CHAPTER 11
1905 Words
Chapter 11: Meeting Xenus’ Father
“ZEMUIS...” I uttered his name.
“You can tell me that your father wants to see me but not this way. Zemuis. I’m not ready,” I hissed him. Dahil sasama naman ako sa kanya nang kusang loob kapag sinabi niya sa akin na gusto nga akong makita at makausap ng Daddy niya.
Para hindi naman ako mabigla pa sa pangyayaring ito. Para na rin makapaghanda ako at hindi iyong kakabahan pa ako nang ganito. Ayoko talaga sa surprise.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s hard to please my brother when I say that our father wants to see you and I’ll pick you up to take you to the palace. Because I know your husband will just hide you. So this is better, right? It’s exciting because you experienced a kidnapping and there’s a prince who kidnapped you. A handsome prince,” he said, it funny.
Akala mo naman talaga ay nakatutuwa ang ginawa niya sa akin kanina. Na basta-basta na lamang niya akong dudukutin. Tss.
Dahil natitiyak akong malalaman na naman ito ni Xenus tapos maaabala na naman siya from his work. Hindi iyon magdadalawang isip na pumunta rito.
“You are really losing your mind,” I told him while shaking my head. Dahil talagang nababaliw na siya.
“You’re the only one who has the guts to say those words to me. That’s why I say you’re different from every girl I met in this town,” he said at namamangha na naman siya.
Ako lang talaga ang suko sa ugali ng prinsipeng ito. Nakaupo na kami ngayon sa malambot na sofa at halos lumuwa na ang mga mata ko sa pagkamangha. Dahil ang haba ng sofa, pabilog ito at dalawa pa ang center table. May TV set sila at sobrang laki no’n.
May isa namang maid na lumapit sa amin at nagdala siya ng meryenda for us. Kinuha iyon agad ni Zemuis at sumimsim ng kape.
“Come on, Jhed. Let’s have your snack,” he said pero bago pa man ako kukuha ng cookies nang mahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang lalaking naglalakad na patungo sa aming direksyon. May kasama siyang butler, I guess.
Napatayo pa si Zemuis, samantalang ako ay nanatili lang nakaupo dahil na naman sa pagkabigla.
Siya na yata ang Daddy ng dalawang prinsipe na ito. Ang tangkad niya at ang laki pa ng katawan. No wonder na mag-ama talaga sila dahil malaki ang similarity nito sa mga anak niya.
Katulad din siya ni Xenus na masyadong malamig at mabigat ang presensiya. Ang dilim masyado ng facial expression niya, na parang katatakutan mo talaga na harapin siya.
“Father,” tawag ni Zemuis sa kanyang ama kaya naman napatayo na ako. Kasi napako na rin ang tingin niya sa akin.
“Good day,” malamig na sabi ko at hindi ko talaga ipinakita sa kanya ang emosyon ko. Baka isipin niya na natatakot ako sa kanya, kahit iyon na yata ang nararamdaman ko kasi nanginginig na ang mga binti ko.
Bakit kasi ganito siya? Nakatatakot ang presensiya niya.
“Have a sit.” The heck, kahit ang boses niya ay malamig pa sa yelo.
“Come on, Jhed. Take your seat,” sabi ni Zemuis at tumikhim pa ako bago ako bumalik sa pagkakaupo ko.
Ang daddy naman niya ay umupo na rin sa tapat namin at hindi na niya pinutol pa ang titig niya sa akin.
“What’s your name, milady?” seryosong tanong niya sa akin.
“I’m... Cashren Jhed Vendido,” I mentioned my name and I was a bit surprised because of the name I mentioned. Is that my full name? How did I remember that? Apparently my name slipped on my tongue on purpose.
Cashren Jhed Vendido.
“Zemuis told me that you are the wife of my eldest son. Are you really his wife?” malamig pa ring tanong niya. Bakit kaya gusto niyang itanong pa ito sa akin? Para kumpirmahin na kung totoong may asawa ng ang kanyang anak?
“Yes. Xenus is my husband.”
“It was just a year ago when he asked for my permission to marry his cousin and have the adoption paper invalidated for my siblings,” he said and I was surprised at that.
Is Margaret referring to Xenus’ cousin? Because it’s all I know... How Xenus wants to marry his cousin?
“I didn’t know that, Sir,” I said, and I followed it with caution.
“Anyway. It’s been a long time, so maybe he’s finally found someone for him so the girl he first loved doesn’t matter anymore,” umiiling na sabi niya. First love, ha?
“First loved?” my question.
“It’s ridiculous to love your cousin that you know you can’t. But did you really get married with my son? Because if you were his wife he would have asked me for an royal emblem that proves you are his half and wife but you’re not. That’s still mine,” he said and showed me that. It’s like a necklace and purple. It’s beautiful with its floral design.
“I don’t know anything about that and then, I don’t remember anything either. I had an accident and also comatose for months,” I muttered the fact.
