[√]Lady of the White Rose

7: Gift

VESEPR

"V, what's happening here?"

I immediately recognize the owner of the voice so I don't need to turn my head to know who it was. It's my brother. Kuya Iklis.

"Nothing. I'm just asking the maids for something trivial but it seems like they got surprised. You don't need to mind us, Kuya." Hindi ko ito binalingan ng tingin. Ayokong makita niya kung gaano kasama ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko ngayon.

Even if I can't see it myself, I know that I'm making a rather ugly face right now.

"Is that so? But hey, you need to face your brother when talking to him!" Nagulat na lamang ako nang may kamay na humawak sa ulo ko at ginulo ang buhok ko. Isang nakangiting mukha ni Kuya Iklis ang sumalubong sa akin nang tignan ko ito. "Mabuti at nagkasalubong tayo ngayon, may kasama akong kaibigan at pupunta kami sa bundok sa likod ng estate, ano? Sama ka?"

Binalingan ni kuya Iklis ang dalawang maid na hanggang ngayon ay nakaluhod parin sa harap namin. "And the two of you can leave now," which they immediately followed as if they were chase by ten devils.

I mentally click my tongue. I don't like letting them go just like that after saying all those nasty things about me but since Kuya Iklis let them go, maybe I'll just find them later on.

"Aidan this is my younger sister, Vesper. V, this is my friend Aidan! Say hello, don't be shy! Hindi naman nangangagat 'yan... minsan." Pagpapakilala ni Kuya Iklis sa kasama nito na ngayon ko lang napansin.

I immediately greeted him which he return with a slight bow. Aidan, huh. I don't recognize him, he must be Kuya Iklis new found friend. Kuya Iklis is a social butterfly, halos lahat ata ay kaibigan niya kaya hindi na ako nagtataka na halos iba't-ibang tao ang dinadala niya sa bahay kada linggo at pinapakilala bilang kaibigan.

However, it's the first time that he'll bring a friend to the mountain behind our estate.

"I -" before I could decline his offer he immediately cut me off and drag me along with them.

"Alright, let's prepare to get there immediately! Aidan you know how to ride a horse, right? Since you didn't bring any, you can borrow any horse from our stable! You don't need to worry, they're all high quality horses!"

"Alright,"

The family Butler, Alfonso himself was the one that leading the way for us to the horse stable. Kuya Iklis and his friend Aidan are talking about something I couldn't relate.

I sigh in surrender. Hindi naman ako makakaalis dahil hatak-hatak ni Kuya Iklis ang braso ko.

The next thing I know, we're already riding our own horses and headed towards the mountain behind the estate. Nasa likuran lamang nila akong dalawa, habang sila ay nasa unahan at nag-uusap pa rin. They will sometimes turn their head behind to ask me about something I completely don't have a clue about.

I think it's about swordmanship. Hindi ako sure pero pakiramdam ko 'yon ang pinag-uusapan nila. Sword styles and techniques. Kind of weapons and materials use for weapons. I don't understand. Though we're still speaking the same language but I completely don't understand what they're saying!

I sigh.

Do I really need to learn swordmanship again now that I know I don't have a talent for magic? But it's such a shame that I won't be able to cast fireball or ice lance or maybe wind cutter.

No, water bullet sounds even more cool.

I sigh again. It really such a shame. Mukhang astig pa naman mag cast ng magic. Like pew, pew ka lang sa gilid.

"My Lady, are you okay? You've been sighing rather heavily. Are you perhaps uncomfortable?"

It seems like hindi na natiis ng isa sa mga escort knight na kasama namin ang panay pagbuntong hininga ko ng malalim dahil nilapitan na talaga ako nito upang tanungin. Nginitian ko na lamang ito at sinabing ayos lang ako.

"There's just something on my mind but I'm fine. Thanks for asking, Sir Jay."

He looks surprised when I said his name. Maybe he doesn't expect me to know his name. "Don't hesitate to tell us if you need anything, My Lady. We'll surely give you whatever it is that you need."

Natawa ako ng mahina dahil sa sinabi nito. He said they'll give me whatever it is that I need. Lalong tumatagal ay pakiramdam ko na-a-adapt nila ang ugali ng mga kuya at papa ko. I can imagine father and my brothers telling me that. How cute.

"Yes, I will surely tell you if I need something."

Bumalik na ito sa pwesto nito sa likuran namin kasama ang iba pang escort knights. And I think my brother suddenly remember about his cute little sister, so he calls for me to join beside them. Hindi na rin sila nag-usap tungkol sa swordmanship na hindi ko naman maintindihan. Siguro narealize rin nila na hindi ako nakaka-relate.

"Did you also went to the same Knight Academy as my brother?" Tanong ko kay Aidan dahil napansin kong tila hindi nito alam kung paano makipag-usap sa akin. At dahil bisita ito ng Kuya ko ay ako na ang mag-a-adjust para sa kanya.

"Ah, yes. We went to the same Academy though we're not in the same class."

"Paano kayo nagkakilala ng Kuya ko? Though I'm guessing that he approach you first and then one sidedly declare he'll become your friend."

He chuckle as if he remembers certain memories. "Your guess is spot on, My Lady. Hindi na nakapagtataka na kapatid ka nga niya,"

"Huh? Bakit nagtaka ka ba na hindi niya ako kapatid noong nagkita tayo kanina?"

"Hindi naman sa ganun... Ah,"

"Haha! I'm just kidding!"

Napunta ang paningin ko kay Kuya Iklis na nauna na sa amin. Kahit kailan ay masyado pa rin siyang excited na makita ang ilog rito. I don't know why but Kuya Iklis will run straight towards that river every time we went here. "Sa tingin ko kailangan na nating bilisan, naghihintay na si Kuya sa atin."

Agas naman itong sumang-ayon sa akin nang makitang kumakaway na si Kuya Iklis sa amin mula sa tabi ng ilog. When we reached the river, Aidan was surprised to see how beautiful it is. It was evident in his eyes that he was genuinely amaze by it.

"I can't blame you for reacting that way! Hehe, isn't this river beautiful? It looks as if it was enchanted!" My brother said cheerfully as he touch the sparkling water with his hand.

"You're right, it looks as if it was sparkling. I thought my eyes were deceiving me for a moment. How magical."

"Oh right, V! I forgot to give you something! Nawala sa isip ko na may regalo pala ako sa'yo!" Kinapa-kapa nito ang lahat ng bulsa ng damit niya. "Teka, sa pagkakaalala ko dito ko lang 'yon tinago eh - oh, here it is!"

May inilabas itong kwentas. "It's the biggest pearl found in the south. Naghirap talaga ako para lang bilhin 'to, I even asked one of my friend to cast defense magic and teleportation magic on it. It's my gift." Instinctively, I gather my hair in one side for my brother to put the necklace on me.

"But I can't use magic, I don't know if I can make good use of this gift you give, Kuya."

"It's fine. You can figure out what you'll do with that gift someday!"