Chap 7

Zaffira Winter Rosewood's Pov

Ang sarap ng tulog ko dahil sa kinahihigaan kong malambot na kama. Buti naman panaginip lang ang lahat.

Mula sa masarap na tulog ko ay minsang nagigising ang diwa ko, dahil sa hindi malaman kung bakit pakiramdam ko napagod ako ng husto kaya kahit may naririnig akong ilang ingay ay hinihila parin ako ng antok.

Maybe I'm just too tired from my trip with Mika.

Pero sumagi sa isip ko ang panaginip ko. Nasa isang dimensyon daw ako, isang lugar ng mga immortal. Huminga na lang ako ng malalim at niyakap ang isang unan na nahawakan ko at muling nakatulog dahil sa saktong lamig at lambot ng hinihigaan ko.

I don't know how many hours I slept when I woke up suddenly because of the loud noise outside.

Hays!

Ang ingay na parang ang daming tao! Saan na ba sina Mika!

I forced myself to stand up and open my eyes.

Huh?

Where am I?

Hindi ganito ang kwarto ni Mika kung saan ako natulog! Nagpalinga-linga ako sa kabuuan ng kwartong ito at dito ko naalala ang nangyari!

Ohmo! So that's not a dream!?

I remember what happened before I lost consciousness.

Nagising na lang ako na nasa braso na ng prinsipe habang naglalakad sa harapan ng mga tao dito sa palasyo. Rinig na rinig ko ang mga usapan sa paligid kung bakit may buhat buhat ang kanilang prinsipe.

But I also immediately again felt the weakening of my body, his long and sharp fang came out and I felt him bite me on the neck from in front of his people. My vision darkened and I lost consciousness again.

Then now I'm here in a room!

I was just surprised when the noise outside got louder.

Not outside this room, but right outside the palace.

I ran to the window and pulled back the curtain to see what was going on outside.

Ngunit nalula ako dahil sa sobrang taas at hindi ko na gaanong makita yung sa ibaba, para nang mga langgam kung titignan mula dito. Ang nagpadagdag pa ay sobrang dami nila.

I was suddenly nervous and let go of the curtain I was holding.

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib dahil pakiramdam ko may hindi magandang nangyayari.

What are those? If I base it on what I watched in the disney movies, it looks like they are preparing for a war.

Shi*s!

I need to get out of this place!

Kung patuloy akong mananatili dito ay madadamay ako sa mga ganyan na digmaan. Wala akong alam sa mga ganyan. Pero paano ako makakabalik sa mundo ko?

Portal.

I grabbed my head and pulled myself together! Where can I find that damn portal !?

Gosh! I'm going crazy here!

How did I get to this place!

Ngunit muli akong natauhan dahil sa naalala ko.

If I've been here it means there's still a way for me to get out.

Now all I need is the king's help! Yes, that's right!

Based on what I heared about the king, the I can hope that he can help me!

I can still beg him if it's the only way to get his his help. Don't mind the prince!

My heart beats faster thinking of that prince who bite me earlier! I can't count on that prince either.

I remember Serina once said that only the king and the prince have the access to the portal.

I quickly ran to the door and went out. Isang malawak na living room ang bumungad sa akin.

Lumabas ako at tumambad sa akin ang isang napakalawak na silid. Ibang-iba ito sa mga nakikita ko sa labas ng palasyo. Dito napaka modern. Yung mga nakikita kong kagamitan sa mundo namin ay ganon din dito. Parang bumalik lang ako sa mundo ko. Samantalang sa labas ay napaka old-fashion!

They are right, the palace has influence from the world of mortals. Because they are the only one who can get in and out. Other immortals who are living outside the palace can't even have the chance for them to experience how these high level immortals can travel from immortal realm to my mortal realm.

I just took a deep breath at muling bumalik ang kagustuhan kong kausapin ang hari. Natiyempuhan kong may naglalakad na isang serbidora. Agad ko siyang nilapitan.

"Uhm.. Ah n-nasan po ang hari. Pwede ko ba kaya siyang makausap."

Her eyes widened and she almost dropped the beautiful vase she is holding that I think also came from the mortal realm.

Why don't they just import cars here instead of making the horses work harder.

I just raised an eyebrow. Sometimes I really can't stand it. Very really!

I thought their king and prince were smart!

"Huwag mong mamaliitin ang hari at ang prinsipe binibini. Kahit ikaw pa ang itinakda sa prinsipe ay wala kang karapatang maliitin sila kahit sa isip mo lang."

Kung kanina ay parang gulat na gulat siya ay ngayon naman napaka seryoso. At paano niya nalaman ang iniisip ko?

Oooh. Of course. They are Vampires.

