SHE'S THE CAMPUS PRINCE

C5: The Bookworm's Fantasies

"Not bad." Komento ni Mirae habang nililibot niya ng tingin ang loob ng bahay ni Bridge.

Just like how it looks outside, simple and neat din ang loob ng bahay. Pagbukas ng pinto, ang unang bumungad ay ang living room na may dalawang couch, lamesa at TV. Sa gawing kaliwa ang kusina habang sa kanan naman ang banyo. Ang second floor naman ay tanaw mula sa kinatatayuan nila, may tatlong pinto ang magkakatabi roon. Maaliwalas ang paligid. Mukha talaga itong normal na bahay.

"So, that's the only thing you were able to bring with you, your highness? Wala kang masyadong gamit?" Tanong ni Bridge habang nakatingin sa itim na backpack bag na nakasabit sa balikat ni Mirae.

Napatingin din si Mirae sa dala niyang backpack bag. "You know, my guards were always tailing me, following me whenever I go like puppies with seperation anxiety. So yeah, it had been quite challenging for me to purchase these items without anyone knowing."

"Ahhhh...I can already imagine it. Nai-imagine ko na kung gaano mo pinahirapan ang guards mo para lang makatakas at makabili ng mga yan." Napangiwi si Bridge. "I feel bad for them."

"Really? You feel bad for them instead of me?" Mirae said as if she couldn't believe it. But then, napatawa rin siya. Nag-flash sa isip niya ang mga kalokohang pinaggagawa niya recently. "Well, tumakas ako ng palace at nakipaglaro ng hide and seek sa royal guards. Nagpanggap akong bulag na pulubi. Nagkaroon ng part 2 ang hide and seek namin. Tsaka ayun, nagkaroon na naman ako ng panibagong adventure habang nagsha-shopping ng 'necessities' ko para sa plan. And lastly, sumalang sa initiation ang newbie guards."

"That was brutal." Komento ni Bridge habang nakangiwi. Mukhang nakuha ng guards ang sympathy nito. Naawa ata ito sa sinapit ng mga kawawang guards.

"Well, it's there job to chase and babysit me." Nagkibit-balikat naman si Mirae as if hindi big deal ang mga nabanggit niyang kalokohan. "Anyway, let's just shop for my stuffs tomorrow...I think I really need to rest right now. The jetlag is kicking off."

"Then, you should rest then." Itinuro ni Bridge ang pangatlong kwarto na nasa second floor. "The third door is your room, your highness."

"Okay." Mirae started heading towards the stairs.

"Ah before I forgot, your highness, dito nga rin pala nakatira yung pamangkin ko." Pahabol ni Bridge.

"Your niece?" Nilingon ni Mirae si Bridge. "Your only relative that you've mentioned before?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about her she's nice---she might be a bit weird but she's a nice kid." Bridge assured.

"Hmmm...what's her name again?" Mirae held her chin and looked up as if she's recalling something from her distant memory. "Was it Rose or Jasmine? Perhaps, Daisy? No, I think it's Marigold. Maybe, Hyacinth? Sakura, Violet---"

"Lily. Lily ang pangalan niya, your highness." Pagsingit ni Bridge dahil mukhang balak pa atang banggitin ni Mirae lahat ng bulaklak na matatagpuan sa garden.

"Oh, Lily!" Mirae snapped her fingers and grinned. "I'll meet Lily later."

•••

Lily, the person of the topic, is currently walking along the street. And at the moment, she's clutching her wallet as if her life depends on it. Well, of course, magiging overprotective siya sa wallet niya, laman kasi nito ang salary niya mula sa part-time job niya.

Lily wants to save her money but unfortunately, she can't. For some unknown reason kasi ay parang may sariling buhay ang mga paa niya at dinala siya ng mga ito sa bookstore---ang lugar na number one niyang dapat iwasan tuwing payday!