37: Prince' Birthday 1

Diana got sick after that. Hindi siya tinantanan ng itsura nung dalawang babae na nakasabit sa harap ng bahay nila. Even in her dreams, she could see them.

Bukod pa doon, malakas ang pakiramdam niya na para sa kaniya ang babala na nasa mga katawan nito.

Nakumpirma niya iyon ng kinabukasan ay mabalitaan niya na sila Cherry at Kelly ang dalawang babae na iyon.

That Emy! She was sure that girl had something to do about it.

Kung may maganda mang nangyari sa kanya magmula ng makita niya ang nakakasukang tanawin na iyon, malamang iyon ay nang bisitahin siya ni Vio.

He was very concern at her. Lalo pa at nalaman nito na sila Cherry at Kelly iyon.

Pinaiimbistigahan na rin niya kung sino ang maaaring pumatay at gumawa noon sa dalawa.

"You must make sure to investigate that Emy Hans."

"Emy Hans?"

"Yes. Pinsan siya ni Franco Hans, anak ni General Francis Hans. Balita ko ay siya lang ang huling nakaalitan ng dalawa."

Nangunot naman ang noo ni Vio.

"Are you sure about this? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay lumapit pa sa ama ko si General Hans para payagan sila na bantayan ng army niya ang mga city exits dahil nawawala ang pamangkin nila. Is this Emy Hans?"

Hindi makasagot si Diana. Hindi alam ng binata ang pang-uudyok na ginawa niya kanila Cherry at Kelly. At mas lalong hindi na niya dapat malaman na nakita siya ni Emy at inamin pa niya sa dalaga ang dahilan kung bakit niya iyon ginawa.

"I-i don't know."

"I think imposible niya iyong magawa. Kakatakas lang niya mula sa mga kidnapers niya. She will probably lie low and won't do something this big. Isa pa, malamang na petty fights lang yung naging alitan niya sa dalawa. I don't think she can do things like this."

Nanahimik na lang si Diana. Hindi niya alam kung paanong paniniwalain ang binata.

"Maiba tayo." The Prince took her hand. "I hope you get better as soon as possible. The youngest prince will have his 7th birthday soon and I need you to be there."

"Of course, I will be there. People will talk kapag hindi ako nagpunta."

Prince Vio smiled at her saka nito kinuha ang isang card.

"Use this and buy the most beautiful dress in the shopping center."

Natuwa naman ng husto ang dalaga dahil doon. The black card could make her buy whatever she wanted.

"Thank you!" Sabay halik niya sa babae.

***

It wasn't just Diana who was anticipating the youngest prince's birthday.

In fact, sa mga ganitong panahon busy ang mga tindahan sa market. Lahat ng maaaring ibenta na may kinalaman sa mga royal party ay makikita mo doon.

The Purple Boutique was no exception at all.

Umaga pa lang ay pinalitan na agad nila ang mga nakadisplay na mga damit sa shop. Busy na rin ang mga tailors nila sa pananahi ng mga damit na ipinagagawa sa kanila.

Ganun ang inabutan nila Diana at Alessandra ng pumasok sila sa boutique.

The latter immediately roamed her eyes to look for her sister. Pero wala ito doon.

"Miss, are you here for a dress to wear for the youngest prince's birthday?" Salubong sa kanya ni Harley.

Of course, Harley knew who she was at si Alessandra. And when she saw them entered the boutique agad siyang nagkusa na lapitan ang mga ito.

"Yes. I want to take a look around first." Diana said at agad namang tumango si Harley.

She followed them behind habang natingin si Diana sa mga displays nila. Hanggang sa makita ni Harley na bumaba ang tingin nito doon sa dress na nasa pinakadulo nilang display.

"That's beautiful." Diana was in awe. The details of that dress was so extraordinary. She had a feeling that whoever wore that dress would be the most beautiful.

"Miss has good eyes. It is indeed the most beautiful dress we have in here."

