The Spirit Martial

Spirit 17

“Good morning, Your Highness,” the maid greeted me as she opened the curtains kaya napilitan akong dumilat. Kahapon, Kali provided us rooms to stay for the night pero uuwi rin kami sa mansion pagkatapos ng entrance exam ngayon. Well, sana makapasok talaga kaming dalawa. Sabi ng nila hindi masamang mangarap kaya I told Kailani that we’ll aim for the Classroom of the Elites.

“Good morning,” bati ko pabalik at bumangon na ako ng tuloyan. I was about to stand up kaso napatigil ako nang may nakita akong tatlong maid. The first made waas holding bath towels and soaps, the second maid was holding a royal suit, and lastly the third maid was holding the accessories. Sinampal na ako ng kahirapan sa mansion ni Kailani pero bakit parang pinatay na talaga ako sa kahirapan dito?

“Good morning, Your Highness,” bati nilang lahat.

“Hindi ba uniform?” I asked.

“Hindi po. The school announced that royalties should wear suits with cape,” the second maid answered.

“Cape? Okay lang naman na walang cape. Kailangan ba talaga?” I asked.

“I’m afraid it’s compulsory, Your Highness,” the third maid replied at napahinga ako ng malalim.

“So the other people who is not part of the royal bloods will wear uniform?” I asked. Gusto ko pa naman isuot ang uniform na inihanda kahapon.

“Sa entrance exam po, yes. Kapag nakapasa po kayo at doon na talaga kayo mag-aaral, kailangan na po ang uniform.” the first maid replied.

“Don’t tell me iba ang uniform namin?” I asked.

“Pareho lang po lahat but royalties have golden badges,” the first maid replied. Pareho lang naman iyon. Walang pinagkaiba. Uso ba talaga ang discriminasyon dito?

“I see,” sagot ko at tumayo na ako at naglakad papunta sa CR.

The first maid handed me the things that she was holding kaya tinanggap ko kaagad. Pumasok ako sa CR at mas magara pa ito kung ikokompara ko sa CR doon sa mansion ni Kailani. Naligo kaagad ako at sinuot ang robe na kasama na sa binigay ng first maid. Lumabas ako at nagulat ako sa nakita ko. The first four maids who greeted me was on the side. Another two maids are here at may pagkain na sa mesa ko.

“Good morning, Your Highness. This the meal that the royal chef have prepared fo you,” they said in chorus at napahawak ako sa ulo ko. This is too much. No wonder spoiled yung mga principe dito eh kasi naman, ganito pala.

“T-Thank you, you can all go now,” sabi ko at nagtinginan silang lahat.

“Prince Kali instructed us to assist you, Your Highness. Until you’re done eating and preparing for school, hindi po kaming pwede lumabas,” sagot ng isa sa kanila.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at napilitang umupo. They gave me a warm tea at agad akong napangiti. I’m sure this tea is expensive. Kinain ko na ang inihanda nilang pagkain. The first plate had fruits, the second plate had sausages and eggs, and lastly the third plate had 3 fresh breads. This is my dream breakfast since I was a kid.

The meal was so good and I wished na ganon palagi pero syempre impossible iyon. Tumayo na ako at binigay sa aking ang royal suit at pinapunta ako sa ibang room- the dressing room. I can’t believe this room has its own dressing room. Kinuha ko ang upper portion ng suit at muntik ko na itong maitapon sa gulat.

“What in the world is this?!” I exclaimed as I stared at it.

The color was dark blue but nagiging baby blue ito pababa. The front part was awesome. May golden signs ang magkabilang shoulders at may golden buttons rin ito. It also has a bade sa chest part with the a familiar sign na nakatatak sa mga flag na nandito sa kastilyo. The slack that they gave has these shiny dusts that made my slack go bright when it hits the sun. May binigay rin silang blue boots na may silver linings and laces kaya sinuot ko na rin. Wala na akong masabi sa nakikita ko kaya sinuot ko na lang rin lang. Napatingin ako sa malaking salamin and I was too stunned to move or even speak. This suit is something else.

Lumabas na ako sa dressing room at bumungad sa akin ang kanilang mga ngiti. The moment I stepped forward, napansin kong may dalawang maid na may inilagay sa likoran ko. I looked back and I was surprised when I saw a silver cape with the royal sign at the center.

“U-U-Um, isn’t this … too much?” I asked at sabay silang umiling lahat.

“Prince Kali himself chose this for you, Your Highness,” one of the maids said at tinuro niya ang upuan na nakaharap sa malaking salamin. “Please sit down, Your Highness,” she added at napilitan akong maglakad papunta doon at umupo.

