CLOAKED IN ROYALTY

Chapter Three

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He smiled. Lumapit siya sakin kaya napa atras ako ng kaunti. Subalit lumapit pa rin siya sakin, inangat ang kamay niya at may nilagay na bagay sa gilid ng tenga ko. "It is made of my magic, darling." He sweetly said.

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Chapter Three

My first reaction would, of course, I'd freak out. Knowing that the King has this kind of hobby is still confusing to me. But why is it Julius? If he wanted a wife, can't he just choose a woman instead of a man? What the fvck is wrong with him? May sira bang turnilyo ang utak niya't sa dinami-dami ng babae sa kahariang ito at lalaki pa talaga ang pinili niya? Didn't know he has this kind of taste.

Sinampal ko ang sarili pagkatapos ma realize ang pinagsasabi ko sa isipan. 'The King must've a reason for it. Let's not judge him that fast,' sambit ko sa isipan.

Nana Eda was now walking forward whils I was following behind. What does he want anyway? Paano ko siya haharapin pagkatapos ng nangyari nung mga lumipas na araw? I am a thin-skinned person! Madali akong mahiya no!

We arrived at a certain room and Nana Eda knocked at the big tall door.

"Mahal na Hari, nandito na po ang prinsipe," deklara ni Nana Eda pagkatapos kumatok. The knights moved to open the door and Nana Eda moved aside too. Inilahad niya sakin ang daan papasok.

I cleared my throat and went inside. Pagkapasok ko, sinara agad ng mga kawal ang pinto at nagpaiwan sa labas si Nana Eda. Now, I'm nervous. What should I say?

I looked around and found out that this place was actually a library. Madaming libro ang nakalagay sa bawat shelf at matataas pa ang mga ito.

"How are you feeling?" Narinig ko ang boses niya sa kanan ko kaya lumingon ako sa direksyong ito. I saw him sitting on a table while reading and writing something. Pero inihinto ata niya ang pagsusulat para lang tingnan ako. As usual, he's wearing a long blue robe with golden glitters and white pants on, his hair is a bit messy.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip na lapitan siya at umupo sa upuang kaharap niya. Should I act cold? Ganun naman ata ang pakikitungo ni Julius sa kanya eh.

Tinitigan ko siya pabalik, "What are you doing right now?" matigas kong sambit.

His eyebrows furrowed, "Nothin', just checking some documents that needed to be filled up," simple niyang sagot.

I shouldn't get too close to this man. Like, never. Masisira ang sikreto ko kapag nangyari yun. I had to maintain a distance.
Tumayo ako at pumunta sa mga bookshelves na nakahilera. I looked around and searched for a book that might get my interest. Habang naghahanap ng libro, may bigla akong naramdamang presensya. Hindi ko mawari kung nasa paligid o itaas. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid pero wala naman akong nakita, titingin na sana ako sa itaas ng may kamay na humila sa braso ko.

"Is something wrong?" tanong ng mahal na hari sa akin. I looked up and noticed that the presence is already gone. I shook my head and said, "No... Nothing."

The king pulled me back to where I was sitting earlier. Bumalik siya sa bookshelves at kumuha ng iilang libro, pagkatapos inilagay ito sa harap ko, "You should read some book so you wouldn't be bored. I know you love reading," sambit niya at umupo sa harapan ko kung saan siya nakaupo kanina.

I don't have a choice but to accept the books and open it one by one. Mukhang nakakawili naman ang mga librong to kaya sinimulan ko nang buklatin ang mga ito. We stayed at the library for hours, I was busy reading the books and the king was also busy with his documents.

We both finished what we were doing and decided to go out. Tinanong niya kung may lugar ba akong nais puntahan at dahil hindi naman ako masyado pamilyar sa lugar na ito sumagot ako ng wala, subalit hinila niya ako papunta sa hardin sa likuran ng palasyo.

