Crowned Princess (Kingdom University, #3)

Chapter 35

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang papunta sa parking lot kung nasaan ang kotse niya. Meydo maaga pa nga pero ayaw niya raw ma-late sa dinner kahit less than thirty minutes lang ang byahe papunta ro'n.

"Sure ka ba?" tanong ko nang makapasok kami sa sasakyan. "Sobrang aga pa."

Halos two hours pa ang hihintayin namin kung pupunta agad kami. Hindi naman siya punctual pagdating sa mga practice. Anong nakain niya ngayon?

"Oh. Maaga pa ba?" he asked back.

Doon ko lang na-realize na wala siyang suot na relo ngayon, which was quite weird. Mukha rin siyang walang tulog. He must be busy, especially that the 50th anniversary and the qualifying exam would happen on the same day—tomorrow.

Umupo siya sa driver's seat at isinandal ang ulo niya sa headrest. He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes for a few seconds.

"Magpahinga ka muna," I said, and he looked at my direction.

"But—"

"Hindi tayo makakarating do'n kung pagod ka at inaantok."

We stared at each other for a few seconds and in the end, he gave in.

"Okay," he muttered. "How about you?"

Nilabas ko naman ang phone ko. "Don't worry, I won't get bored."

He flashed a relieved yet weary smile and after several minutes, he fell asleep. Tinitigan ko siya habang natutulog at napangiti ako dahil ang peaceful ng mukha niya. He looked really tired and I started to wonder if he was getting enough sleep.

"Bakit kahit natutulog ka, para ka pa ring model?" I muttered while staring at his long lashes, high nose bridge and thin lips. "Unfair."

Muli akong napangiti. Parang dati, sa malayo ko lang siya nakikita. I could only steal glances at his direction because he didn't know I exist. Naiinis at naiinggit pa ako sa mga taong nakadikit sa kanya dahil natitingnan mo sila sa mga mata at naririnig nila ang boses mo. You were out of my reach before. Funny how I'm looking at your sleeping face now.

I reached for his face, gently tracing its features. Mukhang mahimbing ang tulog ng lalaking 'to dahil hindi man lang nagising. Dahil wala na rin naman akong magawa ay nag-phone na lang ako hanggang sa thirty minutes na ang lumipas.

"Kevin . . ." mahina kong tawag pero hindi siya nag-react.

Ilang beses ko siyang tinawag at tinapik pero walang epekto. Ang lalim yata ng tulog niya at saglit akong natawa dahil doon. Ang cute. Na-i-imagine ko tuloy si baby Sylvester.

Gusto ko pa sana siyang makapagpahinga kaya naman tinawagan ko si Dad. After three rings, sinagot niya rin.

"Dad, I—"

"I was about to call you." Napahinto naman ako sa pagsasalita dahil parang kakaiba ang tono niya. He seemed out of breath and agitated. "Let's postpone the dinner and go to the hospital near that restaurant."

"Hospital? Why?"

Bigla akong kinabahan. Huwag naman sanang masamang balita.

"Your Mom got into an accident."

I didn't hear what Dad said next. My mind went blank the moment I heard the word accident. Nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko at hindi ako makahinga nang maayos.

"—here. Hello? Alice? Listen to me."

"A-anong nangyari, Dad?"

"Nabangga ang kotse niya habang papunta rito."