Life of a Princess (Crown Series #1)

50 Engagement

"Ate Elly."

Ibinaba ko ang tasa na hawak ko at nakangiting sinalubong si Arjun. "Hello, Arjun. How's your horse riding?"

Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala na ang laki ng ipinagbago nya. Ang tangkad na nya at mas lalong lumalabas ang kanyang kagwapuhan.

Parang dati lang ay sinusungitan nya ako at muntik pa nga ako mapahamak noon pero heto sya ngayon at parating nagpapalambing.

"It was good, Ate. Inaya ko nga si Saij at Pablo pero ayaw nila."

Minsan ay naglalaro silang tatlo at napapansin ko din na napapalapit na si Saij sa Uncle Arjun nya. Kaso nga lang ay minsan masama pa rin ang tingin nya dito dahil sa yakap na naganap noon.

Umiling ako at nginitian sya. "They like cars, Arjun."

"I see. Anyway, It's nice to see you again, Ate. I heard that you refused kuya's proposal?" may ngiti sa labing sabi nya.

Mukang natutuwa pa sya sa nalaman.

"Yes, Arjun."

"Why? You love him, right?"

"I do. I was not ready when he asked me. I have things to do and was not ready to sacrifice anything for us."

Natigilan sya at may sumilay na ngiti sa labi. "Was? So what now? Are you ready?"

Napaisip ako sa tanong nya kahit na sigurado na naman ako sa sagot.

"I am ready. I am more ready now."

I am ready to sacrifice for my happiness. It's them or nothing.

Pagkatapos ng maikling pag uusap namin ni Arjun ay pumunta ako sa kwarto ko para makapagpahinga. Pero sa hindi ko inaasahan ay nandoon si Luthor at mukang kanina pa ako hinihintay.

"Where you've been? Nasa garden sila at ikaw lang ang wala."

Kanina pa sila nandoon at nakikipaglaro sa dalawang bata. Nag eenjoy naman sila lalo na si Saij. I never saw my son so happy like that.

"I had tea with Arjun." sumandal ako sa kama at lumapit naman sya para tumabi sa akin at inakbayan pa ako.

"What did you two talk about?"

"About us." nilingon ko sya para makita ang reaksyon.

"Us?"

Sumandal ako sa kaniya at agad nyang pinatakan ng halik ang ulo ko. "He asked me about the proposal. I told him that I was not ready."

"And?"

Napangiti ako dahil mukang hindi nya napansin ang sinabi ko.

"And that I'm willing to do everything for my happiness."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi nya bago ako mas hinigit papalapit sakanya. "Really?"

"Yes. I realized that ever since my Father became the King and ever since I became the Queen, all I did was for the Royal Family. I studied nonstop, I always go to different places and attended engagements but none of it was for my personal happiness." sabi ko at nakita ko namang nakikinig sya kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"It took me so long to realize that but I'm happy for myself because, now, I am willing to have my own happiness."

"Finally. Finally you realized that your happiness matters too." nakangiting sabi nya sa akin.

Our son said that, too.

"Luthor?"

He's holding my hand.

"Yeah?"

"We wasted so much time..."

"Yeah I know."