The garden is full of different kind of flowers that is not even familiar with me. It was full of colorful flowers na hindi ko nakita sa mundo ko. And its scent is so attracting. The king bent down and plucked some flowers into it before standing in front of me.

"For you," he said while handing the flower that looked like a sunflower to me.

Nagtaka pa ako kung bakit nya ito ginawa subalit ng tiningnan ko siya, nakangiti ito ng napakatamis. Wala akong nagawa kundi tanggapin ang napakagandang bulaklak na nilalahad niya.

I brought the flower near my nose and smelled it. For some reason it has a sweet fragrance. I looked at him, "Lahat ba ng bulaklak nyo rito ay mababango?"

The king smiled and turned his back on me. Then started to pick different flowers one by one. After he finished, humarap ulit siya sakin at inilahad ang bulaklak na may iba’t-ibang uri na ngayon. I awkwardly smiled at him at tinanggap na lamang ito. Now, it almost look like a bouquet in my hands. The flowers smelled so good together, walang ganito sa mundo ko.

"Would you believe me if I say these flowers are made from magic?" The king suddenly said.

Nagtataka akong lumingon sa kaniya. "What?"

He smiled. Lumapit siya sakin kaya napa atras ako ng kaunti. Subalit lumapit pa rin siya sakin, inangat ang kamay niya at may nilagay na bagay sa gilid ng tenga ko. "It is made of my magic, darling." He sweetly said.

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. No one told me that this world has a magic thingy! Mabubuking na ba ako dahil pinakita kong wala akong alam sa magic na yan?!

"This was suppose to be my surprise to you. Pero kahit anong hila ko sa’yo dati ayaw mong sumama. Even though it's this late, I'm still glad you managed to see this." Mahinahon niyang sambit at humarap sa hardin habang nasa likuran niya ang dalawang kamay.

I looked at the bunch of flowers that I'm holding. That's a relief, so that means it would be Julius's first time coming here.

"How did you made this?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

After seeing that I'm kind of interested, the king smiled. "There's no specific way of how I made this. I just used my magic, that’s all. Ganiyan rin naman ang ginagawa mo kapag gumagamit ka ng mahika, hindi ba? It just happen if you know how."

For the second time, I froze. So you're telling me I also have a magic?! How can this be?

Even though I'm internally screaming, I tried to compose myself. I cleared my throat, "Y-yeah..." and looked away.

The wind blew and it made the flowers in the garden beautifully sway. It looks so relaxing. I sighed. What should I do? Everything is still confusing to me. How did this happen again? How did I came here in this place? Or am I dead? I don't know what to do anymore. How long can I continue pretending? If ever they found out that it's not the real Julius, what would be their reaction? Would they kill me?

"...lius."

This place is full of mystery and so the reason why I am here. I just wanted to go back to my own world. But how?

"...Julius?"

I snapped back of my own thoughts when I heard the king's voice. I looked at him confusely.

"Do you... wanted to go back inside?"

Tumango nalang ako sa tanong niya. I suddenly felt uncomfortable outside, I wanted to stay in my room for now.

Bumalik kami sa loob at hinatid niya ako sa aking silid bago siya nagpaalam na babalik sa silid-aklatan. I placed the bunch of flowers that I was still holding on the table and sat on my bed. Ang lugar na ito ang pinakaunang lugar na dinilatan ng mga mata ko. Nana Eda said that Julius got sick and slept for how many days, and when he woke up I was already in his body.

Tumayo ako at kumuha ng salamin tsaka tinitigan ang mukha ko. It was a totally different face than my real face. If I am here then what happened to the real Julius? Did we switched bodies? It is possible because I am here living on his body. But what if he's actually still inside of this body and was just sleeping? What if that's the reason why my soul took over his body? At the same time, how would that be possible? I still don't get it... what did I or Julius triggered that made me come here?

"...You are not him."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa boses na narinig. I searched for the owner of the voice and I almost dropped the mirror after seeing what it was.

...

..

.
-chun