VICTORIA
“Your Highness, would you like your hair as is or do you want it in a different style?” Red ask she fixed my hair.
Inangat ko naman yung tingin ko sa phone ko at ginalaw yung ulo ko from side to side with my eyes staring at my own reflection.
“Just tame my bangs a little more and we’re good to go.” Nakangiting sagot ko.
Red then took hold of my bangs and told me to close my eyes which I did. Someone also knocked on the door of the suite room so Red had to open the door for me. Once I heard the door close, I peeked and saw Lauren taking her coat off and sitting at the bed.
“You don’t look nervous.” Lauren pointed out. “Considering it’s the first conference you’re attending as the Crown Princess of Great Amber.
“I’m more nervous about the people in the conference than the conference itself.” I laughed. “Vannie and Hadley’s not coming?” Tanong ko
“Finals week nila. Their brothers are taking their place though.”
Nakita kong dumako yung tingin ni Lauren sa isang purse ko kaya naman pinakiusapan ko si Red na ibili kami ni Lauren ng snacks.
“You’re taking your meds, aren’t you?” Agad na tanong ni Lauren at inilabas yung portable medicine box ko sa purse.
“I am.” Sagot ko.
“Doing your work as both a student and a Princess can be time consuming that your forget to sometimes think of yourself. But you can’t forget about yourself. Does he know?”
“Not yet.” Sagot ko matapos ang ilang segundo.
“Tell Clinton Williams as soon as possible, Tori. S’ya na ang lagi mong kasama. Not your parents, brother, or childhood friends. I can see from all the internet posts of your schoolmates that you two are getting along. Not just for the sake of publicity, but for real. Which is good, especially for you.”
“I’ll try.” I said assuringly.
Nang makabalik si Red dala yung snacks ay kinain lang namin yun ni Lauren saka pumunta sa venue ng conference. Gaya nang sinabi ng King at Queen, Clinton’s parents, karamihan ay nasa akin ang atensyon.
Sa entrance ng venue ay nandoon yung ibang representatives ng ibang bansa at doon din nagkakabatian.
I’m actually glad, knowing that I know a few of them aside from Lauren. Prince Valerian Barclay, Vannie’s older brother. And Prince Ethan Bradford, Hadley’s older brother.
We just stayed outside the venue long enough to be captured by the media and when we got inside the conference room, it started as soon as everyone is inside.
I listened to everything that has been said and wrote down things that I needed to remember or ask.
Honestly, it’s going well. Siguro magiging mahirap lang ‘to kung maraming member ng conference na malaki ang age gap sa karamihan sa amin.
Like, most of us are in our early or mid twenties. While the others are in their late twenties or early thirties. It’s nice that we’re all almost on the same page.
“Your Highness.”
Hearing Red’s call, I pushed the mic away from me and leaned on the chair. I had to divide my attention to what’s being discussed and to what Red was saying.
“What?”
But it felt like I went deaf when I realised what Red said. And she did repeat it.
“Hey, is there any prob—”
Napatingin ako kay Lauren na napatigil sa pagtatanong dahil tinawag din s’ya ng Lady Maid n’ya.
Kapansin-pansin na yung isa-isang paglapit ng Lady Maids, Butlers, at Assistants ng representatives na nagtataka na yung nagsasalita. Nagkaroon ng kaunting katahimikan.
But someone cleared his or her throat. And the voice of a man began speaking. Although he was just repeating what was said earlier. The Crown Prince of Great Emerald, Christopher Jackson.
Kitang-kita ko kung paano sinusubukan ng iba na kumalma pero yung atensyon ko, natuon na kay Lauren.
I can see how restless she’s becoming with her eyes going around so I moved my chair closer to hers since we’re sitting next to each other. To calm her down, I held her hand and I met the eyes of her Lady Maid who then smiled at me as her hand rested on Lauren’s shoulder.
“Shall we continue this conference after a ten minute break?” King Maverick Montgomery said suggestively and everyone nodded their heads.
“What are you doing?” I asked Red when I heard something behind me.
“Doing my job, Your Highness.” Was the only thing she said.
Wala pa ring tumatayo sa kinauupuan ang kahit sino hanggang sa unti-unti nagsipasok sa conference yung kan’ya-kan’ya naming bodyguards. Nararamdaman ko yung paghigpit nang hawak ni Lauren sa kamay ko. Pagtingin ko sa Lady Maid ni Lauren ay nakita kong chine-check n’ya yung baril n’ya. Pati yung mga bagong pasok na bodyguard, handa na hugutin yung baril nila.
Hanggang sa may narinig kaming nabasag na salamin. Kasunod ay mga nagsigawan at putok ng baril. Hinatak ko naman si Lauren nang tinulak ako ni Red pababa sa ilalim ng mesa.
Lauren’s tight hold on my hand is actually keeping me from going into a state of panic as I see some of the bodyguards dropping on the floor. And even if I know how to fire a gun thanks to my father wanting me to know how to defend myself, the echoing shots still makes me flinch.
“Red!” I couldn’t help but shriek when I saw someone behind her who just kicked the door open.
Red wasn’t the only one who responded to my scream which is why the guy dropped on the floor. Whether he’s dead or alive, I don’t know.
I don’t know how long it took before the situation was under control but when it was, we got escorted to another room. On our way there, I felt the weight on the hand holding Lauren’s hand get oddly heavy. And when I looked back, my eyes widen in shock when I saw Lauren on her knees.
“Lauren!” I freaked out and leveled myself with her, only to see her with eyes half close.
“Hey Tori, what’s happening to her?” Someone asked and when I looked up, I saw Prince Leonard Stevenson of Great Pearl.
