Chapter Forty Two

Days, months have passed and now the summertime will be over soon, like really soon and autumn season will welcome us I heard father is searching for a teacher for me. Tutors to be exact.

"My lady, Sir Luci has been waiting for you in ages, are not going to see him?" Aziz curiously asked. I rolled my eyes and glance at her.

"Tell him to go back. What's the point of coming all the way here, if he's just..." Napatigil ako at hindi nakapagsalita dahil wala naman talaga dapat akong sasabihin.

"... nevermind," I said, and stood up. Paniguradong galit na iyon at inis na inis na sa akin dahil halos apat na oras na siyang nag-iintay at hindi ko siya sinisipot.

Yes, Luci is here, after ages, he finally had the guts to come all the way here, when he's supposed to come here after... hmm... maybe a month? After we saw each other.

But clearly, he just arrived after almost 4 months. Ngayon lamang siya sinipag na pumunta rito kung hindi ko pa kinuntsaba si Erich hindi pa siya baba. Kaya naman bilang ganti, apat na oras ko rin siyang pag-iintayin.

Buti nga at naawa pa ako sa kaniya na apat na oras lang ang binigay ko hindi katulad niya na apat na buwan.

Kaya naman pinuntahan ko na siya dahil kawawa naman. kaya naman sinabihan ko na si Aziz na pupuntahan ko na ito at ibinigay sa akin ang aking balabal.

Hindi na ako nag-abala pang mag-ayos dahil si Luci lamang iyon at hindi naman kami lalabas, unless magyaya siya o ako. At dito rin lang naman siya pansamantalang titira sa amin dahil kami lang naman ang kaniyang nag-iisang kamag-anak na nandito sa city.

Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok dahil sa pagkakaalam ko si Luci lamang ang tao sa loob at wala nang iba pa.

Pero... bakit may nakikita akong isang halimaw na nandito?

Kaagad akong sumimangot nang silang dalawa ang magkasabay na tumingin sa akin. At talagang nagtatawanan pa talaga sila and, I assumed...! Luci didn't felt any boredom at all.

I raised my eyebrow at the especially at the person that I wanted to see the least.

"I guess, I am mistaken that you are mad at me for making you waiting where in fact you are being accompanied by someone..."

"... whom the least that I expected it to be," prangka kong saad at ngumiti nang sarkastiko.

"I am pissed at you, good thing, someone accompanied me than you," sagot ni Luci sa kaniya na siyang nagpa-irap sa kaniya.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," sagot nito at naglakad papunta sa tabi ni Luci at ipinag-cross ang kaniyang binti at ang kaniyang mga braso sa may bandang dibdib niya.

Tinignan niya ang unexpected na bisita mula sa paa hanggang sa ulo nito.

"I know you don't like me at all, but it's rude to stare at people--" I cut him off.

"It's good that you know that..."

"... your highness," saad ko sa kaniya at ngumisi.

"... like that." He sighed and closed his eyes tightly. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsiko sa akin ni Luci kaya naman tinignan ko siya at tinanong kung bakit. Nilakihan niya ako ng mata na para bang sinasabihan akong umayos.

Napairap ako sa kaniya at tumingin ulit kay Lord Pickett na bigla-bigla na lamang nasa bahay namin nang hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Anyways, let's not go around the bushes, what are you doing here, your highness?" diretsang pagtatanong ko rito.

"I was told that Sir Luci is here, that's why I came here," he said. I nodded my head at him and leaned back.

"I guess four hours of talking is already enough. Then can you please leave us alone for a moment? Since Luci is originally my guest, I guess I can take him now," I said, and smiled sweetly at him. He squinted his eyes at me and leaned back also.

"But I am also a visitor of your manor and a guest of Sir Luci," he cooly said, and smirked at me.

"He's my guest."

"So am I." I heavily sighed and it's already making me feel frustrated.

"You two, if you have problems with each other, don't put me in between the two of you. Because I came here for business and vacation. Not for your lover's quarrel." Kaagad ko naman siyang tinignan ng masama at sumimangot sa kaniya.