“I have a question for you, milady.”
“What is it, Sir?”
“To you, what is more important? Is it power, name and honor or your own family and loved ones in life? Explain to me which one you choose between the two.”
“What do you mean about those two things, Sir?” nalilitong tanong ko sa kanya.
“I know you also know where you are now and who are the people in front of you at this time. Especially the man you married. I am one of the prince of this town. My father chooses me too and I admit it’s hard for me to choose those two things because they’re both heavy on me,” he said. Ang ibig niyang sabihin ay mas matimbang sa kanya ang dalawang bagay na iyon kaya nahihirapan siyang pumili.
I can’t understand him. Why is it so hard for him to choose between the two things he told me?
Power, name and honor or own family and loved ones.
“Explain to me why those two weigh to choose? If only you can choose them both so you won’t suffer anymore.” What I said, I caught a glance at Zemuis because he was already playing with the edge of his lips. It’s obvious that he looks excited about what he is watching.
“Because you must choose only one. What is more important to you?” giit niya.
“It wouldn’t be hard for me to choose that if I knew what’s heavier for me,” I seriously said and he was dumbfounded.
“You have a point there, milady. But I’m not you. So I’m not like you who can easily choose between those two things. I’m a prince with many responsibilities. I have hardly any rest but work and work,” paliwanag niya sa akin.
“You know that if you don’t choose power, name and honor, you will lose it. Because we both know that opportunity only knocks once and if you don’t grab it will immediately take it back from you. But when you choose your family you know your loved ones will hurt too, but Sir. They are our family, they will understand us when we choose something that has nothing to do with them. But think about it carefully. If you choose power it’s like you choose your family,” mahabang paliwanag ko sa kanya at hindi niya yata iyon naintindihan kasi naguguluhan na siya kung bakit nga ba ganoon.
“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand.” Sabi na nga ba, hindi niya ako maiintindihan.
“Choose power, because you can protect your family. You can also protect the name and honor if you have the power. Therefore, if you choose that it’s like you have chosen your own family. You can put them aside for now, they will understand us and whatever time they will still accept us.”
“Now I know. I was given a much clearer explanation. Thank you very much. In return of your beautiful explanation and helping me choose between those two things. Here... To you, I wholeheartedly gave the royal emblem that my son no longer struggled to get it from my care. With this thing you can do a lot. What you want you can afford to give it.” Napatitig pa ako sa sinasabi niyang royal emblem. Sobrang ganda na ang hirap niya ring tanggihan. Kaya naman tinanggap ko iyon ng hindi na ako nagdadalawang isip pa.
“If so, it would be an honor to receive this from you, Sir.”
“My son is so lucky to have you. Because he met a woman of principle and knows a lot about life. However, you have to give my son an heir because it’s one of our traditions. If you’re really his wife you should have a child before the eldest even know it. That way you won’t get hurt and no one dares to approach you. Because you are the mother of the heir of Prince Xenus.”
Nahulog ako sa malalim na pag-iisip dahil sa sinabi ng Daddy ni Xenus. Hindi ko man lang nalaman ang pangalan no’n dahil parang sinadya naman niya na hindi magkakilala sa akin. Kinausap niya lamang ako.
Nasa labas na kami ng malaking mansion nang makita namin si Xenus. Taas noong naglalakad ito at madilim masyado ang facial expression niya.
“See? He immediately knew you were here,” sabi ni Zemuis. Maski ako ay nagulat din dahil ang bilis naman para malaman niya agad kung nasaan ako. “Hi, brother,” he greeted him.
“Stop it, Xenus!” I stopped him because he was about to punch his little brother.
“Why did you bring my wife here, Zemuis? I told you to leave her alone!” he shouted at him.
“No, brother. Father wants to talk to her. I was just ordered!” Zemuis reasoned out.
“You told father about my wife, Zemuis.”
“Because you did not give her the royal emblem that was for your wife. You know that’s one of the important things because Jhed can be protected. Unless she is really not your wife---”
“Let’s go home, Jhed,” he cut him off.
“Bye, Zemuis. See you when I see you,” paalam ko sa kanya at ngumiti pa siya sa akin saka siya kumaway pero pinukulan lang siya nang masamang tingin ni Xenus. Hinaplos ko ang braso niya at napatingin siya sa akin. Umigting lang ang panga niya at bayolenteng bumuntong-hininga.
“What a grumpy prince Xenus of mine,” I said and the corner of his lips rose up.
“I’m still mad at my brother, Jhed,” umiiling na sabi niya at napanguso pa ako.
“That’s grabe, brother.”
“See? He’s interested too. Nag-aral pa siya niyan para makausap ka rin niya nang hindi ka nahihirapan na kausapin ka.”
“His accent, super cute.”
“Jhed,” he warned me.
“But I love your accent,” I uttered.
- Writer
