Paper Crown

Chapter 31:

"We are not makers of history. We are made by history."
-Martian Luther King, Jr.

Chapter 31:

=Avery=

Pain started to crawl inside of me until it finally engulfed my whole being. I was gripping tightly on the sides of my dress while trying to get a hold of myself. I closed my eyes stopping my tears to fall. I was beginning to feel numb and I feel like darkness is starting to swallow me alive. I took a deep breathe calming my nerves even just a bit. As I open my eyes, I erased all the emotions I felt earlier, bottling it up inside of me. Mas pinablanko ko pa ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kanila. I knocked three times para maagaw ang atensyon nila na mukhang sarap na sarap na sa isa't-isa.

'Tang-ina.'

I bowed my head lightly before muttering.

"Forgive me for my rudeness, Your Highnesses but I need to talk to the Headmaster. Maaari po bang magtanong kung nasaan siya?" I was barely holding on to that thin string of respect to the both of them. Lalong-lalo na sa tarantadong Alaric na yan. Sapakin ko kaya siya ng isa? Saglit na nagawi ang tingin ko sa kanya. Bahagya akong nagtaka ng makitang tulog na tulog na ito sa sofa sa Headmaster's Office.

"How dare a lowly peasant like you disturb us?!!" napahigit na lamang ako ng hininga dahil sa tinawag niya sakin. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa buong opisina. Nang mapansin na wala ni isang senyales na nandoon ang Punong Maestro ay doon lamang ako tumingin sa kanya.

"It seems like the Headmaster is not here. Then, I will head myself out, Your Highness." tumalikod ako sa kanya at akmang lalakad na palabas ng bigla siyang magsalita.

"How dare you act so arrogant in front of a princess?" napaharap ulit ako sa kanya ng marinig ang mga yabag niya. She continue to walk confidently until she finally stop in front of me. "Stay away from Prince Alaric. He's mine." her voice sounded firmed and full of conviction. Saglit akong natahimik sa sinabi niya. I smirk in front of her before taking a step forward. I pretended to wipe off some dirt to her dress before saying.

"No need to threaten me, Your Highness. It was always been Prince Alaric who keeps on bugging me." I confidently said. She was left speechless for seconds before she raised her hand aiming to slap me in the face.

"How dare you!" bago pa lumanding sa mukha ko ang kamay niya ay sinipa ko siya sa tuhod niya. It was just a weak kick that was able to make her withdraw for a few steps.

"Yan lang ba ang alam mong salita, Mahal na Prinsesa? How dare you? So old-school." I said mocking her in the process. I smirk at her until it slowly turned into a serious one. "But... do you really own him, princess? Cause I don't think so. And one more thing... know who you're dealing first before throwing a fit." tumalikod ako sa kanya bago dahan-dahang naglakad paalis.

"How stupid." I muttered to myself referring how I got the time to fight a princess when I should be finding Charlotte right now. Bumuntong hininga ulit ako bago nagsimulang tumakbo pababa sa opisina ng Punong Maestro.

'Kung wala siya sa opisina niya eh di ako na lang ang gagawa ng paraan. Kailangan kong mahanap si Charlotte! Tang-ina.'

I continue to run downstairs habang pilit na binabalewala ang pagsulpot-sulpot ng imahe ng nakita ko kanina. Wala sa oras akong napatigil sa gitna ng hallway ng Main Building. Inis kong naigulo ang buhok ko habang tagaktak ang pawis ko sa buong mukha ko.