Reincarnated As a Princess

Chapter 12

Pagkapasok ko sa aking silid, marahan kong isinara ang pinto at napasandal dito.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago dahan-dahang mapangiti.

"...I guess everything really worked out." Sana masaya ka na ngayon kong nasaan ka man

Naglakad ako papunta sa bintana at minasdan ang malawak na tanawin ng academy. Tahimik ang paligid, ngunit sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, tila naging magaan ang pakiramdam ko.

Hindi ko akalaing darating ang araw na maririnig ko ang paghingi ng tawad ni nila, pero sayang nga lang at wala na ang taong dapat makatanggap nito... at lalong hindi ko inaasahan ang sarili ko na mapatawad sila nang ganoon lang, pero I know na if celestine is here tatanggapin niya ang mga ito and thats what I'm doing.

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Maybe... people really can change.

Noong una, ipinangako ko sa sarili kong hindi ko na hahayaang mapalapit sa kanila.

Pero...

Habang inaalala ko ang mga luha ni Amanda at ang katotohanang isa lamang pala iyong malaking hindi pagkakaunawaan, unti-unti kong napagtanto ang isang bagay.

Maybe... it's not always wrong to give people a second chance.

Hindi lahat ng nanakit ay masamang tao.

Minsan...

Nasaktan lang din sila.

Nagkamali.

Nagpadala sa galit.

At tulad ko, naging biktima rin ng mga maling akala.

A faint smile formed on my lips.

Perhaps... forgiving isn't about forgetting what happened.

It's about choosing not to let the past control your future.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

Maybe... it's not a bad idea to give another chance to the people who once hurt you... the people who turned their backs on the real Celestine.

After all...

Everyone deserves a chance to make things right.

...As long as they're truly willing to change.

With that thought in my mind, I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Nagising ako dahil sa mainit na araw na sumisinag sa muka ko so I let out a small yawn before rubbing my sleepy eyes.

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon at nag-inat bago dumiretso sa banyo para gawin ang morning routine ko. After taking a shower, I changed into my academy uniform, fixed my hair, and grabbed my bag and gave myself one last glance in the mirror.

Pagkababa ko ay, agad kong naabutan sina Krystal at Lena na nakaupo na sa dining table habang kumakain ng breakfast.

"There she is!" masiglang bati ni Krystal habang kinakawayan ako. "Come on, Celestine! Maupo ka na."

tumango lang ako rito saka lumapit sa kanila.

"morning." simpling bati ko rito

" Good Morning," bati rin ni Lena kasabay ng paghatak ng bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya.

I took my seat and nagsimula na ring kumain.

Habang tahimik kaming nagbe-breakfast, si Lena ang unang nagsalita.

"So... how was the mission?"

I looked at the two of them before answering.

"It went well. We finished it without any major problems."

"That's good." Halatang nakahinga ng maluwag si Lena.

Krystal scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

"Actually... gusto ka sana naming tanungin kahapon."

"But you looked really tired when you came back," dagdag ni Lena. "Kaya we decided not to bother you muna."

Napangiti ako sa concern nila.

"Thanks. It was a long day, but everything's okay now."

"Mabuti naman kong ganon." Nakangiting tumango si Krystal bago bumalik sa pagkain.

Nagpatuloy lang kami sa pag-uusap tungkol sa kung anu-anong bagay habang tinatapos ang breakfast.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, sabay-sabay kaming tumayo at kinuha ang kani-kaniya naming gamit.

Sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng dorm at naglakad papunta sa academy. Along the way, iba't ibang estudyante ang makakasalubong namin, busy sa kani-kanilang usapan habang papunta rin sa mga classroom nila.

Lena POV.

I was casually chatting with Krystal habang naglalakad kami papunta sa building namin. Nasa gitna namin si Celestine, tahimik lang habang nagmamasid sa paligid.

Mukhang maayos na talaga ang pakiramdam niya kumpara kahapon.

I'm glad.

But then...

"Well, well... if it isn't the weak princess."

Napahinto kaming tatlo nang may humarang sa daraanan namin.

I sighed.

Melanie...

Kasama na naman ang grupo niya, each of them wearing the same mocking grin.

Unti-unti ring nagsitigil ang mga estudyanteng naglalakad. Maya-maya lang, napalibutan na kami ng mga usisero.

Melanie smirked.

"I heard you came back from your mission. I'm surprised you didn't cry halfway through."

I glanced at Celine, expecting her to get annoyed.

Instead...

She smiled.

A calm... almost pitying smile.

"Weak princess?" she repeated.

"Hmm... that's interesting."

Melanie crossed her arms.

"What's so interesting?"

Celestine shrugged.

"I just find it funny."

"You keep calling me weak."

