Song: Seeing Blind- Niall Horan ft. Maren Morris

Princess

Kasalukuyan kong tinatapos ang documentary na pinapanood nang bigla naman akong tawagin ni Mommy mula sa baba.

"Kelsey, it's time to get ready!"

I groaned in frustration. That damn party again... wala naman akong gagawin doon kung hindi ang tumunganga! I'll do nothing but watch my parents talk to their co-businessmen.

"Five minutes, Mom! Tatapusin ko lang po itong pinapanood ko!" sigaw ko pabalik sakanya.

"No, Kelsey. You need to get ready now." Nagulat naman ako nang biglang tumambad ang pigura ni Mommy sa may pintuan ko. Lumapit siya sa akin habang may hawak na gown.

"I bought you this dress because I know you wouldn't even bother to look for anything since you are not interested with this party..."

"You're right! So... pwede na bang hindi ako sumama?" I smiled cutely at her-hoping that this smile will work on her.

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. "Kelsey, it is also important that you're also there. We'll meet some of your daddy's business partners and friends today!"

Mukha namang tuwang-tuwa siya sa mangyayari 'yon. So what if we'll meet them? Halos kada taon ko na ata silang namemeet!

Ngumuso ako. "Mom, please... I'll be fine here! Hindi naman po ako lalabas ng bahay. I'm fine watching these documentaries!"

Nilingon niya ang mga DVDs na nakakalat sa kwarto ko. Dismayado siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Ilang beses mo nang napanood ang mga 'yan, Kelsey... No, you'll still to come with us."

Bumagsak ang balikat ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya. "But, Mom, these documentaries are helping me to do better with my course." Ngumuso ako.

"You're already good, honey. You're a consistent dean's lister. Masyado nang malaki ang natulong sa'yo ng mga documentaries na 'yan. So this time, you'll focus on other thing. You need to go, Kelsey."

"But, Mom, the documentaries-"

"You're coming with us, Kelsey." She sounds like her decision is final.

"But they're-"

"Enough with those architecture stuff for now, honey. Please spare us your time. Please." She begged.

Napapikit ako at dismayadong kinuha sakanya ang gown na dala niya. She smiled at me. Inangat ko naman ang tingin sakanya at tsaka ngumuso.

"Just for this day, Kels. You'll get to watch them again on some other time."

"I can't... finals week is coming. I need to focus."

"Then you can watch them after finals!" ngumiti siyang muli sa akin. She grabs both of my cheeks. "Please give this day to us, Kelsey. Isang araw lang naman ang hinihingi namin sa'yo."

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga at sa huli ay wala nalang ring nagawa. Tiningnan ko ang gown na binili niya sa akin at agad akong napangiwi nang makita ko ang estilo nito.

"Mom, this is..." hindi ko na natapos pa ang sasabihin ko nang makita ko ang malalim na neckline ng gown na ito.

"Showing a little cleavage won't hurt, sweetie." Namilog naman ako nang marinig ang rason niya.

What? I can't believe her!

"But this looks inappropriate for the party!"

"It's not! Mas malalim pa nga dyan ang necklines ng ibang bisita, e. It's okay, Kels. You'll look beautiful in that dress."

Napipilitan akong ngumiti sakanya at tsaka tiningnan muli ang gown na binili niya sa sakin. It's a gold long sleeves gown with a deep v-neck neckline. The gown is full of embellishments, kaya panigurado ay kikinang ako sa party na 'yon!

I have no choice but to wear this. Ang mga lumang gown ko naman ay nadonate ko na. Ito nalang ang meron ako kaya wala akong magawa kung hindi ang suotin nalang ito.

Plinantsa ko ang gown gamit ang mga kamay ko matapos ko itong suotin. Tiningnan ko ang sarili sa salimin. Napanguso nalang ako at napatango nang makita ko ang aking repleksyon sa salamin.

I don't really look bad with this dress. It hugs my body beautifully. I checked myself out once again before I proceeded to do my own hair and make-up.

I decided to tie my hair up in a ponytail. Kumuha ako ng ilang hibla ng buhok at tsaka kinulot ito. I only did a simple make-up. Simple ang eye makeup pero binawi ko ito sa lipstick na ginamit ko. I used the lipstick that Jeya gave to me on my birthday. It's a maroon matte lipstick. It complimented my gown perfectly.

