CHAPTER 2: The Confusion

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa sarili ko at pinagpalit palit ang tingin ko sa salamin at sa kasama kong maid.

"Is this me?" I asked, pointing myself in the mirror.

She was wearing a white dress below the knee, paired with two plain white sandals. No jewerly, but on her face, it has light makeup. Such a beautiful, I never thought of myself that I will be looking so beautiful with makeup! All I thought is I was ugly, 'cause that's what my fake friends told me, so are my parents.

They never treat me as their child. I was their only child but it looks like all they think about is their company; they can buy whatever they want because of their money, wearing some expensive jewerlies looks them more richer.

Napatingin ako sa pintuan dahil lamang sa isang katok kasunod nito ay ang pagbukas at ang pagpasok ng dalawa pang maid.

"The king is waiting for you at the dining area, your majesty," magalang na saad ng isa.

I once look at my reflection in the mirror before I turn my gaze to the three maids. I smile at them.

"Am I look nice on my dress?" I asked.

"Yes, your majesty. Napakaganda po ninyo, paniguradong lalong mabibighani ang mahal na hari sa inyo," masayang sagot naman ng isa pang maid.

Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagsiko ng katabi nito at pagsuway sa inasta nito sa akin. Napangiti ulit ako.

"Call me by my name, Xelize. Stop calling me that royalty words of yours. Treat me like a normal people. It's doesn't mean your majesty call me his wife, you should also call me your majesty. I hate when someone is being formal infront of me so, act as if I was your friend, your sister." I said in a lower tone.

They all smiled at me after hearing my words. Well, it's true. I never been so formal before. Even my parents scolded me for being unpretentious, you know what I mean, unpretentious hindi mahilig magpa impress sa mga taong nakapaligid.

There was once na sinama ako ng parents ko sa bussiness meeting nila. Even if they don't tell me, I know that they will arrange marriage me to a guy who I doesn't even know and that's Niaus Salvador.

His parents are more richer than my parents so, no more question kung bakit na lang nila ako gustong ipakasal sa lalakeng iyon. But I left our house and I'm sure that at this moment? They're all raging mad at me.

"Let's go?" I asked, shyly.

They all both nodded at me and guide my way to the dining area. I felt so embarassed to be honest. They all looking at me while these three maids, on my both side and at my back are guiding me.

This place is a huge and I really need someone to guide me through the dining area, after all I don't know where it is, I might get lost here.

We stop infront of a big door. At the both side of the door, it has two guards. They open the door and we went inside. Pagkapasok namin ay bumungad agad sa harap ko ang malaki't mahabang lamesa. It is gold and I think it has more than 15 royal chairs?

"Your queen is here, your majesty," magalang na saad ng isang maid na kasama ko.

I look at the guy and he just gave me a cold look.

"Please, take your sit my wife," he said.

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko if I should bow infront of him like in the movies or not. So, I just walk my way sa itinuro nitong pwesto. Tinulungan naman akong makaupo ng mga nakabantay din dito sa kwartong ito.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya napatingin ako sa pumasok, a chief.

Seryoso ang mukha nito at bahagyang ngumiti sa lalake nang mailapag nito ang pagkain nito sa lamesa. He then walk towards my direction and smile sweetly.

"Here is your food, your majesty." Nakangiting sabi nito sa akin.

I smiled at him and thank him. I wasn't sure if that guy thank him as well? All I see is he just gave him a cold look like what he did earlier to me.

Tiningnan ko itong naghahanda na para kumain kaya iginaya ko na din ang ginagawa nito.

We were just eating normally in here but me, I can't stop myself staring at the guards and maids. Tatayo lang ba sila hanggang matapos kami? Hindi nila kami iiwan at babantayan lang? As far as I remember, sa bahay namin pag nakatayo ang maid habang kami ay kumakain ay natatakam din ang mga ito.

Ni pati ang Chief na nagluto nito ay nakatingin lang sa amin.

"My wife, is there something wrong? Hindi mo pa nagagalaw ang pagkain mo, hindi ka ba nasasarapan? Are you craving for something else?" Nagtataka itong tumingin sa akin.

Umiling ako at bahagyang napatingin sa gilid ko.

