Prince and Princesses of My Nation

Their Sides

Unti-unting binuksan ni Callie ang kanyang mga mata at ang unang nakita niya ay ang puting kisame. Napalingon siya sa kanyang kaliwa at may upuan ngunit walang taong nakaupo.

Nasaan ako? tanong niya sa kanyang sarili.

Napaupo siya at hinawakan ang kanyang ulo dahil masakit.

Ano bang nangyari?

Bumukas ang pinto at nagpakita si Fuego na gulat habang may dala-dalang tray na may pagkain at baso ng tubig.

"Callie" at agad niyang pinatong ang tray sa mesa na katabi lamang ng kama at umupo sa tabi niya.

"Are you okay? Is there anything painful with you?" he asked full of concern.

"My head... but it doesn't matter anymore. Why am I here?" diretsong tanong ni Callie.

"Can't you remember anything?" tanong pabalik ni Fuego.

Napaisip si Callie.

"After our breakfast, I went to the Ice Cabin and do what I have to do when an ice guy came and invited me somewhere and... that's all I can remember"

Nabigla si Fuego at iniwasan siya ng tingin.

"So that's how it is" bulong niya.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing. Just talking to myself"

Napatingin lang si Callie kay Fuego.

"So, what happened after that?" tanong ni Callie.

"Oh... sorry. I don't have any idea. Jethro just informed me you are here so I went here and saw you sleeping already"

"Jethro haven't said anything?"

"Once I arrived, he left immediately" he answered.

Tinignan lang ng mabuti ni Callie si Fuego na may halong pagtataka. Fuego looked back pero agad din siyang umiwas ng tingin. That made her think that something is really wrong but before she could jump to conclusions, she need to ask Jethro first and make sure. Nilapag na niya ang kanyang mga paa sa sahig at akmang aalis na nang...

"Wait, you're leaving already?" tanong agad ni Fuego.

"I need to talk to Jethro" sagot niya sabay tayo at naglakad.

"But... I made food for you"

Napatigil si Callie at napalingon sa mesa. Agad siyang bumalik sa kama at umupo.

"I'll eat this first then before I leave" malamig niyang saad at kinuha yung plato.

Napangiti nalang si Fuego sa sinabi niya pero agad din itong nawala.

"Can you excuse me for a moment?" tanong niya.

Tinignan siya ni Callie at tumango. Agad napatayo si Fuego at lumabas.

Tinuloy lang ni Callie na kumain. Pagkatapos ng mga ilang minuto, tapos na niya kainin lahat pero hindi pa rin pumapasok si Fuego. Naghintay siya pero wala pa rin. Tumayo na siya at titignan sana kung okay lang talaga siya at bubuksan na sana niya ang pinto nang may narinig siya.

"I can't tell her. I don't know how"

Napatigil si Callie sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

"I thought about that for so long that I even manage to cut my hand while making her food and I still don't know what to do. Just please, don't tell her anything for now. I'll find the right time and I myself will tell her about it"

Napatayo lang duon si Callie at hindi kumibo pagkatapos niyang marinig lahat nun nang pumasok si Fuego.

Nagulat si Fuego dahil nasa harap niya mismo si Callie na nakayuko.