Jack and the Prince of Heart (Complete)

Chapter 28- Dearest Jacqueline

Jack

Naglakas loob ako buksan ang wooden box na binigay ni William. There are a lot of papers inside. I saw a wrapper of Flat tops and I remember I gave one to him when we were at Brent. Napangiti ako. Meron din movie ticket, mga stiky notes na binigay ko sa kanya dati... Binasa ko isa-isa... Tumatawa ako sa mga corny short letters ko... An arrowhead was there too. Iniisip ko kung ano ang ginawa ko hangang maalala ko ang detention. A corsage is here and there is a date written... The date of our Prom.

Hindi ko namamalayan na pumapatak na ang mga luha ko.
There is also a necklace... An emerald pendant with letter J pendant carves from emerald stone.

"Your eyes are like an emerald," I said to William while we are reading Shakespeare's Midnight Summer Dream. His dimple appeared because he is trying not to smile but he failed.
"They are so green," I added.

Did he keep all of these? And there is an old wallet. I open it and saw our picture. I am looking at him and he is smiling at the camera.

And finally, a letter... I open a letter and I saw William's penmanship. How he swirls the letter J on my name is unique.

Dearest Jacqueline,

I know that this is an overdue apology but I am still going to do it. I'm sorry my love for leaving you. Believe me that I didn't intend to do it. I was kidnaped, that is the reality. Like I explained to you. I was alone in Cordonia for a year before my mother found me. And please believe me that I tried to send you letters, only to be confiscated by my father.

Before I gain an access to the outside world of Cordonia, it's been more than a year and I am so scared to talk to you. So I live my life with memories of you, our happy memories inside of me. At least in my dreams, I am still the same William that you knew.

Being a Crown Prince is not what I wanted. But fate brought me to this path and I did what I needed to do. I became a Prince trap in this place without you. I know you wanted to be free... You said it to me when we were together. You wanted to see places, meet other people, studied different cultures. If I will pursue you, you will be stuck in here. Serving the people who are not even your people. So I stayed away from you, until that fateful day when I saw you standing like a deer caught in a headlight during the parade. I don't know what to do at that time. Like the old William, I keep quiet and let you go for the second time.

But my love, when I saw you wearing that crown, with a smug smile on your face, ready for a fight, I knew that you belong to this place. Your place is beside me. As my Princess...As my future Queen. With or without the crown.

I will not let you go this time, Jacqueline. I have done that two times and I will not do it again. If I need to chase you around the world, I will do it. I am ready to give up my throne just to be with you.

You are everything to me. Just tell me what I need to do.

I love you.

Yours,
William

Oh, God... Why I am crying this hard?

"Jack. What's wrong baby?" Nagulat ako sa boses ni papa. Nakatayo siya sa may pintuan. Hindi ko nadinig na bumukas ang pintuan.
"Wala po, pa." Tumalikod ako at pinunansan ang mga luha ko.
Pumasok si papa at umupo sa gilid ng kama.
"Hindi ka iyakin. Mabigat siguro yang pinagdadaanan mo kaya ka umiiyak. Tell me." Sabi ni papa.
Tumabi ako kay papa at sinandal ako ang ulo sa balikat nya.
"Papa, papayagan nyo ba akong tumira sa ibang bansa?" Tanong ko.
My father snorted. "Lagi kang wala sa bahay Jack. Ngayon ka lang napirmi kaya nag-aalala kami ni mama mo." Sagot nito.
"Hindi Cordonia ang makakapaghiwalay sa atin, Jackie. Kahit nasaan ka pa, ikaw pa din ang anak namin. Kung hindi ka makakauwi tuwing pasko, then kami ang pupunta sayo."

Napatuwid ako ng upo. My papa has a kind smile on his face. It's a contrast to his feature, really.
"Pero kapag pinaiyak ka pa ulit ni William, gigilitan ko ng leeg yun." Seryosong banta ni papa.
"Bakit mo alam? Grabe ang pagkachismoso nyo nila Tito Marcus." I said to him. He chuckles.

"I must say, galante ang manliligaw mo. Binigyan ng Lamborghini ang mga kaibigan mo."
Napatayo ako. "Tinotoo nya? Akala ko biruan lang nila yung pustahan na yun?"
"Puntahan mo, nagkakarera sila sa race track. Naglalaway si Audi sa kotse nila." Naiiling si papa.

Tumayo siya at niyakap ako. "Kung saan ka masaya, Jack. Doon ka pumunta. Huwag kang matakot dahil hindi ka duwag... Ako ang tatay mo di ba?! Huwag mo kaming isipin masyado dahil lagi kaming dadalaw sayo." He kiss my head and leave my room.

Pinapamigay na ako ni papa!...