Chapter 23

Safe house

Matapos kong mahanda ang mga gamit ko at ang sarili ko, nagpaalam na rin naman ako kay mama. Hindi ko ramdam na magiging masaya ang araw na 'to para sa akin, hanggang ngayon kasi naalala ko pa rin 'yong mga nangyari kahapon. And it's my fault na dinala ko si Henric sa panganib na 'yon. Hindi ko alam kung saan ang safe house na tinutukoy nila pero mukhang kailangan muna lumayo ni Henric.

Mabilis din naman akong nakarating sa Amea University. Balik normal na ang lahat, na parang walang nangyari. May mga issue ang Amea Kingdom na sila lang ang nakakaalam, may mga issue-ng kumakalat pero hindi naman lahat totoo.

Tumuloy naman ako sa room namin. Kakaunti pa lang din ang nasa room. Tiningnan nila ako pero agad din nilang inalis ang tingin nila. Wala naman silang alam na nasa Annual Gathering ako, mga royals at journalists lang din naman. Mayamaya ay dumating na rin si Koby, tumuloy naman siya sa tabi ng upuan ko.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked.

I smiled and nodded.

"Nakausap ko si Sebs at Dan kahapon nang umuwi sila sa bahay," simula niya. Tiningnan ko lang siya at nakinig sa kanyang sasabihin. "Hindi rin nila alam kung saan 'yong safe house na pinuntahan ng King at ni Henric and as what they said, ligtas sila doon. Far from here." He said.

Napatango na lang din naman ako, "mabuti 'yon."

"Jayne, it's not your fault."

Napasinghap lang din ako sa sinabi niya. How can't it be my fault? I put Henric into that, if I didn't choose to help me, hindi mangyayari 'yon.

"Henric did what he wants, Jayne. It's not your fault. He's safe and okay."

I look at his eyes, "I put him on that, I put the person I like on danger."

Pansin ko naman ang pagtaas niya ng kilay.

"Eh, what—"

"Jayne!" natigil naman si Koby nang biglang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. Nang lingunin naman namin 'yon, palapit na si Maisie sa amin.

"Ano 'yon, Mace?" taka kong tanong sa kanya.

"Ma'am Danzella wants to talk with you."

"Oh." Namilog na lang ang bibig ko. "Sa tingin mo, aalisin na ang scholarship ko?"

"Hmm... I think not." Aniya. "Nakangiti siya ng ipatawag ka niya sa akin, I can feel she brought some good news for you."

I breath, "I hope so."

"Oh, go on. Hinihintay ka na niya sa office." I nodded.

Lumabas naman ako ng room at tinahak ang guidance office kung nasaan si Ma'am Danzella. Pero pagkaliko ay may nakabangga ako. Medyo masakit dahil tumama ang noo ko sa kanyang dibdib.

Nang iangat ko naman ang tingin ko, nanliit naman ang mata ko. Hindi ko siya kilala.

"So, you must be Jayne?" he asked.

Napataas naman ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya. "How did you know me?"

"From a friend." He said. "By the way I'm Jayvee." He let his hand up for a handshake. Tinitigan ko lang 'yon hanggat sa binawi niya. "Gotta back to class." I just nodded, sinundan ko naman ito ng tingin ng makalayo na sa akin.

Who's that guy, anyway?

Tinulak ko naman papasok ang pinto ng office at nakita ko si Ma'am Danzella na nakaupo at busy sa harap ng kanyang table. She smiled when she saw me.

"Take a sit, Jayne." Aniya at naupo naman ako.

"Ma'am ano po bang meron?" tanong ko.

She smiled, nakakapanibago lang dahil these past few days ay ang mataray at masungit na mukha ni Ma'am Danzella ang nakikita ko. "You did a great job, Jayne."

"Of what ma'am?" taka ko pa.

Natawa naman ito. I found it weird, what did I just do to? Duh. "You found the prince."

