CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"WHAT are you doing here, Mother? And don't you know how to knock!?" The prince growled to his own mother. What a disrespectful child. Kapag ganyan ang anak ko, gagawa na lang ako ng bago.
"Are you two... sleeping together?" The queen asked as she step inside the room. I felt my face burned and a lump on my throat made me cough so loud. Nakakahiya! Nakita niya kayang magkayakap kami kanina? Oh, good lord! Why is this happening!?
"Just tell me what you need, Mother," naiinip na sabi ni Prince Blaze habang inaayos ang jumper na suot niya. Ako naman, sinimulan ko nang ligpitin ang hinigaan namin. Ayokong madamay sa drama nilang mag-ina.
"There's a three day convention in Granja. Your father would send you as his representative. You would deal with the Council and the representatives of each department about the charter review and modification." Three day convention? Sounds good to me; minus the council thingy.
"Ayoko. Maghanap na lang siya ng ibang representative," agad na sagot ni Prince Blaze. What? That would be his chance to get out of his boring web!
"But Blaze, his majesty already signed the authorization letter and announced your attendance," pamimilit ni Queen Fiona sa anak niya. Napakamot naman sa ulo ang huli.
"I don't want to face the Council. I would rather sleep, Mother," the prince declared with conviction. He's such a hard-headed son, isn't he?
"But Blaze—" he cut the queen's persuasion. He grabbed my arm, for the nth time, and pulled me with him.
"My maid is sick and I need to take care of her. She wants a warm bath," pagpapalusot niya saka ako kinaladkad papunta sa banyo. Agad naman akong lumingon sa reyna habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. Queen Fiona looks disappointed by how her son reacted. And that flickered an idea in my head.
Bago pa man mabuksan ni Prince Blaze ang pinto ng banyo niya ay hinarangan ko na siya. Nagsasalubong ang kilay niyang napatingin sa akin. Mukhang hindi niya rin nagustuhan ang naging pag-uusap nila ng nanay niya.
"Do you remember the reason why I told your mother about the secret passage?" Panimula ko.
"Yes, for me to make my own personal choices," he answered quickly. Tsk! Mali ang sagot niya. Akmang bubuksan na niya ang pinto ng banyo pero hinawakan ko ang kamay niya para pigilan siya.
"No, you're wrong. I told her about the passage because I want you to stop running away. Blaze, you need to face your problems," pagpapaliwanag ko. Agad namang tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin at nag-cross arms.
"So what do you want me to do?" Tanong niya na parang naghahamon. I smiled at him, a sincere one, and pointed at his mother who's slowly walking out of his room.
"Prove me you're not running away through this," I slowly replied. His eyes left mine and glanced at the queen. He sighed before looking back at me.
"I don't want to talk to the Council," simpleng sagot niya at akmang bubuksan na naman ang pinto ng banyo. Agad akong humarang sa pagitan nila no'ng pinto.
"Yeah, that is the problem. Ayaw mong makipag-usap sa konsilyo. So, you need to face that problem. You told me you would try," pamimilit ko. Hinihintay ko ang magiging reaksyon niya kasi nakatitig lang siya sa akin. After a few seconds, he heaved a sigh and put his hand down.
"Fine," he surrendered before turning his back to me to catch up with his mother. Hinintay ko siyang makabalik at tumayo lang sa tapat no'ng pinto. Parang na-proud ako sa sarili ko. Sa nanay niya, hindi siya nakinig. Pero sumunod siya nang pilitin ko siya. Feeling ko tuloy mas makapangyarihan pa ako sa reyna.
