MISSING ROYALTY

Chapter 5 : Attempted Murder From 22 Years Ago

Yesterday, kulang nalang sugurin nila ako at gutay gutayin dahil sa sama ng tingin nila sa'kin pero ngayon, habang naglalakad ako sa dalampasigan, maraming bumati sa'kin ng 'magandang araw'. Nakakaparanoid dahil baka mamaya may plano silang surprise attack laban sa'kin.

"Say, why are they greeting me now?" mahinang bulong ko kay Cross na naglalakad katabi ko. Blanko lang ang ekspresyon niya na akalain mo'y walang pakialam sa mundo pero ang totoo'y kung anu-anong kamanyakan na ang naiisip niya. Deceiving devil.

"Why are you asking me? Ask them." Sinimangutan ko lang siya. I should get used to his bitchy attitude. Daig pa babae nito.

"Ate, para sa'yo daw po." Napatingin ako sa batang lalake na taga bewang ko lang. May dala siyang isang pirasong rosas. Napatingin ako kay Cross at mukhang naiinip na siya.

"Kanino galing?"

"Kay Kuya Flux." Flux? Di'ba siya yung puting ninja?

Napatingin ako sa rosas at nag iisip kung tatanggapin ko ba iyon o hindi. Baka mamaya 'pag tanggapin ko matatanggal ang mga petals tapos magiging shuriken at tutusok sa'kin. O di kaya ay 'pag hinawakan ko na ito, tataas ang tinik at matutusok ang kamay ko. See how paranoid I am?

Pero hindi naman siguro mangyayari 'yon hindi ba?

Akmang tatanggapin ko na ang bulaklak nang maunahan ako ni Cross. Kinuha niya ito at agad umalis ang bata. Bigla naman niya itong itinapon sa lupa, kinuha ang kanyang baril at pinagbababaril ito hanggang sa gutay gutay na ang bulaklak. Pati ba naman bulaklak walang pinapatos ang kademonyohan niya.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm too tired to answer," he said and raised his left hand. Nang tingnan ko kung anong ginagawa niya, his middle finger is raised. Sino namang binubwesit niya?

"What are you doing?"

"Too tired to answer," sabi niya at nagsimula na namang maglakad. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pupunta because he just dragged me out here. Alas tres na ng hapon and what I did all day was clean the house na hindi ko natapos kahapon and do the laundry.

"Ako dapat nagsasabi niyan. Ako ang naglinis ng bahay and I am bloody tired. Magpapahinga na sana ako kanina but you just dragged me out of here. Bakit mo pa ba ako isasama?" Maktol ko kaya napahinto siya sa paglalakad at tiningnan ako.

"Your good deed last night spread like wildfire on the island. That's why everyone is greeting you. That only means that you are accepted on this island. No one will threaten to kill you anymore." I felt my eyes twinkling while listening to him.

"Then that means I am no longer your prisoner!" I saw him smirked.

"Wrong. Since you are already accepted on this island, everyone will consider you as one of them. You know what that means?" Bakit pakiramdam ko hindi maganda ang sasabihin niya?

"N-no."

"The people here especially the guys will treat you like the other girls here. So they'll--"

"Alright. Stop. I get it."

"So you are still under my protection and my prisoner."

"Oo na!" Sinimangutan ko lang siya and he just smirked. Devil.

Maya maya pa ay nakarating kami sa isang lugar na parang palengke. There are vegetable vendors on each side of the road. May nagtitinda rin ng mga prutas. And I think it's not just fruits and vegetables they're selling. May nakikita kasi akong iba't ibang bagay. Maraming tao ang naroon and I don't think makakalusot ako ng buhay.

"You don't mean to cross there--" 

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang makita kong wala na pala si Cross sa tabi ko. Nagsimula na pala siyang maglakad. Tumakbo naman ako para makasabay sa kanya. How can he just leave me like that?

"What's this place called?" Tanong ko sa kanya nang sumulong na kami sa nagsisiksikang mga tao. Now that I am inside the swarm of people, mas nakita ko kung anong itinitinda nila. There are jewel vendors. Napatingin ako sa isang hairclip that immediately caught my attention. Unfortunately, hindi na ako nakahinto para tingnan iyon nang mas mabuti because Cross kept on walking. May mga nagtitinda din ng mga vase. At iba pang mga kagamitan. It's fun here. Kahit masikip.

Cross was walking calmly at ang mga tao na mismo ang tumatabi para bigyan siya ng daan. Okay? Why are they like that to him? Sumunod naman ako sa kanya para hindi na ako sumingit sa nagsisiksikang mga tao doon. I glanced at the sides and I can still see women glaring at me. Well, I did a good deed last night and I don't expect them to approve of me right away.

