I'm A Very Patient Person

"Bakit ka may dibdib? Bakla ka ba?"

Inosenteng tanong mula sa inosenteng batang may inosenteng mukha at inosenteng mga matang titig na titig sa bahagi ng dibdib kong hindi ko namalayang bahagyang nakahantad. Sa pagkabigla ko kanina sa natuklasan, nakalimutan kong ayusin ang pagkakatali ng tunic na suot ko.

Kahit sabihing flat-chested ako, babae pa rin ako. Sa uri ng trabaho ko, sanay na akong walang pakialam kahit makita ng mga kasama ko ang katawan ko nang walang malisya. Pero ngayon, hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit tila napapaso ako sa uri ng pagtingin sa akin ng batang ito. Mukha siyang binatilyo pero bata pa rin talaga siya.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako naiinis. Sa katotohanang nakatagpo ko na ang kapares ng marka ko o ang madiskubreng isa siyang paslit? Alin man sa dalawa ay talagang nakakasira ng katinuan. Idagdag pa na napagkamalan niya akong bakla.

This kind of misunderstanding is on a new level. I can't even tell where it all started. Plus, I'm too lazy to care.

"Yow, kiddo. Pakiulit nga ng tanong mo."

Ngumiti ako habang nagpipigil na sumabog sa inis na sana ay hindi ko nalang ginawa.

"Your smile looks weird. Mukha kang constipated."

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko bago ko makalimutang bata ang kaharap ko. Pag pinatulan ko 'to, baka umiyak. Isa pa, baka anak ito ng prinsipe mula sa isang secret affair. Mahirap na. I've been acting insolent since the first time we met. Ayokong makinig sa sermon ng commander namin lalo na ng matandang panot na 'yon na tinatawag kong "Emperor".

"First of all, kid---"

"You smell weird."

Bahagya akong napaigtad nang bigla siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin. Napigil ko ang hininga nang bigla ako nitong amuyin. Balak yatang singhutin ang leeg o buhok ko pero dahil mas matangkad ako sa kanya ay hanggang dibdib ko lang ang naabot niya.

I was usually guarded and alert but this kid literally caught me off guard. Another first on my list of firsts.

"What are you doing, kid?"

"Your scent. It makes me feel weird."

"Kanina ka pa weird nang weird. Ano ba ang sinasabi mo? Pakisagot ng---Hey!"

"Aww!"

On instinct, I slapped his hand. Hindi ko kasi namalayang nadaklot na niya pala ang dibdib ko. This little pervert. He looks innocent but gropes women he just met.

Ah, wait. Kanina tinawag niya akong bakla tapos ngayon, ang makasalanang kamay niya ay nanatili sa dibdib ko at pumipisil.

"Stop that!" I hissed, suppressing the anger that starts to build inside me.

He's a kid, Jae. Be more reasonable. I'm a very patient person.

Tila mantrang inulit ulit ko iyon sa isipan ko.

"What? Curious lang ako kung bakit may dibdib ka, Mister."

That's it! Wala akong pasensiya at kanina pa talaga ako sinusubukan ng mga maharlikang ito. Huminga ako nang malalim dahil pakiramdam ko sasabog na ako. I wasn't normally prude and I never show my emotions easily but this kid's presence creates havoc to my senses.

"Weird. It feels real." Inosenteng patuloy nitong dinadakma ang dibdib kong wala naman talaga. Kahit merong telang nakatakip ay ramdam ko ang mainit niyang palad. Marahan kong inalis ang mga kamay niya at nagsalita sa pinakamahinahong boses na makakaya ko. Pero imposible iyon dahil ipinanganak akong malalim ang boses. My voice is slightly deep, almost masculine. I still tried because I don't really have a choice.

"Listen here, kiddo. Hindi ako bakla."

"Okay, guy who is not gay."

"Hindi sabi ako bakla eh! Kanina ka pa. Is it normal to grope women's chests back in your place?"

"No, but you're not a woman so it's okay. We're both guys, anyway."

