Zaffira Winter Rosewood's POV

Kahit kailan talaga boring ang buhay. Sa bawat araw na dadaan, lilipas at ganon pa rin. Sa sobrang kaboringan parang hinihintay na lang natin ang pag sundo ni kamatayan. It's like we're just waiting for death to come.

Boring talaga ang buhay ko lalo na at nag-iisa lang ako dito sa bahay. Namatay ang mga magulang ko dahil sa isang car accident daw. Eh kasi naman hindi ko nakita bangkay nila. I was just 11 years old back then.

We didn't have any other relatives. So when they passed away, nothing significant occurred. Those who witnessed it simply laid them to rest in the ground. I was young at that time, and I didn't know what to do. I'm not sure why, but I didn't shed any tears or mourn their loss.

I don't feel lost. Everything seems to be normal.

I've always known that I wasn't their biological child and that I was adopted. The reality of being adopted had been a part of my understanding since as long as I could remember.

Hindi nila inilihim yun sakin at tanggap nila ako, itinuring na totoong anak. Mahal ko rin naman sila pero ewan ko kung bakit balewala lang sakin ang pagkamatay nila. Am I just a heartless person?

Mayaman yung mga umampon sakin. So when I was a child, they transferred their property on my name. They left me all the money they had worked so hard for years. It was a significant responsibility bestowed upon me at a young age. I felt grateful for the financial security they gave me before they left me alone since I have no other relatives that I can run to and help me raise myself.

Ang pera lang nila ang pag-asa ko para mabuhay and wake up with each passing day. Even so, I didn't waste that money. I use that in a purposeful manner.

So now here I am stepping into college even though I am an orphan. Kinakaya pa naman at higit sa lahat I have an abundant life.

Antok na antok sa pakikinig sa history teacher namin. At bakit ba nasali ang tungkol sa reincarnation dito sa history!? Eh fiction lang naman yun! Haist! Si ma'am talaga. Mahilig din kasi yan manoond ng mga fantasy movie. Ketanda-tanda.

Tumingin ako sa harap ko at alam ko namang hindi ako makikita ni ma'am dahil masyadong malaki ang katawan ng nasa harapan ko, kaya sumubsob ako sa desk at hindi na pinakinggan si ma'am na inuubos lang ang laway.

"Hoy" niyugyog ako ng taong hindi ko kilala.

"Hmm"

I woke up as she shook me and stretched.

Tumingin ako sa paligid pero wala na ang iba. Kami na lang nila Sen at Mika ang naiwan dito, mga classmate ko din.

"Did you hear what ma'am said earlier?"

Nakataas kilay na sabi ni Mika, nakahawak siya ng libro. Hindi naman siya masungit, mukhang masungit lang. At hindi ako yung tipo ng tao na binubully dito sa university.

I'm just one of those people who is invisible to everyone pero minsan napapansin din, pero hindi para awayin. Konting bati lang, just greet or smile.

Wala ding nagtatangkang lumapit sakin para i-bully. Mga lalaki lang na nagpapapansin at gustong manligaw, oo.

"Huh? Ano bang sinabi?" I asked in surprise because I hadn't really listened.

Nakatulog nga ako, malamang. Anong alam ko don?

"Haist! Sabi ko na nga hindi yan nakinig kanina eh!" Ungot ni Sen.

Isa siya sa mga lalaking nagpapapansin sakin pero binabalewala ko. Pero ngayon mukang may iba nang type. Kaya hindi na niya ako tinititigan sa lahat ng mga subject na mag kaklase kami. Kilala ko naman yung babae. Si Mika.

Mika stared at him kaya hindi na siya nakapagsalita pa para magreklamo. Mukhang takot siya rito.

Hinila ako ni Mika para patayuin at lumabas ng room.

"Come on! Let's start now so we can finish early. The deadline is said to be Friday." Saad ni Mika habang hinihila ako.

Napakunot ako.

Start?

