The Happy Prince

7. Conversation

I thought we were going outside for dinner, but I was surprised that the event would take place at the Ladrovodski mansion. There are many people, most of whom are from prominent families.

Isa sa mga bisita ay pamilyar sa akin, dahil isa siya sa makapangyarihan sa bansang ito. I saw Uncle Estefan beside Alessandro's father when they came out from the hallway.

Everyone stopped and looked at them, but what captured my eyes was not my Uncle or the father of Alessandro because it was the person behind them.

Pormal ang ngiti ng ama ni Alessandro at katabi na nito ay isang lalaki na ngayon ko lang nakita. Nawala na rin sa pwesto si Tiyo Esftefan.

Beside me is Alessandro, as I am his partner tonight. And most of the girls around are looking at me, or should I say at him.

Iba ang tingin nang ibang babae sa akin at nakikita ko ito. They look envious to me because of the person who's with me. They didn't know that Alessandro is my boss and I am here as his worker.

"Papa," pormal na tugon ni Alessandro sa ama niya. They patted their shoulders and smiled at each other. His father then looked at me, and I smiled.

"You have someone with you?" taas ng isang kilay ng Papa niya.

"Oh, this is Sylvi, my assistant," si Alessandro sa ama niya.

"I see. . ." Pormal na tingin ulit ng ama niya sa akin, at mala ulo-hanggang paa pa ito.

"She doesn't look like an assistant to me."

Ang bosses mula sa likod ng ama niya at ang kapatid ito ni Alessandro, ang nakatatandang kapatid niya.

"Edward Ladrovodski." Lahad nang kamay niya sa akin at napatitig ako. Tinangap ko rin ito.

"Sylvi Favria," ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Favria? Are you and Estefan - "

"Yes, he's my uncle." I answered and he smile, looking surprised. Napatitig na ako kay Alessandro at walang ngiti ang mukha niya sa kapatid.

"That explains why you caught my attention first on hand. You look different from all of the ladies around here." Tingin niya sa iilan. Napatingin na tuloy ako sa paligid, at lahat ng mga mata nila ay nasa amin. Ngumiti lang ako at hindi na nagsalita. Wala na akong masabi, kaya mas mabuting tumahimik na lang dahil baka magkamali pa ako sa sarili, at ito ang ayaw kong mangyari.

"So, Alessandro. What does Sylvi do at your service?" ngiti niya sa kapatid.

"Put her out on your list, Edward, and please mind your own business," igting ng panga niya habang nakatitig sa kapatid.

They look in the eyes of each other like a hawk, aiming bullets at their heart. I know this because I have studied this to specify feelings and apply them to my writings.

Mahilig ako sa mga romantic scenes, at ang nakikita ko ngayon ay titig na puno ng galit sa isa't-isa.

"Really? Does it bother you that much, Alessandro? Ngayon ko lang yata nakita ang ugali mong ganito. I wonder if Sylvi is just your assistant or more than that?" Seryosong titig niya kay Alessandro at nawala na ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

"Uhm, P-pasensya na Sir Edward. Pero talagang assistant lang po ako ni Sir Alessandro. I am here as his worker, doing a very special assignment tonight." I said and cut them of. Mas mabuting magsalita na ako dahil nakukuha na nila ang atensyon ng iilang bisita na nasa tabi namin.

"I see. . . My apologies, Sylvi." Agad na bawi niya at ngumiti na siya sa akin.

"May I know what sort of special assignment is that?" pilyong ngiti niya. Hindi na niya pinansin si Alessandro at tumabi na siya sa gilid ko.

He acted friendly toward me and even waved at the few ladies eyeing him. I look at Alessandro, and he walks away, leaving me alone now with his brother.

"It's confidential, Sir. But there's nothing to worry. Inaayos ko lang ang mga gawa niya at tinuturuan niya rin ako."

Huh, tinuturuan? He hasn't even taught me anything except to organise his old stuff. My mind speaks.

"Really? And how was he as your boss? Hindi ba masungit? He was always cold towards his people and even to his workers before. Kaya hanggang tatlong buwan lang ang mga nasa kamay niya at hindi nagtatagal ito. But seeing you tonight was the first for me because he will never take an employee with him on occasion like this."

"Well, probably he has his reason," I said and looked at Alessandro down the corner. He is now chatting with a few people that were surrounding him.

"Well, I guess so. He's very secretive. Marami siyang sekreto sa buhay at kahit ako na nakatatandang kapatid niya ay hindi ko siya kilala."

Natahimik kaming pareho habang nakatitig kay Alessandro ngayon. I look around and saw Uncle Estefan standing next to Lord Ladrovodski. Tipid lang ang ngiti ni Tiyo at sumenyas lang ako.

"Anyway, it's nice to see you tonight, Sylvi. Hopefully, this is not the last," pormal na tugon niya.

"Probably next time, if by accident, and we will see again, I would love to treat you to a drink."

"Sure, why not," I said, and he went.

Naiwan akong tahimik at napako na ang tingin ko sa mesa na kung saan may iilang finger food cocktail. Kumuha lang ako ng maiinom at mukhang matamis ito. I drink it in one go and it taste sweet. I grab another one and was about to drink it but someone took it out from me. . . It was Alessandro.

"Don't drink too much. We have to go." Sabay talikod niya at napangiwi ako sa sarili.

