The Royal Series 01: The Royal Agreement

Chapter 28

VICTORIA

"Why is that guy here?!" Tanong ni Lauren.

Napahugot naman ako ng hininga saka napailing. Pasimple naman akong nagnakaw ng tingin kung nasaan si Ashton at napabuntong hininga.

As of today, Royal Hands has officially opened in Great Amber. Aside from Lauren and my other friends, Clinton's friends also volunteered to help. Some organizations in the university also volunteered but my only guess as to why Ashton is also here is because the other exchange students are also here.

"Clinton." Tawag ko sa kan'ya at napatigil si Clinton sa paglapag ng isang stray cat sa may sink kung saan sila pinaliliguan.

"Yeah?"

"Wait." Sabi ko at lumapit para hatakin pataas yung sleeves ng sweatshirt n'ya para hindi mabasa. "Mandatory ba sa mga exchange students na dapat nandito sila?" Tanong ko.

Dahil I heard that some courses that are inclined in social work actually mandated their students to attend volunteer works. And Royal Hands was the perfect volunteer work.

"They were supposed to sort of connect with the students of Amber University. Bakit?"

"Ashton is here." Bulong ko at hinatak ko na rin yung sleeves ng sweatshirt ko para tulungan s'ya sa pagpapaligo sa bitbit n'yang pusa.

"Gusto mo paalisin ko?" Tanong n'ya kaya natawa ako.

"Masyadong obvious. 'Wag na lang. Though I will need to make sure that none of Lauren and the girls would claw his eyes out for the rest of the day." Natatawang sabi ko.

Mukhang kahit balak ko lang sana na kausapin si Clinton about don, ending ay nag-stay ako dahil nagpipilit kumawala yung pusang hawak ni Clinton. Takot sa tubig like most cats.

"Tori baka gusto mo mag-apron?"

Napalingon ako nang marinig yung boses ni Henry at nakitang may nakasabit na aprons sa braso n'ya. Sinabitan lang n'ya ako ng apron sa leeg ko bago naghanap ng iba pa.

"Ano, wala kang balak itali man lang?" Pagpaparinig ko.

"Kaya mo na 'yan. At gusto ko pa mabuhay."

"Weirdo." Nasabi ko na lang saka pinunasan yung kamay ko gamit yung dry towel sa gilid.

Ginawa ko namang bun yung ponytail ko at nang tingnan ko si Clinton, walang emosyon yung mukha n'ya.

"Is something wrong?" Tanong ko at tinagilid pa yung ulo ko.

"Nothing." Sabi n'ya.

But it didn't seem like nothing so I kept on asking while we were trying to bath the cat he's holding. Good thing the cat calmed down or else we'd probably get splashed or scratched if it continued squirming.

"Gaano kayo ka-close ni Henry?" Tanong ni Clinton bigla sa akin matapos n'ya hindi sagutin yung ibang tanong ko.

"Very?" Hindi siguradong sagot ko. "Pwede rin extremely pero kung maririnig 'yon ni Henry, magyayabang 'yon kaya 'wag mo sasabihin sa kan'ya." Dagdag ko.

Minamasahe ko na yung likod ng pusa habang may bula sa kamay ko pero napansin kong tahimik lang si Clinton. Kaya nilingon ko s'ya. At nakita kong mukha s'yang nagdadalawang isip sa kung ano mang gusto n'yang sabihin.

"Something's wrong. Tell me." Sabi ko at nilingon s'ya.

"I don't like it." Buntong hininga ni Clinton.

"Don't like what?" Tanong ko.

"I don't like it when Henry's too touchy with you." Sagot n'ya na ikinatahimik ko. "I'm not telling you to stay away from him or whatsoever because I know you've been friends with him since childhood—"