I had no idea what she was saying. Sen must have noticed the confusion on my face so he spoke.

"We did groupings earlier for our report on Friday and now you probably know who your groupmates are."

Mula sa pagkakahila sakin ni Mika kanina ay binitawan ako kaya mas nauna siya sakin. Sinundan siya ni Sen pagkatapos niyang sabihin sakin yun.

Ah ganon pala. Eh teka? Anong topic?

"Hey!"

Hinabol ko sila sa paglalakad papuntang parking lot. Oh? May kotse pala ang dalawang ito.

"Wait! What topic are we going to report on?"

Naabutan ko sila sa paglalakad na hlos hinihingal na. Grabe ang dalawang ito!

Hindi ako sanay maglakad ng mabilis at malalaking hakbang. Normal lang na paglalakad ang kaya ko!

"About reincarnation." Mika spoke.

They stopped in front of a red car so I stopped too.

I'm tired there ah! I'm almost out of breath! It was as if I was running at the speed they were walking.

"Oh? Anyare sayo? Pawis na pawis and breathless? It's like you' run in a miles." Saad ni Mika na nakakunot noo.

Sen just frowned at me.

"Ang bilis niyong mag lakad!" Yun lang ang sinabi kong palusot kaya mas lalo pa lumukot ang mukha nila sa pagtataka.

Nasa tapat kami ng isang makintab na pulang kotse.

"Wow may kotse kana pala Mika....or you Sen?"

I deviated from the conversation because they still didn't stop staring at me. Hindi ko naman mai-pwesto ang tingin ko sa isang direksyon sa pagkailang.

They frowned even more and Mika looked at me in surprise, so I turned to face her as well.

"Z-zaf that's your car isn't it? Or baka nagkamali lang kami?" Nagtatakang tanong sakin ni Mika habang nakaturo sa kotseng katapat namin.

Now I covered my forehead and looked at her in astonishment.

"Sa bahay mo Zaf natin gagawin ang report." Sen said behind me.

Ngayon ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa kotseng katapat namin at tinitigan ng mabuti. Nakita ko ang isang sticker ng rose na bulaklak sa pintuan nito, na ako ang naglagay. E-eehh?

"I thought it was yours, Mika!" I said trying to cover my embarassment.

"Hey! I'm not rich like you! Ang kuripot mo pa!" sigaw sakin ni Mika at binuksan na ang kotse saka sumakay na.

T-teka? Where did she get the key? I looked for my car key on the keychain of my bag, because that's where I put it.

Pero wala akong nahanap.

Sen spoke next to me at nang-asar pa.

"I got it. Lesson learn. Don't hang your car key on your keychain. Andaling makuha! Hahaha!" And pointed to Mika na nakasakay at tumatawa. He got into the backseat.

These two can be annoying! I don't have any concerns that they might do the same to me in the future, trying to steal from me. They are not the type of person to engage in such behavior.

Yes Mika is right. They are not rich enough to studying here.

They relied on hard work and resourcefulness to secure their place in this university. Unlike me, who has been here for as long as I can remember, their lives were not solely centered around me. I can't claim to be exceptionally intelligent nor am I unintelligent.

Just neutral.

May laman din naman ng konti ang utak ko.

"Sakay na! It's getting late oh!" Mika shouted at the window.

I frowned and got into the driver's seat as well.

Tignan niyo. Ako pa magiging driver!

Pakanta kanta si mika pagbaba namin ng sasakyan. Pagkababa niya ay napahinto siya at nakangangang nakatingin sa harapan.

Gulat yarn?

"Woah! Ang laki ng bahay mo Zaf! Ikaw lang mag-isa rito!?" Mika asked with excitement.

"Ahem!" Sen fake a cough but I saw in his face his astonishment too. He tried to look compose and calm and refuse to admire what he is seeing. Pero halata namang sa mukha niya ang pilit niyang tinatago. I pouted.

Nauna na akong naglakad papasok ng bahay at parang aso at pusa na sumunod sila sakin.

