Lead the Way, Your Majesty

Prologue

Knight

I am busy reading some papers when I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said loud enough for my secretary to hear me.

Binaba ko muna ang mga papel na hawak at nag-angat ng tingin sa kapapasok lang na secretary ko. My brows furrowed, when I saw Ambriel holding a bouquet of tulips. It was so dramatic because of how huge it is. Halos yakapin na ito ni Ambriel dahil hindi kaya ng dalawang kamay niya. It also looks so expensive with the way it was meticulously arranged.

Lumapit sa table ko si Ambriel at nilapag ang bouquet. The tulips smell so good that it made me smile.

“Flowers for you, Miss. Ang gaganda akala ko kanina para sa ‘kin na, e! Charot!” Ambriel said jokingly and giggled.

I chuckled. Here she comes with her silly jokes, again.

“Ang sweet naman ng boyfriend mo, Miss. Sana all talaga may jowa.”

I arched a brow.

“Who told you I have a boyfriend?” natatawang tanong ko. “I never had one.” dugtong ko pa.

Mukha namang hindi naniwala si Ambriel sa narinig. Her mouth slightly opened forming a silly smile. I was as if she’s not buying what I’ve said.

“Weh? ‘Di nga? Fake news ka, Miss. Hindi ako naniniwala,” aniya.

“Then don’t. I’m not forcing you to believe me, though I wouldn’t deny having a boyfriend, if only I have one.” I said lazily

She still has that silly look on her face but she nodded, eventually.

“Sige na nga, naniniwala na ako, Miss. Mahirap na baka sisantehin mo pa ako, e. Charot lang!” Pagbibiro nito na naka-peace sign pang nanakbo palabas ng office ko.

Iiling-iling akong natawa sa inasta nito. Kung hindi lang magaling na secretary si Ambriel malamang nga ay unang linggo pa lang niya dito ay sinesante ko na siya.

Muli kong binalingan ang bouquet sa harap ko. I stared at my favorite tulips and admire its beauty. I smelled it, and the pleasant scent immediately stroked my nose.

Kanino kaya galing ang mga bulaklak na ito? Napansin ko naman ang maliit na card na nakaipit sa gitna ng mga tulips.

 I took the card and it reads, ‘I hope you like it’

It’s an anonymous card. I raised my eyebrow. Sino naman kaya ang pa-mysterious na ‘to?

Bigla ko naman naalala ang ganito rin kabonggang bouquet na natanggap ko dati galing sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla siyang pumasok sa isip ko. I shook my head.

No! It’s not him, Reize.

He’s mad at me so, it’s impossible that this was from him. Right!

Tumango-tango pa ako habang kinukumbinsi ang sarili.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone. Kinuha ko ito mula sa bulsa ng jumpsuit ko. I saw Isaiah’s name flashed on the screen so I quickly answered it.

“Hello,“ I said as I placed my phone close to my ear.

“Hey, Reize. Need your help. Can you come to the nearest mall?” Isaiah said on the other line. “I’ll wait in the entrance, come quickly,” he added.

Anong tulong na naman kaya ang kailangan ng lalaking ‘to?

“What nearest mall? Malapit sa office ko or sa bahay niyo?”  I asked, confused.

“Near your office,” he replied.

“Alright!” I said then hang up.

I quickly grabbed my keys and the bouquet of tulips before I went out of my office.

After fifteen minutes drive, nakarating na ako sa mall. Hindi naman ako nahirapang makita si Isaiah dahil nakaabang talaga ito malapit sa entrance ng mall. Panay na ang tingin sa orasan at phone.

“Ang tagal mo,” pabirong bungad nito sa ‘kin nang makalapit ako.

“Sorry, ah. Wala kasing traffic, e.” I sarcastically said then rolled my eyes. “Anyway, ano bang gagawin natin dito?” I asked.

“We’ll, look for an engagement ring,” he simply replied. 

With that, I stopped from walking. I turned to Isaiah with my mouth half open while my eyes widened. How can he say that as if it wasn’t a big deal?

“Oh, god! You’re finally going to propose?” I exclaimed and unconsciously hit him. Gusto kong tumili at magtatalon sa tuwa, but I refrain to do so dahil maraming makakakita.

His brow creased with my reaction.

“Aray! What was that for?” he asked, while touching his shoulder that I hit.

“Wala. I’m just thrilled and overwhelm with everything!” I replied while smiling widely.

I don’t know there’s just something fluttering about weddings and proposals that melts my heart. Para bang ang saya-saya.