Thankfully, nakaraos kami doon nang buhay. Well, there were multiple glares I received from the people there especially the women. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa kasama ako ni Cross or maybe because I am always a hateful creature for them. I sighed.

"Where are we going?"

"To Lola Karing's house."

"Magpapaturo kang magpaanak?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang napatigil si Cross at sinamaan ako ng tingin. Tumikhim nalang ako at nagpaling linga sa paligid.

All I remembered was that we walked for a few minutes and we walked past by a falls. Man, that was a sight to behold. Gusto ko sanang manatili doon and let Cross get to Lola Karing's house alone pero hinila lang niya ako.

Maya maya, narating namin ang bahay ng Lola Karing na tinutukoy niya. It was a shack. Vines were hanging on the huge trees surrounding the and it curtained most part of the shack. And surprisingly, it looked...stylish. May usok na lumalabas mula sa maliit na bahay at hindi ko mapigilang isiping maybe this is a sorcerer's house?

Cross went inside and I let out a small squeak when I saw a huge pot na nakapatong sa apoy. Is this really a sorcerer's house?

"Anong sadya niyo rito?" Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Cross sa gilid namin and saw an old woman reaching something on a cabinet. When she finally reached what she want, naglakad ito papunta sa malaking bangang nakasalang sa apoy at inilagay iyon doon. Wait, was that a tail? I felt a shiver down my spine kaya binalewala ko nalang ang nakita ko.

"I need to get some ingredients. Mang Kaloy's wife just delivered her firstborn."

"Hindi ako nakakaintindi ng Ingles, Cross. Alam mo iyan." Narinig kong tumikhim si Cross. Lola Karing took a long stick and mixed whatever's inside that pot. I don't even want to know what.

"Pasensya na po. Kailangan po namin ng mga sangkap. Kakapanganak lang ng asawa ni Mang Kaloy."

"At sinong nagpaanak sa asawa niya? Wala ako kahapon dito," she said habang hindi pa rin tumitingin sa amin. She was still mixing something at hindi pa rin ako nagkakainteres malaman kung ano iyon.

Cross's head turned towards me kaya napatingin din ang matanda sa akin. She eyed me from head to toe and stared at my face.

"Tingnan mo nga naman. Hindi ko akalaing pagkatapos ng dalawampu't dalawang taon, magkikita ulit tayo. Magandang hapon, prinsesa." She curtsied at me. I looked at her questioningly. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? At kilala niya ako? Oh well. Maybe the news of me na napadpad lang sa isla nila isang gabi ay nakaabot rin dito. Mukhang nabasa niya ang tanong ko and she let out a dry smile.

"Ako ang nagpaanak sa mahal na reyna dalawampu't dalawang taon na ang nakakalipas. Kambal kayo."

"G-ganun ho ba?" I bowed slightly. "Maraming salamat ho." Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa niya. Well it was a creepy laugh. Anong meron? Did I say something funny?

"Hindi mo dapat ako pinapasalamatan. Nagpanggap akong doctor ng palasyo para paanakin ang ina mo at para...paslangin kayo ng kakambal mo." Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

"A-ano?" I can't believe I'm actually hearing this from the one who attempted to murder me 22 years ago. Holy teacups!

"Narinig mo ako. Galit ako sa pamilyang Magnussen. Nang malaman ng hari ang nais kong gawin, agad niya akong pinarusahan at inilagay dito. Ako dapat ang magpasalamat sa iyo. Kung hindi dahil sa inyo ng kakambal mo, hindi ako mapupunta dito. Dito na umikot ang buhay ko."

"B-bakit hindi niyo natuloy?" I wanted to slap myself for asking that. Minsan hindi ko mapigilan ang curiosity ko. May kasabihan pa namang Curiosity kills the cat. Sana naman hindi ako matiyempohan.

"Nang makita ko ang kakambal mo, gusto ko siyang ipakasal sa kaisa isang apo ko. Kaya hindi ko na itinuloy." Gusto kong gumulong sa sahig niyang nababalutan ng mga balat ng hayop. That is the lamest reason I've ever heard. Anong ipakasal? Ares isn't interested in marrying anyone at the moment as far as I know.

She must've read my thoughts kaya mahina siyang tumawa.

"Nagbibiro lang ako. Nang akmang sasaksakin ko na kayong dalawa ng kakambal mo, naabutan na ako ng ama mo kasama ang ibang mga guwardiya. Kaya hindi ko natuloy."

Hindi makapaniwalang napasinghap ako. That was a very close call. If my father were a minute late, hindi na sana ako nabubuhay ngayon. Good heavens.

"Yes. You've introduced yourselves. The victim and the killer. Hurray. Now, bigyan mo na kami ng mga sangkap. Mang Salve needs it-- kailangan na namin."

