The Royal Rebel

Chapter 7- The Royals

Alec 

"Leander is oblivious of your location. They are looking at France and Spain for you." Meghan informed me. The only communication we have is via phone call with this old model Nokia phone.

"I also informed Tim and Archer that you are alive. They will be here any minute."

"Thanks, Meg. How are my parents?"

"Tita Jack is furious but she believes you are alive. Don't you want me to tell them?"

"Tell my mom and please tell her do not do any drastic decision. Still, pretend they are searching for me."

"Okay, got that. Tim is here."

Sumunod kong narinig ang boses ni Timothy.

"Alec, you rascal. Where the bloody hell are you?"

"London," I replied.

"We will be there."

"Don't. Tim, they are watching you in Cordonia. I need your help to look into someone. Leander is too cautious to kill me himself. But I remember his cousin was there when they took me."

"Who is this cousin we are talking about?" Tim asked like his grandfather himself. He has Lolo Kyle's temper and meticulous thinking for nothing. Mas nakakatakot pa nga siya minsan kaysa kay mommy.

"Pierre Durand."

"The fuck!"

I heard Meghan and Tim's curses until I heard Archer in the background. They informed him what I said and the three started to curse again.

"Bro, I am traveling to UK next week for business purposes. Do you think we can meet? I will find a way for us to meet," said Archer.

"I don't know if it is safe," I murmured.

"Leave that to us," Tim said in the background.

"Take care, Alec. Call Meg if you need anything," Archer ended the call.

Wala pa akong magagawa sa ngayon. Si Meghan at Tim ang inaasahan ko. Kapag sinabi nilang safe, safe pa ako but I am being careful. My facial hair and contact lenses hide my features. I am not the Crown Prince with this look. Malayong-malayo ang itsura ko ngayon kaysa sa nakasanayan ko. My sisters will surely laugh at me when they see me. Oh, I look like hermit, dammit. Even I can't recognize the man in the mirror.

Lumabas ako ng apartment para bumili ng makakain. May maliit na convenience store sa likuran ng apartment building ko, malapit sa apartment ni Khristine.

Si Khristine, nakauwi na kaya iyon?

Iniwan ko sila ng kaibigan n'ya kaninang madaling araw sa hospital. Pagkatapos nilang makatulog ng kulang isang oras ay ginising sila ng isa sa mga nurse at pinag-duty ulit. Hindi na ako nakapagpaalam na uuwi.

Pagpasok ko sa convenience store, naroon si Khristine at nagbabayad sa biniling kape.

"Kauuwi mo lang?" tanong ko nang makalapit ako sa counter.

Tumingin sa akin si Khristine at naningkit. "Hindi pa kita mahaharap sa pagsisinungaling mo. Pagod ako."

"Hindi ako—"

"Hindi mo sinabing marunong kang magtagalog," sumbat niya sa akin.

"You didn't ask."

Napa-O ang bibig niya bago tumawa na parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinagot ko.

"How the hell will I know you can speak—"

"Shhh... Tara sa labas. Ang ingay mo," yaya ko sa kanya.

"The nerve. Naku, puyat ako ha."

"Obviously. Ang itim na ng mga mata mo. You look like a ghost that was punched on both eyes."

"Bwisit," bubulong-bulong na wika ni Khristine sa likod ko.

Lumabas kami ng convenience store. Naglakad siya papunta sa apartment niya. Sinabayan ko siyang maglakad.

"Off mo?"

Umiling si Khristine. "May duty ako mamaya."

"Bukas?"

"Duty."

"Kailan ka walang duty?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Khristine. "Wala akong off sa buong buwan."

"The fuck!" Hindi ako makapaniwala. "And that's okay with you?"

"Syempre hindi, pero may magagawa ba ako?" tanong niya.

"Find another job?" I replied but even to ears, it's not convincing.

"I can't. Hindi ako PR dito. 'Yong hospital ang nag-sponsor para sa working visa ko. Paano, matutulog muna ako?"

Nagmamadaling umakyat si Khristine papunta sa apartment niya. Sa palagay ko, hindi na naman kakain iyon at kape na naman ang tanging laman ng sikmura sa maghapon.

Bumalik ako sa convenience store nang masiguro kong naka-akyat na si Khristine sa apartment niya. Bumalik ako sa convenience store at bumili ng makakain. Maghapon na naman akong walang gagawin kung hindi maghintay.

Sobrang bagot na bagot ako sa apartment. Nakailang rounds na rin ako ng push-ups, sit-ups at iba pang work-outs. I even practiced my shadow boxing like what Lolo Kyle thought us. Kailangan kong hintayin si Meghan at sa information na makukuha niya.

For now, I am safe.

God knows paano ako napunta sa London. I don't even remember much on my travel towards here. What I vividly remember is when I was kidnapped from my yacht. My men were killed instantly. I was put in a speed boat with a sack on my head and my hands were bound. It was hell for me. Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw akong nakakulong at binubugbog. I lost count on the days. Tinuon ko ang lakas ko sa pagkakabisa ng mga mukha ng lahat ng dumaiti ang kamao sa akin. I remember their face as clear as daylight. And when they thought I was dead from their torture, tumakas ako isang gabi. Kinuha ko ang isang kotse nila. Tinangka nila akong habulin, doon nagpaputok ng baril si Pierre at tinamaan ako. Nang maubusan ako ng fuel, sumabit ako sa mga truck hanggang sa nakarating ako sa London. Kung paano, gaya ng sabi ko ay hindi ko alam. Himala nang maituturing na nabuhay pa ako, na nailigtas ako ni Khristine, 'cause I was sure I would have died that night if not for Khristine.