"Ilang beses ko na ba sinabing hindi ako bakla."

"Thrice." He answered nonchalantly.

"Hey, kid. Hindi sabi ako bakla. At hindi iyon tanong."

"I concluded you asked."

"This brat--"

"How dare you treat the prince like that!"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa lalaking may gintong buhok na mula nang magkita kami kanina ay ngayon ko lang narinig na tumaas ang boses. Pero ang nagpagulat sa akin ay nang tawagin niyang "prince" ang pasaway na batang hindi ko namalayang pingot pingot ko na ang tainga. I felt tiny bolts of electricity upon the contact. Mabilis ko itong binitawan.

"What did you say? Did I hear you right?"

"I tried to explain earlier but you're always cutting me off, Mr. Knight---"

"Correction. It's Miss not Mister."

"You cut me off again--wait! You're a woman?!?"

"Yes, mula atay hanggang balun-balunan!"

Narinig ko ang pagbungisngis ng katabi ko. This kid is 'that' prince?!? This is insane!

Come to think of it, I was supposed to notice it. The mysterious aura, that behavior, and the way he understood my language. It all makes sense. I guess, it's partly my fault. I ignored the signs. When did I became so dull? I even let him grope my non-existent chest and didn't try to stop him.

So we were clowns all along? How impressive! I made a fool out of my own self and in front of these royals!

"So, who are you? You golden haired mother hen?"

"What? How insolent! You've been acting rude since earlier. You even dared to lay a hand on his highness!"

"Pardon my behavior but I asked you who you are. Tell me your identity so I may know how to treat you."

Pumormal ang mukha nito at tumayo nang tuwid. I cringed inwardly.

"I am his Royal Highness' the prince's personal aide, Alec Ucliff. It's too late for formalities but may I know the name of the knight who saved our lives?"

"It's Jae. I thought I already told you."

"Not that. I meant your full name so I can report it back to my Emperor in order to reward you accordingly."

"Jynx Wynknight at your service. No need to reward me. It's part of the task I was given."

"So, Mister who said he's not gay is actually a girl?" Napakunot-noo ako nang makitang tila namumutla ang prinsipe habang namumula ang dulo ng mga tainga.

"Your highness, that's not how you talk to the knight who saved us."

"B-but earlier, I touched a girl's---"

Tiningnan ko siya nang may pagbabanta. He pouted and I stopped myself from reaching out to pinch those cute cheeks.

"Nevermind.  I'm gonna wash up and change, Al."

He looked at his aide and glanced briefly at my direction with a red face before heading towards the bathroom.
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Ilang minuto ang nagdaan nang humupa na ang eksena kung saan nagmukha akong katawa-tawa. Kasalukuyang nagbibihis sa loob ang bata---prinsipe. Nagulat pa kami nang bigla itong sumigaw na tila inatake ng kung anong halimaw. Napatayo ako kasabay ng pagbukas ng pinto ng banyo at kumaripas papunta sa gawi ko ang nahintakutang prinsipe.

"Waaaaaaaah! Cockroach!!!!! Hel-ummph!"

Hindi lang yata matakutin, lampa pa kaya nadulas sa sahig at dahil naestatwa ako sa kinatatayuan, dirediretso siyang lumanding sa dibdib ko. Nawala sa maayos na pagkakabuhol ang damit ko dahil sa impact kaya naman sa dibdib ko sumalpak ang mukha niya.

The direct skin contact sent my system on haywire. Maybe it's the reason why my knees went weak and we both fell on the ground. I lay in my back while this perverted kid---prince's face is still glued to my chest. We were both stunned. The prince is even worse. His eyes became unfocused while looking at my exposed upper chest.

"B---boobs!" He said stuttering. Just when I remembered one tiny detail about his phobia, his face fell flat on my chest. Nahimatay ito bigla na ikinawindang ng aide niya.

"Your highness!"

"Brat---prince! My chest is not a pillow! Jeez! Wake up!"

~🥀~

*To be continued*