The Vagabond Princess [Wainwright Series 1]

VAGABOND 5: Mahiwaga

Credits to the original owner of the photo above. Photo is used for reference of the story.

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KHANARIE

Pagkahagis ko pababa ng throwing knife ko ay umupo ako ng pagkatamad sa sanga. I feel a presence unhinge at my attack. It is the same feeling when we met at a bar.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Codhille who is looking up to me and smiling.

"I wanted to keep a close eye on a beautiful scenery," he bluntly said.

What a presumptuous man! So despicable!

Umawang nang kaunti ang labi ko at napatakip ako ng kalahati kong mukha saka tumalon mula sa sanga. Pagkababa ko ay hindi siya umalis sa kaniyang pwesto. "Hindi ka dapat nagpapaligoy-ligoy rito sa labas ng palasyo. Gabi na."

Naglakad siya patungo sa throwing knife na hinagis ko. Pinulot niya ito sa lupa at pinaglaruan sa daliri niya. It flip expertly at his fingers and I wonder what sort of fighting skills he excels most at.

"Hindi pa ako makatulog."

"Bakit naman?"

"Homesick. At babantayan ko si Kohlen." Hinagis niya pabalik ang throwing knife ko kaya mabilis ko iyong sinalo.

How loyal and protective he is. A worthy opponent to my appease. I shrug and overlap my arms across my chest. "Then be on guard. Maraming mga naghihimasok na assassins dito sa palasyo tuwing gabi," babala ko sa kaniya. "Lalo pa ngayon na nalaman nilang andito na ako."

"Okay," maiksi niyang sagot.

Pinagmasdan ko ang kaniyang tindig. Maganda ang hubog ng kaniyang katawan. Alagang-alaga ito sa sarili. Tapos ang gwapo niya. Not to mention the clean brush of his spiking hair which I wonder if its soft to touch – ano na naman sinasabi ko?!

"Nonsense, Narie!" Napahampas ako ng noo at umiwas ng tingin kay Codhille. Mula kanina noong magtama ang mga mata namin ay ganito na ang naiisip ko. May gayuma ba siyang ginamit sa akin?

"Princess Khana—"

I glare at him and grip tightly on my throwing knife. "Don't! Just don't call me that." I grit my teeth and squint my eyes. "Paalala ko ulit sa 'yo. Hindi ako prinsesa, Codhille. Pakiusap na lang, bilang kapwa na kabalyero, huwag mo akong tatawagin na prinsesa."

He cleared his throat and nods. "General Wainwright," pagtatama niya. I heave a lung full of air and scratch the back of my head with my free hand. His voice sounds attractive when he calls me general. Napansin ko na rin noong dumating sila rito, minsan ay 'General Wainwright' din ang tawag niya na sa akin. I guess I won't mind at all if he called me in a different manner.

"General Wainwright?"

"What is it?"

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Go on." Mauuntog ko na ulo ko sa puno. Ang bilis kong sumagot!

Epekto na 'to kapag malapit ako kay Kimora!

"Do you have another sister? Because I accidentally stared at your family picture a while back. Only met six of you, and I have not seen the young lady on the photo. Is she also busy like the other?"

Oh! Alora's photo. I knew it. He was curious about her photo after looking at my family photo.

"She is Alora Wainwright. Siya ang pang-apat na prinsesa rito. She's dead," diretsahan kong sagot sa kaniya.