This I Promise You

5

Dimple

"Evan, Kiel, bantayan niyo ang dalawang prinsesa, huh." Bilin ni General dela Cerna sa mga anak.

"Opo, dad." Sagot naman ng magkapatid.

Tapos na kaming magpicture taking kaya puwede na kaming magski. What Ezekiel said earlier affected me so much that I stayed quiet the whole time we were at the ski resort. Nagsasalita lang ako kapag kinakausap ni Mamma or ni Blenda.

After two hours of skiing, we decided to take a break and have our lunch first.

"Reve, Ät din mat (eat your food)."

Nakatulala ako habang nakatitig kay Evander, bumalik ako sa wisyo nang kausapin ni Blenda.

"Förlåt (sorry)..." Sambit ko sabay kagat sa hamburger na inorder.

"Why are you spacing out?"

Busy sina Mamma at General sa pagkukuwentuhan kaya kaming mga bata lang ang nakarinig sa sinambit ni Blenda sa akin. The dela Cerna boys both looked at us. I immediately looked down when I met Evander's eyes.

Bakit ganoon nalang ang kaba ko sa tuwing magtatama ang mga mata namin? Guilty ba ako sa ginawa ko sa kanya? But I don't think that's the only reason why I'm feeling nervous around him.

"May cookies kaya sila dito?"

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko dahil sa sinambit na naman ni Ezekiel. Sigurado na akong inaasar niya talaga ako.

Sa namimilog na mata ay napatitig ako sa magkapatid na dela Cerna. Evander looked at me again, too, but turned to my mother when she said something.

"Why? Do you want some cookies, Ezekiel?"

"No, Princess Rebecca..." Mabilis na alma ni Evander. "Kiel is just asking."

"Puwede naman tayong mag-utos, eh." Mamma said.

"No need po." Si Evander ulit.

"Princess Reve can bake us cookies again if she wan--"

"Ouch!"

Hindi natuloy ang sasabihin ni Ezekiel dahil sa biglang pagsinghal ni Blenda.

"Are you okay, Princess Blenda?" The General asked my sister.

"Someone stomped on my feet." Sagot ni Blenda.

"It was my brother who did that, but it's really for me. We're sorry, your highness." Untas ni Ezekiel.

"The two of you, what are you doing?" Naka-igting ang panga ng General habang kausap ang mga anak.

"I'm sorry, dad. We're just playing...Jag är ledsen, ers höghet (I'm sorry, your highness)." Ani Evander sa kanyang ama bago binalingan ang aking kapatid.

"Ang lalaki niyo na para sa ganyan..." Usal ng General.

"It's alright, Leon. They're still kids. Let them play." Mamma said before turning to Blenda. "Är du okej, älskling (Are you alright, sweetheart)?"

"Ja (Yes)." Tipid na sagot ni Blenda habang diretso ang tingin sa mga batang dela Cerna.

Isang oras pa ulit kaming nagski bago nagdesisyon na bumalik na sa palasyo dahil pauwi na rin si Pappa galing naman sa The Royal Palace. The King came home with an important visitor.

"Infante Joaquin!"

I left the others and ran towards them as soon as I saw Blenda's fiancé and my friend, Prince Joaquin Aguilar de la Frontera of Spain.