DRAGON 4

C H A P T E R 4: D I S G U I S E 1

"Queen, are you sure about your plans?" tanong ni Keeper sa akin pagkarating sa sasakyan kong buggatti. Napaka seryoso ng mukha nito at magkasalubong ang mga kilay na tila ba hindi siya pabor sa aking mga plano.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan sa driver’s seat at hinagis ang kaputsa kasama ang hawak kong itim na folder. Bago ako pumasok sa sasakyan ay nilingon ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin.

"Keeper, how many times do I need to tell you this? Stop worrying about me. I can handle myself,” lintaya ko sabay pasok sa loob ng buggatti.

He is acting like an older brother again. His tone reminds me like a character of those drama who’s longing for their younger sibling. A sibling who will soon enter the military and will probably take years to go back or worse, never return home again. Seriously, when will Keeper absorb the fact that I can take good care of myself? I am not a child.

Goodness. This is the main reason why he can’t get himself a wife and settle down. He’s too attached with me, too sentimental with his job. How old is he again? If I am not mistaken, he’s twenty eight years of age. I shook my head at disbelief. Damn. He’s not getting any younger. He should definitely reconsider his choices in life.

Mabilis kong inilabas ang aking ulo sa may bintana ng sasakyan nang may nakalimutan akong sabihin sa kanya.

"I'll be fine, Keeper. And I think you should get a wife, you're getting old. Please stop minding my business. Look for a girlfriend and marry her immediately," I said, giving him a genuine smile. I laugh to myself upon settling on the leather seat of my car. I put my hand on the steering wheel and paused, too occupied with the thoughts Keeper.

Keeper and I are totally close. We treat each other like siblings. We may not be blood related, but he's like a real brother to me. Keeper's the only person who's been able to see my soft side, the only one who witnessed my vulnerability .He's really good at everything. He cleans my mess without dragging me in more trouble. So, I am really fond of him.

I knew Keeper since when I was child. We grew up together and share a great number of memories. Upon opening my eyes after recovering from comatose, it was him whom I was first laid eyes on. He was standing in the corner several feet away from where I laid, dressed in a simple white button down long sleeves and a pairing black pants. He was casually leaning on the beige colored wall.

His brown orbs soft, looking at the fat corner of the room and is looking too preoccupied with whatever he has in mind. His hair, which was longer than what he had now, moved when his face slowly tilted in my direction. He was a bit astounded when he saw me awake but immediately gave me a sweet smile upon meeting my gaze.

My very first encounter with Keeper, us both stricken with youth. It was him who stayed by my side instead of my father.

But, even though there was a huge barrier separating I and my father, there is still this feeling of gratitude towards him that is carved within my heart that I can’t just set aside, and it grew wider when he anointed me as the heir of our clan.

I still owe him. A lot.

But despite the fact that I bore a feeling of indebtedness towards him, hatred is still crawling like a snake within the depths of my mind. It won't change the fact that I, his daughter, was treated like a peasant, a pawn. A toy to be used whenever he crave entertainment. Yes, he treated me as one.

I don't smile nor communicate. I am not good at showing any of my emotions to people. Some people said I was born to be this cold. Most of them thought that I was cursed, a human unbounded with emotions. Insensitive with pain. Numb.

Somehow, I am slowly developing how to use my emotions; who or when will I show my feelings. I often fake any signs of it, except when it comes to my father. He's the only person who can hurt me badly, who can make me suffer. It's like my emotions are only for him. Others? I only pretended to feel pain even though I don't feel anything at all. That's weird.

No one knows about my condition, even the ever faithful Keeper. He isn't aware of my own act for I always try to show agony. Pain killers are not really useful for me, honestly. And I'm just using it to show off.

I'm also sensitive with noise, that's why I rather stay in my room and do research about these tattoos on my body than linger around in public places.

Maybe you're asking if I am sick? I guess so. Perhaps. I don't have any idea. I don't even know who I really am.

I reached for the key and turned it. The car’s engine was brought to life and started roaring. Its noise devouring the silence. I sighed heavily, I should loosen up. Stop being pessimist, I said to myself. That is not a great way to start my day.

