A Fairy Tale Like World

AFLW 11: Impormasyon, Unang Misyon

AFLW 11: Impormasyon, Unang Misyon

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Prinsesa Yuki POV

Aking sinilip ang labas upang makita kung saang bahagi na kami ng bayan kung saan naroon ang Palasyo ng Imperyo. Ilang metro na lang at makakarating na kami sa b****a ng bayan, naroon ang Tahanan kung saan inihahanda ang lahat ng taong papasok ng Palasyo. Palabas kami ng Palasyo upang dumalo sa palaro na ang Mahal na Prinsipe ang magbibigay ng parangal. Hindi ko inaasahan na makakalabas pa ako ng Palasyo sa pagsisimula ng Pagpipili.

Nagpahinga lamang kami ng ilang sandali at tumuloy na sa lugar kung saan gaganapin ang laro. Ang aming kasuutan ay nanatiling tradisyonal sa kabila ng katotohanan na ang aming pupuntahan at isang modernong pagtitipon. Isang buntong-hininga ang aking pinakawalan. Umaasa ako na nandoon na sa lugar si Prinsesa Yuuna upang agad akong makapagpalit ng kasuotan. Matagumpay na naihatid ang mensahe sa aking mga kapatid. At nagpasabi si Prinsesa Yuuna na nais niya akong makausap kapag ako ay naroon na.

(Starting here I will be using Taglish, since you all aware that they're not inside the palace or the city where the palace is located. Which means they are not bound by the dialect law anymore.)

Isang napagarang modernong sasakyan ang maghahatid sa amin sa lugar na pagdadausan ng laro. Aking pinagsawa sa magandang tanawin na aming nadaanan ang aking paningin. Ilang sandali na lang at makakatapak na uli ako sa modernong mundo na dati ay aking ginagalawan.

Sinalubong kami ng Konseho ng Imperyo sa labas ng Palasyo, ang konseho na nag-aasiko kapag ang angkan ng Emperador ay lalabas ng Palasyo. Inihatid kami sa isang silid ng Hotel malapit sa gusali na pagdadausan ng laro.

When we reach our room I automatically locked the door. I ransack the closet trying to find a pair of clothes. Unluckily, I haven't found any, only a towel and extra undies. I sigh in frustration, I am in a hurry. I need to go meet my sister before we go watch the game. I can't go outside with these damn clothes I wear. I sat at the edge of the bed looking so frustrated, I don't even have a phone in me. Yoshie and Shuji just look at me in awe.

After a couple of minutes, we heard a knocked on the door. Shuji walks and opens our unexpected visitor. Only to see my stunning sister in a black skirt, red tank top, and a leather jacket with 3-inches boots reaching her knees. Princess Yuuna or Ate Yen step into my room.

"Hey," lumapit siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. "I brought you clothes. Dahil alam ko na wala kang dala. Hurry up and change so we can leave this place."

Kinuha ko ang paper bag na inabot niya at nagmamadaling pumasok ng banyo. Pero bago pa ako tuluyang makapasok pinigilan ako ni Shuji.

"Sandali, Mahal na Prinsesa, kailangan po nating umalis kasama ng Mahal na Prinsipe sa loob ng tatlumpong minuto. Magagawa niyo bang bumalik sa tamang oras?"

Napatigil ako saglit saka tumingin kay Ate Yen. "Do you have make up?" She nod. I turn to Yoshie. "Maghanda ka Yoshie, ikaw ang sasama sa Mahal na Prinsipe bilang ako."

"Subalit Mahal na Prinsesa --" pagtatangka ni Yoshie hindi sumang-ayon sa aking binabalak.

"Walang makaka-alam sapagkat natatakpan ang iyong mukha. At lalagyan ka ni Prinsesa Yuuna ng palamuti kagaya ng sa akin noong araw ng pagpapakilala. Susubukan man nilang tanggalin ang balabal ay wala makakakilala sa'yo."

"Paano kung magtataka ang Kamahalan na hindi natin kasama ang iyong taga-lingkod?" Tanong ni Shuji.

"Sabihin ninyo na hindi maganda ang kanyang pakiramdam kaya ninais niyang magpahinga." Binalingan ko si Ate Yen. "Ikaw na ang bahala kay Yoshie. Do your wonders." Sabi ko bago tuluyang pumasok ng banyo at nagbihis.

I look at my reflection in the mirror and satisfied with what I saw. I missed wearing this kind of clothes. Low waist black jeans, gray tank top, and a black and white jacket. I pull my hair into a ponytail. When I go out, Ate Yen is still applying makeup to Yoshie. I check the other paper bags that Ate Yen's brought. I saw a pair of white running shoes. I put it on to perfect my get-up. This my comfortable clothing.

I saw Shuji looking at me in admiration, so is Yoshie. This is the first time they saw me wearing something like this. Laging tradisyonal na damit ang sinusuot namin sa Kaharian at sa Imperyo. I will be glad to saw them wear something like this but this not the right time for that. We still have something more important to do. I need to get the information I needed to start my mission in the palace.

