Her

"Ano 'yan?" Tanong ko nang bigyan niya ako ng panibagong box.

"Chocolate." Aniya.

I stared at the unfamiliar heart-shaped box. I've heard of chocolates, mainly because Drizzy kept on flaunting her chocolates from her so called 'suitors' but I never had a bite of it. I assumed it would be something sweet? Just like how Drizzy brags about it?

Parehas kaming nakaupo ngayon sa isang troso, we were few meters away from my house, but enough distance for my dear godmother not to see us. Hapon na ngayon at sinugurado ko talagang tapos na ang lahat ng gawain bago ko siya puntahan dito dahil kung hindi ay mukhang plano niya pang pumasok sa bahay namin para magpakilala. He looked friendly enough to do it and I do not like it.

Madona might shoo him away and it will break his goddamn puppy like heart.

I'm just putting up with him because I pity him.

"Taste it." He offered me one piece and I stared at the unfamiliar chocolate. This looked different from Drizzy's chocolates because this one has a name engraved on its wrappers, while Drizzy's doesn't have one.

Kinuha ko ang chocolate at isinubo ito sa bibig ko. I slowly chew it as he anticipate for my reaction. And I... I felt like I'm in heaven. It felt sweet, and good, and mesmerizing! The chocolate was melting in my mouth the more I chew it and this must be one of the best food I have ever tried!

"Masarap?" He asked with a smile even though I know it was obvious from the way I looked right now.

"Okay lang..." I lied. To be saying okay lang would be an understatement. It was beyond it!

Kumuha ako ng panibago at kumain muli. He didn't talk though, he just smiled there like a fool. Bahala siya. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain hanggang sa ako na nga ang nakaubos noon.

"Bakit dala-dala mo pa 'yan?" Tinuro ko ang baril na palaging dala niya kahit na hindi naman niya ito ginagamit.

"Iyon ang paalam ko sa Papa ko." Aniya sabay bigay ulit ng panibagong chocolate, I accepted it. He had a new batch of chocolates with a different name on it, but nevertheless, it tasted the same for me— sweet and hypnotizing.

Parehas kaming natahimik. Ako, ngumunguya ng chocolates, siya, pinagmamasdan ako.

"How do you even operate that?" Turo ko sa baril.

"I just aim and shoot. Si Papa ang nagturo sa akin." Aniya kaya tumango ako.

"You shouldn't shoot birds." I remind him.

"Okay. I'll just lie to him, then."

Hindi ako nagsalita, hindi rin siya nagsalita. Hindi ko alam kung ano pang ginagawa ko rito dahil paniguradong kapag nahuli kami ni Madona ay sasabog iyon.

"Bakit ka tinuruan ng ganyan?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at tumingin sa taas. Kumunot ang noo ko at sinundan kung nasaan siya nakatingin.

My eyes widened when I recognized the bird. It was Jaq! Not only is it Jaq but Gus is also with him!

"Hindi ba—"

Kaagad kong tinakbo ang distansya kung saan ko nakita ang dalawang pasaway kong ibon. I called them but they kept on flying that I panicked. Well, I shouldn't since the hunter was with me but! Something bad could happen, lalo na at bobo pa naman iyon si Gus. Baka lumapit iyon sa isang ahas.

"Mabilis sila. Gamitin mo kaba—"

Inagaw ko ang lubid ng kabayo sa kaniya at sinubukang sumakay kahit na hindi pa ako gaano bihasa. I tried once when I was ten years old with my father so I was expecting it would be easy but the years must've made my body unfamiliar with the horse's body that I nearly lost my balance if he only didn't catch me fast enough.

Ang mas ikinagulat ko ay ang pagsakay niya sa likuran ko. I was about to say something when he maneuvered the horse at instant, I gripped the horse's hair when I, once again, nearly lost my balance.

"There they are." Itinigil niya ang kabayo kaya doon lang ako natauhan. Ni hindi ko napansing natulala na pala ako.

I gasped when I saw a snake not far from Jaq and Gus who seemed to be talking about mundane things, perched on the tree, unaware of the predator behind them.

I whistled, but they didn't listen. They kept on chirping as Jaq groomed his feather while Gus blinked at nothingness, chirping into unknown.

Behind me, I heard him assembling something and I froze in place. It sounded like his rifle! I paled when I turned to him and I saw him aiming the rifle where my Jaq and Gus are perching!

"Ano—"

"Hold this, Ella." Aniya.

My eyes widened as he give me the rifle. Hindi ako nakagalaw habang siya ay inosenteng nakamasid sa akin.

"Faster or the snake will lunge his attack."

Doon ako natauhan, even with cold hands, I accepted the rifle and he assisted my hand. I know he felt how cold my hands were but he didn't point it out. 

