Romancing My Royalty

Chapter 11

Thank you for still waiting!
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IVORY

BIGLA akong naalimpungatan mula sa pagkatulog nang may narinig akong malakas na putok ng baril. Sa gulat ay halos lumabas na ang puso ko sa kaba, hindi alintana ang hapdi at pangangalay ng katawan ko. And my head literally rammed with pain and my hands that were pulled backward were sore.

Doon ko napagtanto na nakatali ako sa mataas na puno ng niyog. The fresh air and the heat radiating from the surrounding body of water made me concluded that I was on an island. Sa paglibot ng mga mata ko ay puro matatayog na puno ng niyog ang nakikita ko pero napapalibutan din ng mga armadong lalaki. May namataan akong mga nakahilerang mga kubo at sa malayo ay may nakatayong malaking building like a factory or something. My sight was blurry and my head was dizzy, I didn't know which was right.

Nakarinig ako ng sunod sunod na pag-ubo, malakas at nanghihina. Sa ikatlong puno mula sa akin ay nakatali rin si Rasquin. His head was hanging low like he was still closing his eyes that he could raise his head up.

Luminaw ang mata ko sa mga nakikitang pasa sa mukha niya, sa braso nito, at umiitim na namumula niyang sugat sa binti. Which I presumed was because of the bullet last night.

"Rasquin!" I shouted his name, catching attention but I didn't care. He heavily and painfully groaned after coughing.

Nagpumiglas ako pero hindi ko rin magalaw ang katawan ko. The roughness of the thick ropes were tightly hugging my body against the tree. Shit! Slap me because this was all my fault! This was all my fault.

My tears were unstoppable now. My chest was heavy and clenching painfully at the sight of him. His wound should be medicated immediately.

"You, asshole!" tawag ko sa matabang lalaki na may ilang metrong layo sa akin. Hawak-hawak niya ang kanyang mahabang baril. "Let someone treat his wound! Sino ba boss mo?! Gamutin niyo sugat niya!"

Humakbang siya palapit sa akin. "Tumahimik ka! Kasalanan niya 'yan. Lumaban siya kagabi kaya natamo niya ang maraming sugat at mas lalong dumiin ang tama ng bala sa kanya."

Mas lalo akong nanlumo. Days ago, my feelings for him were on their denial stage, but right now, it was clear as the day that it broke me more to know that his suffering like this. Primarily, it was because of me.

"At least give him first aid!"

"Hindi kami sumusunod sa utos mo! Kung utos ni boss na pabayaan kayo, pababayaan niya kayo!"

"Who's your fucking freaking boss, huh?! Ano ba kailangan niya sa akin? Hindi ba naging sapat ang milyones na nakuha niyo sa akin noon? Wala akong atraso sa inyo! As well as he! Please, tend his wound." My voice broke, desperate.

Hindi lang dahil concern ako. Because he was a monarch, a royalty! This incident would create war or conflict between my country and his. Shit talaga. Kung ano man ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at ng bansa ni Rasquin, maaaring masira pa 'yon dahil dito.

"Ang ingay mo, babae. Hindi kami utusan mo." Tumalikod ang lalaki sa akin at nagmartsa papunta sa kasamahan niya.

Nilingon ko ulit si Rasquin. Nakaangat na ang ulo niya, nakasandal sa puno ng niyog. Kitang-kita ko kung paano niya hinahabol ang paghinga niya. I could see the pain on his face. Iyong sugat talaga niya.

"Ras! Can you hear me?" please, be okay. Dahan-dahan ang paggalaw ng ulo niya hanggang sa magtama ang tingin namin. "Are you okay? Please, be okay."

Kabadong-kabado na ako, pero mahinang tawa ang naging sagot niya sa akin. His lips that were swollen formed a warm smile. "I'm might be dreaming right now. My baby is concerned of me," utal na utal nitong sabi.