To Marry The Prince

Chapter 9: Guard

"What are we doing for your four days of rest, Aliyah? May balak ka na ba mag bakasyon, beach, resort... anywhere else?" Dan tried to ask while packing up Aliyah's clothes that were used from the photo shoot they she has today. Kakatapos lang ng pinakahuling trabaho ni Aliyah para sa araw na ito. Pang -limang shoot na natapos ngayong alas dos na nang madaling araw.

"I will be going somewhere, alone," sagot ng dalaga na nakahilata sa folding bed na dala- dala nila palagi. Plastado at halos hindi na makagalaw si Aliyah nang magsalita ito. Pati ang boses niya, talagang hinang- hina na. Para bang hindi na siya makakatayo ngayon sa pagod kahit pa ibuhos niya ang isang daang porsyento ng lakas niya.

"Huh? Anong gagawin ko?"

She gave her a weak smile, "It's time for you to rest too, Dan. Halos ka edad lang kita, you are a year older than I am, right? Twenty- four?" said Aliyah. "It's time for you to live your life and do things that you love. Halos dalawang taon nang nakasentro ang buong buhay mo sa pag- aalaga sa akin, mas mabuti naman kung mag hanap ka ng jowa ngayon na medyo maluwag na ang schedule mo."

Dan acted so surprised and embarrassed to hear those from her boss, "Aliyah, baka naman kaya ka gumagawa ng ganitong paraan para lang matulungan mo 'yong mama ko na hindi na makapaghintay para ikasal ako? Kasi kung 'yon ang balak niyo talaga, mapapasigaw ako sa tuktok ng palasyo, pangako ko sa' yo 'yan!"

Kahit na pareho silang pagod na pagod na, hindi nila hinayaan na mawala ang lakas nila para sa pagkuuwentuhan at para sa batuhan nila ng mga katatawanan. They really are the best of friends outside of work. Habang hindi professional na personal assistant si Dan, ganito lang at parang nakatatandang kapatid siya ng artista.

"Do you need to pack up anything for tomorrow?" Dan asked once they got inside Aliyah's unit. Naka- akbay na siya ngayon sa babae na halos hatakin nalang niya para maka-usad sila papunta roon sa kan'yang kuwarto. "Aliyah? Anong kailangan mo bukas? Ako na ang mag- eempake kung may kailangan ka pa or kung may nakalimutan ka man."

"No need Dan," she softly whispered. "I already have my things ready, puwede ka nang magpahatid kay Manong Julio, huwag mo na akong problemahin. Enjoy your free days, okay?" she pushed her assistant, forcing Dan to turn her back on her and kicked her out of the unit.

Aliyah Grace used her full four hours to get some sleep. Because she's lacking on the department of time, she did not even get the chance to over think and stress over the fact that she is going to fly out and stay at the kingdom for three full days. During her rest days at work.

Habang hindi siya umaarte, hindi humahawak ng mikropono, ngayon na hindi muna siya haharap sa mga camera, kailangan naman niyang gawin ang lahat at ibigay ang makakaya niya upang mapag- aralan niya kung papaano ba maging isang tunay na Prinsesa.

At six in the morning, she woke up. Spent a full minute looking at her phone screaming at her and vibrating non- stop before turning off the alarm. She sighed and kicked her bed. Tahimik nalang niyang ginulo ang sariling buhok para ilabas ang nararamdaman niyang hindi niya rin maintindihan.

Is she feeling nervous? Is she scared? Is this excitement? Naliligo na siya pero ang nasa isip niya ngayon ay kung ano ang gagawin niya sa tuwing magtagpo man ang mga mata nila ni Prince Kairo.

"Look away, that's easy," she told herself. "Kaya lang baka isipin niya masyado akong weak kung hindi ko siya kayang titigan nang matagal. Nope, that's not about to happen."

She rinsed off and rushed over to her closet when she noticed the it's forty minutes pass six. Hindi na niya nakuhang mag almusal, kailangan ay maging handa na siya pag sapit ng seven. Dahil may susundo na sa kan'ya nang ganoong oras.

"Plain white dress, cute, classy... perfect!" she told herself. She got dressed and ran to her beauty chair to dry off and style her hair. Dahil sa haba ng buhok niya, hindi niya na nakuhang ayusan man lang ito. Pinatuyo nalang niya gamit ang blower. Kaya naman pinili nalang niyang itali ito sa isang mataas na bun.

"Six- fifty!" she yelled out. Her hand grabbed the liquid lip tint and gave her lips a natural tinge of pink before rushing to grab two large suitcases. Once she hung her side bag that has all her gadgets and wallet, she ran to wear as simple low healed white closed shoe and went straight to the meeting place.

Muntikan na niyang makalimutan na mag suot ng mask, mabuti nalang at saktong papalabas na siya sa may parking lot at nakuha niya pa na ihabol ito sa mga suot niya.

When she got at the back parking lot, a black car is waiting. The seal of the palace is waving at her from the license plate. And when two men came out of it to take in her suitcases, she's convinced that she found the one.