In deep inside of me, medyo nagulat pa ako sa sinabi niya. Akala ko kung anong sasabihin niya pero 'yon lang pala. It is not my job, ni hindi ko nga nahanap 'yong real prince eh. Henric took the spot for him.

I smiled, "thank you, Ma'am."

"Is there something to bug you off?"

I shook my head, "wala naman po. Thank you po ulit."

"Okay." She said. "And as a formality, you're scholarship will be stayed on you. And as a reward you'll grant an extra allowance. Thank you Miss Bresett." She said.

I nodded and stood up from the chair, and before I leave the office tinawag niya ulit ako.

"Last question, Jayne."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"How did you know that Henric Fabros is the lost prince?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko sa kanya. My head turn blank.

"Oh, you must be in shock on what happened tomorrow. Don't worry, the prince is safe. He's with the King anyway. You may leave, Miss Bresett." As she said, I leave the room.

I ran to the nearest comfort room. It ruin again my mascara. Henric saved my scholarship. Pero ano nang mangyayari ngayon? Is he gonna attend the class? He's such a freaking commoner, paano mangyayaring maniniwala sila sa pagiging prince ni Henric?

That birthmark doesn't seem to be the only prove. Henric did something on it. Alam ko. I washed my face at pinunasan ko din naman ito kaagad. Mayamaya lang ay may pumasok na ilang babaeng estudyante, they were high class students dahil wala silang silver crowns. Hindi naman sila commoners dahil kilala ko sa mukha ang mga 'yon, so few to remember.

"Hey, girl." Pagtawag pansin naman nito sa akin.

Nilingon ko naman sila, "you're on the newspaper."

Napakunot noo naman ako sa sinabi niya, "h-hindi ko alam pinagsasabi mo."

Before I leave she hold my hand, "girl, the newspaper please." Agad agad nilabas ng isang babae sa kanyang bag ang newspaper na 'yon. kinuha naman ng babaeng 'to ang dyaryo at hinarap sa akin ang page kung nasaan ang mukha niya. "Correct me if I'm wrong pero kamukha mo talaga 'tong nasa picture."

Natawa na lang din naman ako, "hmm, it's a mistake sorry." I said.

"How? Ikaw 'to oh!"

"I'm a commoner, okay? High class and royal students could be there but not a commoner like me. Leave me alone, okay?" she loses her hand on me. "Thank you."

Tiningnan niya lang ako hanggat sa makalabas na ako ng cr.

Bumalik naman ako sa room. Naupo naman ako sa silya ko. Umubob na lang din naman ako. I felt Maisie's hand on my back.

"What happened Jayne? Did she gave you a bad news?" she said, I know she cared for me pero hindi ko naman mapigilan eh. Nalulungkot ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako gagalaw ngayon. The world seems so small for me, for us.

I only shook my head for an answer.

"Are you okay?"

I lit up my head and look at the two of them, I shook my head then gave them a faint smile. "don't worry, I can still handle myself."

"We're here for you Jayne, I'll always be."

"Thank you, Mace."

"Hmm..." she looked away then have it back to me, "if anyone happens to talk to you, don't listen to them, even if you know them. Don't... just don't."

Napataas naman ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya, "then what should I do? Ano bang meron?"

"Not now. There will be a time for that."

"Time—what?"

"Good morning." Agad kaming napaayos ng pagkakaupo ng biglang pumasok ang professor namin. Nilingon ko naman ulit si Maisie pero ngiti na lang din ang binigay niya sa akin. Hindi kami kumpleto sa room, wala ang ibang royals na kaklase namin at 'yong ibang high class students. "I hope this day will be good for us." She said.

There comes a murmur pero nanahimik lang ako.

"But we can still be happy that the prince is back." Napatingin naman ako sa harapan kong upuan kung saan nakaupo si Henric. Bakante na ang silya. Walang Henric na dumadating. He's in safe house by the way kaya delikado ang buhay niya kung papasok pa siya. He needs time.

I sighed, I can't take this one by one. They need to have the truth.

'Yong katotohanan na hindi naman talaga si Henric ang nawawalang prince. It was our modus. It was our entire plan.