"Yes. Ako lang mag-isa dito, except for the maids who are with me pero sa ibang quarter sila natutulog. Sa likod ng bahay. If you want, you can just stay here." Balewalang saad ko.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad ng may marinig akong kalabog sa likod ko, kung saan bumubuntot sakin ang dalawa pagpasok namin dito sa loob.

"What happen!?" shockingly asked them.

They were both lying on the floor! Like a fool! Napakunot man ako sa ka-OA-han na ginawa ng dalawa ngunit natawa rin ako natawa ako sa itsura at posisyon nila.

Sen but his two hands were firmly pressed against his back, as his eyes widened in sheer of astonishment looking into my house. Mika was lying down motionless, her body stretched out as if she had succumbed to a sudden bout of unconsciousness, her eyes tightly shut.

What a great actor!

"Sige, diyan na lang kayo" natatawang saad ko.

I walked over and left them in that position. I couldn't help but smile. I think I found a friend.

"Wait!"

Napatyo sila at hinabol ako sa pagpasok ng bahay.

I sat on the single sofa at yung dalawa nasa sofa na pandalawahan. Lumapit sakin si Mika at halos magusot na ang damit ko sa pag yugyog niya sa balikat ko.

"Are you sure about what you said earlier!? You're not kidding!? Right!? Zaffira sumagot ka!"

I grabbed my dress because she was already tugging it.

What the heck! Nababaliw na yata ang babaeng to. Halos nakipaghilaan pa ako sa sarili kong damit.

Mika is a scholar at the university. She comes from the province, and her intelligence earned her a scholarship here.

Sen, on the other hand, comes from a well-off family. Despite his financial resources, he was able to gain admission to the university based on his own abilities. He is also intelligent, but he did not pursue a scholarship.

"What the heck! Mika! You look like crazy sa ginagawa mo! Yes! I'm sure! Kung gusto mo pa bukas na bukas lumipat ka na dito kung gusto mo! Pero may kapalit!" Sigaw ko sa kanya dahil hindi parin niya ako tinitigilan. Natatawa lang na pinpanood kami ni Sen.

She sat down on the floor.

Mika only lives in an apartment and she still needs to rent it every month, so that's how she reacted to my offer.

"I thought it was free! Paasa ka! Hmmp! Let's start the doing the report na!"

She stood up and rushed to sit next to Sen. Nagtatampo at padabog nilabas lahat ng gamit sa gagawin namin.

I smiled.

"Ayaw mo? Okay. Edi wag. Hindi naman pera ang kapalit eh. Hindi ko na lang sasabihin, ayaw mo na kasi eh." I said teasingly.

She stopped what she was doing and slowly looked at me.

"D-did I say something I don't want?"

I laughed at her reaction.

Hindi ako sumagot sa kanya at ipinatong ang dalawang paa ko sa table. Naka skirt pa ako niyan. Pero alam ko namang hindi ako masisilipan lalo na si Sen na nasa malapit lang sa tabi ko.

"S-sen diba wala akong sinabi?" She even asked for help from Sen.

Dahil alam kong may gusto si Sen kay Mika ay alam kong papanigan niya ito.

Sen just simply nodded.

"Okay fine. You'll stay here tomorrow." I didn't feel like saying anything and stood up to change my clothes first.

"Kyaahhh! Thank you Zaffira! Sen! Wala na akong po-problemahin buwan buwan. Wala na akong babayaran!" Mika is already celebrating.

When I entered my room I went straight to my walk in closet.

I sighed.

It's better to have Mika that I regard as a friend to live in this mansion. Nakakabaliw din kasi ang manirahan dito ng walang kausap. Those maids are afraid to talked to me because my adopted parents have forbid them to do so.

It is often said that I am fortunate because of the resemblance of my house to a mansion.

For others, it is a mansion. However, perhaps because I have grown accustomed to this way of life, the allure has faded away. The material possessions within this abode no longer hold any significance for me.

