The Royal Series 01: The Royal Agreement

Chapter 20

VICTORIA

“Ayun oh may pa-souvenirs sila.” Hirit ni Henry nang inabot ni Sandy at Anne yung souvenirs na dala nila.

“Nakakainggit yung part na nagbakasyon talaga kayo.” Dagdag naman ni Gian na kinakain yung binigay ni Sandy.

Anne went back to her hometown while Sandy went to Great Sapphire for their winter break. Well, we all went somewhere for the winter break but Anne and Sandy are most likely the ones who had the most of it.

“Ang dami mo pinuntahan Tori ah.” Sabi ni Anne nang binigay ko yung souvenirs nila na binili ko. “Uy winter album ni Jessie!”

“Mostly business pinunta ko ron. Pero nung nasa Great Topaz ako, concert ni Jessie kaya nagkita kami.” Sabi ko.

“Anne, I love this, OMG. Saan mo ‘to binili?” Tanong ni Jenny na kinakain yung dalang baked products ni Anne.

“Ay pinapabigay yan ni Mama sa inyo. Though starting business pa lang s’ya ng baked goods.” Sagot ni Anne.

“Uy, order ako pag uuwi ka sa inyo.” Dagdag ni Gian na kinakain din yung kan’ya.

“Sabi sa ‘yo magugustuhan nila eh.” Sabi ni Sandy at napakamot si Anne sa batok n’ya.

“Alam n’yo bang may exchange student program ngayong sem?” Tanong ni Henry kaya napalingon kami sa kan’ya. “At ang tatakaw n’yo ah.”

“Kapal ng mukha mo eh ikaw pinakamatakaw sa atin. Ikaw ‘tong nakakatatlong kanin minsan eh.” Sabi ni Gian kaya natawa kami.

Nabilaukan pa ako sa kinakain ko kaya inabot sa akin ni Sandy yung tea ko.

Normally we’d be chatting or doing our homework in the cottage. Pero dahil first day pa lang ng second sem, walang homework na kailangan gawin. Kaya nagc-catch up lang kami na parang hindi kami at least thrice a week magka-chat. And since it’s the middle of winter, we’re in one of the cafés in the Food Hall with our own preference of hot beverage.

Masyadong malamig kung sa may cottage kami na nasa may labas ng buildings. Kahit nga nasa loob na kami ng café suot pa rin namain yung winter coats namin. Pare-pareho kami nina Jenny, Anne, at Sandy na nakasuot ng makapal na stockings.

“Saan mo naman narinig yung tungkol sa exchange student program?” Tanong ni Jenny.

“May gwapo ba?” Tanong ni Anne.

“Ito, nasa harap mo.” Hirit ni Henry na tinuro pa yung sarili.

“Ang corny mo mag-joke minsan.” Sabi naman ni Sandy kaya natawa na kami.

“Wala na, iba talaga pag tahimik nagsalita. Nice one, Sandy!” Sabi ni Gian at nakipag-high five kay Sandy.

“So ano meron sa exchange student program?” Tanong ko.

“Yung top five performing students sa bawat course at batch dito sa Amber University, makikipagpalit sa top five ng Jade University sa Great Jade.” Sagot ni Henry kaya napangiwi ako.

Pati si Jenny at Gian nawala yung ngiti kanina.

“Bakit?” Tanong ni Anne dahil natahimik kami.

“Closely affiliated yung Great Jade sa Great Citrine.” Sagot naman ni Sandy.

“Great Citrine na ka-territorial dispute ng Great Amber?” Gulat na tanong ni Anne. “Pero affiliated lang naman?” Hindi siguradong dagdag ni Anne.

“Nag-iiwasan yung countries na affiliated sa Great Citrine at Great Amber and vice versa. And for something like this to happen…” paliwanag ko “…it’s kind of unsettling.”

Yun lang yung sinabi ko pero sina Gian, Henry, at Jenny naintindihan nila ng buo. Habang si Anne at Sandy mukhang may idea kung ano sinasabi ko.

Great Jade is one of Great Citrine’s biggest affiliate. And for this to happen, Great Jade might be on the verge of cutting their ties with Great Citrine.

I mean, only someone who shares Great Citrine’s selfish ambitions would affiliate themselves with them. From what I know about Great Citrine, their King sat on the throne at 14 years old and he’s never shown his face to the public. And he sat on the throne after manipulating his parents into a writing a will then killing them by poisoning. That’s what the previous King’s adviser has said to the media after escaping Great Citrine. Only his sister and brother has ever come to international conferences.

Looks like Great Jade’s Queen woke up and realized that it’s not good to be partners with a tyrant king who is also a narcissistic psychopath. His behavior’s been analyzed and talked about psychologists and psychiatrist. And even without knowing his face, he’s famous for his nasty behavior.

