Paper Crown

Chapter 24:

"The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it."
-Woodrow Wilson

Chapter 24:

=Avery=

Palakad-lakad ako sa loob ng kwarto ko habang hawak sa isang kamay ang sulat na nakuha ko mula sa weirdong ibon na yun.

Meet me at the forest? Ang gubat ba na tinutukoy dito ay yung dinaanan namin kahapon? It would be impossible to go out because they might have secured the barrier. Lalo na't tumakas lang kami kahapon at nahuli pa kinagabihan.

My face turn to sour after remembering that I will probably receive a punishment after breaking out of the academy's premises. Sino nga ulit yung umaya?

Napasimangot na lang ako ng wala sa oras saka pabagsak na tinapon ang papel sa kama ko. Naligo ako saka nagsuot ng uniporme at lumabas din ng silid ko kinalaunan. I walked from the hallways heading my way out to my class.

"Why the hell can't I find Charlotte anywhere? Saan na ba nagsu-suot yun?" hanggang sa pagdating ko sa klase namin sa etiquette ay hindi ko pa rin nahagilap ni anino ni Charlotte o ni Alexandra.

I was busy doodling on my paper when every girl inside the room started to make weird noises.

"Si Prinsipe Frederick ba yan?"

"Why is he here?"

"Oh my. I feel like my heart just skip out of my ribcage."

"So handsome.."

"Haaay.."

"Lady Solace Knightinggale." tinaas ko ang aking ulo mula sa pagkakayuko saka tumingin sa prinsipeng kumakaway sa'kin mula sa labas ng pintuan.

"Yes, Lady Antebellum?" the professor looked at me fiercely before giving me a nod.

"You are excused from your class. Pinapatawag ka ng Punong Maestro." I bowed my head then head my way out towards Prince Frederick not giving a damn about the whispers I can hear from my fellow classmates. Mas nag-aalala pa ako kung ngayon na ba ako bibigyan ng parusa dahil sa ginawa kong paglabag kagabi. I wanted to face palm all of a sudden. I mean... what? Bakit ba ako nagpakalasing kagabi? Ni hindi ko na nga masyadong matandaan.

"Lady Solace, you look troubled." I wave my hand dismissively at Prince Frederick signing him to not talk to me even a bit. Cause obviously people. I need to think! Paano na lang kung paalisin ako sa akademya? How can I uncover the truth behind Averianna's past kung nasa probinsya ako? Although, mas maganda nga ang probinsya patatahimikin ba ako ng konsensya ko? Of course not! Lalo na't nakita mismo ng dalawang mata ko kung paano namatay ang Tatay niya habang wala ako magawa kundi ang manood lang sa kanila.

My fists clench in so much anger. That scene suddenly played inside of my head that eventually added fuel to the burning rage inside of me.

'I promise, Averianna. I will not just going to find justice for your father... I will serve it in a silver platter.'

"And here we are.." Prince Frederick turn to look at me before giving me a wink earning him a frown from me. "Don't worry, Lady Solace. Its not for a punishment." I bowed my head a little before muttering a low thanks to him. Hinawakan ko ang seradura ng pintuan saka dahan-dahan itong binuksan.

Ang unang bumungad sakin ay ang bookshelf na nasa likuran ng table and chair ng Punong Maestro. The room even has a sofa set and a wide window at the right side. The room was spacious and clean.