Tale of The Substitute Princess

Chapter II

02: ESCAPE PLAN

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mata ko. I blinked a few times as I tried to remember what happened—Oh. 

I was expecting to see a white ceiling with little glow stars but I was greeted by a high ceiling to my disappointment. I guess I wasn't really dreaming? I wish I was though.

Bigla kong naalala kung paano lumutang kanina 'yung mga gamit dito sa kwarto. Naramdaman kong tumaas ulit ang balahibo ko. So... magic does really exists? Pati 'yung other world na sinasabi nila?

I messed up my hair because of frustration. "Ano ba kasi talagang nangyayari?" Umupo ako at hinawakan ang ulo ko. Baka naman stress lang ito?

I was expecting it to be a dream or at least a prank. I would have accepted either of that than the fact that I was—what's that term that Pia always mentions?—ah, isekai'd.

Bigla kong naalala 'yung mga nabasa ko nung high school pa ako. The main characters who are getting transmigrated into another world. Ayon ba ang nangyari sa akin?

I brushed the bangs on my forehead upward because it was annoying my eyes—wait, bangs? Wala naman akong bangs?

Tumayo ako at dumiretso sa salamin. What the hell? Don't tell me ginupit nila 'yung buhok ko without my permission?

I wanted to throw a tantrum by breaking the mirror but I knew that won't solve anything. I ended up pulling my hair out of annoyance.

Kung iisipin 'yung sinabi nila kanina, siguro ay mayroong bangs 'yung original princess kaya nilagyan din nila ako ng bangs. I grunted. Pero hindi naman ako pumayag!

Napatingin ako sa bintana, it's already dark outside. Tumingin ako sa orasan. It's already 11 o'clock. Ang tagal naman akong pinatulog ni cloak guy—ano ulit pangalan niya? Assius? Arus? Anus?

Tumayo ako at naglakad papunta sa pinto. Binuksan ko 'yon at sumilip sa labas.

Biglang nagtama ang paningin namin ni knight guy. Was it Arden or Aiden? Ugh, why am I so bad with names? Mukhang binabantayan niya 'yung pinto, o baka dahil magtangka na naman akong tumakas. Bumuka ang bibig niya na parang may sasabihin but I immediately shut the door in front of his face.

I stared at the door silently. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting guilt kasi compared sa kapatid niyang buwisit, mas mukha siyang mabait. But still, that doesn't change the fact that he kidnapped me in this different world or whatever.

Binuksan ko ang bintana. Napahimas ako sa braso ko nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Ang nipis kasi ng nightgown na suot ko. Pero wala na akong oras para maghanap pa ng pampalit. Nilabas ko ang ulo ko at sumilip sa baba.

Not to be that person but I've read and watched several stories where the person escapes the room not through the door but through the window. I've always thought how stupidly dangerous that was but look at me now, actually considering it.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Tinanggal ko 'yung sheets ng kama at mga unan. I tied it all together with the blanket. I searched for a stable place where I could tie it up. Iniwasan kong gumawa ng ingay dahil baka marinig ni knight guy at bigla siyang pumasok.

Once I was done, I wasted a few minutes collecting courage. Sumilip ulit ako sa bintana, nagdadalawang-isip kung magagawa ko ba ito.

Sino ba namang nag-akala na mamamatay muna ako bago ako makabalik sa sarili kong mundo.

Umiling ako, I should stop with these negative thoughts.

Nagsimula na ako sa kailangan kong gawin. Nung nakasabit na ako sa gitnang parte ay biglang bumaba nang kaunti 'yung pinagkakapitan ko. Halos mahulog 'yung puso ko sa kaba. Sa kama ko lang tinali. Sana hindi matanggal 'yung pagkakatali ko, to my girl scout self before, I trust you.