"And we haven't know na isa pala sa mga estudyante ng Amea ang prince and this room knew it."

Hindi pa rin nawawala 'yong daldalan nila sa likod.

"Ma'am, who's the prince?" napatingin naman ako sa nagtanong.

Nanliit naman ang mata ko. How come na hindi nila alam kung sino 'yong prince? They were on Amea. It's a big land pero hindi naman gano'n katanga ang mga tao na hindi malaman kung anong nangyari no'ng Annual Gathering. Oh poor people.

"My student, Henric Fabros."

Everyone, not much but half of our classroom gasped out of shocked. Bahagya naman akong napabuntong hininga. Ito ba pag-uusapan namin sa buong isang oras at kalahati. To talk about the lost prince? Nakakaumay na.

"How come?" takang tanong ng isa.

Napangisi na lang din ako. How come na hindi umabot sa kanya ang balita?

"The birthmark they had. It's the same." She said.

"But why he's not here?" tanong pa ng isang kong babaeng kaklase.

"Hmm..." she closed her arms. "Did you haven't heard the news, students? You should watch somehow." She lectured us, nadamay pa kaming nananahimik lang. "Henric or the prince, can't come today or I must say, he couldn't attend classes anymore."

I want to ask something on her. I want to know why pero may kung anong bumabara sa lalamunan ko at hindi ako makapagsalita.

"So let's start our lecture." and that's must be okay.

We ended our class na sobrang boring pero hindi naaalis sa isipan ko kung ano nang kalagayan ni Henric ngayon? Hindi ko alam kung ano 'yong tumatakbo sa utak niya no'ng oras na nasa peligro 'yong buhay niya pero mas kinatakot ko 'yong posibilidad na mawala siya sa akin.

I know things are just getting starts on us at ayokong tapusin ang lahat ng iyon.

Habang papunta kami ng canteen ay iba't ibang klaseng chismis ang naririnig ko patungkol kay Verona. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong naging rason ni Verona para gawin 'yon pero naging mas makahulugan pala ang lahat ng may insidenteng gawin ang kanyang ama kay Henric. Henric is not the prince so why to kill him?

Nang makarating naman kami sa canteen ay wala masyadong pila kaya nakabili kami kaagad at nakahanap din agad ng upuan.

"Jayne." Napalingon naman agad ako ng may tumawag muli sa akin.

It's him again. The Jayvee guy name.

"Oh, Maisie you're here too."

Agad naman akong napalingon kay Maisie.

"You know him?" taka kong tanong kay Maisie.

"Jayvee, can I talk you for a minute?"

"Sure." Tumayo si Maisie at naglakad sila palayo sa amin.

"Who's that guy? Kilala ka niya?" tanong ni Koby sa akin.

I shrugged, "no, nakabunggo ko lang 'yon kanina. Hindi ko alam na magkakilala rin pala sila ni Maisie."

"Maybe it's her friend on North Peeliana." Koby said.

"Maybe, I guess." I said. "So how's the lovestory? Sabihin mo na sa akin please?"

He smirked, "it wasn't a lovestory Jayne after all." He said. "It's just we fall in love then let ourselves apart from what rules has been told."

"I get it." I said. "She's a princess and you're a commoner. A typical lovestory cliché." I smirked.

"But it's not Jayne." He said.

Napakunot noo naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"It's not a cliché you know that rules that royals made break us apart, no. It was just she's been engage for a long time."

Medyo nagugulat naman ako sa mga sinasabi niya.

"She's engage and I didn't even know that until they find out what we had. I sail away to Halliway to forget her, to forget who she was to me."

"Who she were engage?" I asked but when some scenes got my head, I gasped. "Maisie's brother, Prince Leonard."

"Oh, what about my brother?" nagulat kami ng biglang dumating si Maisie.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He's going back to his class, Jayne."

"You know him?"

She shrugged, "not that much... but please, stay away from him."

Nanliit naman ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Why?"

"A secret for now. You may know maybe soon. Just not now."