Nagkayayaan naman na kami pumasok sa kan’ya-kan’yang klase dahil pare-pareho kaming ayaw umupo sa window seat kapag winter. Kasi the more na malapit ka sa bintana, mas malamig. Nagkahabulan pa nga si Henry at Gian kasi nang sinipa ni Henry yung tumpok ng snow, tumama sa ulo ni Gian.

Pagdating namin sa room ay madami-dami na yung nasa loob. Nandoon na rin si Clinton at nakita ko s’yang parang may tinitingnan sa camera n’ya.

Kanina ko pa gusto itanong kung para saan yung camera sa totoo lang. Pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap nang matino. Hindi ko pa kasi alam kung ano isasagot sa tanong n’ya.

Bigla naman n’yang inangat yung ulo n’ya kaya nagtama yung paningin namin. Nginitian ko na lang s’ya at ngumiti rin s’ya pabalik.

“Bakit parang awkward kayo?” Pabulong na tanong ni Anne nang makapili na kami ng pwesto.

Lumingon naman ako kay Clinton at nakita s’yang nakakunot yung noo habang may pinipindot sa camera n’ya.

“I’ll tell you later. Masyadong madaming tao rito.” Sabi ko habang nakatingin pa rin kay Clinton.

Nang akala ko ay lilingon s’ya, inalis ko agad yung tingin ko sa kan’ya.

“Hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit may dalang camera si Clinton.” Sabi ko sa dalawa.

“Member s’ya ng Photography Club.” Natatawang sabi ni Sandy sakin.

Hindi ko naman napigilang tingnan si Clinton uli and this time, he looks satisfied with his camera. Bigla naman nagkasalubong yung tingin namin at aalisin ko na sana yung tingin ko sa kan’ya. Pero ngumiti s’ya kaya naman ngumiti na lang din ako.

To my shock, Clinton pointed the camera’s lens at me and I saw him click the shutter.

“If I didn’t know the real deal, I’ll think that you two are flirting.” Sandy whispered and I looked away from Clinton.

“I can smell development, OMG ito ba nagagawa ng winter weather tapos halos 24/7 magkasama?” Anne said which I decided to ignore.

Well, it’s true that there’s some developments. Ones that I’m playing dumb or ignorant to not make things more awkward between Clinton and I. Or maybe, for me because I think Clinton’s not feeling awkward. Saying things that are subtle flirting.

“Saan nga ulit yung  room ng Art Org?” Pag-iiwas ko sa topic.

“Sa building ata ng fine arts?” Hindi siguradong sagot ni Anne.

“Try them.” Sabi naman ni Sandy at may tinuro na sinundan ko ng tingin. “Member ‘yang mag-jowa sa Art Org. Sila lagi nagde-design ng outputs eh.”

Napagdesisyonan kong tumayo para kausapin sila dahil baka mamaya makalimutan ko o kaya hindi ko sila makita kapag break time. Gulat na gulat pa nga sila nang tumayo ako sa harap nila.

“Whoa.”

“Do you need anything…Your Highness?”

“Tori.” Pagtama ko sa sinabi ng babae. “I told you all, call me Tori or Victoria inside the school. Anyway, member daw kayo ng Art Org?”

“S’ya yung president.” Agad na sabi ng babe at tinuro yung katabi n’yang lalaki.

“Oh, nasaan pala yung club room? Recruitment ng clubs every first week ng new semester diba?” Tanong ko.

“First floor ng Fine Arts Building, bakit?” Sagot nung lalaki.

“I’m planning to apply for the club. Is there anything I should bring at lunch time?”

“Um…kung wala kang parang portfolio na dala, mag-o-on the spot ka para sa application requirements.”

“May dala ako.” Sabi ko. “Wait, kuhain ko lang.”

Bumalik naman ako sa pwesto ko para kuhain sa bag ko yung clear folder na may sketches and drawings ko. Binigay ko naman yun sa dalawa at akala ko dapat mamaya ko na lang ibibigay pero sabi nila okay lang daw. Ipapakita rin daw sa ibang officers ng org at sa faculty member handler.

Bale dadaan ako mamaya sa club room para makuha yung portfolio ko at malaman kung tanggap ba ako sa club o hindi.

Natigil sa pagdadaldalan yung klase nang bumukas yung pinto sa room. May pumasok na professor pero lahat kami sinundan s’ya ng tingin kasi lumabas s’ya ulit.

Bigla ko naman naramdaman yung vibration ng phone ko kaya tiningnan ko at nakita kong may message si Jenny. Kinalabit ko naman si Sandy at Anne para ipakita yung message ni Jenny na kinatawa nila.

