He said to wait for him in my room, but I don't like someone bossing me around even if it's him. Specially him!
Hindi ko nahagilap sa mansion si Evander, mukhang kasama siya ni Raiden at Cedric para daluhan ang Reyna. Why is the queen here anyway?
Hindi ba dapat ang prinsipe ang pumupunta sa palasyo para batiin ang kaniyang ama't ina?
Why is he even living in this mansion in the first place? He should have lived inside the palace, especially since he's the crowned prince, he will be the King soon.
I guess, even the prince is sick to their own home?
Nahagip ng mata ko si Isabella na nagbubungkal ng kung ano sa garden. Nagmadali ako sa paglalakad pero mukhang hindi umubra iyon dahil nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata kong tumayo siya at naglakad na palapit sa akin.
And here I am trying to avoid her! Ugh! I don't want to be with her alone.
"Hey Alarken!"
She plastered her wide smile. I'm already sick of it. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong mag-ikot ng mata. She's not William, I can't just be rude with anyone I'm not close with.
Naalala kong ganon ang mukha niya sa buong oras na naglakbay kami sakay ang masikip na kalesa dahil sa sandamakmak niyang gamit. Kung makapagdala ng damit kala mo naman dito na maninirahan. Daig pa ang prinsesa kung magbalot.
I smiled to be polite. I want to be respectful to her because I respect and really like her old man. And he taught me a lot more than my own father.
"Are you doing fine now?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I'm glad you're okay now. Alam mo ba, Raiden was so worried that he even stayed with you the whole day. He even brought his work to your room." Humalakhak sya.
Kinagat ko ang labi ko. A sudden punch hurted my chest. He did that? Crazy bastard.
"He can really be that sweet for his close friends."
"Oh yeah," tumango ako. Close friends my ass. For all I know, he just wants to fuck me.
"I remember, he did that to me too when we were a kid. He was so worried when my nose bleeds that he even cried and called for the royal doctors."
"Oh?" ngumisi ako. Ano namang sasabihin ko don? Wow! Ang galing? That was too sarcastic.
So, they really know each other since they're kids.
"Ah! Sorry," nagkamot sya ng ulo at ngumisi. "Was I too loud? I know you must have wanted to rest. I was just really bored so I talked too much."
"Hindi, okay lang."
Bigla tuloy akong na-guilty. Baka totoong mag-isa lang talaga sya buong araw kahapon dahil naging okupado si Raiden sa akin.
Kung hindi man dahil ko, ay dahil busy ito sa trabaho. Now they can't even have a quality time! Why did he even invite this girl here if he can't give her proper attention?
Anyway, this doesn't have to do with me!
That's what I've said but here I am accompanying her to the garden. Napansin kong ugat ng halaman ng ubas ang kanina pa pala nyang binubungkal.
"I wanted to transfer this to bigger land so it can grow more."
The whole time she was yapping about random things. Minsan ay about sa kanilang bayan, minsan sa vineyard nila, minsan tungkol kay Henry. I would always listen properly when it comes to wines since I really wanted to learn more about it and she seems knowledgeable about that.
"I want to have my own wine business here in Royal Town. Separate from my Father."
"Why?" I don't have any particular reason why I asked that. I just felt like asking because I somehow felt the urge to. Pakiramdam ko ay kailangan ko lang itanong iyon.
She seems surprised. Tamang reaksyon dahil hindi naman kami close.
"Sorry. Pwedeng wag mong sagutin, I was just mumbling."
She chuckled. Her never-ending smiles plastered more.
"No! No! I was just surprised that you were interested in me. Akala ko ay nababagot ka na dito dahil masyado na akong maingay."
Well, yes. But not at all.
"No. I was bored in my room too so I'm looking for someone to talk too. Luckily, you are here."
"Well, because I want to be independent! I want to prove to my Father and to my brothers that I can do more! I will be more successful than them! That's why I'm planning to start my own wine business here in Royal Town."
She looked at the sky, smiling. Hindi ko alam bakit napatingin din ako doon. Maybe, she just looks too happy to me. Parang wala siyang problema sa mundo. She's too enthusiastic about the world. Too positive about life.
I somehow remember myself from her. The positivity and the enthusiasm. Na parang kaya ko lahat. Because I was too confident in myself. Because I always thought I was enough.
Maybe my father was right, I'm incompetent. I'm not capable of achieving high things. Masyado akong nagpapadala sa mga imahinasyon ko. Sa mga plano ko. But look at me now. I don't even have a proper plan, I don't even have a proper goal. Wala pa akong nasisimulan. Sa halaman, wala pa akong kahit ugat.
"Can you teach me more?"
Binalik niya ang tingin nya sa akin.
"Teach me more about wine, planting, fermenting, and everything about it. I want to know."
She smiled slowly and nodded. "Sure!"
She lend her hand. Sandali akong napatingin doon bago natawa at tinanggap.
"Business rivals?"
"Business rivals."
The current me won't be able to achieve anything. I need to be better. I need to learn more.
"Isabella, Alarken."
Sabay kaming napalingon sa boses na halos nakaukit na sa isipan ko. Raiden was walking towards us.
Isabella ran to him. Raiden smiled at her and looked at my direction. Bago pa siya magsalita ay nag-iwas na ako ng tingin.
Nagpanggap akong abala sa halamang binubungkal ni Isabella kanina.
I need to be better. I don't have time to get attached to someone. Especially the prince.
BINABASA MO ANG
His Royal Highness's Scandalous Passion
RomanceFor his family, he is a disgrace, a failure. No expectations, no pressure. Maybe his pride is the reason for his loss, and maybe his pride has brought him to His Royal Highness.
