.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.
ELIORA

YET ANOTHER REASON has been added to my growing list of reasons why I am not a princess.

Tinawag ko lang naman na Prince Uto-uto si Prince Nolan Edmund ng Glandier. Ang nag-iisang prince ng Glandier! Sometimes, I feel as if my mouth has taken on a life of its own and I'm no longer in control of what comes out of it. But it's not my fault that he's gullible and did exactly what I said. I don't know if he's really that gullible or he's just too nice.

For a second, I got scared that he might've recognized me by the way he stared at me. Mabuti nalang talaga at palagi akong may suot na mask dahil hindi ko alam kung kailan may makakakita sa'kin. Idagdag mo pa 'tong si Prince Nolan na bigla nalang sumusulpot kung saan-saan.

I tugged at my bottom lip with my teeth, trying to suppress the laughter so I wouldn't get caught, again. I was still running away from the prince when I was bumped for the second time by someone as I turned in the hallway's corner. Sa sobrang lakas nang pagkakabunggo ko ay natanggal ang hoodie na nagtatakip sa ulo ko.

I yelped in pain, caressing my forehead. Again.

"What are you doing here, Eliora?" Agad akong kinilabutan dahil sa pinanggalingan ng boses na 'yon. Nanlaki 'yong mga mata ko at dahan-dahang nag-angat nang tingin. Nagtama ang tingin namin kaya mas lalo akong kinilabutan sa takot.

"K-King Phelan," I mumbled in fear. Why, of all people, did I bump into my own father?

Agad siyang tumingin sa paligid kung may nakakita ba sa'kin, at nang makasiguro siyang walang ibang nandito kung hindi kaming dalawa lang ay agad niya akong hinawakan sa braso at hinila papasok sa isang kuwarto.

Sa dinami-dami nang pwedeng makakita sa'kin ay ang tatay ko pa! I blame this massive royal castle that I got lost and couldn't find Annalyn's room! Kung pwede ko lang sanang akyatin nalang 'yong bintana sa kuwarto ni Annalyn, e 'di sana mas madali. Kaya lang ay hindi ko pwedeng gawin 'yon, dahil umaga ngayon at mas maraming pwedeng makakita sa'kin sa labas.

Baka akalain pa nilang magnanakaw ako, gaya nang binintang ni Prince Nolan sa'kin kagabi.

Exasperatedly, the king sighed. While I stood in the middle of the room with my head lowered, his sharp gaze pierced into my soul.

"Eliora Elise!" he exclaimed. My heart beats faster.

"Yes, Father?"

"What are you doing inside the royal castle?" Ramdam ko 'yong galit sa boses niya. Nakayuko pa rin ang ulo ko habang nakakuyom ang magkabilang kamao ko sa gilid.

"Look at me," my father commanded when I didn't answer his question. "I said look at me, Eliora."

Slowly, I lifted my gaze and met his. I swallowed hard.

"S-Si Annalyn," I shiver. "Hinahanap ko po si Annalyn."

My father sighed, and I was a bit taken aback when his face softened at the mention of the name of his favorite daughter. Unti-unting nadurog 'yong puso ko dahil sa naging reaksyon niya. I bit the inside of my cheeks to stop myself from tearing up.

Kahit pala sanay at alam kong hindi ako ang paborito at gusto nilang anak, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hindi masaktan sa t'wing makikita ko 'yong pagkakaiba nang reaksyon sa mukha nila sa t'wing pangalan na ni Annalyn ang maririnig nila.

"I want to see Annalyn, father."

"Princess Annalyn is busy with the royal engagement party today."

"Please father... I really want to see her. Even just a glimpse of her would be enough." I beg. Naglakad ako palapit kay King Phelan at lumuhod sa harapan niya. Hindi ko na napigilan pa 'yung mga luhang kumawala sa mata ko.

"I'm just really worried about my sister. I know that she needs me too," I rarely cry. Even when I fell so hard from a tree and fractured my leg when I was a kid, I didn't cry. But when it comes to my sister, I would do anything to be there for her.

She is my only companion. The other half of me. And I couldn't have survived all these years without her at my side.

"Go back to the tower—"

"Father!" I cut him off.

"I will send her to the tower after her royal engagement party," para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan dahil sa narinig ko. Pinunasan ko 'yong mga luha sa pisngi ko.

"Thank you very much, King Phelan." I stood up and curtsied to the king with all my heart, feeling grateful. I only hope he will follow through on his words.