“Paalala mo sa kan’ya na may Gian na s’ya.” Natatawang sabi ni Sandy.

“Tanong mo kung gaano kagwapo on a scale of 1 to 10.” Dagdag pa ni Anne.

Bumukas naman ulit yung pinto ng room nang nagt-type na ako ng reply ko kay Jenny. Kaya kahit naririnig ko yung reactions ng iba na ang gwapo o ganda raw, hindi ko na lang pinansin.

Sunud-sunod yung reply ni Jenny nang mag-reply ako at sinigurado kong naririnig ko yung sinasabi ng prof about sa exchange students kahit na kapalitan ko ng messages si Jenny. What the professor said in simpler terms is that, there will be subjects where the exchange students are going to take with us.

Kase-send ko lang ng reply kay Jenny nang may matanggap akong message galing kay Clinton.

From: Clinton

Eyes in front, Mrs. Williams. Or maybe on me.

Nanlaki yung mata ko sa nabasa ko kaya naman nilingon ko si Clinton na mukhang kanina pa nakatingin sa akin. Nginisian pa ako ni Clinton and I hate that he looks attractive with that smirk! My God.

Kumunot naman yung noo ko nang mabasa yung binuka ng bibig n’ya. He just mouthed: much better.

Sasamaan ko na sana s’ya ng tingin pero natigilan ako nang marinig yung introduction ng isa sa mga exchange students.

“I’m Ashton Lautner and call me as you please.”

I was hoping that I heard it wrong. Both the voice and the name. But as soon as I turned my head to look in front, all hopes of me hearing it wrong was gone.

My lips gaped open as I stared at one of the exchange students and I felt how the steady beating of my heart raced. I suddenly felt sick in my stomach.

When the exchange student who introduced himself as Ashton Lautner locked eyes with mine, I had to look away and blink my eyes several times as I felt like tears are pooling at the corner of my eyes. Wet anger and hatred. That's what I feel.

“Williams!”

I flinched upon hearing my surname and I had no choice but to look at the professor.

“Mr. Williams.” The professor said.

“Sorry.”

Gulat akong napalingon sa tabi ko at nakita na nakaupo na si Clinton sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko. Kailan s’ya lumipat?

“I don’t want to bother myself with seating arrangements so Mr. and Mrs. Williams, no flirting please. We all know you’re married.” The professor said.

“Noted.” Clinton said in a whisper but I think the students seated in front heard him as they turned their heads to face us.

“And you guys are lucky, meet Clinton Williams and Victoria Williams. You’ll be taking a few classes for a semester with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Great Amber.”

Sa dami ng pagkakataon na nagpilit ako ng ngiti, ngayon lang ako nahirapan. Nang hawakan ni Clinton yung kamay kong nakapatong sa hita ko ay napatingin ako sa kan’ya.

Akmang bibitawan na n’ya yung kamay ko pero bago pa n’ya magawa ay pinagsalikop ko yung kamay namin. Nilingon ko naman sa kabilang gilid ko sina Anne at Sandy na takang-taka na nakatingin sa akin.

So as I tapped Sandy’s hand with my shaky ones, I mouthed to them that I’ll tell them later. And when they both held my left hand, I had to hold Clinton’s hand tighter as I felt like crying again after so long.

That’s how I got through the first subject, my hand held by Clinton. And as soon as the last subject before our lunch started, I bolted out the room straight to the women’s comfort room.

“Tori, anong meron?” Nag-aalalang tanong ni Sandy na sumunod pala sa akin kasama si Anne.

Nilapat pa ni Anne yung likod ng kamay n’ya sa noo at leeg ko.

“I’m okay.” Sagot ko at pumikit-pikit oara hindi malaglag yung luhang nagbabadya tumulo. “It’s just Ashton Lautner.” Sabi ko.

“Anong meron sa exchange student?” Tanong ni Anne.

“He’s my ex.” Sagot ko at lumabas na ng comfort room.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako paglabas ng comfort room ay may humawak sa palapulsuhan ko. Kabado akong lumingon sa humawak sa akin pero nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makita si Clinton.

“Can you go ahead? Kakausapin ko lang si Tori.” Sabi ni Clinton sa dalawa na tumango naman.

Nakahawak pa rin sa palapulsuhan ko si Clinton hanggang sa makarating kami sa fire exit.

“Are you—”

Hindi pa natatapos ni Clinton yung sinasabi n’ya ay napayakap na lang ako nang mahigpit sa kan’ya. At nang wala s’yang ibang sinabi pagkatapos ko yumakap sa kan’ya, the tears that I tried to keep at bay, fell.

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