas na katok sa pintuan. Agad tumayo si Cross para buksan iyon. I just hope hindi babae 'yon. Wait. That didn't sound right. Para akong nagseselos na girlfriend. I take that back.

Sumilip ako mula sa kusina para makita kung sino ang kausap niya. It was a man. May suot itong sombrerong gawa sa -- tuyong dahon? At may nakasampay na towel sa kaliwang balikat niya. May bakas ng putik sa kanyang asul na long sleeve na damit at sa kanyang pantalon. A farmer.

"Sir Cross. Ang asawa ko. Manganganak na." Bakas ang takot sa mukha ng lalake. Pawisan siya at mukhang ang layo ng itinakbo niya.

I decided to get nearer para marinig ko ang ibang detalye.

"Where's Lola Karing?" Now that I think of it. Wala silang hospital dito. That means all of their illnesses, pinauubaya nila sa isang traditional healer. And that's Lola Karing.

"Wala siya sa bahay niya. Pakiramdam ko'y nasa pusod siya ng kagubatan para manguha ng mga sangkap."

"Is there anyone who knows how to deliver a baby other than Lola Karing?"

"Wala na po. Nag iisa lang si Lola Karing dito."

"Marunong ako." The look on their faces says that they'll kill me if I'm joking. Masama ang tingin ng lalake sa'kin and Cross looked at me questioningly.

"My younger brother is a doctor and I learned some things from him. Particularly delivering a baby."

"Are you sure?" Tanong ni Cross sa'kin at tumango lang ako.

"Bakit ko ipagkakatiwala ang buhay ng mag ina ko sa isang tulad mo?" He looked at me disdainfully na parang ako ang may kagagawan nang lahat ng lugi niya sa kanyang ani. Come on!

"Then choose. Both of them will die or you'll let me deliver the baby. Madali lang akong kausap." I crossed my arms.

"It's okay. Let's trust her for now." Cross suggested na ikinabusangot ng lalake.

"Pero Sir Cross--"

"Your wife and your child are dying this very moment. We have no other choice but to let her deliver your child." Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa ni Cross at tumango siya. Sign that he approves me to deliver the baby.

Agad kaming tumakbo papunta sa bahay ng lalake. It was just a small hut. May isang maliit na bintana where the illumination of a small candle light escapes. Gawa sa nipa ang dingding at may tatlong baitang na hagdan na gawa sa kawayan. The door is small too kaya kailangan ko pang yumuko para makapasok. The inside is neat. Their eating utensils are neatly piled on the corner pati na rin ang mga unan nila. Iisa lang ang kanilang higaan at kainan.

A sweating woman is heavily breathing on the floor. Basa na ang buhok niya dahil sa pawis. May kagat kagat siyang towel and a blanket is covering half her body. Nang makita niya ako, I saw the pleading in her eyes and a tear escaped.

Agad akong yumuko para silipin ang kondisyon niya and mukhang lalabas na ang bata.

"Kailangan niyo pong ilabas ang bata. Push!" After I said that, her cry echoed through the whole room. She is clinging to her husband's neck and is breathing heavily.

"Malapit na. One more time!" Once again, she cried and pushed so hard nahawakan ko na ang bata.

A soft cry filled the silence and the deep breathes. Buhay ang bata and it's a boy. I immediately placed it on the basin na may lamang maligamgam na tubig. I cleaned the baby and covered him with a cloth at ibinigay iyon sa ina. I looked at Cross na nasa gilid lang katabi ng palanggana. Nakangiti siya habang nakatingin sa bata and I couldn't believe what I'm seeing. I thought all he can do is a smirk.

Napansin niya akong nakatingin sa kanya at sinimangutan niya ako. His face returned to normal. His resting b***h face. Okay na sana kanina eh.

"S-salamat." Napatingin ako sa nagsalita and it was the wife. A tired yet full smile is plastered on her face. Karga niya ang bata at binebreastfeed niya ito.

"M-maraming salamat po." I heard the husband said at nagulat naman ako nang yumuko siya to curtsy.

"A-ayos lang po. Hindi niyo na po kailangang gawin iyon." Agad ko siyang pinatayo.

"Patawarin niyo kami at naging marahas ang pagtanggap namin sa inyo."

"'Wag ho kayong mag - alala. Naiintindihan ko naman po kayo."

"We have to go now. Congratulations." Bahagyang yumuko si Cross at nagpaalam na kaming umuwi.

Walang masyadong tao ang nasa labas habang naglalakad kami pauwi. Probably they're on the other side of the shore and partying. Mabuti naman. I don't want to encounter another lunatic women threatening to kill me. Just how many death threats have I received just this day alone? And I should expect more to come. Goodness.

Hearing the faint upbeat music confirmed my thoughts. Nasa kabilang bahagi nga ang ibang tao to party. This side is more peaceful at ang tanging maririnig ko lang ay ang paghampas ng alon sa buhangin at sa mga bato. How can this sound be so soothing?

"You were amazing. Thank you for doing that." Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang magsalita siya. I was surprised hindi dahil sa nagpasalamat siya sa'kin but because of the tone of his voice. For the first time, I heard sincerity.

"What--"

"And don't make me repeat what I said. It's your problem if you did not hear that." Napakurap nalang ako habang nakatingin sa likod niya habang binilisan niya ang kanyang paglalakad.

"Sarap tisurin eh," I muttered at binilisan rin ang paglalakad ko hanggang sa makasabay ko siya. He glanced at me sideways at tumikhim.

"You can enjoy the view here. Wala namang tao. That is if you want to," he said kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Right. Napansin ko nga. The view here is to die for. Pero mamatay na ako sa lamig. I should've changed my clothes before rushing out."

"Tsk. Bahala ka," sabi niya at bumilis na naman ang lakad niya. Napangiti nalang ako.

One thing I realized today is that no matter how hard a person's heart can be, there will always be a soft spot in there somewhere. Kahit gaano pa ito kaliit, there will always be one. All they need is a chance for them to show it. Sad thing is, not everyone could give them that chance. But hey. After meeting those couple and seeing Cross' change of mood after what I did there, I figured out they're not so bad after all.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad when I heard my stomach growled. 

Damn.

I did not get the chance to eat earlier. Pambihira.

***