Underworld War

Chapter 19 - The Healer

Lunch came and as to what Lyko had promised, we will be eating together. Hindi yung together as in kaming dalawa lang, kasama parin namin si Cerina kasi wala naman siyang ibang kilala dito. We cannot just abandon her so we can have our lunch date.

The both of them didn't mind the idea of us three in a table. Mukhang wala na rin naman talaga kay Cerina ang pagiging mag-asawa namin ni Lyko. As for the latter, I don't know. He seems so oblivious about other women's feelings towards him.

We headed to the cafeteria. Sinubukan kong hindi pansinin ang mga sulyap sa'min ng mga nakakakita. Of course, seeing the three of us screams love triangle kahit na wala naman talaga. 

Kita ko sa paraan nang pagtitig nila sa'min na nilalagyan nila ng malisya ang pagsabay naming tatlo. It made me anxious and annoyed at the same time. Hays, people will always judge based on what they only see.

I bet, they didn't know that Lyko doesn't like either the two of the princesses he's with. One has completely moved on, the other isn't so sure. Ano bang alam nila?

Wala.

Well, this is the disadvantage of becoming a princess. The best I can do for now is bear the unwanted attention they're giving me. 

We seated unscathed. Sa busy ng cafeteria ay 'di na rin kami halos napapansin ng mga tao. We settled at the far most corner of the place para di kami masyado mapansin o mahuli ng mga mata. 

Hindi kami nag-usap na dito maupo. It's like programmed in our body to stay away from attention as much as we can so we unutterly headed here.

Like usual, Lyko got my order. Gan'on rin ang ginawa niya kay Cerina na simple lang na sumagot. He, then, left to place our orders to the counter. Unlike the others who still needed to wait in line, he - or we, are an exception of the rule. He just told his order then left because our food will be served in our table by a waiter. 

I will be a hypocrite if I say that I didn't like the hierarchy. Nasa pabor namin iyon. Bakit hindi ko gugustuhin? It's part of their tradition and as far as I know, no one has complained about it. 

"Have you heard of this ball..." Cerina trailed.

"What ball?" 

Party nanaman? Seriously, hindi nauubusan ng party ang mga mayayaman. After what happened at our freedom party, it kinda traumatized me. Just hearing the word 'party' sends chills into my spine.

"You know, big gowns and royal bloods together."

I shook my head. Of course I hadn't heard of that because I basically don't live here. I'm not even a princess to begin with. 

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sagot ko, tila di makapaniwala na hindi ko alam ang ball na sinasabi niya, "Really?" 

"My parents died and I was isolated in the village. I don't know any of these things kasi hindi naman ako pinanganak na prinsesa. It just so happens that Her Majesty knew my family so well, enough for them to make me a princess to their son."

Half truth. But still, a lie. 

"What a generous queen, she is." Ma-emosyon niyang sabi, "Anyway, it's near. Excited na ako! Makikita ko na ang lalakeng nagugustuhan ko."

"Is he a prince?" Tanong ko.

Umiling siya, "No. He's the son of Mantine's Field Marshal."

Mantine, a city just a hundred kilometers away from Agreassine.

"How'd you met him?"

She smiled, feeling giddy as her cheeks turned red, "The Queen and his father are friends so we got to spend some time together. He's so handsome, you wouldn't believe that he's real!"