Chapter Forty Four

Pagkatapos ng araw na iyon, inis na inis ako kay Luci at hindi ko siya pinapansin buong araw at sa mga nakalipas na araw.

"Look, you also did the same to me and it's even worst than I did," pangongonsensya nito. Pero hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin at tumalikod na para umalis.

Alam ko naman 'yon, pero naiinis pa rin ako sa ginawa niya. Kaya ko naman ginawa iyon sa kaniya dati dahil siya naman talaga ang karapat-dapat na magmana ng trono sa Lucius Kingdom.

Tsaka noong si Christian ang umupo, nagkagulo ang lahat hanggang sa bumagsak ang emperyo ng Lucius, kaya tama lang siya ang umupo at mamahala.

"Damn," he cursed. "You think I liked what you did before? Didn't you just consider what I have felt or my opinion when I was suddenly selected as the next king of the Lucius?" inis na saad nito.

Which made me to stop walking, but I didn't face him. I just let him do the talk.

"Did you ever consider the feelings of the people around you? Or do you ever think that--- what you did is against of other's people decisions?" dagdag pa nito. Naramdaman ko naman ang paglakad niya sa tabi ko.

He stopped in front of me and he looked at me with a serious expression on his face.

"Cut your tounge out?" nakangising saad nito. But my face didn't change at all. I just remain expressionless in front of him.

"Because it's true. Did you ever consider their own plan? Do you ever thought why they are doing these things, to the extent that they are ready to beg on their knees just to make you agree?" he asked. He gasped for air before sighing.

"Because they trusts you and they know what's the best option they have and it's you. They trust your guts, your decision making, your plan. They trust the whole you, because they know you'll provide a better plan to save those children."

My eyebrows raised when I heard him say that but I didn't open my mouth to talk. He held both of my shoulders and looked at me gently.

"I was pissed when you chose me to be the next King of Lucius Kingdom. I highly opposed that. But after realizing a lot of things, I just decided to go on with your plans."

"You made me like this, Lacy. But I chose to follow the path that you have given me, because I trust you. Not because you are from the future, but because you are you. I know you will not make decisions that will turn out wrong in the end."

"I trust you and I will always trust you just like how they trusted in you when you lend your hand at them to help," pangungumbinsi nito. Taas kilay ko siyang tinignan at ngumisi.

"You know that will not work on me," I shortly said, and remove his hands on my shoulders.

"But it's true though," he said, and smiled at me. I sighed and looked at him in the eyes.

"Let them see their failures and make up for it," I said. Mukha naman itong na-disappoint sa sinabi ko. Umiling na lamang ako sa kaniya at nilagpasan na siya.

Naramdaman ko naman ang kaniyang pagsunod at ang pag-akbay niya sa akin.

"Hmm... Still. You should help them, I promised them that I'll make you help them," sambit niya sa kaniya. Napa-irap naman siya roon at napailing.

"Then you should the one who help then, I didn't agree with any of those," I said. nakita ko naman si Glenna na papunta sa amin.

Kaagad siyang ngumiti nang makita niya kaming dalawa at nang makaharap namin siya at yumuko siya nang bahagya.

"My lady, Duke Lucian is waiting for you at the dining hall," she said. I smiled at her, and thanked her.

"And oh, my lady. You have a guest and they are also waiting for you at the dining hall." Kaagad namang kumunot ang noo ko at tatanungin an sana kung sino nang bigla akong hilain paalis ni Luci.

Sumigaw pa ito sa kaniya. "Copy that, Ms. Glenna!" he exclaimed, and winked at her. Glenna blushed and, smiled shyly at him and bowed down her head.

Napailing na lamang ako sa ginawa niya, ang bastos talaga nitong lalaking ito.

"Anyways, back to our topic. Whether you like it or not, you are still going."

"I am not the one who promised them," katwiran ko rito. Pero ngumiti siya sa akin at pumaharap at saka hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko.

"Then, pay for what you did to me back inm Lucius Kingdom. And I demand that this is the only payment that I shall receive," he declared. Umiling ako sa kaniya at tinaboy ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa dalawang kamay ko.

"Think of other way," I said, and shrugged my shoulders.

