The Truth In His Lies

Chapter 2

"Well, what I heard is..." Bea, my college friend, leaned in further to the table. "Their prospect is the Palencio princess!"

The girls gasped. Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko maintindihan ang pinag-uusapan nila. I was spacing out the whole time. Nakatitig lang ako sa tasa at hinihintay ang oras na lumipas para makapunta na sa susunod na subject habang sila naman ay mukhang focused sa tsismis na hatid ni Bea. Hindi ako makasunod sa usapan nila, maybe because they're all two to three years older than me. I am not as smart as Kuya Luciano but like him, I've skipped some grade levels too at ngayon ay medyo maagang nakapag college.

"Huh? Didn't the Palencios drop their royal titles long ago? Baka ibang prinsesa 'yan!" si Vivienne.

"But here is the real tea, the Alejos rejected their proposal!"

"Really?! Maybe they think that the Palencios are no good now since they aren't royalty anymore?"

Mas lalo silang umingay. Natauhan ako nang pitikin ni Vivienne ang noo ko.

"What the?" inayos ko ang upo ko at tumingin sa kanila. They were all watching me. "What?"

"You were at the Alvertine Foundation auction event yesterday, right? Did you see him there?" tanong ni Bea. Nag-isip ako sandali kung sino ang maaaring tinutukoy nila but Vivienne pointed out who. They were talking about Samuel. Nakita ko nga siya kagabi sa auction but for a very brief moment only. When Kuya Luciano interrupted our interaction, halos dinumog sila at walang katapusang usapan tungkol sa negosyo ang pag-uusap nila.

"Oh... yeah.. I saw him. What's the big deal?" I asked and looked at them disappointed at my nonchalance. Pare-pareho silang napasandal sa kinauupuan. For them, it's a big deal since Samuel evaded the public for years since the incident of the possible assassination.

"Forgive her, girls! She's just turning nineteen this month and her Kuya Luciano would probably faint at the thought of marrying her off," madramang sambit ni Vivienne habang palapit sa akin at inakbayan ako. "It's too early for her to mind marriage and stuff. Aside from that, she hates the Alejos," tinapik niya ang balikat ko. Tumango naman ang iba bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ni Vivienne.

When Kuya Luciano turned eighteen, marriage proposals from other families started pouring in. I received a few proposals too, but my brother would toss them into the fireplace before I even had a chance to read them.

"Anyway, is anyone here invited to the coming of age of the royal princess, tonight?" tanong ni Vivienne. Nagtaas ako ng kamay. It turns out I'm the only one who's invited among our group. Vivienne will for sure be there as she works for the palace.

"As expected of an Alvantin," Bea sighed and gathered her things. "Gotta go, I have a group meeting!"

Tumayo na rin ako naghanda na para sa susunod na klase.

"I thought you weren't going?" tanong ni Vivienne habang papunta kami sa klase.

"At first, yes. But my mother..." nagkibit balikat na lang ako dahil alam kong gets naman niya. Hindi pumayag si Mommy na hindi ako pumunta since the princess addressed the letter specifically to me. And a lot of noble descent families are waiting for an invitation, and mine came months from the actual celebration. Which is kinda odd to be honest.

Hindi pa ako napasok ng classroom ay napangiti na ako. Vivienne was quick to notice it at kahit hindi siya nagti-take ng Art History ay napasilip siya sa loob ng silid. Her eyes narrowed at me.

"Hmmm, now I know why you are so eager to come to this class..." she smiled evilly. "Pietro!" tawag niya. What the fuck, Vivienne! Hindi ako magkaintindihan kung tatakbo ba ako palabas o tumuloy sa loob ng classroom hanggang sa naugat na lang ako sa tabi ni Vivienne nang makalapit si Pietro. She knows I have a crush on Pietro and always finds a way to make it obvious!