The Poison Kiss of Vengeance

Chapter 4

Nasa palasyo ako ngayon dahil tuwing Sunday ay palaging dapat sabay sabay kaming kumaing pamilya, ayaw ko man ay matagal nang tradisyon ng pamilya naming ito, bata palang ako ay ganito na talaga ito.

Kaya ngayon ay pilit kong nilulunok ang bawat pagkain na nasa plato ko habang pina pakinggan ang mga napaka walang kwenta nilang usapan tungkol sa palasyo.

“If you will just listen to the communities’ cries, help. They won’t try to take your position away dad,” sabat ko sa usapan nila.

“Stop meddling your dad’s business, Shazi,” sambit ni mommy. Disappointed akong umiling sa narinig ko.

“You know what brother? Shazi is right, sometimes listen to what your daughter is saying, she is smart, she took dad’s brain,” sambit ni uncle Roi. Ngumisi ako sa sinabi niya dahil matagal na nilang sinasabi ‘yan sa akin. Lolo Ambert is a genius that’s why he was loved by many when it was still his term.

Tapos nung pumalit si dad ay nag umpisa nang bumaligtad ang ikot ng mundo, nag sisimula nang ma pabayaan ang mga tao sa labas ng palasyo, hindi na rin naaasikaso ang bawat isa sakanila, hindi tulad noon na isang sigaw mo lang ng tulong ay tutulong na agad ang mga nasa palasyo.

“I am always listening to them, they are just all demanding, they want the things that are beyond my control,” sambit ni dad sa akin. Ngumisi naman ako sa sinabi niya.

“No righteous king would say that, not in front of his heiress, you should be a role model in front of me, at times like this you should open your ears and your eyes to see what is the current situation outside instead of pampering someone’s child, and attending all her whining,” naka ngiting sambit ko sakanya.

“Are you saying that you dad is not a righteous king, Shazi?” galit na tanong ni mommy sa akin.

“Did I say someone’s name in this table? I said ‘no king’ mom, it’s not my fault that you will think that way since dad was busy attending your new daughter’s whining instead of hearing the people’s cry outside the palace,” sambit ko sakanilang dalawa.

Our relatives are watching us like we are in kind of a show, naka ngisi naman sa akin si kuya, tila nagugustuhan ang ginagawa ko. As he should, I am giving a good show.

“Dad, you should not listen to Shazia, you are doing your best, no need to hear the people, you are giving them the best already,” naka ngiting sambit ni Anastasia kaya natawa ako nang malakas.

“Imbecile,”

“Is she stupid?”

“Really? Her over Shazi? Disgusting choice brother,”

Iilan lamang iyan sa mga narinig ko sa mga relatives naming dahil sa sinabi ni Anastasia, hindi sila nag abalang hinaan ang boses nila at ipinarinig talaga nila kay Anastasia. Ngumiti ako kay Anastasia nang mag tama ang paningin naming.

I know what my relatives said took an impact on her, ikaw ba naman masabihan ng ganon dahil pinili mong ibuka ang bibig mo para ipa rinig ang walang kwenta mong opinion.

“Stop talking shíts,” sambit ni daddy sakanila.

“If you will just listen to me dad, try to look outside, people are in rage, they are experiencing hunger poverty the time you took place on the throne, they are screaming ‘bring back king Ambert to life’ how is that?” naka ngusong sambit ko sakanila.

“Isn’t that enough proof that you are lacking on something brother?” naka ngiting tanong ni aunt Lera sakanya.

I know why aunt Lera hated my dad so much, she was supposed to inherit the crown, she studied the whole kingdom, how to run it, she took care of the people, she was ready not until my dad stepped out and stole her supposed position.

She was angry of course and I understand her, and her years of studying for the crown, for the position taught her heart on how to forgive a family, but the rage, the betrayal, and the pain stays.

“And you know what dad? They are also screaming ‘give the throne to Lera Harrington, she deserves the throne, the true heiress,” naka ngiting sambit ni kuya. Pumikit ako at ngumiti.

“Isn’t this thing happening to us is clearly familiar? Is this a repetition of the history? You stole aunt Lera’s supposed throne, and now you are giving my supposed throne and crown to a someone who is not even a Harrington,” naka ngising sambit ko sakanilag lahat. Nag tanguan ang mga relatives naming, clearly agreeing with me.

“Enough with this disrespect! I am still the king, no matter what you say, I still hold the final decision about some matters!” galit na sigaw niya at tumayo siya sa kanyang kina uupuan.

“Can you still say that if the people outside your palace joined forced to take away your position? You are the king, you should know the risk of your position,” sambit ko sakanya. I read all the books about the throne, all the laws, the rules they should abide while sitting on the throne.

“Rule number two hundred thirty four, clause five, the king should listen to his people, if they failed to listen to the people, the people have the right to choose the rightful heir for the throne,” mabagal na pag banggit ko sa isang rule na na basa ko sa libro.

“You are excellent, you memorized the rules and laws for the throne, you are really the future of this palace,” naka ngiting sambit ni aunt Lera sa akin.

“As I should aunt, like you I am now preparing for the throne, and I won’t let anyone take what’s mine, I bear the blood of an Harrington,” naka ngising sambit ko sakanila at sumandal ako sa sandalan ng aking upuan.

“I thought you already accepted your sister?” tanong ni mommy sa akin.

“I did,” tuma tangong sambit ko sakanya.

“Then what is this? Your sister is crying because of you!” sigaw niya sa akin. Ngumiwi naman ako sa sinabi niya.

“Are you blind? Did you see me hit her? Did I say something that hurt her feelings?” natatawang sambit ko sakanya.

“Stop this, Shazi! You are being disrespectful!” sigaw ni daddy sa akin.

“No dad, you should be the one who should stop! I am already suggesting something that will helo your position, but what are you doing?! Listening to what Anastasia is saying because? Because you are no good as a fúcking king! You are f*****g useless! You just listen to what your ears wants to hear! Anastasia said that you already did your best by listening to the people?! Fúck off! Don’t kid yourself, let’s say you listened to them already, have you ever made a move to solve the current issues? You did not! Because you were fúcking busy babying yourself, kidding yourself as if you are not sitting on the scariest position!” sigaw ko sakanya.

Galit na galit itong tumingin sa akin, hindi ako nagpa tinag sakanya.

“You are being too much! I spoiled you too much! How dare you talk to your father like that!” sigaw niya sa akin, at akmang sasampalin niya sana ako pero naunahan siya ni uncle Roi at sinuntok niya ito sa mukha.

Nag tayuan ang mga relatives namin, lumapit sa akin si kuya at tinanong ako kung ayos lang ba ako.

“How dare you hit Shazi! What an irresponsible father,” sambit ni uncle Roi sakanya, at lumabas ng dining room, iniwan naming sila roon at sumunod kami kay uncle Roi.

“Continue provoking your father,” sambit ni aunt Lera sa akin. Tumango ako sa sinabi niya.