May mga maid parin na mas piniling mag stay dito kahit wala na sina mommy. Nasusuwelduhan parin naman sila tulad ng dati.

Kinuha ko ang isang hello kitty na pajama at nagsuot nang maluwang na T-shirt. Binitbit ko iyon at naglakad papuntang kama. Ipinatong ko muna sa kama ang mga yun at pumasok sa banyo para magshower.

While showering I couldn't help but remember the time they were still alive. Where they always surprise me when it's my birthday.

Marami silang mga pasalubong pag-uwi at abala lahat ng maid dito sa bahay.

But when they died, parang normal na araw nalang ang nangyayari kapag kaarawan ko na.

Even so, the maids still prepared a lot of food for me, but I stopped them dahil wala namang kumakain sa mga yun. Kaya ang labas, sila din ang umuubos.

I also saw the joy and at the same time sadness in their eyes. At alam ko kung bakit. They are also kind and loved by mom and dad, minsan pa nga sinosobrahan nina daddy ang suweldo nila dahil sa pag-aasikaso nila sakin. Kaya ganoon na lang din ang lungkot nila noong nawala sina mommy.

Today is my birthday again. The day when I turn 18.

I finished showering and was about to leave the shower room pero nakaramdam ako ng sakit sa ulo ko na parang tinutusok. Napakapit ako sa pinto at hinwakan ang ulo ko dahil sa sobrang sakit. The pain was so overwhelming that it felt as if sharp needles were relentlessly piercing my skull.

"Arghh!" I groaned.

I almost squatted on the floor. Paralyzed by the sheer intensity of the sensation, desperately trying to find relief from the unbearable torment that gripped my entire being.

Napapikit na lang ako dahil kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi parin mawala ang sakit! A vague scene pop out in my mind. I can't see their face clearly.

"Zaffira, napakaganda mo talaga! Sigurado ako na kapag makita ng prinsipe ang iyong kagandahan, agad siyang mahuhumaling sa iyo! Napakaswerte ng prinsipe na mapakasalan ang aking anak, na pinakamaganda sa kanilang lahat!" Zaffira's mother exclaimed, while gently combing her daughter's waist-length hair.

Nasa ikalabing-walo na ang dalaga at kinabukasan nito ay magaganap ang isang pinakamalaking pagdiriwang sa buong Tennessee para opisyal na ipakilala siya bilang papakasalan ng magiting na prinsipe, na siyang hinahangaan at pinagmamalaki ng mga tao. The event would mark the most grandeur and awaited event in the whole Tennessee as two figured prince and princess who garnered adoration and reverence from the people will be betrothed with the divine blessings from the deity.

The two chosen by the Octavius is none other than Prince Akiro who follows in the footsteps of the brave and benevolent King Hogan, and the princess of the Kingdom of Taraya, admired for her unparalleled beauty, whose grace and elegance enchanted all who beheld her. But it was not just her outer beauty that captivated hearts, her inner goodness and integrity were equally remarkable. She was revered by her subjects, who admired her not only for her radiant appearance but also for her kind and compassionate nature.

"Ina, hindi pa ako handa para sa ganitong tungkulin. Ina, natatakot ako. Hindi pa ako handang maging reyna. Hindi ako ganap na handa para gampanan ang mga tungkulin ng isang reyna, Ina." Sagot ni Zaffira.

Upon the marriage of the prince and princess, a momentous event would unfold, the passing of the crown. With the exchange of vows and the sealing of their union, they would ascend to the highest positions of power and authority in the kingdom, assuming the roles of king and queen.

Sa taong labing-walo ay hindi parin siya handa sa mga tungkulin na hahawakan niya kapag siya ay kinasal na sa prinsipe at maging reyna. Ang ideya na magsuot ng korona ng isang reyna ay nangangahulugan ng pagsasakripisyo ng kanyang kabataan, ng kanyang pagkabata, at ng pagkakataon na magkamali at matuto mula rito.