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Ｋｅｅｐｅｒ’ｓ ＰＯＶ'

Tila naestatwa ako sa aking kinatatayuan habang pinagmamasdan ang sasakyan ni Ice Queen palayo ng Palasyo. Sana ay maging maayos ang misyon niya. Hindi biro ang papasukin nito lalo kung isa sa mga ito ay may kinalaman sa mga pangyayari noong nakalipas na labing dalawang taon.

Hindi ko mapigilang 'di masaktan sa kanyang kalagayan, lalo na’t nakita ko kung paano sya nahihirapan. Matagal na akong nagtatrabaho sa pamilya De Mondragon, masaya ang pamilya nila noong mga oras na iyon. Hindi rin biro ang mga pinagdaanan niya noon, kung paano siya parusahan ng ama niya na walang sawa sa pang-aabuso at pagpapahirap sa walang kwentang dahilan.

Sobrang sakit na makita mo na yo'ng taong tumulong sa 'yo'y sinasaktan na walang ka laban-laban. They never treasured her, that's the reason behind her coldness.

Napagod na siguro siyang maging mahina kaya nagbago na ito. Isa lang ang hinihiling ko, sana malaman na niya ang mga nasa likod ng misteryo na bumabalot sa mga pangyayari noon upang magkaroon na siya ng kalayaan.

Hindi ko rin malilimutan kung paano niya sinagip ang buhay ko. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya, siguro palaboy-laboy na lang ako sa kalsada hanggang ngayon.

Nakakabatang kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanya at hindi na naghanap pa nang kasintahan dahil mas gusto kong gantihan ang kabaitan niya.

Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanya. Naaalala ko pa ang mga oras na sasagipin niya ako mula sa binggit ng kamatayan dahil sa ama niyang demonyo. Lagi siyang nandoon upang iligtas ako at akuin ang kasalanang hindi naman niya ginawa. Utang ko ang buhay ko sa kanya at... pinapangako kong buong buhay ko 'yon tatanawin na utang na loob kahit man lang dito ay matulungan ko siya.

'She might be a demon, but in disguise.'

Hindi lahat nang nakikita ng mga mata natin ay totoo. Dahil ang totoo, naghahanap lang sila ng pagmamahal. Sila yung mga taong naliligaw sa landas dahil walang gumagabay sa kanila at iyon ang dahilan ng kasamaan nila. Pero sa totoo lang... mabuti silang tao. Ngunit dahil masyadong bulag ang iba at hindi nila makita ang mga bagay na iyon ay puro lang nila ang mali nito ang kanilang nakikita.

At iyon ang nangyayari sa mundo ngayon. Kung papakinggan at pagtutuunan sila ng pansin... Walang tao ang gagawa ng masama...

Kung sana lang...

Napabuntong hininga ako at yumuko nang makalabas na siya ng gate. Kasabay nito ay ang pag ihip ng malakas na hangin na dahilan upang malaglag ang mga tuyong dahon mula sa paligid.

Napatingin ako sa aking kanan noong makarinig ako ng mga yabag, isang babae na nakasuot ng uniporme ang humahakbang papalapit sa akin. Ang kanyang itim na buhok ay maayos na nakapusod at ang mukha naman nito ay may seryosong ekspresyon. Isa siyang katulong dito sa palasyo. "Butler Keeper,” ani nito, medyo may kalaliman ang kanyang boses, “His highness wants to talk to you in his office."

Tiningnan ko ang katulong na nakasuot ng kanyang uniporme. Tumango lamang ako rito at inayos ang suot kung tuxedo. Nagsimula akong humakbang palayo mula sa aking kinatatayuan at sa bawat hakbang, isa isang pumasok sa aking isipan ang mga binitawang salita sa akin ni Queen kanina.

Siguro, kailangan kong pag-isipan ang mga sinabi ni Ice Queen na maghanap na ako ng nobya at pakasalan ito. I laughed on that thought and ran a hand through my hair. Just thinking of marrying someone made my hair rise. I would be impossible for me to seek the affection of another woman. How can I love someone when my heart is shouting for her? My lips formed a wry smile.

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