"Roll your shoulders forward." He instructed.

I gulped when he guided the butt stock into the front of my shoulder and trapped it on my shoulder. He made my fingers hold the trigger as he took my support hand and placed it halfway down the rifle.

"Bend your elbow naturally." He instructed.

"Hoy! Baka—"

Bang

He shoot using my fingers and my birds chirped as they flew away from us. My eyes went back to the branch and saw the snake running away from us, with a blood on his skin.

"Shoot." He smirked against me as I stare at the empty branch.

Hindi niya inalis ang kamay na nakahawak sa akin, sobrang lapit din ng mukha niya sa mukha ko kaya kumalabog ang puso ko. I sure hope he didn't hear it.

"You look like a princess." He said all of a sudden that my heart beat ferociously against my chest as I push him away from me.

"Alis na! Babalik na 'ko sa amin!" I glared at him so I could mask the embarrassment.

I look like a... princess?

"Joke lang! Mukha ka palang mangkukulam!"

I caged back the butterflies that was about to explode. Nasira ang mukha ko at dahil sa pagkairita ay tuluyan ko siyang tinulak. He lost his balance and his body fell off the horse, I wince when I heard the loud thud as his body hit the ground.

"Ang sakit!" He whined.

"Kasalanan mo!" I glared at him.

He lie flat on the ground as he groan in pain. Nanatili ako sa kabayo habang tinitingnan siya. He looked in pain but I never regret pushing him away. Nakapikit siya at halatang pagod na bumangon. Tsk. Napakahina.

"Tumayo ka." Sabi ko.

"Sige na. Iwan mo na 'ko." Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang narinig ko pero... may narinig akong pagtatampo? I must be hallucinating it though.

"Tayo." I warned.

He groaned again and sit up straight. Dumilat na siya pero hindi siya nakatingin sa akin. He glared at nothingness as if the wind was at fault why he fell on the ground.

Bumaba ako sa kabayo at lumapit sa kaniya, hindi pa rin siya nakatingin sa akin kahit na pansin kong sumusulyap ang mata niya sa kung nasaan ako. Ayaw niya akong tingnan at halatang galit siya.

"Aalis na ako." Sabi ko sabay tulak sa lubid ng kabayo para maitali ito sa isang sanga.

"Sige." Malamig ngunit may kaunting pagtatampo ang tono niya.

Tumango ako at tinalikuran siya. I wanted to say sorry but why would I? He called me a witch. He deserved it.

"Hindi na ako pupunta rito bukas!" Pahabol niya na siyang nagpatigil sa akin.

Something hit my guts with that. It was as if I was punched straight to my heart for it to stop beating for a second to process what he said. I didn't even know I was starting to attach myself with him.

"Mabuti." Iyon lang ang sinabi ko bago ko siya tuluyang iwan doon.

Wala ako sa sarili ko nang bumalik sa bahay namin. Wala ang tatlo kong manok dahil nasa Bayan sila para bumili ng damit para raw sa kaarawan ng isang binatang mayaman. That's what they call that guy and I wasn't interested because I have Erikson with me. But now that I left him, it felt like a part of me left too.

Iyon lang?

Tahimik akong pumunta sa bahay nila Jaq at Gus, I should be relieve that they're inside their cage but I wanted to find reason... gusto kong bumalik para tingnan kung ayos lang ba siya.

A bulb lit up above my head. My eyes widened as a small smile curved into my lips. I have an idea!

"Hi, Jaq." I whistled coolly and opened the cage, he didn't go out so I offered him my finger that he willingly stepped into. Sinarado ko ang kulungan habang si Gus ay abala sa pakpak niya.

Just like what expected, Jaq flew away from me. He's a smart kid and he always finds his way back home so I shouldn't worry that much. Nangako naman si Erikson na hindi na niya gagawin iyon 'di ba? He should be safe.

I walked back to the forest aa I pretended to whistle, finding for Jaq. Then stopped when I saw Erikson patting his horse's head. Natigilan din siya nang marinig ako para malingon kung nasaan ako.

"Jaq flew away." I explained even when not needed.

He pursed his lips and didn't talk. I slowly walked close to him and he stiffened. Hindi niya ako nilingon pero pansing kong nasa akin ang atensyon niya kahit na nakaharap siya sa kabayo.

"Ayos ka lang?" I asked nonchalantly, trying my best to conceal my ferocious heart.

He released a long sigh, and for a moment, I though his sigh wouldn't end, but finally! He faced me and gave me his full attention. My wild heart, became more wilder as I stare at his gray eyes. I felt like each passing second he stare at my eyes was equivalent to each passing minute I hold my breath. It's breathtaking, his ethereal eyes was enchanting that I'm hypnotized.

