The Royal Series 01: The Royal Agreement

Chapter 8

VICTORIA

Some people doesn’t really believe that Clinton and I are together. Which is true, but we can’t really tell them that.

I know there would be people who wouldn’t believe the article that said we’ve been ‘dating’ for months in private. But when Gian told me about the gossips that he’s been hearing from the other students, I couldn’t help but worry, so I told Clinton. And asked him if we should do something about it.

Ang sabi lang naman ni Clinton, we can let them think like that for a while. Since acting like a couple suddenly would be too suspicious. May ‘no public display of affection’ din naman na nakalagay sa policy book. At sa classroom ko lang nakakasama si Clinton dahil sina Jenny ang kasama ko kapag lunch break.

“All done, Your Highness.”

Napatingin ako sa vanity mirror at nakita yung itsura ko. Humanap naman ako ng matching accessories sa suot kong peach a-line dress and heels. Of course, I can’t forget the ring. And a matching clutch bag to keep my phone in.

Paglabas ko sa ino-occupy kong kwarto ay saktong nakita ko si Clinton na lumalakad na papunta sa south exit. Pero hindi ako nagmadaling lumakad dahil kinakabahan ako.

Today’s our first official appearance for a public event. Kaya kahit sa loob ng sasakyan ay tahimik lang ako. Nang bumagal yung takbo ng sasakyan ay alam kong malapit na kaming bumaba kaya lalo akong kinabahan.

“Don’t be too nervous.” Clinton suddenly said which made me look at him.

He’s wearing a gray suit partnered with a peach tie. Seeing his clothes actually made me smile. Since I didn’t really think he’s going to wear something that will match mine. But that smile immediately faded when the door to his side opened.

Seeing him get out of the car and button his coat made me uneasy. With the door open, I can hear not just the questions that was yelled by the people around but even the flashes of the camera.

“Tori.”

Dahil sa pagtawag sa akin ni Clinton, saka ko lang napansin na bukas na pala yung pinto sa side ko. Nandoon na rin s’ya habang nakalahad yung palad n’ya kaya ipinatong ko yung kamay ko ron.

Paglabas ko ay narinig ko yung gulat ng iba at kahit kinakabahan ay ngumiti ako nang kaunti nang makatayo na ako. Lumakad naman na kami papasok sa venue ng exhibit at medyo natigilan ako nang maramdaman yung paglibot ng braso ni Clinton sa likod ko.

“You okay with me holding you like this?” Pabulong na tanong n’ya sa akin.

“Yeah.” Maikling sagot ko.

Some of the media personnel tried to get closer to us but the security guards and our bodyguards didn’t let anyone get close. Once we stepped foot inside the venue, gone was the noise made by the people outside. The further we get inside, the lesser the noise.

But almost everyone inside would turn their heads towards us after noticing our presence.

“Aren’t we supposed to like, greet those people?” I whispered to Clinton as I stole a glance at the people looking at us before talking among themselves.

“Let’s greet the host of the exhibit first.” He answered.

So I just followed where he’s walking to. I also looked at the displayed artworks that we’re passing through.

As I stared at the artwork that caught my attention, that’s when I noticed that we stopped walking.

Tiningnan ko naman si Clinton at nakitang parang masama ang timpla n’ya habang may tinitingnan. Nang sundan ko yung tingin n’ya ay napangiwi ako.

A girl wearing a branded dress, belt, shoes, and clutch bag stood meters away from us while talking to, I assume the host of the exhibit. And I may not have ever talked to her, but I know who she is. Monique Drew, a Fair Youth that’s also studying in Amber University.

“Uy ex mo.” I couldn’t help but tell Clinton, who looked at me with furrowed brows.

“Bakit alam mo?” Tanong n’ya.

“I have friends who loves gossips.” Yun na lang ang sinabi ko.