I’m so happy for him he finally got her. Iba rin naman talaga ang galawan ng lalaking ‘to. Parang kahapon lang, broken-hearted pa ang isang ‘to ngayon mag-aalok na ng kasal.

“I’m not sure yet kung papakasal nga ba sa ‘kin ‘yon. Isa pa hindi naman ikaw ang ikakasal,” pangbabara nito pagkatapos ay hinigit na ako papasok sa isang jewelry shop.

Napairap na lang ako sa kawalan dahil sa narinig. Panira talaga ng mood ang lalaking ito. Natural lang na maging masaya ako ‘no, alangan naman magluksa ako.

We’ve spent hours looking for a ring in different jewelry shops. While Isaiah is busy searching for a ring, I saw something that caught my attention. Lumapit ako sa kabilang banda ng jewelry shop at pinakatitigan ang sising na nakita ko.

Ang ganda-ganda noon. It was a white gold simple twisted elegant ring, with a white sapphire at the center. Hindi ko na maalis ang mga mata sa singsing.

I bit my lower lip when a thought randomly crossed my mind. Kailan kaya?

Naalis lang ang tingin ko sa singsing nang  lingunin ko si Isaiah na tumawag.

“Reize, what do you think?” Isaiah asked.

My eyes dropped to the ring he’s holding. It was beautiful, to with a nice diamond at the center. It was pretty elegant and simple at the same time so I give him a thumbs-up.

Ngumisi ito at tumango saka ibinigay na sa staff ang singsing na napili.

Finally, after three jewelry shops we got to choose a nice ring. Wala kasi kaming mapili kanina sa pinanggalingan naming tatlong shops dahil kung hindi sobrang laki ng diyamante ay halos masilaw ka naman sa nag-uumapaw na bato ng singsing.

Lumabas na ako ng shop para roon na lang maghintay.

While waiting for Isaiah outside the shop, I saw a couple. They’re wearing printed couple shirt that that reads ‘my king’ and ‘my queen’.

Napakunot ang noo ko. I used to watch fairy tales back when I was a kid but I’ve never been interested with the king and queen pairing. I always think that a knight and a queen have much better chemistry and impact than the first. I thought it was just a simple fascination as a child, but as I grow up, while other wants a king I realize that I still prefer having a knight.

“Let’s go. I’ll treat you some icecream,” si Isaiah na parang kabuteng bigla na lang sumulpot.

Hawak na nito ang maliit na paper bag na may laman ng binili niyang singsing. Sumang-ayon naman ako sa gusto niya dahil libre na iyon. Isa pa, minsan na lang kami magkita dahil parehong abala na sa kaniya-kaniyang buhay.

Sa malapit na ice cream parlor na lang namin napiling bumili. Hindi pa siya ang sunod sa pila kaya naisip kong tanungin muna si Isaiah tungkol sa bouquet na natanggap ko. Baka kasi sa kaniya galing iyon naalala ko kasing nagpapadala siya ng bulaklak sa akin noon dahil trip niya, minsan si Savence rin pero madalang lang.

“Hey, before I forgot, ikaw ba yung nagpadala ng bouquet sa opisina kanina?” I asked.

His brows knitted in frown.

“No, why?” tanong niya pabalik.

Umiling lang ako sa tanong niya, ngunit ilang sandali pang nagtagal ang tingin niya sa akin na mukhang kuryoso kung bakit ko naitanong. Hindi nagtagal ay siya na ang sunod sa pila kaya hindi na siya nakiusyoso pa.

If it’s not from Isaiah then kanino galing ang bouquet na ‘yon? Sino naman kaya ang magpapadala ng gano’n kamahal na bulaklak? Wala na akong ibang maisip na magpapadala noon . Kung mga kapatid at pinsan ko naman hindi na mag-aanonymous letter at tatawag na lang kung natanggap ko ba iyong bulaklak.

I was too preoccupied that I didn’t notice a bunch of kids running to my direction. Sinubukan kong umiwas pero huli na at na-out of balance na ako. I am about to fall when someone catches me right in time.

Ang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa muntik ko nang pagkahulog. I slowly turned to thank the man who catches me but I was caught off-guard. My heart pounded wildly as I stare into a familiar pair of coal-black eyes.

The only pair of eyes that could make me feel so lost. The man who could only make my heart raced like a bullet train.

The pair of coal-black eyes that belongs to no other than, Zavier Demetrio Valcarcel.

My knight who run away with his white horse...