Love Me Like I Do

23.

"I figured out you would want a tour after our visit to the Prince. I shall grant you rest days, shan't I?" I just smiled at her. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit niya ginagawa ito. Sure, we're good in our line of business but we cannot deny the fact that European dishes are exemplary especially  European din ang gagawa.

"Yeah. My staff has been hinting about tours for days. But we will not leave anything pending." Tumango lang siya habang seryosong nakatitig sa dala dala niyang papeles.

Hindi na rin ako nagsalita. Papunta na kami sa Vanduz Castle pero tatlo lang sa staff ko ang dinala ko. Eh kasi naman nakakarwahe kami. Hassle naman kasi kung kaming lahat ang pupunta rito. May mga pinagawa rin ako sa mga naiwan.

"You might be wondering why I chose you despite my connections in more classy hotels in the world. Well, the news is I got a Filipino-German fiance who so happened to be your.. ex. I know this is awkward. But duh, I don't need to pretend that I don't know about you two. Of course, Yuan has always been the apple of the Grand Duke's eyes. Mr. De Travis is his best friend. And by that I think you know how this all started." Tahimik lang ako habang nagsasalita siya. Ni walang emosyon ang kanyang pagbati. Parang nagsasalaysay siya ng isang normal na bagay.

Hindi ko alam kung saan siya humuhugot ng lakas ng loob para masabi sa akin ito unless.. oh no. Wag mo na lang isipin, Lauren. Masasaktan ka lang.

"Yuan cannot join us during the first weeks of this preparation because he's now dealing with a mining company. He's to join the Congressional Black Caucus so he's now studying everything." Or maybe akala niya nakamove on na ako. Come on. Naguguluhan na ako.

"The Royal Marchioness, Lady Nadia, and... companion." Anunsyo ng isang katiwala.

"Nadia, darling! It's so good to see you. Come, come. You have to hear whatever your Grandfather, the Prince, is saying." Excited si Nadia na marinig ang sasabihin ng kanyang lolo kaya nagmadali siyang lumapit dito. They spoke in a language I don't know kaya hinayaan ko na lang sila. Pinaupo naman kami ng isang courtlady sa parang waiting area ng pasilyo. Rinig na rinig ang tawanan ng mag-aapo habang sineserve naman ang welcoming snacks sa mesa namin.

"Ma'am, how does it feel?" Tiningnan ko nang nagtataka ang nagtanong. Though, alam ko kung anong ibig niyang sabihin ngunit mas pinili kong  ipagkaila iyon.

"Huy Agnes, ang chismosa mo. Tumigil ka nga." Siniko naman ni Rhythm si Agnes.  Pinili ko na lang na ngumiti sa kanilang dalawa. Mukhang nagkamali ako sa pagpili ng dinala rito ah. Ayoko sa lahat lalo na sa ngayon ang empleyadong tsismosa. Mukhang naramdaman naman ni Agnes ang lamig sa mga ngiti ko kaya hindi na niya ipinilit pa.

Pinapanood ko lang ang nag-uusap na mga maharlika. Nadia's very sophisticated. Parang lahat ng galaw niya ay . Though, you know she's  a y bagay kaya siya ang paborito ng Prinsipe.

"Oh, I'm really sorry to leave you here. How silly of me. Have I introduced you to my grandparents?" She said with the accent she used awhile ago whilr talkong with her grandparents.

"Grandma, this is Lauren Kleriff of ZK Incorporated and her staff. Lauren, these are the Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein." We bowed before them and they accepted it.

"Welcome, welcome. How sweet of you to come here. I believe you're tired all the way here. Have they already met your fiance, darling?" Magiliw na tanong ng lola niya. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Nadia. She just smiled at me then faced her grandparents.

"Well, Lauren here is a friend of Yuan when they're in Los Angeles. And they have met in the Philippines as well." Ngumiti lang ang prinsesa at nag aya nang kumain. We talked about their plans for the wedding and the schedule. They made sure that we know about their policies and traditions so we will not be shocked when the wedding comes. Nag usap pa sina Nadia at kaniyang lolo't lola kaya pinauna na kami sa karwahe.