Humanap ako ng hikaw na sa tingin ko ay bagay sa suot ko. It took me a minute to look for one. At nang masatisfy naman sa itsura ko sa gabing ito ay sinuot ko na ang sapatos ko.

Lumabas ako ng banyo at nakitang ayos na ayos na rin si Mommy ngayon. Looks like she's been waiting for me to finish.

Her mouth immediately parted once she sees me. Lumapit siya sa akin at tsaka tiningnan ang buong ayos ko.

"Oh my god! My baby looks so beautiful!" sa sobrang tuwa ay napayakap pa siya sa akin. I chuckled. "You've grown up to be such a perfectly fine woman! I am so proud of you!"

"You sound like I already got married," I said. "Save that on my wedding day, Mom. Is Dad ready?"

"Yes. He's downstairs and he's only waiting for us."

Tumango naman ako. Sabay kami ni Mommy na nagtungo sa baba. My father immediately smiled at us when he sees us.

"You look so much like your mother, Kels. You two are so beautiful." Ngumiti ako habang si Mommy naman ay humalakhak ng kaunti.

My father immediately moves closer to my mom. He snaked his arm around her waist.

"Let's go?" anyaya ni Mommy.

Sabay sabay kaming lumabas ng bahay at tsaka sumakay sa kotse namin. It almost took us an hour before we finally arrived at the venue! The traffic in Makati was crazy! Buti nalang talaga at hindi kami nalate!

We went straight to the reception at nang mahanap naman namin ang pangalan namin ay may gumiya sa aming usherette patungo sa lamesa namin. I quietly followed my parents as they walk arm in arm towards our table.

Sa kalagitnaan naman ng pagpunta namin sa pwesto namin ay tinawag kami ng isang photographer para kuhanan kami ng litrato. Pinalapit ako ni Daddy sakanila at tsaka kami ngumiti sa harap ng camera. Binaling ko naman muli ang tingin sa photographer at nakitang nahihiya siyang nakatingin sa akin.

I pursed my lips at nagtataka siyang tiningnan. Inangat niya ng kaunti ang kanyang camera at mukhang may nais iparating.

"Pwede po ba isang solo picture, Ma'am?" tanong niya na medyo ikinagulat ko.

"Uh... Okay. Sure."

Umayos ako ng pagkakatayo at tsaka ngumiti muli sa harap ng camera. Nagpasalamat siya sa akin matapos niya akong kuhanan ng litrato.

That was weird. Ito ang pinaka unang beses na may nagrequest sa akin na photographer ng isang solo picture! Sa tuwing umaattend kami nitong business party, they either ask us for a family picture or sometimes a picture with my father's business partners! But no one asked to take a picture of me, solo!

My father placed his hand on the small of my back at tsaka ako iginiya patungo sa mga kasama namin sa table. I smiled at our tablemates. Sila ang madalas naming ka-table sa business party.

"Bernard, it's been a while!" bati ni Tito Reynard kay Daddy. Nagyakapan sila. Nang bumaling ito kay Mommy ay hinalikan niya ito sa pisngi.

Tumingin naman si Tito Reynard sa akin. "Wow! Your daughter is getting prettier and prettier each year! How are you, dear?" tanong niya at tsaka lumapit sa akin upang makipagbeso.

I giggled because of his compliment. "Okay lang naman po ako, Tito."

Sunod naman akong binati ng kanyang asawa at ng kanyang anak. Their son is already the one handling their business. And I heard that he's getting married soon.

"How you been, Kelsey?" tanong ni Zion sa akin. Ngumiti ako at tsaka siya niyakap bilang pagbati.

"I'm fine. I'm on my last year in college! I'm so excited to graduate!" tumawa siya ng dahil doon. "Where's your fiancée by the way?"

"Oh, she has some things to do. Maybe I'll bring her next time. She'll love to meet you."

"I would love to meet her, too! When is the wedding?"

"In three months."

"Oh... are you excited?" ngumisi ako at tsaka siya tinaasan ng kilay. He chuckled.

"Who wouldn't? I'm marrying the love of my life!" I smiled because of the way he sounded.