"I'm done with Yoshie. Let's go?" Ate Yen said. I nod and put on my hood and turn my feet to the door to leave.

"Kayo na bahala habang ako ay hindi pa nakakabalik." Mahigpit na aking bilin sa kanila. "Gawin ninyo ang lahat upang walang makapansin ng kakaiba. Gagawin ko ang aking makakaya upang ako ay makabalik agad. Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Prinsesa Yuuna, may kakatagpuin akong mahalagang tao."

Nagbigay-pugay ang dalawa bago kami tuluyang lumabas ni Ate Yen. We check the hallway to make sure no one sees us coming from my room. So far so good, no one sees us, even the Royal Guards standing outside the door of the Prince room. The whole floor is rented just for us and there are many guards near the elevator lobby of this floor. And I refuse to have a guard on my door.

I sprint towards the fire exit following Ate Yen. We look down to make sure that no guards are patrolling on this side.

"Ready for a rough jump?" Ate Yen's grin.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I also match her grin. With that said she's starting to jump the stair from the 10th-floor fire exit to the ground. And I follow suit.

"Where to?" I ask when I reach the ground.

She shrugs her shoulder and walks to the busy street of Tokyo. "Let's grab something to eat."

Ibinaba ko ang hood sa ulo ko ng pumasok kami sa isang café.  Pumwesto kami sa pinakasulok at malayo sa karamihan.

"Bakit gusto mong makipagkita sa akin? Na sa'yo ba ang mga impormasyon na kailangan ko?" I started.

She sigh. "Nope, I don't have it. I just want to check and to catch up on you."

"I'm fine Ate, as you can see."

"You're enjoying this, right?"

I let out a meaningful smile. "Sort of."

"Pumunta ka ng central park kapag kasagsagan na ng laro. You will meet there the person that will hand you the information you need."

I nod. After that, we just spend our time catching up, planning for our next move till the time comes to meet whoever is sent to hand me that information. From where we are we can hear loud screaming indicating that the games become intense inside the arena. I wave my sister goodbye and walk towards the central park.

Chase POV

"Why I am here again?" I ask Aries through the phone annoyed.

"It's just a simple task, Chase. Why are you whining?" He said chuckling on the other line.

"This is supposed to be my vacation, Aries, a break after what I've learned. Why do am I f*****g involve in this? Besides, this is your task."

"Man, can't help it. No one is available and I have a very important thing to do and it's urgent. Consider this as your first mission. Besides, you're already in the place."

"I'll be damn!"

"You are."

I sigh. "I should've chosen another place to spend my vacation."

He laughs. "We both know you will end up in the same place. Because it's the place where she is, Chase. Got some good news for you. Shandra is watching a basketball game together with the Crown Prince."

"You mean she's outside the palace right now and within my reach?" I said feeling excited.

"Yeah, you can take a glimpse of her in the arena across your hotel and a few blocks away."

"Thanks, Aries, I'll do that," I said. Napatingin ako sa relo ko. I still have time. Kinuha ko ang jacket at sinuot. I check my black wristband with an outline of white. A certain insignia of DC Org. is being seen in the wristband that only Keys, the Grand, and other important people within the organization can recognize. This my ticket for me to know who the hell I'm meeting with later, as per Aries request.

"Wait Chase," Aries spoke. I can't believe he's still on the other line. "The girl with a cloth hiding her face from everyone, that's Shandra." He said before cutting the line.

I look at my phone confused, with what Aries said. Why the hell Shandra do that? Well, no one gonna answers all my questions. Might as well go and watch the game.

Hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang laro ng dumating ako. Tamang-tama ang dating ko dahil papasok pa lang ang Prinsipe at Prinsesa suot ang kanilang tradisyonal na kasuotan. Tama nga ang sinabi ni Aries, dahil ang babaeng kasama ng Prinsipe na tinatawag nilang si Prinsesa Yuki at nakatakip ang mukha.

Wala akong ginawa kundi ang titigan siya mula sa malayo. Pero ang nakakapagtaka ay hindi ko maramdaman ang pagbilis ng t***k ng puso ko. Gaya ng palaging nangyayari kapag tinititigan ko si Shan dati. Napapansin ko din ang kakaibang ikinikilos niya. It seems like she's not Shandra. What the heck is happening here?

Ng tumayo ang Prinsesa ay tumayo din ako. Tumakbo ako sa bahagi kung saan siya lalabas upang malaman kung saan siya pupunta. Nakita ko siyang pumasok ng restroom habang nakabantay ang isang lalaki sa labas, na sa hula ko ay ang personal na bantay ni Shan.

Hinintay ko na makalabas siya ng restroom bago ako gagawa ng hakbang. Dalawa lang sila subalit marami pa ring nagkalat na security para siguruhin ang kanilang kaligtasan. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali at mahuli.

I'm not sure but there is something with her. She's not Shandra and I want to prove that. I want to make sure Shandra is safe.