"I am the one who should be demanding here, not you," sabi niya at nagpadyak ng paa. Parang bata.

"Still, I'll make it happen. Just watch me." Umiling na lang ako sa kaniya at hindi na nagsalita pa.

Hindi namin napansin na nasa tapat na pala kami ng dining hall.

Kaya naman binuksan ko na ang pintuan at bumungad sa akin ang mga taong... uhh--

Tinignan ko naman si Luci pero kumibit balikat lamang siya sa akin at bumaba nang bahagya upang bumulong.

"Neither I," he said. Para bang sinasabi nito na siya rin ay walang alam sa nangyayari ngayon at kung bakit nandito ang mga taong ito.

Akala ko ba kaaway nila ako, pero bakit sila nandito?

Well, if you are curious who's here, well... Lord Pickett, Yasmine, Bella and Izaak are here. Which I don't understand.

What the heck...?

***

Nakaupo ang aking ama sa kabisera at masama ang tingin niya kay Pickett at kay Izaak. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung bakit, baka may pinag-usapan sila habang wala pa kami dito kanina.

The food is served already. I am in between of Luci and Izaak. Na hindi dapat, pero para bang nang-aasar talaga itong lalaking ito sa akin. Bigla ba namang umupo doon sa tabi ng aking tatay, kaya naman wala na akong magawa.

Lumipat si Izaak sa aking tabi, para raw balance. Tingin niya ba maniniwala ako sa mga patutsada niya. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit sila nandito sa pamamahay namin.

"I am wondering why are you all here," Luci said, and looked each one of them. Then when his eyes landed at me, he smirked at me, and raised his eyerbows up and down.

I secretly kicked his foot and smiled at him.

Pero mukhang hindi siya natinag at nakangiti pang bumaling kay Pickett na nagtatakang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"The present," he mumbled. Then he looked at me, but I know that he's pertaining to Izaak. "The past." Then he smirked.

"Hmmm... then who's going to be the future?" he whispered at me. Kaagad ko naman siyang siniko at sinabihan na manahimik.

Dahil kung hindi talaga, makakatikim siya sa akin.

"May I ask why are you all here, Lord Pickett?" I asked politely. Tinignan ko naman ito at naghihiwa siya ng kaniyang steak.

Nakita ko rin kung paano mag-flex ang kaniyang braso ay para bang mas lalo pa itong nagsilakihan. Kaagad naman akong umiwas ng tingin at nagpokus na lamang sa aking kinakain.

"Originally I should be the only one who'll come here, since I have something important to discuss with you and the Duke. But Bella insist on coming here together with me, but when Yasmine asked where we are going and I answered her. She suddenly said that she'll go with us and then she tangled with Izaak," he explained.

My eyebrows met and then looks at them one by one. Si Yasmine ay bahagyang ngumiti sa akin at yumuko rin pagkatapos, si Bella ay animo'y linta kung makalingkis kay Lord Pickett kulang na lamang ay magpasubo siya rito.

Si Izaak naman ay nakangiti sa akin nang tumingin ako sa kaniya. Naglagay ito sa aking plato ng meat. Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay at umiling.

What's wrong with these people?

"This room is pack of people," father commented.

I heavily sighed and looked at my father when he called me. He's wiping his lips and, I supposed he's done eating.

"I'll wait you two in my office," he said and look at me with gentle. Then glared at Pickett and Izaak.

I smiled at him and answered him. "Yes, father. I'll be there after I am done here." Ngumiti naman siya sa akin at nagpaalam na.

Nang makalabas ang aking tatay, kaagad ko silang sinamaan ng tingin.

For pete's sake! It's already 5pm in the afternoon! What do they all want?

"I believed I deserve an acceptable reasoning for this," I said.

Lacy looked each one of them while her face darkens and as if her eyes were glowing at the moment.

Pickett sighed and shook his head.

"I am against at them going here, I apologize on behalf of them," he apologized. I just nodded my head and looked at Bella.

"You," tukoy ko sa kaniya. "Why are you here?" pagtatanong ko rito.

"Well, I supposed his highness needed my help that's why I am here," she said, and I heard Yasmine snorts at her and when I glance at her she rolled her eyes at her.