"I'd like that dress." Sabi ni Diana sa kanya.

Harley faked a shocked expression. "Unfortunately, it is not for sale."

Nangunot ang noo ni Diana.

"I have a black card with me. You can take much as you want from there but sell me that dress."

Umiling si Harley. "I am so sorry, Miss." Lihim siyang napangiti sa sarili niya. It was her simple pay back for what she had done to Miss Hans. "The designer of that dress has already a specific person in mind to give that dress with."

"Then let me talk to that designer."

Agad namang ginawa iyon ni Harley. Nanlaki pa nga ang mga mata ni Alessandra when Agatha went out and met them.

"Miss Park told me you want to talk to me. I am Agatha."

Agatha was very different now since the last time Alessandra saw her. Bata pa rin itong tignan but with good quality dress she was wearing lumalabas din ang ganda niya.

Nagulat naman si Diana. Hindi niya inaasahang batang bata pa ang designer ng magandang damit na iyon.

"Agatha, I'd like to buy that dress. Sell it to me at whatever price you want."

"I can't." Walang kagatol gatol na sabi ng dalaga. "I am reserving that dress as a gift. If you want, you can buy that other dress." Sabay turo doon sa katabi nung dress. Maganda rin ito pero hindi gaya nung nauna. "I am also the designer of that dress."

"That's perfect. It is the second best dress in here. Bilhin mo na yun, Miss. Baka maunhan ka pa ng iba." Suporta ni Harley sa sinabi ni Agatha.

It was already an insult to her na ayaw nilang ibenta sa kaniya ang dress na gusto niya. Tapos ngayon ay dinagdagan pa nila ito ng ialok sa kanya yung "second best dress" nila.

"No. If you are not going to sell that to me, then I will just go to the next boutique."

Walang umawat sa kanya.

***

Emy, on the other hand, was having dinner with her family. Pinag-uusapan din nila ang tungkol sa birthday ng youngest prince but she didn’t care about it all.

"Uncle Francis, are we also included in the invite?" Tanong ni Shantal.

"Oo naman. When someone send an invite here, kasama na ang buong pamilya doon."

Tuwang tuwa naman si Shantal dahil doon.

"You girls can go shopping tomorrow for that." Nakangiting sabi ni Aunty Feng.

Mas lalo namang nagdiwang si Shantal. Even Sabrina couldn’t hide her excitement.

"Let's go at Purple Boutique tomorrow."

"Kakagaling niyo lang dun nung isang linggo ah. I remember you even bought too many clothes. Bakit di na lang yun ang gamitin niyo?" Sabi naman ni Franco.

"That is different."

"How?"

"Yung binili namin ay para sa ibang okasyon. But since this one is a royal party, we need something that is more elegant and regal."

Napailing na lang si Franco because he still couldn’t get it. Bigla naman silang nagkatinginan ni Emy pero inirapan lang siya nito. Tinotoo nga nito ang sinabi na hindi siya papansinin kapag hindi siya nakipag-ayos kay Lucy.

Ang kaso, hindi naman niya alam kung paanong kakausapin ang dalaga. Totoong nainis siya dito noon dahil sa pagkakakidnap kay Emy. Pero alam din naman niya na wala siyang kasalanan.

Isa pa, iniiwasan din siya nito.

Napahinga na lang siya ng malalim. Just how could he resolve this? Alangan namang hayaan niyang magalit sa kanya si Emy ng matagal.

"How about you, Emy? You don't seem ecstatic about the party." Nakangiting puna ni Shelly sa kanya.

How could she be ecstatic about it? She had actually no purpose in going there at all.

Nginitian niya lang ang tita niya.

Nag-aalala naman siyang tiningnan ni Feng. Ever since she went back home from being kidnap, parang palagi ng matamlay ang dalaga.

"You have to go with us, Emy. I will take no for an answer." Sapilitang sabi ni Shantal sa kanya.