Marrying the Dictator Prince (Tagalog/Filipino)

Woman

Kabanata 3 - Woman 

Nang dumating ang hapon ay naisipan kong umalis sa aking silid. Nanatili ako doon buong tanghali at 'di nagabalang lumabas. Iniisip ko kasi kung ano ang dapat kong gawin at parating sinasagot ng aking isip at puso na hindi ko kailangan maitali sa isang halimaw. 

Ako ay ngayon papunta sa Elmora lake with my two servants that are holding bath sheets and clothes. 

The Elmora lake is located underground from the Palace, it is used for bathing and an attraction for the royals for its beautifully warm and soothing water that is coming out from the falls.

Nalalapit na kami sa aming destinasyon ngunit napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang may narinig akong tumawag sa akin. Napatigil din ang dalawa kong alalay na nakasunod sa akin. Walang gana kong nilingon ang kung saan nanggagaling ang boses na tumatawag sa akin.

I saw Augustus from the house of Valeria, waving and smiling at me. Nag-iba agad ang aking lagay ng loob. I sighed, tiningnan ko ang kasama kong mga alalay at nagsalita. "You two go ahead, wait for me inside..." 

Tumango sila at yumuko muna sa akin bago sila umalis sa aking tabi. 

"Ano ang iyong kailangan?" Anger is evident on my voice, sinuklian lamang niya ako ng isang ngisi na hindi ko nagustuhan. 

Inis na inis ko habang tinitingnan ko ang lalakeng ito sa aking harapan. He is from the house of Valeria, third of the highest and powerful houses here in Ataraxia. Ang suot-suot niya ang kaniyang uniporme pang militar. 

Oo, isa siyang heneral ng hukbo ng kahiran ng Ataraxia. Mataas ang kaniyang posisyon, impluwensiya dahil sa kaniyang pamilya, katayuan sa buhay at lalo na siya ang namuno sa giyerang naganap noong nakaraang dalawang taon. Nagtagumpay siya at ng kaniyang mga hukbo, he successfully defended our kingdom from the act of conquest of the other kingdoms na nanggagaling sa ibang bansa. 

Nang pinamunuan niya ang giyerang iyon he was only 20 years old kaya't hinahangaan siya ng lahat ng tao dito. Mas matanda siya ng tatlong taon sa akin.

"I have come to see you," nakangiti niyang giit sabay unti-unting yumuko sa harap ko. Ngumiwi ako habang pinagmamasdan siya.

Siguro naramdaman niya ang mga klase ng tingin na binibigay ko sa kaniya na siyang ikinatawa niya. "Aren't you glad to see me?" 

"Hindi..." Deritsahang sagot ko na mas lalo niyang ikinatawa. 

Bakit siya tumawa? Akala ba niya na nagbibiro ako?

"You look beautiful as ever," he spoke and smiled to me again. 

"I know," I replied and gave him a smug look thinking it would turn him off one tiny bit but it didn't. Instead, he just laughed at me. 

"You always love making me laugh."

Binigyan ko siya ng pilit ng ngiti at pinipilit na pinapatawa ang sarili ko para masabayan ko siya. Naawa ako sa kaniya eh, mukha na siyang baliw sa harap ko. 

"You really look beautiful," mangha niyang sabi. "Ano kaya ang pakiramdam to be favored by the Gods?" Kinuha niya ang aking kamay at hinalikan iyon. 

Pinagmasdan ko siya. Nililigawan niya ako, dati pa but I keep on turning him down. Ngunit ayaw niyang magpatalo, he won't take no for an answer kaya hindi ko nalang siya sinasagot minsan. 

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya, "Hindi ako interesadong makipag-usap sayo."

"Why?" 

"Ayoko sayo." Deritsahang sagot ko. 

"But I do like you," he pouted, ngumiwi ako.

"But I don't..." 

He grunted, "You're gonna end up alone if you keep on being picky. Andito na ako, hinihingi ang matamis mong oo..." Nanunuyang giit niya. 

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "I don't care... I don't want to end up being divorced because I settled for less." 

He sighed in defeat. "Can't you be nice to me once?" 

"Magiging mabait lang ako sayo if  you stop being delusional and hungry for power." 

He keeps on asking my hand for marriage but I keep on refusing it. Alam ko ang habol niya sa akin, he is the type of man that is greedy and hungry for power. I know that the position as a king, wealth, and power you will get once you're a king is what he is after. 

"A beautiful maiden like deserves a handsome man," he muttered. Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya, naiinis na ako sa kaniya. Pinipigilan ko nalang ang sarili ko na suntukin siya. 

