Feint (Royal Society #3) COMPLETED

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The Talk

I kept on tapping my fingers on the table. Hindi ako mapakali. I wanted to stop this mannerism but I can't make my fingers stop.

Should I act friendly? What if it became over-friendly to the point he finds me annoying? Should I act as a snob? But that would put me in a bad position when I want to be on his good side.

I checked my time. "He's running late," I murmured when I noticed I was sitting here for almost half an hour now.

Students are becoming less and less because of time. Hindi ko tuloy napigilan mag-alala. Did something happen? Or... did he stood me up? Is that it? Then why set time and place?

I started fixing my things as well as the forms needed for the foundation. Kahit na alam kong binigay lang ito ni Izaac sa akin for my benefit, I can't mess it up. This is my duty and students applying for it are my responsibility. Hindi ko naman pwede na masayang effort nila.

After fixing my things, I stood up. He must have a reason. He isn't the type of person to do this. Sa sobrang respeto niya kay Izaac, alam kong hindi niya ito magagawa.

When I was about to leave my table, a girl suddenly appeared. Hindi ko alam saan siya nanggaling dahil tumalikod ako kanina para kuhanin ang gamit ko. She was catching up her breath and raised her hand.

I didn't move, thinking that she wants to tell me something important. Nang mejo kumalma na siya, nagsalita na siya.

"I'm Bella," she introduced, offering her hand. I took it despite the confusion. Hindi ko naman tinatanong pangalan niya eh.

"Base on his description, you are Miss Amara, right?"

Miss Amara. One person instantly came into my mind.

I nodded. I looked at her and she looked young. Suot din niya ang pin na katulad nang kay Vince. They must be classmates!

Carrine's words rang in my mind. I should look friendly rather than intimidating.

I smiled a little. Para hindi mukhang creepy or overbearing. "Ah yes. My name's Amara. Did... Vince sent you here?"

She sat down and nodded. "I apologize on his behalf po. He was so busy kaya nakalimutan na niya ito. Matagal ka po ba naghintay?"

I grimaced in my mind. "You're making it sound like I am old, Bella," I said, joking. I am offended alright but I can't lash out on her lalo na siya lang ang magiging daan ko kay Vince.

She gasped and covered her mouth. Kita ko din ang pamumula niya. "I-I'm sorry. Vince said I should respect you... I took it the wrong way, Amara."

"No, it's fine. Anyway, you're here for the forms, right?" I asked and she nodded. "But the thing is, Bella, I can't just hand this over to someone. It's kind of confidential that only Vince can receive."

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya naman nag-explain agad ako. I don't want her to get the wrong idea. "It's not that I can't trust you, Bella. I'm just following customs set by the foundation."

She waved her hands in front, denying. "No, no, hindi ganon. Hindi kasi talaga makakapunta si Vince ngayon."

Tumango ako. Wala naman ako magagawa. "Ganito na lang, para parehas tayo magbenefit sa meeting na ito. Kilala mo ba ang mga nag-aapply sa foundation? Para at least may progress tayo."

"Yes. Vince actually forwarded it before I ran here."

She gave me the names and jot it down in my notebook. It's already digitalized but hindi ko kasi naalala kapag hindi ko sinusulat. While writing the names, I stopped. "Vince applied as well?" 

"Uh,hindi ko alam yun ah. I didn't check the list." I nodded and continued writing.

So he wants to apply for the foundation? Isa din pala siya sa mga estudyante na gusto makapasok sa Royalty School.

"I'm done," I smiled and kept my notebook inside my bag. "Are you gonna stay here? Or you're just waiting for me?"

She shook her head and stood up. "Sabay na lang tayo lumabas."

I took my bag and went outside with her. Surprisingly, she talked a lot. Kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang magtanong tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. She gladly shared their room's information.

"Vince is the top in our class kaya naman halos lahat ng final requirements ay kaniya ang bagsak. It's been a habit to point him because we know how responsible he is. But may mga pagkakataon na may ibang sumasalo sa kaniya na kasama sa council, tulad ko."

I nodded, feeling sad for Vince. "Gaano katagal mo na siyang kilala, Bella? You talk like you know him very well."

"Hmm. I guess two years is enough to get to know him. He is transparent, Amara. If he doesn't like something, he will speak up. All of us know that he is the brother of the Queen but he doesn't make it an issue."

She faced me. "I remember noong introduce yourself pa lang, hindi niya talaga binabanggit ang tungkol doon. It's our professors who notice it."

If he can speak up... then why can't he reject Izaac? I'm sure he doesn't want to add another responsibility to his plate. Is it because Izaac is royalty? Does he want to be on his good side? 

"Well, I guess, it's not something to brag about," I said. "You see, we are just siblings of the Queen. Technically speaking, we hold no title or position at all."

"Ah, so you're also like Vince?" I nodded and told her that I am from the East Clan. "What does it feel like, Amara? To be in your place?"

I hummed, thinking. "Mahirap. Kasi kahit hindi kami ang may posisyon, every action is indirectly connected to them. We can't just run around freely just because we don't have a title. It's like we are supporting materials to them that we can't affored to be ruined? Parang ganon."

"Then maybe that's the reason why Vince is so uptight. Madami nagkakagusto sa kaniya but wala siyang ginagawa other than saying he doesn't want to."

Madaming nagkakagusto? Right. Girls in their age dig his snobbish look. 

"Kasama ka ba doon?" I teased. 

She chuckled. "Nah. I'm too young for that kind of relationship. They say we should enjoy our youth but that's not how it is, you know. At a very young age, responsibilities are given to us. Even without any title, we still have our burden."

"You sound so mature, Bella."

She just chuckled hanggang sa tinuro niya ang room nila. "Ah nandito na pala tayo. Sayang."

From my angle, I can see how busy they were. May sari-sariling grupo at nagkakagulo sila dahil siguro nagsabay-sabay ang requirements. "Good luck, Bella. And just tell Vince, see me on the other day," I said and waved at her.

She waved back and went inside their room. Habang ako naman ay nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad. It's nearly sun down pero nandito parin sila. Siguro sobrang dami ng ginagawa nila?

I stopped walking when I heard a voice from my behind. When I looked back, it was Vince. Like Bella, he was catching up his breath. 

"Amara."

***

Sorry for the late update :))