"Hindi kami bampira binibini" walang reaksyon sa muka nang sabihin niya yun.

Nainis naman ako doon! Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko sa kanya, ay binabasa niya ang nasa isip ko!

"Aba'y anong hindi bampira? Eh may pangil kayo at isa pa nakakabasa kayo ng isip tulad ng ginagawa mo. O baka naman aswang ka?" Pabalang na sambit ko dahil naaasar na ako sa ginagawa niyang pag babasa sa isip ko.

I know I'm acting irrational again. Pero gusto ko na talagang umalis sa mundong ito.

"Paanong hindi mo alam kung ano kami, kung sa simula pa lang ay katulad ka rin namin? Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi mong aswang, at kung ang tingin mo ay ganon kami, ganon ka rin." Pabalang din na sagot niya sakin.

Argh! I don't care what would be the punishment is but I really want to tweak this girl!

"What's going on here?"

I heard a cold voice behind me but I ignored it because I was more focused on being annoyed with this woman.

I wondered why this woman was bowing in front of me.

Sa ganoong eksena ay hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong sabunutan siya dahil nabigyan ako ng magandang pagkakataon para hilain ang buhok niya dahil sa kanyang pagyuko.

"Aahh!" Angil niya nang sinabunutan ko siya.

"Fvck! Stop it!" Said the guy behind me.

I continued to pull this woman's hair as I felt a hand wrap around my waist, he's holding me back.

Nabitawan ko naman ang babae na nagmukha na talagang aswang! Marahas kong hinawi ang buhok kong nakaharang sa mukha ko at hindi parin ako binibitawan ng pumipigil sakin kanina.

Tinitigan ko ang babae at napalunok dahil sa nakita kong itsura niya na nagawa ko. Naawa ako at gusto ko mang tulungan siya at magsorry but my pride don't want to calm down. I don't know but there is something inside me that driving me into irrationality behavior like, madaling mainis, uminit ang ulo at nagiging war freak na. I ain't like this before.

Ang pinagtatako ko lang ay hindi gumanti ng sabunot ang babae, wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi hawakan ang kamay kong nakasabunot sa buhok niya at nakipaghilaan para mabitawan ko siya. This added my concern. Atleast she should have fight back para hindi ako mas lalong makonsensya nagyon diba? But she didn't.

"What are you doing Zaffira!?" I heard a shout from the person holding me and still wouldn't let go of me from behind.

"Eh kasi naman ang babaeng yan! Kanina pa ako pinipilosopo at binabasa ang isip ko. Wala na akong privacy!" I even scream like a young spoiled brat complaining instead of atoning my mistake.

But I was stunned when I was able to process why the one holding me can speak English.

That's why I pushed him away a little. I also wonder to myself because I wasn't like this before.

Since I was a little farther away, I was standing next to the woman who looked like she had been raped because of what I did. I gulped and give her a sincere look. I whispered her my sorry because I still have my pride. I never knew I have this too much pride in my body.

After that, I stare at this prince in front of me.

Ang swerte naman niya at nayakap niya ang buong katawan ko. char!

Nakita ko naman ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya na galit na nakatingin sa katabi ko. Humarang ako sa harap niya still trying to not being obviously protecting the girl I was just maltreated earlier. Maybe this way I can at least atone my mistake. I don't know but I feel like he's going to punish her when in fact it should be me. This maid is just doing her responsibilities, but it's just that she used mind reading which is inappropriate for me that make me feel like I am the one being bullied.

The prince gaze at me when he noticed my action. Tinitigan niya lang ako. Is he reading my mind? But I was captivated by the glistening depths of his black eyes, sparkling like a precious gem that should never be tarnished by anything. They held a mesmerizing allure, drawing me in with an irresistible magnetic pull.

"leave." He commanded to the maid behind me without breaking our eye contact.

Ngunit ako ang unang pumutol sa titigan namin kasi nanginginig na ang tuhod, shems. Anong bang nangyayari sakin. Why do I feel like somewhat comfortable with him.

"M-mahal na p-prinsipe, paumanhin ngunit wag mo po sana akong paalisin dito sa palasyo. W-wala po akong magiging buhay sa labas." She begged in tears. Nagulat ako nung bigla siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko at hindi sa prinsipe.

"wag!" I tried to hold her arms to stop her from kneeling but it's too late.

Lumuhod siya at halos halikan na ang sahig, the worst thing is she's bumping her head in the floor. I squatted to stop her. Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat.

"get up, miss. You don't need to do that." She understand what I said but she just shook her head at hindi nagsalita pero nagpatuloy sa pag-umpog ng ulo niya sa sahig. Is there a kind of rules here I should know? Parang ang laki ng kasalanan na ginawa niya sa paraan ng paghingi niya ng tawad. Ako dapat ang humihingi ng tawad.