"We are not lovers!" mabilis kong tanggi rito. Luci raised his two arms as if he's surrendering.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to shout," he said. I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze at his highness.

"Then your highness, if you are done talking with my cousin here, can you excuse us? Because we have a lot of important things to discuss," I said politely.

Pickett sighed and put his two elbows at his knee at leaned forward a little to look at Lacy who's still has this sour mood in her.

Hindi niya ba alam dito sa dalaga, samantalang noong nakaraang araw lamang ay pinapansin pa siya nito at hindi nagsusungit sa kaniya.

"I also came here to talk to you about some important matters," dagdag ni Pickett sa kaniyang unang sinabi. Napaawang naman si Lacy roon at kaagad na umiling.

"Then I'll leave you two alone. Enjoy your quality time!" sambit ni Luci sa kanila. Huli na rin para sigawan siya ni Lacy dahil nakalabas na ito ng kwarto.

Napairap naman si Lacy dahil doon bago sagutin si Pickett. "I'm busy."

"Busy is never an acceptable answer for this matter," he said. Napatawa naman nang bahagya si Lacy sa isinambit sa kaniya ng lalaki.

"What do you see me? A free person who's time is always free?" nang-iinsultong tanong ni Lacy rito.

"Kind of," simpleng sagot nito rito.

"God! I hate this guy, so much!" bulong ni Lacy sa kaniyang sarili.

Inis siya sa lalaki dahil mas kinakampihan na nito palagi ang isa pang babae sa kanilang grupo or sa kaniyang grupo na si Bella.

Hindi dahil sa may nararamdaman siya o kung ano sa prinsipe kundi dahil, alam na nga nitong mali at malaki ang tsansa na pumalpak, tinatanggap pa rin nito ang mga suhestiyon ng dalaga, kaya naman inis na inis siya.

Tapos ang babaeng iyon, nanakawin ang kaniyang ideya at kapag nasabi na niya ang kaniyang mga ideya, kunwari ay sasabihin nitong mali siya tapos ang gagawin niya ay ire-recycle ang kaniyang mga sinabi.

Papalitan lamang ng mga key words pero same thoughts pa rin, tuloy, siya ang nakakakuha ng credits, imbes na siya. Although wala namang siyang pakielam doon, naiinis pa rin siya.

"My father, King Levi's birthday is near and, I am inviting you to be my partner," saad nito sa kaniya. Napataas naman ang kilay ni Lacy roon.

"Why are asking me?" pagtatanong niya sa lalaki.

"Because you are my fiance...?" nagdadalawang isip na saad nito. Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ni Lacy roon.

"We both know that I am not."

Hanggang ngayon pa rin kasi ay hindi pa rin niya nasasabi sa hari ang kaniyang plano.

"Well, formally speaking, you are. So it's just right to invite you to be my partner to turn down those issues and doubts of the people around us, since it's still not discussed yet," pagkumbinsi pa nito. Napairap naman si Lacy roon.

"Why me? You could've invited Ms. Bella instead of me," sabi ni Lacy rito. "I am sure that, even if you are not saying anything yet, she'll agree immediately. She might jump off from a tall establishment because of happiness," dagdag pa niya at kumibit balikat.

"Why is Ms. Gomez added to what we are talking about? Plus, Ms. Gomez isn't my fiance. So it's just right to go with you," saad nito at napatingin kay Lacy.

"Perhaps... are you feeling jealous?"

Napalaki naman ang mata ni Lacy sa sinabi ng lalaki at napatayo bigla at wala sa sariling dinuro si Pickett.

"Excuse me?" gulat na saad ito. "Why would I feel jealous? We didn't even have any romantic relationships or feelings. Besides, I am..." Napatigil naman Lacy sa pagsasalita at lumunok ng kaniyang laway at diretsong tinignan ang kamahalan na nakangisi sa kaniya.

She pressed her lips together and look at his highness. She sighed first and looked at him.

