The Mischievous Princess

•XXV•

THE MISCHIEVOUS PRINCESS

Chapter Twenty-five: Princess Zephaniah

I knew it.

Sigurado rin ako na bago pa man tumapak ang Hari dito sa University ay alam na n'ya na narito ako.

"I missed you my daughter"

Napangiwi ako. He missed me? or He missed controlling me?

"Come here Zeph" si Xavier, tinap n'ya ang katabing part ng sofa para sabihin na doon ako umupo,

Sumunod naman ako at umupo. Pagkaupo ay niyakap ako nito.

"I missed you so much Zeph"

"I missed you too, Xavier. But what exactly are you two doing here? Alam ko naman na nakilala na ako ni Ama bago pa man kayo pumunta dito" I asked then pouted, baka kasi pauwiin na nila ako,

"Don't worry, we're not here to take you back to the Palace. The Palace is not safe for you right now. Gusto kong manatili ka rito sa bayan at gawin ang mission bilang parte ng Royal Class" my Father said, he looks worried,

"Bakit? Anong meron sa Palasyo? bakit hindi ako ligtas doon? Paano sila Ina? If the Palace is not safe right now bakit naroon pa rin sila?" I asked,

Baka kung ano pang mangyari sa kanila. Dapat na rin silang umalis sa Palasyo kung hindi ligtas doon.

"Don't worry about your Mother, I will protect her. You shouldn't worry too much because it's not your mother that they want. Zephaniah, my daughter, I want you to tell me that you will be safe here. I promise that I will do everything to protect you, babawi ako sa lahat ng pagkukulang ko sa'yo anak"

Ibig bang sabihin ni Ama ay ako ang pakay ng mga kaaway? But why? anong kailangan nila sa akin?

Tama rin ba ang nakikita at naririnig ko? My Father is worried about me? At ano raw? babawi s'ya sa mga pagkukulang n'ya sa akin?

"Why are you doing this? H-hindi ka ba galit sa akin? I escaped from the Palace and disobeyed you, hindi mo ba ako parurusahan?" I asked, nagtataka na talaga ako sa mga sinasabi n'ya. He was never this concerned about me.

"I know I haven't been a good father to you, I was too strict and I controlled your life too much. But all of that was to protect you, there was a reason for everything I did to you. Hindi mo pa pwedeng malaman para sa ikaliligtas mo. For now, I want to ask for forgiveness if I went overboard in protecting you, if you didn't feel my love. But I will tell you, my daughter, I love you and Xavier very much, I love both of you equally. So please give me a chance to make it up to you. Please let me protect you anak" I can feel his sincerity,

This was the very first time he told me that he loves me. Nakakaiyak, natutuwa ang puso ko ngayon. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na marinig 'yun mula sa kanya.

"Apology accepted Father, I love you too so much. Even though you were always grumpy with me when I was still in the Palace, even though you always blamed me for the mistakes of others, even though you wanted me to marry someone I didn't love. But that's all in the past, I have forgiven you before I even left the Palace. I also want to apologize for my stubbornness, my hard-headedness, and for always disobeying your orders. I'm sorry. I love you and Xavier, and Mother" lumapit ako kay Ama at niyakap s'ya ng mahigpit, tumayo rin si Xavier at sumali sa yakapan namin,

"This is now my favorite moment in my life, it's so beautiful to see that finally, the two of you have reconciled." Xavier says,

"Alright, enough with the drama, let's talk about your life here Zephaniah. How was your stay here so far? Marami ka na bang mga kaibigan? Oh, maybe you have someone special here? Tell me, have you found true love?" wika ni Ama kaya naman humiwalay na kami ni Xavier sa pagkakayakap,

Excited kong ikinuwento sa kanila ang naging buhay ko rito sa bayan.

"I'm happy here, marami na akong mga kaibigan at mabubuti silang lahat. And I have cellphone! Xavier alam mo ba kung ano ang cellphone?" inilabas ko ang cellphone ko at ipinakita ito sa kanila, but they don't look surprised at all,

"Okay, sabi ko nga alam n'yo ang cellphone" I pouted at natawa naman sila,

"Why didn't you tell me about this thing when I was in the Palace? Edi sana may libangan ako doon bukod sa pagbabasa ng libro" kunwari ay nalulungkot kong wika,

"It's for your safety Zeph, anyway Father we have to go, The King of Cordovia Town is waiting for us, it's important that we talk to them immediately. Zeph, you also need to go to the Dean to find out the details of your mission." Xavier said,

Nalungkot ako dahil aalis na sila.

"We're leaving, Zephaniah. Take care always. Don't let them get you. Don't worry because we will do everything to protect you and our town. Huwag mong pababayaan ang sarili mo dito. Goodluck on your mission, I want you to know that I'm proud of you" My Father hugged me one last time,

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself as well, pati si Ina, please hug her for me. And Xavier, can you do me a favor?"

"Anything for my favorite sister"

"Si Lily, please protect her for me. Alam mo naman na mahalaga rin s'ya para sa akin, protektahan mo s'ya at alagaan. I know that she's lonely because I'm not there, samahan mo s'ya kapag wala kang ginagawa hmm?" I said, namula naman ang pisngi n'ya dahil sa hinihingi kong favor,

"A-alright, I'll do it.. for you"

sa tuwa ko ay niyakap ko s'ya,

"One last favor"

"What is it?"

"Hug her for me.. Pleaseeee" I said at nag puppy eyes pa,

"O-okay, I'll try.. Sige na, kailangan na naming umalis" he's blushing!

"Thank you Xavier! sige na, bye bye! Take care... I love you both" I said then hugged them again,

"I love you anak, take care of yourself okay? Aalis na kami"

Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala, am I hearing things right? kung panaginip 'to please, 'wag na sana akong magising!

Nakaalis na sila kaya nagtungo na ako sa Dean's office,

"Ms. Hellington, how's your conversation with the King?" asked Dean,

"O-okay naman po" I replied with a huge smile on my face,

Hindi ko maitago ang kasiyahan ko dahil sa pag-uusap namin kanina ni Ama. Lumuwag ang pakiramdam ko at nawala na ang kabang nararamdaman.

"Your smile tells it all. Anyway, maaari ka nang umupo para mapag-usapan na natin ang tungkol sa inyong misyon"

Eh? hindi pa sila nagsisimula?