I look at the prince who's just silently watching the two of us. I don't know what are the rules I have break in this palace, I can't even stop the maid from hurting herself just because of the fight I started.

Tumayo ako humarap sa prinsipeng kanina pa tahimik at parang inaabangan pa kung anong gagawin ko. I thought about it earlier. I am not in mortal realm where I had the freedom to act as I pleased and where I felt in control of my own destiny. Now, I am in a foreign realm, with different rules and expectations, where the consequences of my actions could have far-reaching implications. The stakes were higher, and the consequences of any missteps could be significant. I should be mindful of my actions and be cautious around while I am staying in this world.

As I faced the prince, I knew that my every move would be scrutinized and evaluated within the rules of his kingdom. I had to be mindful of the expectations, norms, and cultural nuances that governed this realm. It was a responsibility I did not take lightly, for I recognized that my actions could have far-reaching implications not only for myself but for the delicate balance and fairness of this world I now found myself in.

Lumunok muna ako bago dahan-dahang lumuhod. I extend my arms and press my palms together and raised it above my head and bowed. Diko nga alam kung saan ko ito natutunan. Pero ito ang alam kong ginagawa nila. It's feel like I have seen this gesture before or baka sa mga movie lang.

Sa ginawa ko ay parang mas nataranta pa ang maid. Parang gusto niya akong pigilan ngunit hindi siya pwedeng tumayo hanggat walang sinasabi ang prinsipe. I want to see the prince reaction but I'm afraid I will make another mistake again by doing that. It appeared that my actions had unsettled him, causing him to become slightly unstable from his previously composed stance.

"mahal na prinsipe, ang gulo na nangyari kanina ay dahil sa kagagawan ko. I admit my mistake at walang kinalaman ang maid sa nangyari. She's just trying to save her self from what I did yet she is the one being punish. You have the wisdom to be fair and you uphold justice, please don't make exception because of me. If i have break a rules in your kingdom, give me the right punishment I deserve, I don't want to implicate others. Please forgive her as she is innocent, dear Prince." I said with my utmost sincerity.

After saying that, tinaas ko ang ulo ko para tignanang reaction niya. But to my surprise, I only saw his amuse reaction like I did something I shouldn't. Base on his reaction, hindi niya alam kung tatawa ba siya o magagalit. I stay calm and waited on his respond. Nang makita niya na hindi ako nagbibiro ay tumikhim siya at bumalik sa seryoso niyang expression.

"get up." Pagkasabi pa lang niya ay mabilis akong tumayo at nag-unat ng sarili. Tinignan ang tuhod ay marahan kong hinaplos iyon dahil sa pagkakaluhod. Pansin ko pang pinapanood lang ako ng prinsipe at gusto ko sana siyang taasan ng kilay dahil sa paraan ng pagtitig niya pero huminga lang ako ng malalim at muling nag bow sa kanya. Hinarap ko ang maid at nagulat dahil hindi pa siya tumatayo.

"tumayo ka na. pinatayo na nga tayo oh." Napakunot ako nung nag-alanganin siyang tuimingin sa prinsipe na parang naghihintay pa ng utos. Nagtatanong na tingin ang binigay ko sa prinsipe at nang mapansin niya yun ay tumango siya. Doon lang naglakas loob tumayo ang maid.

Grabe! Ganito pala ang buhay dito sa palasyo. Ang daming rules and restrictions. How can these maids endure living in this kind of place where every of their move is being surveil and every wrong action have a corresponding punishment.

"Mahal na prinsipe! May sulat po galing sa kaharian ng Taraya."

Napatingin kaming lahat sa dumating ng kawal.

Upon hearing the mention of the kingdom of Taraya, a pang of longing washed over me. What is happening to me? I noticed that the prince even glanced in my direction, seemingly catching sight of my reaction. I realized that the kingdom of Taraya held a significant place in my heart, evoking a sense of nostalgia and yearning. It was as if a deep connection existed between myself and this distant realm, tugging at the strings of my being.

The prince's gaze towards me stirred up a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I couldn't help but wonder if he somehow sensed my connection to Taraya or if there was a hidden significance behind his attention.

After he read the letter, he quickly approached me and pulled.

"H-hoy! Ay este---prinsipe! Bitawan mo ako! Ay hindi pala! Ibalik mo na lang ako sa mundo ko!" Sigaw ko sa kanya habang hila hila ako sa hindi ko alam na direksyon. Take note, sa braso niya ako hawak hindi sa kamay.

He spoke in a commanding voice, declaring, "You have returned to your world."

@chumalan_bch