Her Wings (PSS, #2) ✔️

Epilogue: George Ezekiel Grock

Epilogue: Chief Chevalier George Ezekiel Grock

"Protect her."

All I ever wanted was to be like my father and protect Princess Sophia. Eversince I was a kid, I've always wanted to follow my dad's trails. He was Princess Sophia's personal Chevalier, and I wanted to be the same. I also wanted to pledged my life to her, vow my everything to her and protect her at all cost. Sinabi ko rin sa papa ko na gusto kong sumunod sa mga yapak niya dahil gusto ko ring mapalapit sa Prinsesa. Personally, I have always liked her. Palaging napapadaan sa bahay ang Prinsesa kasama ang aking ama at doon ako nagsimulang magkaroon ng pagtingin sa kaniya.

But that was just that until that night when my father came home. He told me about this ever lonely Princess who cannot fly. This one who doesn't have any friends and lost her freedom because of her being unable. I truly did not care at first since I pledged to be Sophia's knight, but what my father told me changed everything.

"Protect her, George."

Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagot noon, bata pa ako. Ngunit ako iyong tipong hindi kumikiling para sa aking Ama. Kaya sa murang edad ay napatango ako at nasabitan ng isang responsibilidad. Hindi na si Sophia ang papangakuan ko, kundi ang prinsesang hindi makalipad. Sabagay, una pa lamang ay hindi naman ako nangako kay Sophia. At hindi rin ako nangako sa Prinsesa na hindi makalipad. Nangako ako sa aking ama, ngunit kalaunan ay ipinatong ko sa akin ang pangakong iyon. Nangako ako sa aking sariling poprotektahan ko ang Prinsesa na iyon hanggang sa aking huling hininga.

I will be her chevalier, her knight. Sa ayaw man o sa gusto niya ay wala siyang magagawa. Hindi niya na ako maaayawan, dahil gagawin ko ang lahat para magustuhan niya ako bilang kaniyang personal na chevalier.

"Ano'ng pangalan niya, Papa?"

Isang matamis na ngiti ang ibinigay ng aking ama sa akin noon. Isang purong ngiti na maski ako'y nahawa. Ano ba'ng mayroon sa Prinsesa na iyon? I'll find it out myself.

"Esmeralda." Sagot ni Papa.

Esmeralda? Bakit ngayon ko lang narinig ang pangalan na 'yon? Siguro'y dahil siya lang ang hindi sikat sa mga Maharlika dahil hindi siya gaanong lumalabas.

Isang matamis na ngiti na lamang ang ibinigay ko. "I promise to be her knight, father."

Napag-alaman kong hindi ko siya basta-bastang maaabot dahil mataas ang kinaroroonan niya, kaya naman ginawa ko ang lahat upang makalipad ng mataas. Good thing my wings are the best, I've easily reached her. It was so hilarious, our first meeting. I've finally got the courage and chance to see and talk to her. I thought she would stay at the ever luxurious palace, but I was wrong. The place she was in was like a cage, I felt pity, but it all ceased when I saw how innocent and beautiful she was. The crappy place on her background immediately faded. Like literally-- fuck, the kid inside me immediately disappeared and suddenly I just want to be a grown man that could do anything just to have her attention.

She was having a nightmare, it was our first meeting. I was there, at her open windows. The sun was about to hit her beautiful face but I blocked it with my wings, and the Princess was shocked. It's as if she was being attacked by a monster-- did she act like that because she was having a nightmare or because I was there? Grabe naman, masyado akong gwapo para katakutan niya. Sabagay, hindi naman siya natakot, nagulat siya. Sino ba naman ang hindi magugulat kung gigising silang may makikitang gwapo, I'm sure ganoon ang naramdaman ng Prinsesa. Naiintindihan ko siya.

But damn, that Princess changed the word beautiful for me. She was the perfect definition of any word pretty could connate for. She was so captivating, alluring, fascinating that I would do anything, I would give anything just to have those slender and tender fingers strike on me, those emerald eyes with dancing impeccable orbs stare at me, those perfect lips talk for me, her attention divert to me, I would give all. Kahit na ilabas ko pa ang kapilyuhan ko para mapansin niya gagawin, papansin na ako, ngayon pa ba ako mahihiya. Besides, I'm good looking enough for her to stare. 'Wag na siyang aarte pa, gwapo na ako-- hindi sa pagiging mayabang o mahangin, katotohanan lang, wala na siyang dapat ipag-arte kahit prinsesa siya dahil marami talagang nagsasabing gwapo ako.