Agápi Series #2: Under the Crown

UTC: Contract

"How old are you?" biglang tanong ni Cassian habang nakaupo kami sa terrace sa kwarto ko

Simula nung araw na pinakilala kami sa isa't isa halos araw araw na siyang nandito sa bahay dahil daw utos ng parents niya at hindi naman siya makahindi because tita and tito are calling our mayordoma to make sure that Cassian went here. Maybe they did it for us to get to know each other.

"2 weeks na tayong magkasama ngayon mo pa naisip na itanong yan," sabi ko sabay irap sakanya

"Just answer it," unlike him I already searched everything about him for me to know kung sino at anong klaseng lalake pa ang mapapangasawa ko sooner

"2 years younger than you," naramdaman ko naman na mabilis siyang napalingon saakin

"How come na magka-college ka na?" kunot noong tanong niya

"Let's just say na maaga akong nag-aral and I passed the exam," simpleng sagot ko habang siya ay nakatitig lang saakin

"You want a photo instead? Matutunaw na ako e," pagbibiro ko kaya mabilis naman siyang nakaiwas ng tingin

Natawa ako ng lingunin ko siya dahil sobrang pula ng pisngi niya, cute.

"Anyway, sign this," kunot noong kinuha ko naman iyon saka binasa

A contract before our marriage

A contract?

"I don't want to get killed by your parents in case na may mangyari sayo so let's have a contract," paliwanag niya saka nilabas ang isa pang papel

1. We should know each other's whereabouts all the time and if who's with us.

well the first one is understandable in case na tanungin kami ng parents namin atleast alam namin ang isasagot

2. Always be present in family gatherings to show our parents that we get along

3. Once a month date (Dinner, lunch, etc.) anything for our parents to see that we're working on our relationshop

4. Save each other's contact as an emergency person to call or text

So far okay naman ang mga nasa contract pero nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng mabasa ang huling dalawang rule

9. No kissing any other man

10. No one can touch you sexually because it's against the royal rule.

"I am fully aware of the last one you wrote in here mister, and I will make sure that no one can touch me down there but the number 9? Isn't it unfair? What if I'll have a boyfriend?" pagmamaktol ko

Ano kaya yun, e siya nga balita ko kung sino sinong babae ang dinadala sa condo niya na hindi alam nila tita.

"Also, according to my research you already broke the last rule because you're bringing a lot of girls on your condo," nanlaki naman ang mga mata niya sa sinabi ko

"How did I know about your secret condo? Well simply because I am a princess and I have connections, Mister," sabi ko saka siya inirapan

"From now on I'll stop bringing girls on my condo then," kibit balikat niyang sabi na parang wala lang sakanya kahit na masaktan ang mga babae niya

"But still number 9 is unfair, I won't sign it," maktol ko parin pero agad akong natigilan ng palingunin niya ako sakanya saka hinawakan ang labi ko gamit ang thumb niya

"If you want a kiss just tell me," sabi niya habang diretso ang tingin sa mga mata ko

"Why would I tell you?" taas kilay kong tanong

"I can just give it to you," kibit balikat niyang sabi

"Duh! No, you already stole my first kiss. That number 9 will be void if I already have a boyfriend, deal? Don't worry won't break that last one even if I already have someone," tinitigan naman niya ako

"IT'S SO UNFAIR BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST KISS ANYONE, ANYWHERE BUT I CAN'T?" medyo napalakas ang pagkasabi ko kaya agad niyang tinakpan ang bibig ko

"Fine, fine, I'll erase that one," sabi niya saka scrinatch out ang number 9 na kinangiti ko naman.

I have the rights din to revise this contract no because it's between us

pumirma naman kaming pareho sa dalawang contract saka niya binigay saakin ang isa

"Keep it," tumango naman ako saka pumasok sa kwarto at nilagay sa hidden storage ng drawer ko ang papel

"Anyway, I have to go hinihintay na ako ng mga kaibigan ko sa gym," paalam niya

Tumango naman ako saka kumaway sakanya. Akala ko ay aalis na siya pero nagulat ako ng nilapitan niya ako saka niyakap at hinalikan sa noo

"I'll text you when I got there," huling sabi niya saka lumabas ng kwarto ko

Sakto naman na tumunog ang telepono ko kaya agad ko iyong sinagot ng makita na group chat namin iyon

"Hey girls!" bungad ko pero kunot noong tinignan lang ako ni Lovely, why?

"Bakit pulang pula ang mukha mo girl mainit ba dyan sa kwarto mo?" nagtatakang tanong niya

"Huh? No, no—"

"Hey love, I forgot my jacket," agad akong napalingon sa pinto ng walang pasabing pumasok si Cassian at sinabi iyon

Agad naman akong napalingon sa mga kaibigan ko sa screen na biglang natahimik. They never met Cassian pa but he already knew them dahil naikwento ko sila sakanya

"Here," sabi niya ng mahanap ang jacket niya

"I'll go ahead for real," sabi niya saka ako hinalikan muna ulit sa noo at aalis na sana ng mapansin na on call ako kaya lumingon siya sa screen

"Oh, hi girls! Got to go, babe," pahabol niya saka tuloyan ng umalis

"OH MY GOSH!" tili bigla ni Irene

"WHO THE HELL IS THAT!?" tanong naman ni Lovely

"Is that your?" alanganin na tanong ni Lore

"What a gentleman huh," commento naman ni Jasmine

"H-he, he is Ace my fiancè," nauutal kong sabi na kinatunganga naman nila

"Your what!?" sabay sabay na tanong nila maliban kay Lore na halatang alam na at kilala si Cassian

"Remember the condition my parents told me about enrolling in Taverna? Instead of meeting Ace ag my debut for the wedding, they already introduced us ro each other because it turns out that Ace is also studying there and my parents wants him to look after me but our relationship will remain secret because my identity as a princess can't be exposed in Taverna for my safety so just act like you don't know him when we're inside the university okay?" paliwanag ko sakanila na mukhang hindi agad nasink in ang sinabi ko

"Ace of Taverna? You mean Mr. Cassanova?" nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong ni Irene

"The oh so famous Ace? That's him? and he's your fiancè?" hindi rin makapaniwalang tanong ni Lovely

"Are you okay with it?" tanong naman ni Jasmine

"Well, I don't have choice," sagot ko lang sa tanong ni Jasmine

"And to answer your question girls, yes he is the same Ace the girls in the academy was talking about," parang baliw na kinilig naman sina Lovely at Irene sa sinabi ko

"He's one of Matheo's friend well ofcourse royal things but he is against of you having him as your fiancè knowing how cassanova he is," sabi ni Lore

I know how protective Matheo is kaya hindi na ako nagtaka sa sinabi niya but what can I do? I don't even have a choice dahil hindi pa kami pinanganak ay napagkasundo na kami that's the thing about being a heir or heiress in a royal family your future will be dictated kahit hindi ka pa nabubuo and to think na unica hija pa talaga ako.

"Maybe he'll change when the right time came, let him enjoy his life for now and he also said the same to me," I know I might sound defensive of him pero totoo naman hindi naman habang buhay ay nasa ganyang phase lang si Cassian because when we grew up may kanya kanya naman kaming responsibilities to take so we really need to grow

"Lagi mo naman nakikitaan ng maganda ang lahat ng tao kahit pa siguro kriminal yan," pagtataray ni Irene na kinatawa naman naming lahat

"Anyway, let him be and importante ay magkakasama parin tayo sa Taverna hanggang sa makapagtapos tayo! That's the only reason I accept this tho," pag-iiba ko ng usapan na kinatawa naman nila

Well its true, it is what it is ika nga nila