"Help. If I know she's just here because my brother is also here," she mumbled.

"You heard his highness that he has something to do with me and my father. Therefore, you are not included," I frankly said while coldly looking at her.

She twitched her lips and frowned at me.

"If you don't have something to say or to anybody here, the door is open. You are welcome to leave now," dagdag ko pa rito. Hindi ko na inintay pa ang reaksyon niya at bumaling kay Izaak.

"You too, get out of this place," pagpapaalis ko rito. Kaagad naman siyang nagulat dahil hindi ko man lang tinanong kung ano ang sadya niya rito.

Before he even open his mouth, I talk again.

"We don't have to talk about something, because I told you all what I want. All you have to do is get up in your seat and leave this place quietly and never come back," I heartlessly said without any expression on my face.

I heard Luci's whistled and I supposed he get up from his seat. Because I saw him walking towards the door and opening it.

"Then I shall escort you two," Luci said, and smiled at them. Wala na rin namang nagawa ang dalawa kundi ang tumayo at lumabas sa dining hall.

Nang makalabas sila, tinignan ko naman si Princess Yasmine na para bang nahihiyang tumingin sa akin. Tinignan ko naman si Lord Pickett at sumenyas kung ano ang gusto ng kaniyang kapatid. Pero nagkibit balikat lamang siya sa akin.

"Princess Yasmine," I called her. She startled in her seat and laughed awkwardly.

"Y-Yes?" I gently raised my eyebrows at her, and asked she wants.

"Uhm..." She's contemplating. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Your highness, sorry to sound rude but I don't have all the time to waste," I said, and smiled at her. She frantically nods her head and apologized.

"Yes, yes, I know," she shyly said.

"Uhm... I am just here to personally apologized to you becasue of what happened. I learned my lessons and I realized I was rude and childish," she said, and laughed sadly.

"Uhm... I know you will not forgive me that easily, but still I want to make up for what I did," saad niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Is there anything you want that I am capable of doing?" she asked. I gasped for air before asking her just one question.

"There's just one question that I needed to hear," I said. She nods her head . "Yes, go on."

"Did you apologize already to those maids that you made fun of?"

"Yes," mabilis niyang sagot. "They told me that they are happy that I apologized and we are okay now," she explained.

I nodded my head and smiled at her. "Then, there's nothing that I want. I accept your apology," I said. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata niya at nagtanong pa kung totoo ang sinabi ko.

Tumango ako sa kaniya at sinabing totoo iyon. Napatalon naman siya sa tuwa at sumugod sa akin, payakap.

Bahagya naman akong nagulat sa ginawa nito.

"Then, can we be friends?" she happily asked. I looked at his highness and signalling to help me here.

"You should talk about that matter next time, Yasmine," Pickett said, and secretly pulled his sister away from me.

"Because we have something important to do now," excuse nito. Tumango lamang si Yasmine at umalis na rin, kaya naman kaming dalawa na lamang ang natira sa loob ng dining hall.

I sighed first before closing my eyes.

Feeling ko stress na stress na ako. No... I am so stress right now.

"Are you okay?" Pickett asked. That made me open my eyes and looks at him.

He has this worried expression on his face. I shook that thought, he's not worried at me. Maybe he's just asking me since his siblings are pestering me.

"I am. I'm just stress these past few days," I mumbled enough for us to hear it.

Tumabi naman siya sa akin at hinila ang upuan upang lumapit sa akin. Bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking noo gamit ang likod ng kaniyang palad.

"You're a bit hot. Are you sure you're okay?" I smiled at little bit and remove his hand on my forehead.

"I am, don't worry," I assure him.

"Take your medicine now, or else, I am not going to include you in the meeting," banta pa nito. Tumayo naman ako nang tumayo na rin siya.

Nakangisi ko siyang binalingan at nakatingin lamang siya sa akin ng seryoso.

"Yes, master," I sarcastically said. He just shakes his head at me and flick his finger on my forehead.

"You are so stubborn."

"I guess, I am," I said, and smiled at him and he just smiled at me.

Well... I think this is also a good thing.