My father pursed his lips and just nodded to acknowledge me.

After a few seconds of silence, I said, "Goodbye, father," before I turned my back on him. I was about to walk away when he called my name and I looked back. I wonder whether there will be a time when my father will say my name with the same adoration and calmness as he says my sister's name.

"Yes, father?"

"Don't ever come back here again."

"Understood, father." I responded before making my way out of the room. Leaving this majestic and magnificent royal castle, which I will never be a part of.

##

I waited.

That's what I did all day after coming back from the Royal Castle. Wala naman akong pwedeng ibang gawin kung hindi ang maghintay sa pagdating ni Annalyn.

Ang dami kong gustong itanong sakaniya. Ang dami kong gustong ikwento sakaniya sa mga nangayari sa'kin simula kahapon. Dahil kahit na nabigo akong mahanap ang kakambal ko, hindi ko pa rin maitatanggi na sobrang nasiyahan ako dahil nakarating ako sa royal castle at napadpad ako sa bayan ng Alcadia.

Kahit panandalian lang, iba pa rin sa pakiramdam na kahit minsan ay naging parte ako ng Alcadia. Na kahit wala ni isang Alcadian ang nakakakilala sa'kin kanina, sobrang saya ko pa rin at nakapaglakad ako sa bayan.

Nang lumubog ang araw ay rinig na rinig hanggang sa tore ang kasiyahang nagaganap sa royal castle. May mga fireworks din at maiingay na trumpeta. Nakadungaw ako sa bintana habang pinagmamasdan ang mga tao na nagsasaya para sa nalalapit na kasal nina Princess Annalyn at Prince Nolan Edmund ng Glandier.

"Hindi ka pa ba magpapahinga 'nak?" tanong ni Manang Imelda nang pumasok siya sa kwarto ko.

"Hindi pa ho. Hihintayin ko pa ang pagdating ni Annalyn." sagot ko at tumango-tango lang si Nanay bago ako lapitan para samahan pagmasdan ang buong Alcadia.

"Naikwento ko na ba sa'yo kung paano kami nagkakilala ni King Phelan?" Agad akong napalingon kay Manang Imelda bago umiling. Ang alam ko lang ay magka-edad si Manang Imelda at King Phelan at malapit silang magkaibigan, kaya rin siguro malaki ang tiwala ng magulang ko na ipabantay at ipatago ako sakanilang mag-asawa.

"Tahimik na bata lang ang ama mo noon habang ako naman ay pabida sa klase." Natatawang sabi ni Manang Imelda. Mas lalong natuon ang atensyon ko sakaniya habang pinakikinggan ang kwento niya.

"Sobrang malapit ang pamilya ko sa royal family at isa kami sa tinatawag nilang loyal servants, dahil bawat henerasyon ng pamilya namin ay nagsilbi para sa hari at reyna." bakas sa mukha ni Manang Imelda ang saya habang binabalikan ang mga nangyari noon.

"Hardenero ang tatay ko sa palasyo habang tagaluto naman ang nanay ko. Kahit na hindi kami mayaman, mabuti ang pakikitungo nila sa'min. Ang lolo't lola mo pa ang nakaupo sa trono noon. Sobrang babait nila. Kaya nang mabalitaan ko na kaklase ko si King Phelan ay agad ko siyang nilapitan para makipag-kaibigan."

"Maraming nagulat dahil sa normal na paaralan ipinasok para mag-aral si King Phelan. Marami ang nakipag-kaibigan sakaniya, pero dahil sa sobrang tahimik niya ay natakot ang iba kaya lumayo nalang sila. Pero hindi ako sumuko at kinulit ko siya nang kinulit hanggang maglaon ay naging panatag rin ang loob niya sa'kin at naging malapit na magkaibigan kami."

Inabot ni Manag Imelda 'yong kamay ko at marahang pinisil. "Ang gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo anak. Mabait ang ama mo, at sigurado akong may dahilan sila kung bakit nila 'to ginawa sa'yo. At naniniwala ako na dadating ang panahon na makakaalis ka rin dito."

Because of what Manang Imelda had said, a part of my heart became lighter. I wanted to believe everything she said because I trusted her. I want to think that my parents love me in the same way that they love Annalyn. Even if they meant to hide me from the people of Alcadia.

I wanted to believe that the proper moment would come when my parents would proudly introduce me to the people of Alcadia, too...

But what I didn't anticipate was being introduced so soon and in the most unexpected way.

W H A T Y A S E Y