"But I know you'll be even more pretty if you wore robes na makikita ang hubog ng iyong katawan." Nagpantig ang tainga ko. "You know... I could give you some that could give in to your likeness... and to me..." He smiled.

He is crazy.

"I could lend you some pretty corset, made by the best selling corset makers. I could travel all around the globe... kingdom to kingdom to find you that," he said in a determined tone. He looks really determined to do that.  "I could do that just so I can see your body being shaped..." 

"You're so goddamn creepy, Augustus. Has anyone said that to you?" nandidiri kong giit, he laughed. "I know you've been lingering to every royal female too."

"No... They're already smitten by me and appreciates my efforts, unlike you." 

"Well, I am not stupid like them..." 

He chuckled, "Okay then... If that's what you say. But please do think about my offer."  

Mas lalo akong napangiwi, he was saying it really creepy for me. Sigurado ako na nabagok niya ang kaninang ulo when they were on an expedition. "Thinking of you being doll up and wearing a dress that makes people see will surely make the nobles from the other country turn their heads on you... Hmm... I would like to include myself on that also." 

Halos sumabog ako sa galit at inis dahil sa sinabi niya, I really wanted to kick his d**k at iwanan siyang namimilipit sa sakit but I don't want to lose my cool in front of him. He is not worth seeing it. 

"Talaga?" Mangha kong ani. "Puwes! Then why don't you wear it too? I could lend you my servants to help you wear the corset, the tighter the better right?" I smiled. "I would love to see you in pain as the corset is getting tighter and tighter around you and your organs getting crushed." Bumakas ang gulat sa kaniyang mukha dahil sa sinabi ko.

Hindi niya siguro inasahan that I would go that far to counterattack what he said to me. 

"Then think about my suggestion earlier, the men around here will prefer that. And that would make you much more beautiful to look at," he said pertaining to the corset that he mentioned a while ago. 

"I'm not interested in pleasing the eyes of the men who desire and think that the women exist to satisfy you men who know nothing but lust." I raised her eyebrow, "Might as well plucked their eyes out."

"Oh, then why you get up every day and doll up yourself? That's is just like tempting us men." I rolled my eyes because of this man's stupidity.

"I look good for myself not for men. If you think I'm beautiful then thank you very much. If you feel tempted because of what I wear, that's your problem and not mine. I can do whatever I want since I'm a woman of freedom."

"Keep this in your narrow mind Augustus, women do not exist to satisfy the male gaze." Taas noo kong giit sa kaniya.

Hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang sinasabi niya, lumalabas ang totoo niyang kulay.

I mean, alam ko na ang totoong kulay niya pero hindi ko alam na may mas ikalala pa pala ang ugali niya. Naturingan pa naman siyang good role model. Nandidiri ako sa kaniya.

"I know why you're here, Augustus. I am not interested in talking, seeing, or marrying you." I gritted my teeth. 

"Oh don't be mean to me," Augustus said and act as if he was hurt by what I said. 

"Alam ko ang nangyayari sayo ngayon. Imagine being forced to be married to the tyrannical prince of the Cimmerian kingdom?" He sighed and look at me na para bang isa akong kaawa-awang bata na nawawala. "I can help you with that," giit niyang muli at kinuha ang kamay ko. 

Dali-dali ko namang binawi ang aking kamay at hinawakan iyon. Binigyan ko siya ng isang matalim na tingin na para bang nagsasabi na isa pang paghawak niya sa akin ay mapuputulan siya ng kamay. Napakamot naman siya sa kaniyang batok and sighed again.

"My love... I could help you with that. Once you marry me, all of your problems will be solved. They can no longer give you to the Cimmerian kingdom because of the law. Just marry me. " Nakangiti niyang giit.

"I will never marry you," mabilisan kong sagot. "I am not interested in marrying a man who is just sitting and talk. What benefit do I get if I marry you?" 

Magsasalita na sana siya ngunit hindi niya iyon natuloy ng magsalita ulit ako. "Ang makukuha kong benepisyo sayo ay parang ang laman lang ng utak mo. May utak ka ba? WALA!" Galit kong asik sa kaniya. 

I saw how his jaw clenched. He looks so offended and disrespected because of what I just said but I don't care. I need to put him in his place, I cannot handle the thickness of his face. 

"You will not talk to me like that," galit na sabi ni Augustus na may halong pagbabanta sa kaniyang boses. "I am the General of the troops of your kingdom, Princess!" May halong pagdiin sa kaniyang boses. "I am helping you maintain peace in this kingdom. You will not disrespect me!"

"And you will not also disrespect me, I am not anyone else's pawn. Hinding-hindi niyo ako magagamit, tandaan niyo iyan!" I fought back, his jaw clenched even more.