Someday, I also wish to get married with the love of my life. Imagine how happy that marriage would be! It would only be filled with love, trust, and happiness! 'Yung tipong hindi mo maiisip na makipaghiwalay nalang dahil napapagod ka na.

I don't think I will ever get tired of loving the love of my life! Bata palang ako ay pinapangarap ko nang may magmamahal sa akin kagaya ng mga napapanood ko sa pelikula. Kaya sa tingin ko kapag nahanap ko na ang makakasama ko habang buhay, hindi ako magsasawang iparamdam sakanya ang pagmamahal ko.

I never had a boyfriend in my whole twenty-one years of existence! It's funny because a lot of guys tried to pursue me already but I ended up with none. I've always lived up to my fantasies that my first boyfriend will also be my last.

Kaya ang hirap nang makahanap ng taong ramdam mong siya na ang makakasama mo habang buhay. It's hard to find someone who's ready for a life long commitment.

I also didn't want to settle in a relationship that will just end eventually. Naniniwala kasi ako na ang pagmamahal, pinatatagal 'yan. Kaya hindi ako basta basta magsesesettle sa relasyon na alam kong magtatapos lang rin.

This is why we have standards. Alam kasi natin kung ano ang deserve natin kaya hindi natin hinahayaan na mapunta ang sarili sa walang kwenta.

Marami pa kaming napagkwentuhan hanggang sa nagsimula na ang mismong event. As usual, I got bored as hell. Wala akong ginawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa magulang ko habang binabati nila ang ibang kakilala.

They are times that they'll introduce me pero madalas, nakakalimutan nilang nandidito pa ako dahil masyado silang na hook sa usapan nila.

Nang makakita ako ng oportunidad na makaalis sa sitwasyon na iyon ay nagpaalam akong kukuha lang ako ng dessert. My parents immediately agreed at hinayaan naman akong pumunta sa dessert table.

Kumuha ako ng isang platito at tsaka inilibot na ang tingin sa buong lamesa. There are a lot of desserts served in this table. I honestly can't choose one!

Minsan ay kukuha ako ng isa at titikman ito. Kapag nagustohan ko ay ilalagay ko iyon sa platitong hawak ko. Kapag hindi naman, wala akong choice kung hindi ang lunukin ito.

I was about to walk away from the dessert table when I stopped in my tracks because of someone who is careless enough to spill his drink on me!

Fucking hell!

My jaw dropped when I saw that my dress is now dripping wet because of the punch that this careless person fucking spilled on me!

I heard someone gasp when they saw what happened. Nagulat naman ang mga serbidora na nakapwesto sa likod ng dessert table nang dahil sa nangyari sa akin. They immediately went to me and gave me a towel.

Nanggagalaiti kong inangat ang tingin sa lalaking hindi tumitingin sa dinadaanan niya! Now he ruined my dress! And he also fucking ruined my night!

"Look what you did to my dress!" I shouted at him. May mga bisita namang napalingon sa gawi namin nang dahil sa pagsigaw ko.

"I'm sorry, princess, but you're not watching your way." He said. He looks at me arrogantly.

I scoff insultingly because of his remark. "So it is my fault now? How fucking dare you, mister? You're walking in the wrong way! Can't you see that the line starts at the dessert table! It don't fucking start at this punch!"

Tinuro ko iyong lalagyanan ng punch upang ipamukha sakanya na iyon ang huling pupuntahan ng tao pagkatapos nilang kumuha ng dessert.

He shrugged his shoulders like he doesn't care. "Well it's not my fault that I only want the punch and not the dessert!"

Hindi ko makapaniwala siyang tiningnan. Sayang at gwapo pa naman sana siya pero ang yabang yabang niya! He doesn't want someone stepping on his non-existent ego.

"But still you should've look in your way!" reklamo ko. I rolled my eyes at him. Tiningnan ko naman muli ang damit kong natapunan niya ng lecheng punch na kinuha niya.

At hindi lang ang gown ko ang nabasa. Even my chest got wet! Now I can freaking feel the stickiness of this punch!

Ugh! I hate this man now! I fucking hate him.

"Oh. Did I ruin your dress, princess?" he asked teasingly. Inangat ko naman muli ang tingin sakanya.

"Why can't you just say sorry?!" I asked frustratingly.

"Well, first of all... it's not my fault. And second, it's still not my fault."

