LUNA

11: Breakfast

Mukha kaagad ni Feline ang bumungad saakin pagka gising ko sa umaga. Hindi ko na lang sana siya papansinin at gusto ko pa sanang matulog ng may maamoy akong di-pamilyar na mga baho saloob ng kwarto.

"His Highness wants to have breakfast with the witches, miss Sahar. We are here to prepare you for that matter"

Isang sagot lang sinabi ko kay Feline ng sinabi niya yon. "No"

"We only have 30 minutes left para po ayusan at pagandahin po kayo. His Highness gave a direct order to kill if the given task won't be obeyed, miss Hades. So I suggest na lang po na tumayo na kayo sa kama niyo para po masimulan na namin ang pag-aayos sainyo"

I would have laughed at the thought of being killed because I didn't attend breakfast— but the prince is a man of his word. The sentinels stationed behind doors smelled greedy and prepared, different from the calm aroma they've leaked last night. Kaya wala nanaman akong choice kundi bumangon. Well, I'm being controlled and watched here. If I want that bargain to happen, I need to behave myself. At least for a while.

Feline is a woman in her late 20s— that's what I see. Matangkad siya at malaman. Morena at maamo ang mukha. Brown eyes, brown hair, thin lips and a small nose. Yung tatlong maids na kasama niya mas bata pa sakanya. Lahat sila naka pang maid na uniporme sa kulay na midnight blue at gold. A ruffle dress that flows down until their ankles, and I find it uncomfortable and itchy. Hindi ko na tinanong kung anong mga pangalan nung tatlo, at hindi ko nagawang makinig nung nagpakilala sila sakin. I was too sleepy headed when they've introduced themselves to me, and they've probably know by now that their names doesn't concern me at all.

With her soft tone, Feline told me to go inside the bathroom— at nung ginawa ko nga 'yon at sumunod silang apat sa likuran ko— tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.

Papaliguan daw nila ako.

Ano ako, baby?

Kung tutuusin nga, 58 years old na ako. Malapit ko na silang murahin ng magsimulang mag-explain si Feline about sa trabaho nila, and good for them, I didn't bitch around. Sinarado ko lang ang pintuan sa pagmumukha nila at naligo ng mag-isa.

I know it's their job to take care of this kind of stuff, but I do not need to be taken care of.

The last time I let someone do that, she burnt my skin from scrubbing too harshly.

Ha.

Pagkatapos kong maligo, may naka ready na kaagad na gown sa kama ko. Hindi ko na kailangan magtanong kung bakit yan pinapasuot sakin, pero agad akong umayaw. Magsasalita na uli sana si Feline ng bigyan ko siya ng matalim na tingin. I smell her instant recoiling as her face pales while doing a small bow to me, indicating that she wouldn't insist anymore and that I can wear anything I want.

Well, I only need to be at the breakfast. Royal clothes aren't necessary for a witch like me. Nag suot lang ako ng black dress— another short black dress that only flowed down 3 inches below my butt. Like my old one, this dress doesn't have a complex design on it. It was plain black. Its neckline drew a heart, and it has long peasant sleeves that clutched my wrists tightly. The dress only hugged my waist and above, showing off how small my real waistline is.

Feline now was more cautious and vigilant around me when she told me that they would put a little makeup on my face. Again, tumaas kilay ko sa narinig. Makeup? Tapos mag bre-breakfast lang? I didn't hold back my cringe, but in the end, I allowed them to play with my face.

She directs me toward the pearled- design vanity in the room. Careful of my moods. Agad nila akong inayusan ng makaupo ako sa harapan ng salamin. Hinayaan ko na silang apat na paglaruan ang mukha ko. Feline on my hair, and the others on my face. Mas madaling natapos ang tatlo kesa kay Feline. Hindi ko alam kung natatakot ba silang hawakan ako kaya sila nagmadali o sadyang mabilis lang talaga silang kumilos. They only powdered my face, put black linings on my eyes, formed my eyebrows, darkened and curled my eyelashes, and painted my lips using a water tint in deep dark red. Nang makita ko ang sarili ko sa salamin, napa tango tango na lamang ako.