Mamaya may pagka-immature pala ‘to si Clinton at pag-initan sina Sandy at Anne. Kung magtatanong s’ya uli, sasabihin ko na lang si Henry. Isa rin ‘yon na mahilig makichismis.

“Your friends or you?” Tanong uli n’ya.

“I’m too busy trying to catch up with lessons. You think I have time to gather all recent gossips?” I scoffed. “Bakit? Hindi ka pa nakaka-move on sa kan’ya?”

“Kung mahal ko pa edi sana kami pa rin. At kung ganun nga, tingin mo papayag ako makasal sa ‘yo?”

“Yes or no lang sagot. Ang dami mo sinabi.” I grimaced.

“Then, yes.” He said which made me scoff but my eyes widened when he suddenly leaned too close. “I’m not the one going around and threatening people interested in me for the past year.”

I was just staring back at him, feeling competitive as he stared at my eyes. But I ended up blinking when a smirk made its way to his lips.

“Your Highness.” Someone exclaimed which made me whip my head to the direction where the voice came from.

The older guy that Monique Drew was talking to is now standing about a meter away from where we are. He also looked stunned which is why I darted my eyes where Clinton is and saw him stifling a laugh.

“Are you referring to me or to her?” Clinton asked the host, which made the old man look confused. “Tori’s also referred to as ‘Your Highness’ at home.” He added.

I wanted to slap my palm on my forehead because it seems like I’m getting used to being referred to as ‘Your Highness’. But if I do, I’d look stupid. So I decided to set it aside as Clinton and I took turns in shaking the hand of the host.

He then pointed out that we seemed to have taken a liking in the painting in front of us. But Clinton’s forehead creased lightly before he looked at the painting that I was looking at before he started annoying me so I answered first.

“Yes, the colors used compliments very well and is very eye catching.” I said.

“This was painted by an 8-year-old scholar of our company.”

I couldn’t help the shock upon hearing what the host said and Clinton finally talked about the painting. Pinaliwanag din ng host kung ano yung sinabi ng batang artist na gumawa ng painting and it’s amazing how such a young kind can come up with such art.

“Really?”

Nagsalubong yung kilay ko nang may marinig akong boses ng babae. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko si Monique Drew. At nang narinig ko yung sunod na mga sinabi n’ya about sa painting ay pinilit kong walang emosyon na makita sa mukha ko.

What she’s saying is gibberish and I don’t know how the host can take her words.

She’s saying things along the line of painting is easy once you learn it. And I kid you not, I almost snapped to tell her that even if you get painting lessons, it’s not easy. I’m speaking from experience since I tried painting lessons and had a hard time doing the strokes and combination of different colors even after all the sessions I attended.

Iba pa rin kapag may innate ability to paint. At ang sabi ng host ay walang art lessons yung batang gumawa ng painting.

And I think the host finally had enough of Monique Drew’s comments that he excused himself after seeing another guest.

“I think I can ask Jessie.” I said out of the blue while looking back at the painting.

“For?”

“College scholarship for this kid at an art school in Great Diamond.” Sagot ko.

“Bakit hindi rito?”

“Great Amber’s good in medicine. Madaming art school sa Great Diamond.” Sagot ko at tumango-tango si Clinton.

“Hi.”

As childish as it sounds, I feigned shock when I looked at Monique Drew before putting up a fake smile.

“I’m Monique Drew, we haven’t formally met.” She introduced herself and offered her hand while smiling sweetly, which I can tell is a hundred percent fake.

“Victoria Sparks.” I said.

I can see how she glared at the ring on my left ring finger as I took the clutch bag on my right hand so I can shake her hand.

Bigla ring nagbago yung mukha n’ya nang mag-handshake na kami. Medyo naiirita pa ako sa kan’ya dahil sa mga pinagsasabi n’ya kanina kaya naman sabi ko ay iikot pa kami ni Clinton.

“You don’t like her?”  Tanong ni Clinton nang makalayo na kami kay Monique Drew.

