Hydrus

CHAPTER 11

When I woke up, I dressed up and fixed myself. Plano kong bisitahin 'yung restaurant ko. Tinignan ko ang aking mata sa salamin at medyo mugto ang mata ko.

Iyak ako ng iyak kagabi. Hindi na kasi ako mapakali. The only friend I have is Carina but she's too busy now. I don't want to bother her. Mukha pa namang may pinagdadaanan rin siyang problema.

Orion also called me that night. He asked what was my problem and I didn't tell him. He asked me if I'm okay and I just said yes so he will not gonna worry about me.

I really appreciate that guy. Even though I confronted him and tell that I don't feel the same way he respected it. Hindi niya pinipilit ang sarili niya which is good. Nowadays rare na lang iyong ganon.

Kinuha ko ang car key and my sling bag. I glanced on the mirror for the last time before going out.

When I opened the main gate my jaw dropped when I saw a familiar guy, standing next to a mustang.

"Aristotle?!"

He just looked at me and smiled. He was about to hugged me but I stepped backwards. He looks so confused but nodded and stepped backwards too.

I scanned around and I didn't saw his bodyguards. Buti naman at hinayaan sya na lumabas mag-isa?

Tumakas kaya sya like before?

"W-what are you doing here?!" Gulat na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Picking my girl up?" He answered and smiled at me. I just rolled my eyes and looked away.

"Nasa maling bahay ka yata. I'm not your girl," mahinang sabi ko dito at tsaka tumingin sa kanya.

Medyo kinabahan tuloy ako nang maalala 'yung nangyari kagabi. Well hindi na ko magtataka kung papaano niya ako nahanap. He has the power.

"Bakit ka tumakbo?" He asked in a serious tone.

I gulped.

Ano ba ang dapat kong sabihin? Nag-iisip ako kung anong magandang isagot. Hindi ko naman kasi pwedeng aminin sa kanya ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit ko sya tinatakbuhan.

"Kasi may paa ako?" Wala sa sariling sagot ko. I heard his laugh. I just bit my lip and started to think.

"But seriously. Why were you running away from me?" He asked and it sounded... Sad.

Why is he sad? Dapat masaya sya kasi hindi na ako naghahabol pa sa kanya. I know na isa lang naman ako sa mga fling nya.

"Is it because I didn't tell you that I was the prince of Tresseria? Because I didn't tell you that my full name was Hydrus Aristotle Resvel-Trevia and not just Aristotle Resvel? Tell me Aquila—"

"Why were you still here?" I cut him off.

"Because I'm going home," he said in a serious tone.

"Then go in Tresseria. Have a safe trip," maikling sabi ko. Papasok na sana ako sa loob ng bahay ngunit hinawakan niya ang braso ko.

"You're my home, Aquila."

"My home? But you left me," I said and laughed bitterly. Yumuko ako at pinigilan ang sarili na maiyak.

Home, home. Pero pagkayaring maka-score alis agad. Medyo tanga ako sa part na dahil hinayaan kong gawin niya 'yun sakin. Nabiktima kasi ako ng matatamis at comforting words niya.

"Bumalik ako."

Itinaas ko ang aking tingin at tsaka tumingin sa kanya.

"But you were gone."

Binawi ko 'yung braso ko sa kanya at tsaka itinulak siya ng bahagya para lumayo sa akin.

"Alam mo naman na aalis na ako. Pero iniwan mo pa rin ako."

"Sorry," he said and caressed my cheek. I slapped his hand and looked away.

"Why are you here?" I asked him again.

"Sinusundo ka. Uwi ka na sa akin," he said and smiled.

"Gago!" Asar na sabi ko.

So ganon-ganon na lang 'yun?! Wala man syang masyadong explanation tapos gusto nya magsama kami? Hindi naman ako tanga para sumama sa kanya! Mas lalo ngayon na responsibilidad niya ang buong Tresseria.

Bigla rin akong natauhan. Minura ko sya? Hari pala sya ng Tresseria tapos mumurahin ko lang?! Halos gusto ko na ngang magpalamon sa lupa dahil sa sobrang hiya.

"Umalis kana," asar na sabi ko.

"Why are you pushing me away?" Alalang tanong nito.

"I don't like you. You were just one of my flings. So go away. I wasn't serious with you. And besides, there's still a lot of girl out there who are willing to marry you. Leave me alone."

Masakit man pero kailangan kong sabihin iyon. I gave up my career just to protect my child, our child. Tapos malalaman ko na hari pala ang tatay ng anak ko. Sobrang daming gustong pumatay sa pamilya nila at gusto ko lang naman iligtas ang anak ko.

And I'm not being selfish. I just want to protect the baby even if it... Hurts.

"W-why? I thought we were having a good understanding and—"

"Ano pa bang hindi malinaw doon?! I want a peaceful life! Don't bother me again!" I yelled at him.

I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do this. But for the sake of our safety, I need to. I hope someday you will gonna understand why I am doing this.

"Mas masaya ka ba kapag... Wala ako?" Mahinang tanong nito.

"Oo!" Confident na sagot ko.

"Alright. Just... Take care," mahinang sabi nito. Napansin kong medyo namumula ang kanyang mga mata bago tumalikod at sumakay sa sasakyan nya.

Hindi ko na inantay na makaalis siya at pumasok na sa loob ng bahay. Bigla na lamang akong sumandal sa pintuan at tsaka humagulgol sa iyak.

I lied.

Alam ko kung gaano ko siya kagustong makasama. Nabuo ko na rin sa isip ko na hahanapin ko siya at balak ayain na mamuhay ng tahimik pero ngayon na nakita ko na siya, malabo na mangyari lahat ng nais ko.

I was being careful to go out dahil baka may mga media na magtanong sa akin about sa pagqu-quit ko bilang isang actress. Tapos noong nalaman ko na hari siya, mas lalong mai-invade ang privacy ng magiging anak namin. Isa pa ay ang safety. Hindi ligtas na kasama ang hari. Mas mabuti na itong tahimik na buhay.

Nang sumapit ang tanghali ay inayos ko muli ang sarili ko. Hindi ako nakapunta sa restaurant ko dahil umiyak pa ako ng bongga. Sa ibang araw na lang ako pupunta.

I was trying yo hire a bodyguard and a driver too. Ngayon ko sya kikitain kaya inayos ko ang sarili. Medyo mugto pa ang mga mata ko kaya nagsuot ako ng shades. Mabuti na lang at katanghalian kaya okay lang mag-shades.

"So your name is Caelum..."

"Caelum Rivas po, ma'am," he said politely.

"I'm Aquila Belvich," pagpapakilala ko. Inabot ko sa kanya ang aking kamay for shake hands.

Nagkita kami sa isang kainan dito sa malapit para i-discuss at magpirmahan ng contract. Nag-usap rin kami about sa salary nya and some stuffs. Napag-usapan rin namin na pwede siya sa bahay ko mag-stay dahil sabi niya ay wala daw siyang permanent na matitirhan.

"So, start kana bukas?" Nakangiting tanong ko dito.

"Kahit ngayon ma'am, I'm willing to start," nakangiti nitong sabi sa akin.

He looks so nice and mukhang gagawin niya ng maayos ang kanyang trabaho. Matino rin kausap and I like his humor.

I scanned his face again while drinking my juice. He looks familiar. Or more likely, he looks like someone but I can't remember who.