Nagbibiro yata siya ano? How could I drink too much when I only had one shot? And the hell, I haven't eaten anything!

Wala na akong nagawa at sumunod na sa kanya. Nakatingin pa ang iilan at hinanap nang mga mata ko si Tiyo Estefan pero wala na, hindi ko na siya nakita pa.

IT WAS dark outside and we went out on the other side of the palace. Sa likurang bahagi kami dumaan at tanging ang katawan niya lang ang tinitigan ko para masundan siya.

We're walking in the back part of the palace. I always see this part of the palace from Alessandro's place. In short, we are walking the fastest way to escape the people from the main entrance.

I couldn't believe it! We came here with a grand entry, and now we are walking like we're some culprit!

"Aray!" Nahinto ako at napatingin sa paang bahagi ko. Pero walang silbi ito dahil hindi ko man lang makita kong ano ang naapakan ko. Medyo matulis kasi ito.

"Did you step into something?"

Umilaw ito sa bandang paa ko, at nakita ko agad ang kapirasong bahagi ng sanga ng puno. Tumama ito sa gilid ng balat ko sa paa.

Napaluhod siya at mabilis ang ginawa niyang pagpunas sa dugo mula rito. Maliit lang ang sugat dahil galos lang.

"Okay na. Maliit lang naman. E, ang bilis mo kasi maglakad at wala akong nakikita," nguso ko sa kanya. E, hindi rin niya naman nakikita ang ekspresyon nang mukha ko sa kanya.

Tinapon niya lang ang sanga sa gilid at pinunasan ulit ang paa ko. Mukhang gamit niya ang puting panyo niya.

"Let's walk together." Pormal na tayo niya at hawak sa cellphone sa kamay niya. Ito pansamantala ang ginawa niyang flashlight.

Tahimik ulit kami at medyo mabagal na ang hakbang namin. Maliwanag na rin ang daan dahil sa flashlight. At mula rito ay makikita mo na agad ang maliwanag na ilaw sa bawat daan sa pwestong bahagi ng territoryo niya.

"Ba't nga ba rito tayo dumaan at hindi sa harapan? Nagpaalam ka ba sa kanila? Sa Papa mo at sa kapatid mo? We left them without them knowing that we're gone."

I know I have no right to ask him, but there was nothing that we could talk to. Gusto ko lang na may mapag-usapan kami dahil medyo malayo pa ang lalakarin namin. Alam ko kasi ang bahaging ito, at dito madalas nakikita ko ang dalawang katulong sa palasyo ng Papa niya na dumadaan patungo sa kabilang daku.

And also, I always see this pathway every time I go to the winery. Malapit lang din naman kasi, at sa bahaging kabila lang din ang ilog, na kung saan nangisda si Alessandro noong nakaraang araw.

"I have nothing to do and I feel tired. I had enough. And besides, no one notice that I have dissapeared," tipid na tugon niya at rinig ko pagbuntonghininga.

No one noticed? Hello? Pinagloloko niya yata ako? Lahat nang mga mata nang mga babae roon ay nasa kanya tapos sasabihin niya na hindi siya mapapansin kapag nawala siya? Heck!

"Did Edward asks something about me?"

"Well, he asked me what sort of work I do?"

"And?"

"Uhm, sorting drafts, old things, organising numbers like I'm learning."

He pauses a step and then looks at me. I realised the last words that slipped into my mouth as they hit a second thought, and I had probably said something.

"I'm just joking," ngiti ko sa kanya. Iba na kasi ang titig ng mga mata niya at nananakot ito.

"Of course hindi ko sinabi iyon. I said to him that it was confidential," pilyang ngiti ko. "I know what I have signed, Alessandro. Boss kita at alipin mo lang ako kamahalan." Sabay yuko ko at pormal ang ginawa kong pagtitig pabalik sa kanya.

He doesn't seem pleased but at least the facial expression on his face was a little bit better than before. At imbes na ngiti ay bahagyang pag-ngisi ang ginawa niya at nauna na siyang humakbang at sumunod na ako. Patakbo pa ang ginawa ko para maabutan siya.

Nang pareho kaming makarating sa magarbong bahay niya ay huminto ako sa entradang bahagi ng harden. He looks at me like he's waiting for me to get close to him.

"Okay na muna ako rito. Magpapahangin lang. You can go ahead."

"Hindi pa ba sapat ang pagpapahangin na ginawa mo habang naglalakad tayo?"

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko at napalitan ng ngiwi ito. Ibang klase nga naman siya ano.

"Well, iba naman kasi iyon. Naglalakad nga tayo pero hindi naman ako makahinga dahil sa' yo," saad ko sa sarili. I did not even say it loud enough to hear him but I guess he heard it.

"I heard you, Sylvi." He stepped towards me and stopped when he was finally half a meter.

"Gabi na at hindi maganda sa isang babae ang nandito na mag-isa. If you want some fresh air, you can do that on your bedroom balcony. At least there, no one will grab you in the dark." He smirked and then walked away from me.

Gusto ko lang naman magpahangin pero bakit parang iba ang dala ng mensahi niya sa akin. I left with no choice but to follow him inside. Bahagya pa ang ginawa kong paglingon sa likod at nakakatakot nga naman ang dilim kaya mas binilisan ko na ang hakbang ko papasok.

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C.M. LOUDEN