"Lady Aliyah, we were sent by the palace to pick you up. You can call me William and here is my partner, Fin."

Fin bowed as well, "Good morning Lady Aliyah. We will be your personal bodyguards from now on too."

"Ha?" muntikan na mapatalon si Aliyah dahil sa narinig niya. "Anong personal bodyguard? Hindi naman na po kailangan 'yon Sir!"

"Please call us as Wilian and Fin. Or you can address me as Dawn and call Fin as Dusk." mabilis ang dalawa na itinabi ang mga gamit niya sa trunk. Pinagbuksan na rin siya ng pintuan para makapasok na siya sa loob ng kotse.

"Teka nga, bago tayo mapunta sa couple name... bakit bigla nalang akong may bodyguard? Hindi naman na kailangan- ohh, wait. For ano lang ba 'to, uhm... kapag papunta sa palasyo gano'n?" naghahangad siya na makitang tumango ang dalawang lalaki na nasa harapan niya nang makaupo na siya sa likuran. Kaya lang walang reaksyon ang dalawang lalaki. Seryoso silang nag lagay ng seat belt at nang matapos na sila ay sabay na sabay silang lumingon kay Aliyah. May puwersa pa nga ang pag lingon nila, talagang biglaan nalang siyang napahatak sa sarili niyang seat belt dahil sa mga reaksyon nila.

"Lady Aliyah, we will be your guards even outside of the palace, from now on," Dusk said, the guy that's on the passenger seat. He has a darker complexion. His facial features look a lot like Dawn's but he's the pale one. They have the same built too. Both muscular and at least six feet tall. Pareho silang papasa bilang mga modelo, 'yon ang nasa isipan ni Aliyah. Kala lang heto sila ngayon at nagpapakilala bilang mga bantay niya.

"May sarili na akong bodyguard sa tuwing nasa trabaho ako eh," she whispered. "Hindi naman na siguro kailangan, 'di ba? Kapag nalang ganito na day off ko, baka puwedeng ganoon nalang?"

Dawn shook his head, "We will be taking over Lady Aliyah. Starting today, Dusk and I will be following you around. Everywhere, whenever."

"Hay," Aliyah gave up and sat back on her seat. "At least dalawa lang, puwede na rin," bulong niya pa.

When she got the chance to take a deep breath in, she noticed Dusk pulling the side of his collar and said, "Are all units ready?"

"Ha? Anong unit?" tanong niya.

Dawn glanced at her through the mirror, "Our team, Lady," he responded.

"Te- team?" ginaya niya ang pitik sa mga leeg nitong dalawa nang lumingon siya para panoorin ang halos limang pare- parehong sasakyan na nasa likuran nila. The nearest one has the same exact sticker on it's license plate and right there and then, she realized how big of a change this is from what she expected.

Ang akala niya ay kaya niya naman ang ganito, she's been a celebrity for a while. And to think that she's the biggest star out there, marami na siyang nagawa na sa tingin niya ay magagamit niya rito sa bagong landas na tinatahak niya. Evading the unwanted attention of the public, that's easy, she's too good at evading the media. Having people following her around, easy. Sabi nga niya, mayroon na siyang sariling mga body guard para protektahan siya. Ngunit ang ganito karami? Parang nalulula yata siya. Ngayon a unti- unti na pumapasok sa isipan niya kung ano nga ba itong pinasok niya.

"I'm really doing this, huh?" she whispered.

"Ano po 'yon Lady Aliyah?" tanong ni Dusk. She immediately shook her head and smiled.

To ease her loud thoughts, she pulled out her phone to check what's trending on the internet. Gamit niya ang kan'yang public account, kaya naman punong- puno ito ng notification. This is what she enjoys to do in her free time.

Nabibigyan siya ng ngiti ng mga fans niya na tinatadtad ang account niya ng napakaraming positive comments sa kung ano ang napapanood nila mula sa kan'ya. She can see all the sweet messages that were sent to her. The loads of fan edits, art, and even their own videos singing her own song. She saw the one video that struck her.

It's the video that was taken on her latest fan meeting.

A little girl singing about a purple butterfly, her debut single. The song that gave her everything she has right now. Kasunod noon ay ang napakaraming screen shot ng mukha ni Aliyah. Mga proweba na habang pinapanood niya ang bata ay naiiyak siya, pati nang matapos ito. Hindi naman na talaga niya napigilan ang busgo ng damdamin niya ng mga oras na 'yon. Sadyang bumalik lang ang mga ala- alang ibinaon na niya sa limot.

At ngayon nababasa na naman niya ang walang katapusang mga katanungan kung para kanino o sino raw ba ang itinutukoy niya rito sa kanta.

A lot of people has guesses, but none of them hit. She watched the video of the little kid once more and she closed her eyes to cherish her sweet voice.

"Kung alam niyo lang," isip niya sa sarili. She had a weak smile on when she asked herself, "Who would've thought that the purple butterfly would find me again?"