CROWN.

• final

armi

it's not my fault i thought of a nasty scenario when he invited me over at his room. which normal guy even tells a lady to get in his room unless it's that way around, right?

i am a doubtful person. in fact, i could only trust yayi and uncle. i couldn't fully trust rome either because he could barely contact his twin while he's overseas. do not ask me about mommy. at least this was until the day martel and i started to talk about the underlying things in life. after that talk with mommy, i felt much more at ease. well, rome is an exception. he couldn't keep his mouth shut, that's why.

minsan, gusto ko ngang tanungin si mommy kung babae ba talaga si rome. malay niyo, identical pala talaga kami.

martel led me upstairs and into the only room with a blue door.

"welcome to my lair. and yes, princess, you're also the first lady to step in here,"

he's blessing me with a lot of first privileges, huh?

the room was unexpectedly clean. rome's room couldn't even compare to this. that twin of mine barely keeps anything neat - well sometimes he does. the walls were painted navy blue, creating a serene dark environment that anyone who would take even a seat at the bean bag would surely fall asleep.

the best thing in his room? the giant stuffed panda on his bedside and a welsh corgi hat hung on the lamp.

"i am impressed, dummy," i remarked. he smiled at my comment.

"so, why did you bring me here?"

"gaya nang sinabi ko kagabi, i want to talk about something. but before that, maupo ka muna, princess."

only the bed and the bean bag we're viable options to sit in. the bed looked too welcoming to me and so i chose to sit on it. martel, on the other hand, dragged the bean bag right across me. i thought he was going to sit right away, but he grabbed the welsh corgi hat and wore it.

"do i look cute?" he began the conversation.

i scoffed.

"nagpapacute ka ba sa'kin, christiane martel?"

"of course, princess." his unhesitant answer shocked me.

i looked away, embarassed.

"y-yang hat lang. wag ka nang umasa" and when i looked at him, he was pouting.

giant baby, pfft.

"just get to the point, christiane martel. what are we here to talk about?"

"gusto kita."

wow.

his sudden answer caught me off-guard. why can this guy spout answers without hesitation?

"i--"

"--hindi mo naman kailangang sagutin. gusto ko lang na malaman mo ang nararamdaman ko. i'm not expecting anything in return, konti lang naman. besides, you might think this is absurd, that i'm just playing around but i'm genuine this time, kuusela--"

"why won't you let me finish? okay, first off, you caught me off-guard. i've been contemplating on how you act to me lately, na bakit ang landi landi mo sa'kin. but, i have to thank you for clearing out some space in my mind. you know what? lately, you're making my feelings confused,"

"sooo, does that mean gusto mo rin ako?"

"dream on, dummy. firstly, you have to show me you have genuine intent. don't play with me, christiane martel. i can kill you in one snap." i eyed him.

"sinabi ko naman, diba? i'm genuine, kuusela. so, should we start from the basics?"

"manliligaw ka?"

"soon but now now, princess. if i am to show how genuine i am, i should at least become your best friend. that way, we'll get to know more about each other."

"s-sure then."

he stood up from the bean bag and went to his closet. he walked back with a panda hat. nang nasa harap ko na siya, isinuot niya ito sa'kin.

c-couple animal hats?

"i know you like pandas,"

edi ikaw na ang maraming alam.

"tara, princess, baba tayo,"

nang makababa kami, apat na pares ng mata ang nakatitig sa amin.

"told you so, mommy," ano na naman kaya ang pinagsasabi nitong si rome.

lumapit kami sa kanilang lahat at nagmano. si mommy, si rome, at ang parents ni rome lang naman ang nakaupo sa sala.

"ma, bakit kayo nandito?" pagtatanong pa ni martel.

"we were discussing something, anak,"

something? then why is rome here?

"anyway, son, i'm so proud of you." it was my first time seeing martel's father. they did a handshake, and tito patted his head.

"dear, dalaga ka na nga talaga," mommy went over to me and gave me a hug.

"well, as i can see, wala namang tumututol so i guess we're all fine here." tita said.

huh? wag niyong sabihing--

"MAGBESTFRIENDS LANG PO KAMI!" i shouted at the top of my lungs. okay, why isn't martel defending along with me?

"and that, mommy, tito and tita, is a proof that these two are in the stage of courtship,"

ROME YOU ELDER PRICK!

"crown couple?" the elders started to tease us around.

who knew the crowns on our head were our salvation?