"Sorry to say this, but I am turning down your invitation," she said, and sit back again.

"Why?" he agitated. Lacy sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Uhh—because Sir Cain already invited me?" Napaawang naman si Pickett nang sabihin niya iyon.

Cain? As in Cain Garrick?

"You accepted it?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito sa kaniya. Tumango si Lacy sa kaniya. "Of course, it would be rude to turn down his invitation," she plainly said. Napapikit naman nang husto si Pickett.

"You were late," Lacy said while looking at him. "Why? If I were the first one to invite you, would you accept it?" Lacy were speechless with what he said and stares at him.

Ibinuka niya ang kaniyang bibig pero isinara niya rin.

"You were saying that I have the chance if I was little early than him, hmm?" tanong pa ulit nito. Siningkitan niya ang mga mata niya sa lalaki bago sumagot.

She swallows her saliva first before shaking her head as a sign of 'no'.

"Nope, still no," she heartlessly said. "Invite Lady Gomez, since you two are close," she suggests. Napataas naman ang kilay ni Pickett roon pero hindi siya nagsalita at tinignan lamang ang dalaga.

"We're not close and please stop feeling jealous over Lady Bella." Napairap naman si Lacy roon at napailing. Hindi raw close pero first name basis. Okay.

"I told you I am not," she said, and rolled her eyes at him. "Then, invite someone." Tinignan naman siya ni Pickett na para bang ang sinasabi niya ay isang malaking kalokohan.

"I don't have any someone in my mind." Bahagya namang nagulat roon si Lacy at bahagyang napanganga.

"Really? Aside from me, you don't have any... girls?" Pickett nods his head. Talaga ba, akala ko ba playboy 'to at maraming babae? Bakit hindi na lang siya mag-imbita ng mga babaeng nahuhumaling at baliw na baliw sa kaniya? I am sure they'll be happy and grateful.

"You're making me feeling guilty, your highness," Lacy said. "Good, because your conscience will bug you everyday and every night that you didn't choose me instead you chose that guy who came from nowhere and an anonymous." Napa-irap naman doon si Lacy.

"I don't regret at all," she plainly said, and smirked at him. He just shook his head. May envelope naman sa maliit na table na pumapagitna sa kanila. Ini-slide ito sa kaniya, tinaasan naman niya ito ng kilay at ipinatong ang kaniyang isang binti sa kabila niyang binti.

"We are planning to visit the place week before the celebration of King Levi's birthday." Binuksan naman ni Lacy ang envelope at hindi niya mapigilang mapa-irap.

Tuloy pa rin ang planong pinlano ni Bella. Napailing na lang siya at hindi nagkumento sa kaniyang nakita sa report.

"Are you going with us?" pagtatanong niya. She chuckled, and put back the paper inside of the envelope.

"You're talking ridiculous, your highness. Lady Gomez and I, can't even stand with each other and, I am sure that she'll be grateful if I am not going there," saad niya at ngumiti sa kaniya.

"And you know that I highly oppose this plan, her plans to be exact." Tinignan naman ni Pickett si Lacy nang malalim.

"How sure are you that this will fail?"

"A hunded and one percent," sagot niya.

"You're just overthinking. Bella is known for her great skills when it comes to planning. Out of 50, 49 of them are successful." Lacy looked at him and smirked.

"But then there's this one failure," she said. "I'm talking about the success rate," sagot naman ni Pickett sa kaniya.

"So am I." She sighed and looked at him with a serious expression on her face. "Come to think of it, if 0. 001 are your only chances of winning. Would you still risk everything?"

"Or just 1%, would you still risk everything to win?" Pickett's face became serious and partially closed his eyes.

"Of course, if I really wanted it." Pumilantik naman si Lacy sa tugon nito.

"Exactly, this one percent of failure may happen even though there's a highly chance of success rate. It's like a vice-versa of the situation that I gave to you," she said, and sighed.

"You will never know what may happen, your highness. It's still your decision to make." She tood up and looked at Pickett, straight in the eye.

"And I am not going."