"Ang pasensya mo'y kagaya pa rin ng dati." Kumuha siya ng isang bagay na nababalot sa isang tela. "Hugasan mo ito sa tubig ng Manivian. At hindi kayo aalis ng lugar na ito nang hindi kayo naliligo doon. Kailangan ninyong linisin ang sarili niyo dahil kayo'y pumasok sa bahay ko." Napataas naman ang kilay ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit awtomatiko na itong tumataas. This is just the same as Cross' smirk where all his facial muscles always cooperated whenever he does that. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tinutukoy niyang Manivian pero pakiramdam ko'y ang falls ang tinutukoy niya.

Gusto kong magdiwang dahil makakaligo ako doon. It has always been my dream to swim in a river, a lake or a falls. Seems like matutupad ko na iyon. Look how far I've come. Naglalakad kami ngayon papunta sa falls at malapit ba kami base sa naririnig kong agos ng tubig.

"You don't have to take a bath. Heed my advise." Napalingon ako kay Cross. Dadamayin niya pa ako sa kakilljoy-an niya? Kung ayaw niyang maligo edi ako na lang ang maliligo.

"Gusto kong maligo. It's still 4:30 in the afternoon."

"You really don't need to follow her orders. We just have to wash these things she gave me and we're off."

"Hindi ako maliligo dahil sinabi niya. I've always wanted to swim in a lake."

"This ain't a lake, Your Highness."

"Any body of water will do except the sea."

"Then that will do."

"Yes." It was late when I realized na sa liniliguan ng kalabaw siya nakaturo.

"What, no!" Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin which he responded with a smirk.

"Then go ahead. Swim 'till 5:15. I'll be sleeping right here." Nakita ko siyang yumuko doon and washed the cloth and something wrapped inside it. Agad kong hinawakan ang tubig and it was very cold. The temperature sent chills down my spine and made me excited.

"Don't bother removing your clothes. There's nothing to check out anyway." I saw Cross lying comfortably on a reclined rock. Gusto ko tuloy itaob iyon at hayaan siyang maipit. Such perverted bastard.

"Hah! As if maghuhubad talaga ako sa harapan mo! This will never be for your eyes." Nakita ko siyang itinukod ang isang braso sa hinihigaan niya and rested his faces on his palm at nakataas ang kilay na nakatingin sa'kin.

"Really? I've seen you on your brassiere."

"That's different!"

"Malulugi ang titingin sa dibdib mo. Puro foam."

"God damn it, Devil! Can't you just insult me inside your mind?" He just shrugged at pinikit na ang mga mata niya. Inirapan ko lang siya at tumapak na sa tubig. I shivered when I felt it touch my skin. For goodness' sake! I was just wearing a short shorts dahil nilabhan ko pa kanina ang mga jeans ko.

Agad akong lumusong and felt very refreshed when I felt my hair became wet. Tiningnan ko si Cross and he is sleeping. I clicked my tongue. I don't know if I should be happy or insulted when he said I am not that attractive. Sarap sapakin eh. Sinimangutan ko lang siya and started swimming happily when I felt something.

Agad nanayo ang balahibo nang gumalaw iyon. And it felt like something slimy. Something I really hate. At ayoko kong isipin na baka tama ang hinala ko.

"Cross." I wanted to choke myself dahil sa hina ng boses ko. It was meant to be shouted but it came out as a whisper. Damn, throat.

Once again, gumalaw ito and that's the time I panicked. Nagsisisi na ako kung bakit ako nagsusuot ng shorts ngayong araw. Sana hindi ko nalang nilabhan ang mga jeans ko. Holy teacups and royal party!

"CROSS!!" I saw him sprang up ang looked at me. Iritado ang mukha niya dahil nadisturbo ko ang pagtulog niya but his killing aura is the least of my concerns.

"What!?" I felt my lips quiver as I attempted to say a word. I stood there frozen as I felt that thing moving. Until I felt my cheeks damp with tears. I was crying!

"T-there's . . . T-t-there's--"

"Damn it, woman." Nakita ko siyang lumusong sa tubig at lumapit sa'kin. Nagtagpo na ang mga kilay niya habang nakatingin sa'kin. He scanned me.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"I--I c-can't--"

"Say it! f**k!"

"There's something slimy and long stuck between my shorts and --- HOLY MOTHER OF TEACUPS! CROSS! GET IT OUT! IT'S MOVING! IT BLOODY MOVED! GET IT OUT OF MY THIGHS!!"

"WHAT!?"

Wala akong pakialam kung paano niya ilalabas 'yon. The most important thing to me right now is to get this slimy thing off between my thighs.

***