“She’s as toxic as they say. The things she said about painting being easy? I’m surprised the host didn’t make the security drag her out.”

“Buti naman naisipan mong isama ako paalis don.” Sabi naman n’ya.

“Bakit? Gusto mo maiwan don? Balik ka.” Sabi ko naman sa kan’ya.

“Alam mo, pumunta ka sa comfort room at maghugas ng kamay.”

“Bakit naman?” Tanong ko.

“If Monique’s toxic attitudes rubs on you, I’d be in hell. Hindi ako nakipag-break sa kan’ya para makasal lang sa taong toxic.”

Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sinabi n’ya and I think he was trying to annoy me again or something so I said, “ah so, you’re not the one that got dumped?”

“I told you before that I broke up with my ex last year.”

“I never said I believed what you said.” I said and shrugged my shoulders. “Being a Prince does not make you safe from being dumped.”

“You know, I’m about to think that you got dumped by your ex. Ang lakas mo mang-asar.”

“Pikon ka lang.” Simpleng sabi ko.

I didn’t like where the conversation was going so I decided to excuse myself to the bathroom. Hinugasan ko talaga yung kamay ko dahil kahit na hindi naman ako mahahawa sa ugali ni Monique Drew sa pakikipag-handshake sa kan’ya ay ayaw ko lang na may nakakamay akong ganun mag-isip.

Nag-stay lang kami sa exhibit for more than an hour bago umalis.

Sa isang restaurant na kami dumiretso dahil dinner time at buti na lang may privacy yung table namin. Tahimik lang kami habang hinihintay yung order namin.

“You parted with your ex badly, didn’t you?” Clinton said when the waiter left after giving our appetizer.

“How’d you know?” Tanong ko.

“Your face said it all when I told you that I think you’re the one that got dumped. Sorry about that.” Sagot n’ya habang hinahalo yung soup. “And you were quiet after you got out of the comfort room.”

“Sinasabi mo bang maingay ako?” Hindi mapigilang tanong ko na nagpatawa kay Clinton.

“Alam mo, para kang si Gian at Henry mamilosopo.” Puna n’ya at tinuro pa ako gamit yung kutsara.

“I’ve been with those two and Jenny since I was a kid. It’s kind of natural na mahawa ako sa ugali ng isa sa tatlo.” Sabi ko.

“Bakit hindi sa ugali ni Castel?” Kunot noong tanong ni Clinton.

“Do you have any idea how moody Jenny is? At hindi ba nag-rant si Gian sa ‘yo kahit minsan kung paano magsungit si Jenny kapag wala sa mood?” Takang tanong ko na nagpalaki sa mata n’ya.

“I’d rather deal with the attitude you have right now.” Biglang sabi n’ya kaya natawa ako. “Speaking of attitude, stay away from Monique. Baka mapaaway ka sa isang ‘yon.”

“Hindi ko pa naman s’ya nakikita sa university. I’m going to hope it stays that way.” Sabi ko.

“If it doesn’t?”

“I’m not going to do anything.” Sagot ko. “Baka s’ya may gawin sa akin.”

“Yeah. Try to annoy you into a picking a fight and make you look like the bad one.”

“If there are people who will believe that I am the bad one between me and her.” I said pointedly which made him laugh. “Alam mo, hindi ko malaman kung nakakatawa talaga sinasabi ko o mababaw lang kaligayahan mo.” I added with furrowed brows.

I mean he looks cute laughing, but it’s kind of weird.

“You know what, this marriage is better than I thought it’ll be.” Bigla n’yang sabi at saka pinagsalikop yung mga daliri n’ya matapos ipatong sa table yung mga siko n’ya.

“How so?” I asked.

“Let’s be friends.” He said.

Ang seryoso nang pagkakasabi n’ya pero natatawa ako, na pinigilan ko. I know what he meant by that.

No problem with his proposal. But what kind of friends gets married with one another?

***