CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KANINA pa 'to pero hindi pa rin kumukulo. Pinalakas ko nga ang apoy. Kaso nagsisi rin naman ako kasi kumulo nga agad 'yong tubig pero puro uling naman na 'yong takure.
Akala ko naman kung anong gusto niya mula sa akin. Gusto lang naman pala niyang magpatimpla ng tsaa. Sa dinami-rami ng katulong sa palasyong ito, ako pa talaga ang na-tripan niyang utusan. Ano bang trip nitong magpinsan na 'to?
After boiling the water, I poured it into a teacup. I put the tea on the steaming cup of water and waited for a few minutes. Back in Cambridge, we have teabags. Here, they don't even have a strainer. As in ilalagay mo 'yong buong dahon sa cup tapos tatanggalin mo rin after a few minutes. Sobrang hassle!
Nang matimpla ko na ang tsaa ay dinala ko ito sa may balkonahe. The moment I step there, the tea stopped steaming. Ang lamig dito. Bakit dito niya pa gustong mag-tsaa?
"Come, sit with me," alok niya sa akin. Agad naman akong sumunod. No matter how worse of a jerk he is, he still have a royal blood. Even though I don't really like him, I need to obey.
Sumipsip siya sa tsaa at napakunot ang noo. Napatingin siya sa akin at umiling.
"Do you hate me?" He suddenly asked that confused the hell out of me.
"Why do you think that way?" I asked him back, scared that he might shoot me with an ice shard on the spot.
"Kasi walang lasa 'tong tsaa mo," sagot niya sabay tawa. Oh shoot! I forgot to add the milk!
"Naku! Pasensya na po. Palitan ko na lang," natataranta kong sabi sabay tayo. Akmang kukunin ko na ang tasa nang ilayo niya iyon sa akin.
"Nah. It's okay," he replied. He returned his serious expression so I sat back on my seat. Muli siyang uminom mula sa tsaa niya. Kitang-kita ko kung paano niya pilitin ang sarili niyang huwag ngumiwi. Tsk tsk.
"So how's the pampered prince?" He asked after a few more sip on his teacup.
"I told you, he's sleeping," walang gana kong sagot.
"Ang tinatanong ko ay kung anong kalagayan niya, hindi kung ano ang ginagawa niya." Medyo napahiya ako ro'n ah. Napaayos tuloy ako ng upo.
"He's mad and sad and disappointed. Nagwala siya kanina sa meeting room pag-alis ninyo," I answered in a much more serious way. I want to match his seriousness so it would look like we're having some argument.
"So tell me, Almaia, do you really want to become a part of the Royal Council?" He asked out of a sudden. That is a tricky question. I want to say no because that's the truth. Pero naalala ko kung paano sila nag-usap sa ball ng amo ko. Paano kapag sinabi ko ang totoo at mabulilyaso ang plano ni Blaze? Edi kasalanan ko pa 'yon. Mapapagalitan pa ako. And worst, baka sisantehin niya ako. Wala pa naman akong matutuluyan dito.
"Would it put my master in a dire situation if I tell you the truth?" I carefully asked. I don't want to spill anything that would drown me in the end. Better be careful when you are dealing with a complete stranger.
"Why do you care so much about his welfare?" Balik niyang tanong sa akin. Ano bang klaseng tanong 'yan? Napatanong din tuloy ako sa sarili ko.
"Because... I think there's already so much in his plate and I don't want to add another mess. I heard about his brother and I feel bad for him. I want to protect him and this is the least I could do. I want to help him mend his broken soul." Those words just came out naturally. I don't even have to think what would I say next because that's what I really feel. Naaawa ako kay Prince Blaze at gusto ko siyang tulungan. Iyon ang dahilan ko.