“I’m not sure. She’s not good with this kind of situation.” I answered the person who asked and began to lightly tap Lauren’s cheek. “Lauren. Hey, look at me. Laurice!”
“This won’t do. Let’s bring her to the hospital.” Ani Leonard at binuhat na si Lauren. “Christopher! Your car’s parked near isn’t it?”
I don’t even care who’s going with us that I just went with them.
Hinarang pa kami ng ilang bodyguards pero nang makita nila si Lauren na walang malay, sila pa mismo kumuha ng gagamiting sasakyan. Ako unang sumakay sa limousine na tumigil sa tapat namin at sa hita ko pinaunan si Lauren. Prince Christopher and Leonard got in after Lauren’s comfortable.
“Did she get hit somewhere?” Tanong ni Prince Christopher na may binuksan na compartment sa limousine.
Isang first aid kit ang kinuha n’ya.
“No.” Sagot ko kaya ibinaba n’ya yung first aid kit.
Idinikit naman n’ya yung index at middle finger n’ya sa bandang ilalim ng jawline ni Lauren at kumunot yung noo n’ya.
“Her heart is beating too fast. She probably fainted from shock.”
“Are you a medical student, Prince Christopher?” Tanong ko.
“Just call me Christopher. And no, may first aid experience lang ako.”
“It’s because of what happened before, isn’t it?” Tanong naman ni Leonard na tinanguan ko.
“Magkakilala kayong dalawa?” Tanong ni Christopher.
“Tatlo.” Sagot ni Leonard.
“Paano—ah okay. Gets ko na. Let’s not make things awkward.”
Nakarating kami agad sa ospital at kahit na isang tao lang ang pwedeng kasama ng pasyente sa emergency room, they can’t exactly easily tell Princes and a Princess to get out.
At since hinimatay si Lauren they needed to do an EKG, blood test, and chest x-ray. I'm not even sure if she hit herself in some part of her body so I just agreed when they ask me about it. Lauren was then sent to a private room as we waited for the test results.
Ang daming missed calls at unread texts sa phone ko pero binalewala ko muna para tawagan yung Kuya ni Lauren na si Prince Logan. Sinabihan ko rin yung Lady Maid n’ya na nasa ospital si Lauren.
Nang lumabas na yung result ng tests, nagka-anxiety attack pala si Lauren na nag-progress into a panic attack. I immediately told her brother about the result and stayed with her in the room. It’s better if she wakes up to see someone she knows.
“Your Highness, hindi pa ba kayo kakain?” Tanong ni Red sa akin nang sumapit yung dinner time. “And Prince Clinton called. Hindi n’yo raw ho sinasagot yung tawag ng kahit sino sa kanila.”
Saka ko lang naalala yung phone ko pero paglabas ko sa bulsa, nakita kong low battery na.
“Eat first, Your Highness. Princess Lauren would surely tell you the same thing.” Lauren’s Lady Maid said.
Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi lumabas kasama si Red para bumili ng food. Ayaw pa nga ni Red na lumabas ako but I told her I wanted to breathe. Iniwan ko na lang yung phone ko sa room ni Lauren para mag-charge.
“Um, Your Highness—”
“Tatawagan ko mamaya si Clinton.” Sabi ko kay Red.
Mabilis lang kaming nakabili ng food pero nang pagliko namin sa hall kung nasaan yung room ni Lauren, napatigil ako.
A guy wearing a dress shirt and slacks stood in front of one of the rooms with a phone against his ear. Red immediately stood in front of me which made the guards in front of Lauren’s room be alert. That’s when the guy looked at me.
I can see how his brows shot up in recognition and I couldn’t help but gulp.
But I averted my gaze and continued walking.
“Look at you, fancier than ever. Now with a crown and title.”
That’s what I heard when I walked past him but I just ignored him.
When I got inside the room, I saw Lauren awake. Which made me forget about him momentarily.
“You’re not hurt?” Paninigurado ni Lauren.
“Laurice, sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang nasa hospital bed.” Paalala ko na nagpatawa sa kan’ya.
I wanted to tell Lauren about the guy outside but I don’t want to make her worry so I just told her to eat. And she wanted to get discharged as soon as possible.
Sinwerte naman s’ya na pumayag yung doctor and next thing I know, I’m on the private jet on my way back to Great Amber after Lauren’s brother arrived to fetch her. I didn’t want to worry anyone so I just kept to myself.
Pagdating sa Great Amber International Airport, lahat na naman nakatingin sa akin. Kahit yung nasa VIP arrival area. What annoyed me is that, the media is there. Their cameras pointed and flashing at me as I walked out.
I just felt how draining this day is. Supposedly, I’m going back home the day after tomorrow but almost everyone who attended the conference went back home as soon as possible. I just want to rest.
At yung pagkairita ko sa mga media personnel, dumadagdag sa pagod ko.
It’s irritating. Their questions screamed at me. Am I okay? No, I just got home from a targeted shooting. How’s the conference? Terrible because of the shooting. How do I feel about today’s shooting? It’s sick. Who do I think are the people behind it? I don’t know! I’m not part of the team investigating about it. And I was too busy worrying about Lauren that I didn’t even notice if I was even scared!
Napansin ko yung pagyuko ni Red sa peripheral view ko at nang iangat ko yung tingin ko, nakita ko si Clinton. He looks…annoyed and concerned at the same time.
And I must have been so tired that when I was close enough to Clinton, I couldn’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around him.
When his arms encircled around my shoulders, I just sighed in relief. I heard him sigh and caress the back of my head.
“Let’s go home. You need to rest.”
***
BINABASA MO ANG
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