Paglabas niya ng restroom ay agad ko silang sinalubong. Naging alerto ang lalaki ng makita ako. Alam ko na ipinagbabawal ang pagpunta sa bahagi ng building kung nasaan ang mga Royalty. Hindi pwedeng ipagwalang bahala ang kanilang kaligtasan. Hindi imposible na may magtatangka sa kanila.

Tumigil ako sa kanilang harapan at tinitigan ang babaeng nasa harapan.

"Don't bother to call a security." Baling ko sa lalaki. "I just want to ask something with this girl."

"Lapastangan," the man growl. "Ano ang iyong karapatan upang tratuhin ng walang galang ang Mahal na Prinsesa?"

"Princess, my ass?" I smirk. The girl holds the arms of the man to refrain him from attacking me. "Where is Princess Yuki?" I ask them in a dangerous tone. I hear them gasp.

"H- how?" The girl stuttered.

"I know her so well to tell that you're a fake."

"Anong pangalan mo Ginoo?" The guy asked.

"Chase," I simply said. Nagpalitan sila ng tingin.

"Ako si Yoshie, ang taga-lingkod ng Prinsesa," she look at the guy. "Siya naman si Shuji ang punong bantay  ng Prinsesa. Ikinagagalak kitang makilala Ginoo. Kasama ngayon ng Prinsesa ang kanyang kapatid na si Prinsesa Yuuna kaya inatasan niya akong pagpanggap bilang siya."

Gulat akong napatingin sa kanila. What did the heck happen? Do they know me? Before I can ask them I hear my phone beep. I look at it, it's a reminder from DC Org stating that it is about time. My first mission is about to start. And I don't have time to look for Shandra.

"Thanks for telling me but I need to go. Kindly tell her I'm doing fine." They nod and I turn my heels to get this mission over with the soonest possible.

I walk towards the said meeting place. Checking my wristband again if it is in the right place that can be recognized easily. How should I know the person again?

I frown. I need to look at a person wearing a black wristband with the insignia of DC Org. or the green wristband with the emblem of the Kingdom of Daichi. They are the group of secret spies of the Kingdom scattered around the Empire. And I need to give them something, Aries said it is very important to them in order to win this battle. The battle I'm not aware of and don't have any slight idea.

Sa halip na isipin pa ang tungkol sa Laban nila, nagsimula na akong suyurin ang daloy ng mga taong makakasalubong ko. Hoping against hope to find the person I'm looking for fast. I need to look secretly, we can't be sure if there are Yakuza members in this horde of people, or any enemies from both sides.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglakad sa buong central park. Hanggang sa tumama ang kamay ko sa kamay ng taong nakasalubong ko. Napayuko ako at nakita ko ang taong nakataas ang hood sa ulo. She murmured sorry but didn't bother to look at me. Nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglakad palayo.

Her voice seems familiar. I shake my head from thinking impossible things. My eyes darted to her walking figure once again but this time something caught my eye. She's wearing a black wristband with gold in it and an emblem of the Kingdom of Daichi. I notice when the emblem sparkle against the sun. Is she the one I supposed to meet? I ask myself confused.

"Hey, the girl with the hood," I called before I can stop myself.

She turns around slowly. I raise my hand so she can see my wrist. Her look darted to my wristband. She nods confirming my silent question if she's the one I'm looking for. We slowly walk towards each other.

"You got what I need?" She asked.

I nod and pulled out the thing that is looking like a book in ancient times, also all the information inside is written in ancient language and style.

We stop few steps away from each other, then she slowly took off her hood. While I'm holding out the book to her.

Shock is an understatement. I can't believe what I'm seeing right now. I said I just want to take a glimpse of her. But now she's in front of me. I'm not dreaming, aren't I?

My heart beating wildly against my chest, evidence that she's real. She's the only one who's able to make my heart beat this fast.

"Shandra?" I murmured quietly.

***

Prinsesa Yuki/Shandra POV

I heard her murmured my name. I can see his reaction, he can't believe seeing me here, as I am. We're both undeniably shock.

"Chase?"

I murmured his name quietly not even sure if he heard it. My feet is freeze where I am standing.

I want to run to his arms and make myself comfortable in his embrace. I want to feel his warm body against mine. I want to kiss him senseless. Tell him how much I miss him. Tell him how much I love him, still. Tell him how much I wanted to be with him again.

But my feet are glued in the ground while my mind is going haywire at this very moment. My heartbeat faster as if there's a race in my chest. I can feel my whole body shaking. And he's staring at me intently, not moving at all.

I slowly lowered my head, I can't meet his intense gaze. My eyes averted to the book he's holding. I raise my hand to hold the book carefully. I can tell he's now looking at the book but he didn't let it go. We're both now holding the book, fingers almost touching each other.

This book consists of all information I needed, from my father. My father? Then I realize something. Why Chase is the one bringing this? That means--?

I look up, he's eyes met mine. I can feel the tears from my eyes started rolling down my cheeks.

"You already know, right?" I ask in a hushed tone between a faint sob.

He pulled the book from my grasp and before I know it I am in his arms. Enclosed in a tight embrace. He rested his head in the crook of my neck. And I silently cried in his shoulder.