Living in a Fairytale (Completed)

chapter 20

"It's been months. Hindi parin kayo nag-uusap ni Ekkier."

I placed a three of heart on the deck and ignored Aiken. Kashika placed two threes and laughed when she saw the frown on my face. She dragged all coins from the pile and smirked when she saw the suspicious look on my face.

"Another one." I say, placing another bag of coins on the table, the heavy bronze metals creating a jingling sound. I heard Aiken breathed out an exasperated sigh but never once did I give him a glance. For a mourner, he seemed rather in good shape.

The King and Queen of El Suelo raised him as their own, without indifference and judgement. Their own children became Aiken's brothers and sister. Aiken didn't come back to El Malefico when the King and Queen died, he didn't visit his real mother for months. When Kaisen was given order to follow his brother, it was only then that the second Prince came back. I do not know what they talked about but it hardly seems to be of matter now.

"Ilang buwan rin kayo sa labas, alam kong matagal tagal ang oras ninyo sa Pilipinas. Tapos pag balik niyo dito, parang walang nangyari." I knew that he was using the Rich Tongue just so the witches that surrounded us wouldn't understand a shit on what he's talking about. But I saw the hidden smile on Kashika's face and even though Night and Vesna didn't show it, I know that they can understand the language.

"Dahil wala naman talaga." Aiken laughed, placing a card on the deck and drinking full on his cup.

Kashika followed with her move and took a small sip on her rum. She seemed quiet than usual.

"Finally, nagsalita rin. You should use that often. Hindi lahat ng nandito nakakaintindi." He smiled wickedly, a scheme underneath the curve of his lips.

The Rich Tongue was widely used in the Philippines. They called it "Filipino" or "Tagalog". It is their mother tongue. Their forebears have taught the royal blood their language when they married our country. Kaisen and I used it as much as we can, to blend in with the crowd and hide our identity. It was frightening to think that we may never come back in our country ever again and we held onto each other for support, nursing our wounds and uncertainties with kisses and soft caresses.

"Ang labo niyong dalawa. Hindi makausap ng maayos si Ekkier sa palasyo. Parang galit lagi sa mundo."

"Walang bago." Kaisen was given orders to work as the captain of guards of El Suelo's Princess. Aiken would always tell me nonsensical things about his little 'sister'. How pretty she is, how kind, how good, how pretty, how pretty — the hell I care if she's pretty.

"Bagay nga kayo. Pareho kayong galit sa mundo." Ignoring his banter, I drank from my cup and called for some beer. The rum have lost its bitterness.

The serving witch called for a new bottle when he saw me drinking till the beer was no more. Fuck, when will I be drunk enough.

"Kausapin mo kaya?"

"Ayoko"

The game stretched on and on and I lost every single time. If it's not Kashika, it'll be Aiken who'll win the game. I cursed in the Ancient Tongue. The other gambling witches must've sensed my darkening mood for the crowd slowly dwindled by and by. Until only Aiken's sworn swords remained, standing right behind their master like the statues that they are.

"You should let these kids play, Aiken. You are not a good prince for making them stand there and waste away a really good beer." Aiken laughed, looking at his sworn swords with a teasing smile on his face.

Farris and Rothchild. Night was comely, with his golden mop of hair and the friendly smile on his face. Vesna, however, still holds a grudge that would go back to the incident with her brother. She gave so signs on attacking me for the second time, but the scar on her face screamed to be remembered.