The maid holding the accessories walked forward at inilagay ang mga dala niya sa harapang mesa. Kinuha niya ang isang earrings na ngayon ko lang talaga nakita. This is the kind of earring na matatabunan talaga ng buong cartilage. The earring had 3 white pearls molded in a golden steel at inilagay niya ito sa right ear ko. Nag lagay rin siya sa kabilang ear at parang hindi ko na nakilala ang sarili ko. Wala na siyang nilagay na kwentas o iba pang earrings pero pinasuot niya ako ng silver chains na itinali niya sa slacks ko. She also gave me 2 rings for each hand. Lastly, she combed my hair and sprayed it pataas, showing my blue highlights at may inilagay na parang tiara na gawa sa gold steel with blue pearls. I thought ilalagay niya ito sa front part ng buok ko pero nasa likod pala. The only thing that can be seen in front are the sides of my head with that steel and pearl. So stylists exist here also huh? But for royalties, not idols.

“We’re done, Your Highness.” she said at pilit kong ngumiti. Why are they making an effort to this kung mag-eentrance exams lang naman kami. Hindi naman ito fashion show.

“T-T-Thanks,” utal-utal kong sabi habang pinagmamasdan ko sarili ko sa salamin.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang tatlong butler at dalawang soldiers. What is it now? They suddenly knelt at agad akong napaatras. WHAT IS THIS?

“The carriage is ready, Your Highness,” they said in chorus.

“U-U-Um, please stand up,” sabi ko at tumayo sila. “Where’s Kailani?” I asked

“The others are waiting for you outside, Your Highness,” the first butler replied.

“Then I guess, I’ll meet them outside,” I replied and they moved sideward to give me a way.

“Yes, Of course,” the butler said.

Nauna akong naglakad at nakasunod silang lahat sa akin kabilang nayung ibang maid na nandoon sa loob ng kwarto ko kanina. Every time na may madadaanan akong soldier o kahit sinong tao, they always bow down and I find it awkward. Doon sa Gambier Island, isa lang naman akong simpleng lalaki na pinalaki na mayroong simpleng buhay. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala na ganito ang mangyayari sa akin.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad hanggang sa umabot ako sa napakalaking pinto. The soldiers bowed down at binuksan nila ang pinto. Agad akong napatigil nang makita silang tatlo. Damn, do I really belong here?

Lahat naman kami may parehong disensyo ng suit pero iba nga lang ang kulay. Kali is wearing a red version of my suit. Having dark red at the top at habang papunta ito sa ibaba, nagiging light red ito. Justlike ming, may golden accessories rin sa suit niya at yung slacks niya ay white with a red boots with white linings and laces too. He was only wearing one earrin- a white feather earring on his left ear. His hair was sprayed upward too just like mine with feather-like silver hair clip on each sides of his head and he has this white cape.

Nieve, on the other hand, was wearing a green version of our suit. From dark green from the top to light green papunta sa ibaba ng upper suit niya. He is also wearing a white slack with black boots having light green linings and laces. His cape was silver like mine and his earrings was like mine too pero hindi pearls ang nadoon. It was an earring covering the whole cartilage with green gems molded in silver steel at sa right ear lang inilagay. His hair is down because of its length and he had this green-like headband made of silver steel formed as vines with green gems just like in his earrings. Looking at him, para talaga siyang babae.

Lastly, Kailani, he was wearing an orange version of ours. From dark orange at the top at nagiging light orange pababa ng upper suit. He was also wearing a white slack with black boots like Nieve having gold linings and laces. Both of his ears has earrings at iba ito sa aming lahat. It was like a golden steel na nakadikit lang sa cartilage at ang astig nito tingnan. His hair was sprayed upward at kagaya ni Kali, he also has a feather-like hair clip but his is made of gold. Lastly, he has a white cape like Kali.

Talaga bang pupunta kami sa entrance exam? Para kaming pupunta sa isang royal ceremony.

“I guess I was right choosing that color,” Kali said with a smirk and I frowned.

“This is too much,” reklamo ko

“I know, hindi ko naman kasalanan na biglang nagbago ang rules. Huwag kang mag alala, maraming royalties doon kaya hindi tayo nag-iisa.” he replied at naglakad ako palapit kay Kailani. He look good now that I’m seeing him this close.

“So do I have to prepare for discrimination?” biglang tanong ni Kailani.

“What’s new?” Kali replied at agad akong napatingin sa kanya. He replied in a rude way but his expression was the opposite. He looked pissed. He’s such a softie.

“Di mo ba kami ipagtatanggol?” I asked and I heard Nieve chuckled.

“H-Hell no,” utal-utal na sagot ni Kali at napatawa ako.

“Kailan pa kayo naging close?” biglang tanong ni Kailani.

“What? Who says we’re close?” reklamo ni Kali.

“Oh, come on Kali. Stop hiding your soft part. Kaya mo kami pinatulog dito at pinaghandaan ng suot para hindi kami ma bully hindi ba?” I teased at kumunot ang noo niya. I was surprised when his face turned red at umiwas siya ng tingin. Kailani looked surprised and it was funny.

“Is that true?” he asked.

“W-W-Why? I-I-Is it bad?!” reklamo niya and this time, tumawa na si Nieve.

“Well, you have my thanks then,” Kailani said and he chuckled.

See? You’re not alone, Kailani. Just open your eyes and you’ll see the people who cares for you.

Since when were you left alone in the dark?

NEVER.