"Masakit... ang katawan ko." Aniya, na para bang nagsusumbong siya sa akin, eh ako naman ang dahilan kung bakit masakit ang katawan niya.

"Bakit mo kasi ako tinawag na mangkukulam." Malamig kong sabi sabay sulyap sa katawan niya kung may galos ba.

"I thought you hated being called a princess..." He pouted like a kid.

It's because I hate it that I love it.

Ever since I was a kid, my mom would tell me bedtime stories about fairy tales and their prince charming. I have always wanted to be a princess and dreamt that one day, I would meet my own prince. But one night, when she stopped reading me stories, I realized princess never existed in real world. Only villains and greedy people gets to have happy ending. Just like my step mom and step sisters.

"So you thought you could placate me by calling me a witch? Just because I hated being called a princess?" I raised my brow at him.

He scratched his nape and scrunched his nose as he slowly nodded. I sighed. How can I be mad at him?

"Ang tanga mo." Iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

Humaba ang nguso niya dahil sa sinabi ko. He looked a little offended but knew I was right. He's really dumb to think that being called a witch is better than being called a princess just because he thinks I hate it.

"Saan ang masakit?"

"Kata—"

"Naasan banda?" Putol ko sa kaniya dahil kakasabi niya nga lang na katawan ang masakit.

"Likod ko."

"Gusto mo hilutin ko?" I offered.

Nanlaki ang mata niya kasabay ng unti-unting pamumula. He instantly shook his head out of embarrassment and I raised my brow at him.

"Babalik na ako sa amin. And... uhm..." He fidget in his stance, I furrowed my brows.

"Ano?"

"Bukas... makakapunta ka ba sa Bayan?" He slowly asked.

I paused for a while. Tomorrow, the three won't be at home so I guess I can?

"Bakit?" Taka kong tanong.

"Bukas ang birthday ko... and Papa wanted to invite everyone in Casa Cantatio. Kaya puwede kang pumunta..." Mahinahon niyang sabi.

"Saan?" Kalmado kong tanong kahit na may kutob na ako kung saan.

"Sa Casa Nostra."

Damn it.

"Wala akong damit." That was an excuse. Surely, I wouldn't want to see the three of them in there! Doon sila pupunta bukas!

I knew it. I had a huge feeling he's not just a normal province kid. From the way he acts, the way he seemed dumb to basic survival things, I know he came from a rich family. Pero hindi ko inaasahang ganoon siya kayaman! Balita ko marami daw silang lupain dito. He was the second rich teen, aside from Adam Benjamin Carter who can rarely be seen. Hindi ko alam ang hitsura nila, but I guess I met the first one!

"Ayos lang naman kahit anong suutin mo..." He said.

Umiling ako at bumuntong-hininga. Kahit na may damit ako ay hindi ako pupunta! Mahuhuli lang nila ako!

"And besides... it's a masquerade party so no one would know who's who." He bargained.

"Erikson." Seryoso kong tawag, giving him a look that I really wouldn't go.

"I... don't have any friends. Hindi ko sila kilala. Ikaw lang ang kaibigan ko at gusto kong nando'n ka."

I don't know why I'm suddenly irritated by that kind of label. Friends.

"Please?"

"No." Umiling ako.

"I'm not comfortable with a lot of people."

"Hindi nga ako pupunta." Iritado kong sabi.

"Please, Ella... gusto kong maiwasan lahat ng babaeng lumalapit sa akin. Ganoon sila palagi at nakakapagod na."

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Something rang in my ears and an unknown devil started appearing in my mind, smearing it with red.

"Babae?" I asked slowly.

He nodded instantly as he sighed.

"Atat na atat na kasi si Papa na ipakasal ako kahit na ang bata ko pa! He said he wanted to find a perfect fit for me before he introduced me to his world. Kaya madami siyang babaeng pinapalapit sa akin."

I scoffed and shook my head. I may not know what their world is but I heard rumors that it's something dark. I heard that from Madona but Drizzy said it would be thrilling. Sabi nila, iyon daw ang dahilan kung bakit sila mayaman. Dahil sa negosyo nilang... delikado?

"Hindi ako pupunta." Pinal kong sabi dahilan ng katamlayan niya.

Unbeknownst to him, I'm already plotting something tomorrow. Hindi ako magpapakita sa kaniya pero mamanmanan ko ang mga babaeng umaaligid sa kaniya. I cannot just stay there and do nothing, ayaw kong napapraning mag-isa sa bahay.

Ayaw kong magpakita dahil kung magpapakiya ako, tiyak akong ako ang lalapitan niya. It would grab everyone's attention, including my stepsisters and stepmom's attention. So it's better for him not to know that I'll attend his party tomorrow. After all, I know hat time and where to go. It was because Drizzy kept on boasting about it.

Damn. I guess this is not just a simple crush. And I'm doomed.