A Royal Disguise

Epilogue

Epilogue

Cordelia's POV

While waiting backstage, I kept on walking back and forth, memorizing my lines over and over again. Ayokong magkamali sa harapan ng napakaraming mga tao. I want everything to be perfect.

I heard all the royal families are already in here. Grabe 'yung pressure. Sa mga susunod na taon, kapag nagkita ulit kami, maaalala nila ang performance ko ngayong araw. If I don't do well today, they would all tease me on our future social gatherings, and that would be a nightmare.

"Nervous?" Natigil ako nang may magsalita sa likuran ko. I glanced behind my back and saw Rohan walking towards me. He slowed down and stopped a few feet away from me. Titig na titig siya sa akin at tila ba nagulat sa nakita niya.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "May mali ba sa itsura ko? Is it my hair or my make-up? Sobrang kapal ba ng foundation ko? I knew it. I already told them not to put too much cause I will look like a---"

"N-no Lia, you look perfect," He stuttered.

I felt myself blushing. "Really? Cause if there's something wrong, please don't hesitate to tell me."

The corners of his lips turned upward. Naglakad na siya ulit upang mas lumapit pa sa akin. "You look beautiful," He assured me.

I slowly relaxed and smiled at what he said. "Thank you. Ikaw rin, bagay na bagay sa'yo ang suot mo." Rohan looks like a dashing prince. If only he could be one in real life...

"You think so?" parang nangaasar na tanong niya. I chuckled and felt relieved that he's here.

Just for today, I'll forget everything that has happened between us. I'll do my best to enjoy the show and pretend as if we're going to be together. Happy ending ang matatamo ng mga characters namin, kaya naman magi-imagine akong gano'n din ang ending naming dalawa.

"Saluhin mo ko ah kapag may nakalimutan akong lines ah," I mumbled. "My mind usually goes blank when I'm too nervous. First time ko rin kasing humarap sa ganyang kadaming tao."

Rohan touched my hand and squeezed it lightly. "Ako bahala sa'yo."

Holding his hand again made me feel both happy and sad at the same time. Sobrang nakaka-miss ang mga hawak niya... We didn't even get to enjoy dating that much. Parang pinatikim lang talaga ako ng ligaya pagkatapos ay binawi kaagad sa akin.

I held his hand back and smiled genuinely at him. "Let's do this."

"You and me, Lia. Always."

Humarap na kami sa entrance ng stage at huminga ng malalim. Then he let go of my hand since I'd be alone in the opening scene. Bago umakyat ng hagdan ay nagsalita siya.

"Nandito lang ako sa gilid. Tingnan mo 'ko kapag kinabahan ka."

It put me at ease to hear him say that. Nagpapasalamat ako na kahit hindi maganda ang nangyari sa relasyon namin ay nagagawa pa rin naming kumuha ng lakas sa isa't-isa. I need him right now and I'm so grateful he's here for me.

*****