Monster's Pet (Phoenix #2)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 - Monster Prince

Sountrack: Cry by Mandy Moore

(a/n: i am begging you to please listen to the song)

I told my father's family I'm leaving, pero masyado kong na-miss ang manor para umalis na lang basta. Lumayo lang ako sa kanila.

Maraming puno ang likod ng manor, at nasa ilalim ako ng pinakamalaki sa kanila. Sa trunk kasi ng puno, ay may maliit na kweba. Pumapasok ako sa loob noon at doon nagtatago. This was the best hiding place ever dahil never akong nahanap ni Lolo dito whenever we played hide and seek. Hindi ko lang alam kung talaga bang hindi niya ako mahanap, o sadyang pinapapanalo niya lang ako.

This huge tree is my sanctum.

Nakaupo sa isa sa malalaking ugat niya, gusto ko sanang pumasok sa kweba pero hindi na ako kasya. Masyado na 'kong matangakad, pahirap din 'tong gown kong mabigat, na bawal dumihan dahil siguradong lagot ako kay Loise.

Tumingala ako at pinagmasdan ang stars sa kalangitan. Not even a single cloud in sight. Bilog na bilog ang maliwanag na buwan kaya hindi gaanong madilim ang paligid. What a perfect time to transform as a werewolf and go crazy like Professor Lupin in that one Harry Potter movie.

From my pouch, I fish my phone out at nagpasak ng earphones. With just me, the trees, the moon, the stars and the darkness that surrounds me, kahit dito na lang ako hanggang matapos ang gabi.

I never once feared the darkness, I even find it comfortable... calming... soothing. I close my eyes and listen to the song as it starts playing.

You were all by yourself, staring up at a dark grey sky. I was changed.

My eyes fly open nang maramdaman kong may kung anong pumatong sa balikat ko; it's a black and silver coat of a prince.

In places no one will find, all your feelings so deep inside.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin.

Standing before me is the monster. Ang halimaw na kanina ko pa hinihintay, kanina ko pa hinahanap, at gustong makita.

It was there that I realized, that forever was in your eyes...

Damn him. He looks so perfect, so dashing, so prince-like, so dreamy and so freaking magical kahit na silky white na dress shirt na lang ang suot niya. Parang may sparkle effects pa sa paligid niya. Or is that just me? Hindi naman ako lasing ah? I haven't even drink nor eaten a single thing at the party. Bakit kung ano-ano ang nakikita ko? Gutom ba ako?

Matapos niyang ayusin ang coat sa balikat ko, the monster sits beside me. His hair is in a perfect slick-back, and he smells so damn good too, like a mixture of his natural manly scent, body spray and hair styling wax.

Tangna ang bango-bango.

"It's too early for Cinderella to run off the party." Sumner says in that beautiful baritone voice of his.

Binato ko pabalik sa kanya ang coat, "Go back there, Prince Charming—ah no, Prince Monster."

I wanted to hold you...

"Aren't you cold?" muling tanong niya.

I give him a sarcastic look, "Do I look like I'm cold?"

Sinuot niya ang coat and heavens, lalong nadagdagan ang sparkle effects!

"Let's go back there, together." He utters softly, and my stupid heart reacted in an instant.

"No."

"Please?"

"Go find your princess, Prince Monster."

I wanted to make it go away...

Ngumiti siya. My favorite smile of his. Tangina. "I already did. That's why I'm here."

"I am not your princess, Sumner." I point at myself, "This Cinderella doesn't need a prince—a monster like you."

He just smiles again. Tangina naman. "I know. But let me stay with you."

"Bakit sa'kin? Bakit ako? Bored ka na naman ba? Sumner Falle, tigilan mo na ako pwede ba?"

Something sparks in his eyes as he stares at me, "Sorry, I can't do that."

"You really are a monster." Pabilis ng pabilis ang tibok ng puso ko, but never in hundred million years would I let him know that.

"We should dance. It's a party after all." Sumner beams, na lalong pinaganda ng moonlight. Tumayo siya, pumuwesto sa harap ko, at inalok ang kamay niya.

I look up at him, "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Hindi niya hinintay ang sagot ko, kinuha niya ang kamay kong nakakapit sa ugat at hinatak ako patayo, palapit sa kanya.

Kung ibang araw 'to, baka hinampas ko na paalis ang kamay niya. But this night is different. With my hands in his, our gazes on each other under the dim light of the moon, this night truly is special.

I wanted to make your everything all right...

Nakatingin lang ako sa magkahawak naming kamay. His touch feels good... and I... I like it. Hinayaan ko lang siyang hatakin ako paalis sa mapunong likod ng manor.

When the song ends, I use my free hand to remove the earphones off my ears.

This could be a scene in a music video where the princess decided to run away with the prince, for their love was forbidden. Each of their kingdoms opposed one another even before they were born. But the prince and the princess were willing to sacrifice everything just to be with each other.

Romeo take me, somewhere we can be alone, I'll be waiting all there's to do is run

Natawa ako. It's the music from the party. Now I really feel like we're in Taylor swift's Love Story music video to be exact... and it felt so surreal.

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess, It's a love story baby just say yes

Only, this is not a love story nor a music video. This is real life and we are just walking out of the trees with our Disney costumes. So what if Sumner is holding my hand? Surely, I'm the only one feeling surreal about this.

Well, tonight's special. I could pretend and imagine that we're in a different world... that we have a love story and that I was his princess and he was my prince. Kahit ngayong gabi lang, hahayaan ko ang sarili kong magpakatanga.