This I Promise You

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"Look, Reve...Your pictures from the ski resort have been printed." Sambit sa akin ni Mamma.

"Visst (Sure), Mamma." Sagot ko at mas umusog sa tabi niya.

We are all gathered in the piano room. Kakatapos lang ng piano lesson namin ni Blenda habang umiinom naman ng tsaa ang aming magulang. Pappa is talking to the piano teacher.

Mamma handed me the photos one by one. Puro ako ang mga naunang litrato, pero nang iabot na sa akin ni Mamma ang litrato ko kasama ang magkapatid na dela Cerna, matagal akong napatitig doon.

They left for the Philippines last night while I was still sleeping. The general has an urgent appointment at the Philippine Army, so they need to go back immediately.

Kina Pappa at Mamma nalang nakapagpaalam ang mag-aama at hindi na inistorbo ang pagtulong namin ng kapatid ko, kaya pagkagising ko nalang nalaman na umuwi na pala sila.

I wanted Evander to hate me so he would call off our engagement, but I will admit that I enjoyed being with him and his family while they were staying here in the palace. Maybe that's why I was a bit saddened and got disspirited this morning since I found out that they left.

"Den här är min favorit, älskling (This one is my favorite, sweetheart)..."

Bumalik ang atensyon ko kay Mamma nang ipakita niya sa akin ang isa pang litrato na apat na kaming mga bata ang magkakasama. On the picture, Blenda and I are on the front, while Evander and Ezekiel are behind us.

" Jag saknar redan pojkarna (I already miss the boys)." Mamma stated.

"When are they going to come back, Mamma?"

"If Leon is not busy, they can come back next school break in the Philippines."

I didn't ask any more questions after that.

"Should I frame this photo and display it in your room, sweetheart?"

"Det är upp till dig (It's up to you), Mamma."

"Ok."

May sinabi pa si Mamma tungkol sa pagpapadala niya ng mga pictures sa Pilipinas para daw makita din ito ni General at ng magkapatid na dela Cerna, pero hindi ko na masyadong inintindi iyon at inubos nalang ang natitirang tsaa.

The days have passed like that.

"Stop running, Reveka Brigitta!"

Mamma is trying to tie my hair, but I ran away from her because I don't want to. It's finally our summer break from school. Ayoko nang magpatali ng buhok dahil gugulo rin naman mamaya tapos papagalit na naman ako.

I was already down the stairs when I suddenly bumped into someone. Nangatog kaagad ang buong katawan ko nang maramdam ang presensya ng nabangga ko kahit hindi ko pa man nakikita ang mukha nito.

"Du är fortfarande lika stygg som förut, prinsessan Reveka (You're still as naughty as before, Princess Reveka)."

Dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin sa babaeng nagsalita. Boses niya pa lang ay kinakatakutan ko na. But I immediately positioned myself to pay my respects to her.

"Greetings, Princess Farida Ingrid Sjoberg."

"Vet du att du inte kan springa inne i palatset (Do you know that you can't run inside the palace)?"

"Jag är ledsen, ers höghet (I'm sorry, your highness)." I bowed again.

Blenda, Pappa, and his ex-wife have the same blue eyes. Mine are brown, a mix with Pappa's blue eyes and Mamma's black eyes. But Blenda took more of her mother's features, especially her wavy blonde hair and hooded shaped eyes.