CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
KAYA pala. Kaya pala hindi na siya nagulat nang sabihin ko ang affiliation ko sa grupo. Because he knew all along. I felt so betrayed. Does that mean everything that he did for me or everything he made me feel were all fake? I've never been played all my life.
Noong gabing iyon ay hindi ako sumama sa dinner kasama ang royal family. Hinintay ko pang makabalik sa kwarto niya si Blaze bago kami lumabas ni Phoenix. Pumunta kami sa kusina para kumain ng mga tirang pagkain. Habang nakaupo kami sa lapag ay bigla siyang nagtanong sa akin.
"Something's not right. Ayos ka lang ba?" Napalingon ako sa kaniya at pilit na ngumiti. Kailangan niyang magpagaling. Ayaw ko namang pag-alalahin siya kaya tumango na lang ako kahit hindi talaga ako ayos.
"You can't lie to me, Aia. After everything we've done together, hindi mo ako maloloko. Come on, let the cat out of the bag," she urged. I sighed and stared at her curious eyes. She smiled and nodded to persuade me.
"Well, I just learned that Blaze is just using me. Alam niya ang tungkol kay Uncle Pyr at ginagamit niya ako para hindi ninyo ituloy ang all out attack na pinaplano n'yo. All along I thought his intentions were pure. It turns out he have hidden agenda behind me," malungkot kong pagku-kwento sa kaniya. Hindi ko namalayang tumulo na pala ang mga luha ko.
"Just let it out. Makikinig ako," tapik ni Phoenix sa balikat ko. As if on cue, my tears became uncontrollable.
"I thought what we had was real. I feel betrayed, alam mo ba 'yon? Ayaw kong maniwalang kaya niyang gawin sa akin 'yon. Gusto ko siyang tanungin, but I'm afraid he would confirm it. How stupid of me to fall for his sweet gestures." Nagpunas ako ng luha habang hinahaplos ni Phoenix ang likod ko.
"The only reason why he took me in is because he needs to me to act as a shield for him and the throne. But he told me that he took me in because he got mesmerised by my red curls," pagsusumbong ko sa kaniya. Phoenix's emphatic eyes just stared at me while I cry.
"Alam mo, Aia? Kumain na lang tayo. Hindi naman kawalan 'yang si Prince Blaze eh. Ipakita mo sa kaniya na hindi ka mahuhulog sa mga sweet gestures niya." Unti-unti akong tumahan at napalingon sa kaniya.
"What do you mean?" I asked between sobs while wiping the tears off my cheeks.
"I mean, you should show him that you are not easy to get," she answered carefully. Show him I'm not easy to get? I sniggered after a moment of eureka and pulled Phoenix in a tight hug.
"Alam ko na kung anong gagawin ko."
*****
Well, I decided to act coldly in front of him. Or as much as possible, I should avoid him at all. Ipapakita ko sa kaniya na hindi ako basta-basta mahuhulog sa mga tricks niya.
The next morning, I went to the dining hall to join them for breakfast. As usual, he would pull a chair for me beside him. But I need to show him that I don't care about his sweet gestures. Nang makita niyang paparating na ako ay tumayo siya at ipinaghila nga ako ng bangko. Nag-bow ako sa kaniya at nilagpasan siya. Naupo ako sa pinakadulo no'ng dining table, sa tabi ni Warrin.
"Good morning," I greeted him with a smile. Nagtataka naman siyang napalingon sa akin.
"What's up?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.