"...yet somehow, you're the one who keeps going out of your way just to get my attention."

"Oooh..." echoed through the crowd.

Melanie's smile faltered.

"Tch. Don't flatter yourself."

"I'm not," Celine replied casually. "I'm just stating the obvious."

She took a small step forward until they were only a few inches apart.

"You know what I find even funnier?"

Melanie raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Celestine smiled sweetly.

"You've been trying to bring me down?"

She tilted her head.

"And yet..."

"I'm still standing."

Silence.

"Meanwhile, every time you see me, you somehow forget how to mind your own business."

Some students couldn't help but laugh.

Melanie's expression darkened.

"Watch your mouth."

"Why?" Celestine asked innocently.

"Afraid I'll tell the truth?"

The crowd laughed louder.

Melanie clenched her fists.

"You think you're so strong now?"

Celestine chuckled softly.

"No."

"I just stopped letting people like you decide what I'm worth."

The laughter around us instantly died down.

Even I felt those words.

Celestine looked at Melanie one last time before speaking in a calm voice.

"So if calling me the 'weak princess' makes you feel better..."

She gave her a polite smile.

"...then keep saying it."

"Because between the two of us..."

"I'm not the one who needs to tear someone else down just to feel important."

The entire hallway fell silent.

No one dared to say a word.

For the first time...

Melanie had no comeback.

Melanie remained frozen in her place, her face red with humiliation habang ang mga estudyanteng nakapaligid sa amin ay patuloy pa ring nagbubulungan.

"Grabe..."

"Napahiya si Melanie."

"She didn't even have a comeback."

I couldn't help but smirk.

Serves her right.

Celestine, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened.

She simply adjusted the strap of her bag before glancing at us.

"Let's go."

Tinanguan ko siya.

"Yeah. Mag-i-start na rin ang klase."

Without sparing Melanie another glance, sabay-sabay kaming naglakad palayo. Kusang nagbigay ng daan ang mga estudyanteng nakapaligid sa amin, their eyes following Celestine until we were already several meters away.

Naririnig ko pa rin ang mga bulungan sa likod namin.

"Ibang-iba talaga si Princess Celestine tungkol sa mga naririnig about sa kanya."

"they say na she always loses herself every time someone provoke her at war freak daw rin ito."

"but now she's so calm and scary at the same time..."

"I kind of like this version of her."

Napailing na lang ako habang palihim na sinusulyapan si Celine.

She walked calmly beside us, completely unbothered, as if she hadn't just publicly shut Melanie down.

I really like her as my friend...

Hindi na siya ang prinsesang sinasabi nila na madaling yurakan ng kahit sino.

At sa totoo lang...

I really admire her...

Pagdating namin sa classroom, halos lahat ng kaklase namin ay naroon na. We headed straight to our seats just as the warning bell echoed throughout the room.

"Perfect timing," bulong ni Krystal habang nauupo sa tabi ko.

I nodded in agreement.

A few moments later, bumukas ang pinto ng classroom.

Our professor stepped inside, carrying several folders in one hand.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, Professor," we greeted in unison.

Celestine POV.

A few moments later, bumukas ang pinto ng classroom.

Our professor stepped inside, carrying several folders in one hand.

"Good morning, class."

"Good morning, Professor," we greeted in unison.

He placed the folders on his desk before scanning the room.

"Let's begin—"

Knock. Knock.

The professor sighed.

"Come in."

The classroom door swung open.

Vale walked in first with both hands tucked inside his pockets, his tie slightly loose and his expression as unreadable as ever. Behind him were Alistair, Nathaniel, and Kaelion.

The moment they entered, whispers immediately spread throughout the room.

actually ngayon ko lang ito nakitang pumasok, last time kase ay wala ito dito.

"The royalties..."

"They're late."

Vale didn't even spare the class a glance. He looked completely unbothered by the attention, walking as if he owned the room.

The professor crossed his arms.

"Care to explain why the four of you are late?"

Vale stopped walking but didn't look the least bit guilty.

"Headmaster."

That was all he said.

The professor stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a defeated sigh.

"...Regarding yesterday's mission?"

Vale gave a slight nod.

"Yeah."

"I see."

The professor pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Take your seats."

Without another word, Vale continued walking, passing by my desk.

For a brief second...

Our eyes met.

He raised an eyebrow before smirking ever so slightly.

"..."

What was that supposed to mean?

Before I could figure it out, he had already looked away and lazily dropped into his seat near the window, leaning back in his chair like he hadn't just interrupted the class.

Alistair silently took his seat beside him.

Nathaniel smile at me before sitting down.

Meanwhile, Kaelion simply pulled out his chair and rested his chin on his hand, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Alright, open your books."