"Will they be staying here? I mean, hindi ba sila nagugutom?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kaniya.

He let out a deep breathe.

"They are guards and maids. They shouldn't be joining when we are eating." Paliwanag nito. Napakunot noo naman ako.

"But what if they are hungry? And why can't they join us? There are lots of chairs in here. Kakasya naman siguro–" naputol ang sasabihin ko nang tumayo ito.

"I'll be going," malamig na saad nito bago hinakbang ang mga paa palayo sa dining area.

Napatingin ako sa mga maid na nasa gilid ko, pati ang mga guards at ang chief ay napatingin sa akin.

"Hindi mo dapat ginanun ang mahal na hari. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman niyang sinusumbatan siya," bulong ng isang maid.

"Hindi ko naman siya sinusumbatan. Nag aalala lang ako na baka gutom na din kayo," malungkot na paliwanag ko.

"Pasensiya na po sa nasabi ng aking kasama. Napalungkot ka tuloy nitong si Rafaela." Paghingi ng tawad ng kasama naman nito.

"Hindi, ayos lang," nakangiting saad ko.

Bigla akong napatingin sa gilid ko nang biglang may tumikhim.

"Your majesty," magalang at nakangiting tawag sa akin ng tagapagluto.

"Ikaw lamang ang nag iisang babaeng na kayang magsalita ng ganoon sa mahal na hari. Hindi ka ba natatakot sa kaniya?" nag aalinlangang tanong nito.

Umiling muna ako bago nagpaliwanag sa kanila, "to be honest, I don't know where I am and I don't actually know who he is. He just bought me as his pet not as his wife. We never been married and I also don't know why y'all look so scared to him." Nanlaki naman ang mga mata nito.

"But, to answer your question. I'm not scared to that guy. He looks harmless but I wasn't sure of what I said. I still don't know him even his name. So may I know about him? Can someone tell me who he is, that you've been calling your majesty?" I continued.

They all look on me like I did something wrong. Even the guards here heard what I say and when I look at them they all look shocked.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked.

"Uh, hindi po. Nagulat lang kami, hindi po kailanman kumilos ng ganiyan ang mahal na hari. Isa lamang ang masasabi ko, napakaswerte niyo po," patiling sabi ng isa kong maid.

Nag aalinlangan akong ngumiti sa kanila. I felt akward.

"Oh by the way, I'm Rafaela," patuloy na sabi nito.

"You can call me Suzy, I'm Suzette." Pakilala naman ng isa.

"This is our chief, Hades and I am Selene." Pakilala naman ng pangatlo kong maid.

"I'm Xelize and please do call me Xelize instead of your majesty or whatsoever..." I said.

They all gave me a genuine smile and after that day, we've became friends, well, most of the guards and the maids are nice and they are all my friends.

After that guy just walk out ay napagdesisyunan ko na magikot ikot sa kaharian nito. Hindi ko padin maiwasan isipin kung saang lupalop sa mundo ako napunta but this place is so nice. Clean and the air in here isn't polluted as you think. This place is so magical and to be honest, this is my dream world!

"Enjoying?"

Napatingin ako sa gilid ko at doon nakita si Vladimir na nakatingin sa akin.

"Uh, I'm just wandering and came up here," nahihiyang saad ko bago dinugtungan ito, "and this place is so beautiful."

We are at the garden right now. Napakaganda nito at ang lawak ng lugar. Talagang makakalimutan mo ang lahat ng problema kung magstastay ka dito.

"Yeah, this is my favorite place," malamig na sagot nito.

"But it's more beautiful now," patuloy nito na ikinatitig ko sa kaniya.

Dahan dahan naman itong naglakad palapit sa akin habang nakapamulsa. He walks really cool. A king like him is very gifted because of its beauty and standard- oh why do I always think about this guy?

He stopped a few inch as he slowly reveal his white teeth. He is now smiling. He took my hand and kiss the back of my hand as his eyes are on mine.

"Because finally, you're here," he whispered.

His smooth baritone voice drives me crazy! He just whispered on my ears and I felt a lot of butterflies on my stomach. What does this mean?

Am I slowly falling inlove with this guy? But who the hell first is Vladimir? I am still confuse about him but now, I'm also confuse if I also like him.