Chapter 2
Agreement
"Don't tell me na-love at first sight ka kaagad?" asar ni Faye.
Bawal ang distractions tuwing may klase ako but since I'm still waiting for my professor, I had time to call her and share what happened last night.
"No, it's not like that! It's just so bizarre so hear a random guy say those things," I murmured.
"Cordelia, he only said that because you told him you're friends with the groom. Feeling ko nagbabakasali lang 'yon na may maikwento ka tungkol sa prinsesa, para may mahagilap siyang info. Who knows he might be a paparazzi. Buti na lang talaga maingat ka."
I frowned and ran a hand through my hair. "I don't know...He sounds so sincere---"
"Ay nako, wag mo na nga isipin 'yon. It's not like you'll meet him again."
"Sabagay. Matagal tagal pa ang susunod na party na pwede kong mapuntahan..."
"Now go ahead and read your books. Nandito na rin ako sa school and I need to get my things from my locker before the bell---AHHH! OH MY GOSH I'll be late! Bye na! Love yah mwah!"
Walang anu-ano'y in-end call niya na at naiwan akong gulat sa pagsigaw niya sa telepono. Natawa na lang ako at tinabi na rin ang cellphone ko. I started reading my books again and just in time, my professor finally arrived.
"How was the party last night?" bungad niya sa akin.
"Je me suis bien amusé," I smirked. I love speaking French lately. Isa iyon sa mga itinuturo niya sa akin.
"Ahhh. I'm glad to hear you had fun. Send my regards to your brother, Si?"
"Arasso," I answered in Korean. It means okay.
Umupo na siya sa tabi ko at iniabot sa akin ang iPad niya. Tiningnan ko iyon at napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Napakadami namang sasagutan!
"Itami naku shite erumono nashi," he said in Japanese.
"Ingen smarta ingen vinst," I repeated in Swedish. 'No pain no gain' is his motto in life.
He proudly approved of my fluent multilingual communication skills. Mula six years old ay siya na ang nagtuturo sa akin. Kada taon, nadadagdagan ng isang lengwahe ang natutunan ko. Now that I'm 17 years old, I already know 11 languages.
It's a must for me to study other countries' spoken words and culture. It may be my brother who will be a King someday but still, since I'm a Dominguez, my father expects me to be as good as my Kuya.
Minsan nga nape-pressure na ako sa lahat ng nire-require nilang ipagawa sa akin. Kailangan ganito, kailangan ganyan. Nakakapagod na rin. Kaso wala naman akong magawa dahil pinanganak ako na parte ng pamilyang ito.
Nasa kalagitnaan na ko ng pagsagot ng quiz nang marinig kong humarok ang katabi ko. I giggled quietly and grabbed my phone from the side. I took a picture of him and was about to send it to my brother when I realized that what I'm doing might get my professor in trouble. He can lose his job if Kuya or my Dad's private secretary learns about this. Hindi na katulad ng dati si Kuya na nabibiro biro ko. As he grew older, he became more serious in life.
Dinelete ko na lang ang picture at tinapik ang braso ng teacher ko. He apologized for dozing off. I just smiled and told him it's okay.
*****
BINABASA MO ANG
A Royal Disguise
RomanceGrowing up as part of the Royal Family makes life harder for Princess Cordelia. Ever since she learned how to speak, she was taught how to behave and act as if the whole country's always looking at her. It suffocates her but she knows the responsibi...