I can't freaking believe this! This man is making me go nuts! Kung wala lang sigurong nanunod sa amin ngayon ay baka sinapak ko na siya hanggang sa dumugo iyang maganda niyang mukha!

Nakita ko namang bumaba ang tingin niya sa buong damit ko at nang umangat muli ito ay nanatili itong nakatingin sa dibdib ko. My eyes widened. Agad ko namang tinakpan ang dibdib ko gamit ang kamay ko.

"And now you're looking at my chest, you moron!" hinampas ko siya dahil sa kabastusan niya.

No one freaking looked at my chest like that! Only him! I fucking hate the guts of this man! He's so irritating!

"Don't worry. I've seen much bigger boobs than that. Yours are like... non-existent." He answered confidently.

My jaw dropped. Ang bastos talaga ng lalaking 'to!

"Oh! Just like your balls and respect for women! They're non-existent, too!" I fired back at him. Now he looks insulted.

"What? How dare you-" hindi niya naituloy ang kanyang sasabihin nang dahil sa pagkainsulto.

"Do you want me to tell you how small your balls is?" pang-aasar ko sakanya. "If my boobs are non-existent, then your balls are smaller than..." nag-isip ako ng bagay na pwedeng ikumpara doon. "Tweety bird!"

Namilog ang mga mata niya nang dahil sa sinabi ko. Naiinsulto siyang tumawa at tsaka umiling.

"How freaking dare you compare my balls to tweety bird! Ha! Baka magulat ka pag nakita mo 'to."

I smirked. Oh! In his dreams!

"Yeah. It will be really shocking to see how small it is!"

He laughed insultingl again. Umiling siya ng ilang beses at tsaka naman umamba siya na parang mananakit. So, now he's going to hit me? Masyado ko bang natapakan ang ego niya?

"Okay. Let's stop this shit. I'll just buy you a new dress." He said, obviously trying to end this conversation.

"Oh, no thanks! I don't need you to buy me one! I can still work on this, you idiot!"

"Fine, princess. I'm sorry I ruined your dress!" he sounds like he's being forced to say sorry. Umirap akong muli sakanya.

"And stop calling me princess! I have a name, you idiot!" I warned.

He raised both of his hands in the air, trying to surrender. He shrugged his shoulders at me.

I stormed off towards the comfort room after that. Even though I didn't like how this dress looks like, nanghihinayang parin ako na natapunan ito ng isang tangang lalaki! My mother bought this one for me! Now it's stained with punch because of that stupid moron!

Hindi na tuloy ako nakakain ng mga kinuha kong dessert nang dahil sa lalaking 'yon! Pasalamat nga siya at nailayo ko pa sa damit niya ang mga hawak kong dessert kanina, e. Kung hindi, baka madungis na rin siya ngayon!

"Hindi nalang mag-sorry para mabilis na natapos ang usapan! Dami niya pang sinasabi, e." reklamo ko sa sarili ko habang pinupusanan ang aking damit.

"Gwapo nga. Bastos naman!" I tsked and I rolled my eyes when I remembered what happened a while ago.

Nang matapos ako sa pag-aayos ay hinahanap ko naman kung nasaan ang mga magulang ko. Nahanap ko lamang sila nang makita kong kumakaway sa akin si Daddy.

They're talking to someone which I suspect is a family friend that I haven't met before. Their back is facing me kaya hindi ko alam kung sino ang mga ito. I calmed myself down before I walk towards them.

Tiningnan ko naman muli ang aking gown para icheck kung halata pa ba ang mantsa na gawa ng tangang lalaking iyon. Inangat ko ang tingin kay Daddy at tsaka pinakinggan ang kanyang sasabihin.

"Kelsey, I'd like you to meet Benjamin and Brittany. They're your Tito Francisco and Tita Barbara's children." Aniya. Tumango naman ako at tsaka binalingan ang pamilyang ipinakilala niya sa akin.

"Hi-" napatigil ako sa pagbati nang lumapat ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakatayo sa tabi ni Tito Francisco. This is the same guy who freaking spilled his punch on me! How come he's our family friend!?

"You?!" turo ko sakanya. Everyone looks shocked with my sudden reaction, well except for that guy.

He slowly smirked at me. "Hello, princess."

My jaw dropped. And that's it. My night is fucking ruined.