Freedom

Freedom 3

Chapter Three: Artellia University

Reia/Aiesha's POV

Kakatapos ko lang mag-enroll at papunta na kami ni Charmaine sa gym. Nandun daw kasi yung bestfriend niya eh. And now, I remembered her. She's the daughter of one of the palace ministry. We bumped for a lot of times at the palace before. We became playmates but that didn't last. She ended up moving here at Artesia. I know she won't recognize me. It's been 7 yrs anyway and when we became playmates, my mom and dad, a.k.a. the king and queen told me to wear mask. Webecame playmates at the age of 9 and I started wearing my mask when I was 7, so... that happen.

"Reia, right? Tara, pasok na tayo." Sa said and smiled at me before opening the gymnasium's door.

We entered and I was amazed at what I saw. I kept quiet. It's my first time seeing this place first hand. I only saw places like this at some pictures with the help of the internet.

"Audrey!" Sumunod ako kay Charmaine nang tumakbo siya papunta sa bench ng mga volleyball players at lumapit sa isang babaeng nakaupo at nagpupunas ng towel sa kanyang pawis. The girl looked at our direction and get the bottle of water from Charmaine's hands. Oh, I haven't noticed that she's holding that.

Ininom ni Audrey yung bottle of water at nag- bottoms up pa. I can see that she's very tired from the game. She combed her hair with her hands and I looked at it. Her hair.... I know I saw it somewhere.... but, where?

Audrey looked at me and raised her eyebrow at me. I just looked at her. Charmaine seems to noticed Audrey looking intently at me and talked.

"Oh! I forgot, Audrey, that's Reia--Reia Monteflavia, a transferee. She's the girl that I bumped with earlier. Hehe..." Charmaine

"And, Reia, this is Audrey--Audrey Millet, my bestfriend. She's a volleyball player." Charmaine

Audrey looked at me from head to toe then from toe to head as if analyzing me. I just stared at her. I only knew one person who looked at people the way she did. Now I know where I saw that hair of hers...

Flashback 7 yrs ago....

I was walking properly at the hallways of the castle while balancing 50 thick books above my head and a vase on each of my hand. It's quite heavy but I'm getting used to it cause I've done this for weeks already. I heard a quite fast foot steps coming to my direction so I tried to avoid it by stepping aside but, I'm too late.

All the books scattered on the palace' floor and the vase are now broken into pieces, helplessly lying on the floor. I tried to stood up and help the girl whose wearing a violet balloon dress above the knee to stand. She hirt her knees. I looked at her and the girl beside her. The girl beside her is wearing a red balloon dress above the knee and their hairs are held up high in a tight bun, just like mine.

"I'm sorry about that. I was too late to avoid you. Wait here, I'll ask for help. Okay?" I said and the girl with the red dress looked up to me and her eyes widened.

"P-princess Aiesha! We're sorry for our rudeness." She said and bowed her head so as the girl that I bumped with.
"It's fine. You're the one who hurt yourself so I'm the one who should ask for your forgiveness. Pardon me." I said and bowed at them. The girl was about to talk when someone called me.

"Princess!! Oh my, what happened here?" Said by madam Suzanne, she's my teacher in princess etiquette 101.

"It's something, lady Suzanne. I just happen to bumped with them and the girl hurt her knees, can you please ask for help? I think she needed it right now cause a broken piece of a vase happened to shrunk deep in her skin. I'll be going, but before that, can I ask your name?" I said at the two girls in front of me.

"Ch-charmaine A-acosta, your majesty." Said by the girl with the violet dress.
"Audrey Millet, princess" said by the girl with red dress.

I nodded at them before saying my name.

"Aiesha Montefilla. Are you perhaps the ministers' daughters?" I asked.

"Yes, princess." They said in chorus. I nodded before smiling at them and turning my back at them.

End of Flashback

Oh. So, sila pala yon. Naging kaibigan ko din sila sa palasyo. Pati nga si Daphne nakalaro nila eh. Ang kaso, 6 yrs ago, we're eleven at that time, umalis sila ng bansa. Nandito lang pala sila all this time. Hindi ko na nga sila nakita nung umalis sila eh. May klase pa kasi ako noon sa palasyo.

I think they won't remember that I'm the princess. I offered my hand at Audrey and smiled slightly when she accepted it with a smile.

"Hello, we're do you came from? I mean, what place? Cause you're a transferee, right?" She said.
"I came from Crestillia, at the City." I said and smiled.

Nagningning naman ang mga mata ni Charmaine ng marinig ang sinabi ko habang napangiti na lang si Audrey.

"Really?! We came from there too!" I know, Charmaine. "How's the country? Is it fine? Did it looked better than before? Huh?" She asked while shaking both of my shoulders.

"*chuckles. Calm down, Charmaine. She'll tell you." Bumaling sa akin si Audrey. "Right?" I nodded at her.

Charmaine looked at me hopefully so I got nervous. I wasn't use to things like this, it's been years....

"Ugm... let's sit first, shall we? Ughm... hehe...." hindi komportableng sabi ko. Napasimangot naman si Charmaine bago ako hinila papunta sa bleachers. Audrey followed us behind.

"Ughm.... Crestillia has been fine. The structures got better, but, one problem is currently causing mom-- I mean, the king and queen a lot of problems. Rebels are trying to make our country fall. The people are scared because of the attacks. But, the palace are doing everything they can to stop the rebels. They promised to keep the people safe, as long as they can. So... no need to worry." I said and smiled.

Yeah. Rebels are trying to snatch the country away from our hands. Away from the royalties. But, I think that issue is almost gone this past few days.

"What?! How did that happen?!" Charmaine reacted--whole heartedly.

I smiled weakly at them.

"Ugh.... the last six months before I go in this country, the king caught an illness, which weakens our palace and country defenses because he's the one who's planning all of it. Because of that, the rebels has took advantage of it. They attacked the palace, that causes lots of death peoples--palace' guards, maids. So, the queen--together with her daughters decided to he---" I got interrupted by Charmaine....

"How did you know that the Montifilla Royalties has a child?!" They asked me in chorus.

Ughm..... I'm dead. I'm not supposed to spill that knowledge!!! Kinakabahang napangiti ako sa kanilang dalawa.

Err......