The Happy Prince

8. Psycho wicked prince

The following day was a new assignment for me. Alessandro and his brother, Edward, went somewhere, leaving me with a few things to do.

New assignment and guess what? Maglilinis ako sa lumang attic sa bahay niya. I just have to do the remaining paper works that was left unattended by him. May hinahabol daw siyang deadline at kailangan na niya ito. At talagang dito pa niya naisip na hanapin ko.

It was like before and I know this. Uncle Estefan showed it to me last time. Wala rin siya ngayon dahil kasama siya sa lakad nila, at mukhang importante yata. Isa lang naman ang bilin ni Tiyo Estefan sa akin. Huwag daw ako magiging curious sa paligid ko.

I better be of act like nothings happen. Hindi ko tuloy alam ang ibig niyang sabihin, pero heto ako ngayon naghahalungkat sa mga lumang gamit ni Alessandro at nagtitipa sa laptop na gamit ko.

Finally, I have gathered everything I wanted. I smile while looking at the pile and there's one more to do, and that is to encode them in the system. Numero lang naman ang kukunin ko para makita na tapos na sila at para maayos na ito. At pagkatapos nito? Hindi ko na alam ang susunod dahil mukhang sa publishing company na yata.

Isa-isa kong binalik pagkatapos pero sa mas maayos na lalagyan na. I am happy looking at everything around here inside the attic as it stared to have its shape. Maganda ang pwestong at mula rito sa kinatatayuan ko ay makikita mo ang lahat sa paligid ng bahay ni Alessandro.

May maliit na bintana kasi ito at pwede kang lumabas mula rito kung gusto mong umakyat sa bubong.

But I will never do that. I wasn't born to become as adventurous as climbing rooftops. My mom was so protective of me to the bones that I went to higher places. She didn't allow me. But my curiosity always tells me a different story, and I have discovered a lot.

Mas marami pa yata akong alam na sekreto tungkol sa kapit-bahay naming weirdo dahil siya madalas nakikita ko sa lumalabas sa dis-oras nang gabi.

I became curious and found that he was the culprit in an incident in the next neighbourhood. I told Mama about it, and she didn't believe me. I took evidence and was nearly thrown out when I showed it to Mama. In the end, sa mga pulis ito napunta at si Mama ang humarap sa kanila.

Simula noon, bantay sarado na ako sa Mama ko, at hindi pa sa mga manliligaw ko. I couldn't even start a relationship because I was so curious at their character before enagaging a relationship with them.

Inunat ko ang kamay sa ere dahil patapos na ako. Isa na lang at wala na, tapos na ako. I looked around trying to check if I have missed something, but it was all good and I'm happy. Paisa-isa ko rin na tiningnan ang lahat ng lumang libro na nandito. Collectibles ang mga ito, at ang taong katulad ni Alessandro ang nangungulekta ng ganito.

I took one out, read the front page, and opened the pages. It was old. The smell speaks of it. The English were hard to like I was watching an old English movie. I put it back and checked the rest of them. Until my fingers stop at the old one entitled 'the happy prince'.

Ngumiti ako dahil pamilyar sa akin ang librong ito. This is one of his best seller and I have read it. Huminto ako saglit at naghahanap lang din ako nang pwesto para maupo sa sarili.

I sat down near the window area where there was an old chair. The moon shines bright, giving more than enough light inside.

May maliit naman na lampshade rito sa loob, pero mas nagpapatingkad ang ilaw na galing sa buwan.

I know I should be in bed by now, but I could no longer sleep, so I did all these things until I fell asleep.

___

It was a beautiful night when I looked up at the sky. The moon shines so brightly, and the air speaks of something wild.

I love nature. This is the only way I can tell that I am not alone in this world. Iba ako, iba sa mga magulang ko. Strikto si Papa at kagalang-galang. Iba naman si Mama dahil mala-angel ang ugali at ganda niya.

I adore my mother so much because of her beautiful smile that it is registered to me, and I compare it to each face I see.

She loves me so much, and I adore her a lot. But an unfortunate incident took her away from us, and I have missed my mother's smile.

She didn't die naturally because some lousy demon bastard took her life. I asked Papa for revenge, but instead, he forgave the killer and was set out of jail.

How unfair was that? Lowly creature. . .

"How dare you do this? Aren't you afraid of the heavens? Your soul will rot in hell."

I smirked evilly and covered his mouth with duct tape. He's blindfolded, and both arms and legs tied up. His blood is dripping, and waiting for it to get all out of his system is tedious.

Huh, my soul will rot in hell? So, what? I bet this person's soul will rot first.

Tinangal ko na ang piring sa mata niya at namilog ito nang makita kung sino ako. The fear of how he looks at me gives me the most fulfilling feeling I have right now. But no, I will not stop here because I will go deeper until he has no life.

"Die," I whisper and put back his blindfold. I turn around and turn the gas off.

Inayos ko na ang sarili nang lumabas ako sa sekretong lagusan rito. I smile, and I could almost smell freedom coming on its way.

"How lovely. . . You are looking so majestic my lovely tree." Sabay tingala ko para matitigan ang malahiganteng kabuuan nito. Kinuha ko agad ang tungkod at maingat ang bawat hakbang ko pabalik sa mansyon.

After three days, I went back to my secret cave, and there he was. . . lifeless.

The blood dried up, but the ground absorbed it. I took off his blindfold and smiled when I saw what my victim looked like. But part of me wasn't happy when I looked at his twisted lips, hands crossing like his praying.

Hindi dapat ganito ang lalaking ito. How could he ask forgiveness in the last moment of his life? Is he prying for his sins? Or is he praying for mine?

I want my victim to smile at their grave after asking for forgiveness.

I am the happy prince, and I want all the happy things. . . I sing in silence while grabbing the Swiss knife.

My brows furrowed, and I lost my smile, trying to figure out what's the best thing to do to make him smile. Until, okay, I see. . .

No point to make his eyes open. So let's dig out this thing. . . Isa-isa kung tinangal ang mata niya at nakamamangha nga naman ang paglubog sa balat nang matang bahagi niya.

Hmmm. . . still, I am not happy. My mind speaks by looking at him in a puzzle. Hanggang sa naisip ko na mas magandang ngumiti rin siya katulad ko.

Extending his smile and performing a lift of his mouth in a smile shape will be the best option to make.

Clever! My mind speaks.

Bahagya ang ginawa kong paghiwa sa balat sa gilid ng bibig niya at inunat ito hanggang malapit sa tainga.

"Oh, that's better. . . look at you? You are now smiling." Bahagyang tawa ko. Kinuha ko ang wet wipes at pinunasan ang konting dugo mula rito.

I grabbed the other tools because I wanted to make them more appealing. I draw onto his mouth to make it more comprehensive and put some red face paint on the top of his lips. Then my brows creased and finally. . . I smile widely.

___

Natulala ako sa sarili nang mabasa ang unang pahina na ito.

I could not believe it. . . is this for real? Ito ba ang totoong laman sa libro ng 'The Happy Prince' in Alessandro? T-teka lang. . . may mali yata. Mali ito, dahil hindi ganito ang libro na nabasa ko.

This is not the happy prince because this one was a hell, psycho wicked prince.

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C.M. LOUDEN