Orselleous Paradise: Her Hidden Secret

Paradise 26

“Carmela Orselleous-Orellius is her name, it sounds odd to say her name but this is how she introduces herself. You’ve already experienced this right, Carmeline?” Sambit ni Chandria, tumango naman si Carmeline. She really has full confidence to attach that surname of the owner to her name, anang isip ni Carmeline. “She is the daughter of the Royal Lady, Mrs. Orselle Mae Orselleous. Due to the fact that she is the daughter of the owner then she is the Empress of the Paradise Royalties. Unlike us, we are proclaimed by the Royal Lady and Royal Master to be one of the Royalties, while the daughter and son of the two already have the title of Emperor and Empress. No one can replace them, unless they're gonna pass it on to the rightful owner.”

Tinaas ni Carmeline ang kamay para mapahinto sa pagsasalita si Chandria. “You’ve mentioned that she has the title of being an Empress because she is the daughter of the daughter, am I right?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” tugon ni Chandria sa tanong niya.

“How many times did you see her in public with the Royal Lady?” Nagkatinginan naman sina Chandria, Christle at Cueshe sa tanong ni Carmeline. Ang dating kasi nito ay parang iba, ngunit isinawalang bahala na lamang nila iyon at inisip na lamang na baka gusto lamang nito malaman.

“Actually as you mentioned that question, I’ve realized something,” sambit ni Christle. “Nakilala namin ang Empress noong kami’y nasa grade 7, doon namin unang nakilala ang anak ng Royal Lady. Pero ngayon ko lang napagtanto na never kong nakita na magkasama ang Royal Lady at Empress. I didn’t see them talking with each other but at that time, I’m just thinking that maybe the Empress doesn’t want the students that surround them to be intimidated by her.”

“Christle is right, ngayong nabanggit mo iyan ay nakapagtataka nga kung bakit ganoon. Kasi kung kapakanan ng mga kapwa niya mag-aaral ang iniisip niya, e bakit never ko ring nakita na tinapunan siya ng tingin ng Royal Lady. Hindi naman sa nanghihimasok ako pero isipin niyo kasi, sinong magulang ang matitiis na hindi makita ang anak. Sabihin nating hindi sila nag-uusap publicly pero makikita mo kasi sa ikinikilos ng Royal Lady na parang hindi niya kilala si Carmela.”

Napabuntong hininga si Carmeline, nakakaramdam pala ang mga ito ngunit hindi lamang pinagtuunan ng pansin. Kailangan niya ng kasama para harapin ang impostora kaya gagawin niya ang lahat para iparamdam sa mga ito ang gusto niyang iparating. “Don’t you think it sounds suspicious?”

“Sorry girls, but I think Carmeline is right, it sounds suspicious,” sabat ni Cyst.

“Are you telling us that Carmela is not the real daughter of the Royal Lady?” singhal ni Cueshe. “Sorry for that, but when I analyzed everything we’ve discussed, iyon lang ang unang pumasok sa isip ko. I don’t like to entertain that idea because of the fact that no one is opposing the title of Carmela being the Empress.”

“Except one.” Napatingin ang lahat kay Chamii na kandong ang Coreen na mahimbing nang natutulog sa mga bisig nito.

“Except one? Wait… Who is that, there’s no one coming to my mind,” naguguluhan na wika ni Christle.

Napangisi si Chamii, siyang nakapagpakaba sa iba. “The Emperor, we also never had a chance to see him having time with the Empress. They’re just on the same school grounds but there’s a big gap between them. Unlike the silent treatment of the Royal Lady, the Emperor showed us how she hated the existence of the Empress. I remembered that when the Empress was mentioned in the conversation, he always calls the Empress, ‘ang tinaguriang niyo na Empress' , o kaya’y ‘you’re beloved and self proclaimed empress’.”

“Tama ka Chamii. This discussion makes us realize many things that are connected with Carmela, that we just ignore because we didn’t care in the first place. But right now everything has changed, every detail about Carmela is very important, we can use them to protect Carmeline and the whole school from her,” ani ni Chandria.

“Carmeline, if you don’t mind, can I ask you something personal?” seryosong tanong ni Christle.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Pinag-uusapan kasi natin si Empress, and you are the one who initiated the conversation about her. You're asking about the whereabouts of the Empress and Royal Lady. I understand that you want to know them more. Pero ngayong nabanggit na rin ang Emperor sa usapan ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin na baka may alam ka tungkol dito,” anito na nakapagpakunot sa lahat.

“Christle, are you suspecting Carmeline that she’s hiding something from us? That’s ridiculous, she’s just new here for pete sake,” Chandria exclaimed.

“No, I’m not suspecting her. May napansin lang ako na hindi tumutugma sa sitwasyon ng Empress at Emperor. May nabalitaan kasi ako na sobrang close daw ng Empress sa Royal Lady at Emperor, hindi nga raw mapaghiwalay ang magpinsan na sina Empress at Emperor. Na kung titingnan natin sila ngayon ay taliwas sa nasasagap ko. Kaya ko naisip na baka may alam na si Carmeline ay hindi dahil sa nagtanong siya kundi dahil sa closeness nila ng Emperor. Mas laging inaasikaso ng Emperor si Carmeline kaysa sa Empress.”

“Is it true that you already know the Empress, Carmeline? Just tell us the truth and we will understand you,” Cueshe blurted out.

“I admit that I am closer to Iue but I won’t admit that I already knew the Empress. I’m just asking because since I’ve known Iue, he never told me about Carmela, even Kiel, he never mentioned that girl. That’s why I’m kind of suspicious about her.” Hindi alam ni Carmeline na ganoon pala kagaling na sumiyasat sa sitwasyon si Christle, hanga siya sa taglay nitong kakayahan. Sana’y magamit nito iyon balang araw. “Anyway, it’s my time to ask you now, what did the Empress do that ruined all of you? What is her relationship with Inno?”

Nagkatinginan ang tatlo, doon pa lang ay alam ni Carmeline na may dapat siyang malaman tungkol kay Inno at Carmela.

"Carmeline," tawag sa kanya ni Chandria. She thinks that Chandria knows something. "Sa tingin ko, dapat si King na ang dapat na magsabi sa iyo ng tungkol sa kung ano ang relasyon niya sa Empress. Hindi sa ayaw namin na malaman mo pero iniisip ko lang na kung malalaman mo rin lang ay dapat sa mismong bibig ni King magmula para hindi iyon pagmulan ng away niyo. Iyong tungkol sa Empress na nakakaapekto at nakasira sa amin, mas mabuting kay Inno mo na rin malaman dahil siya ang major na involved doon. I'm sorry, I hope you understand.”

“Don't worry I understand Chandria, and I am thankful that you tell me the truth.”

Wala ni isang kumibo ni isa sa kanila, ang bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang malalim na iniisip. Nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong dorm subalit nandoon pa rin ang tensyon sa bawat isa na iniwan ng kanilang pinag-uusapan. Kinuha ni Cueshe kay Chamii ang anak at dinala na sa kwarto upang doon na ituloy ang pagtulog nito. Nang makalabas ito sa kuwarto ay sinenyasan niya sina Chandria, Christle at Chamii na kailangan sila sa headquarters. Kaya nagpaalam na ang apat na kailangan muna nilang umalis.

“Carmeline, are you the real Empress?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Carmeline sa sinabi ni Cyst nang makaalis na sina Cueshe. “Sorry if I’m accusing you without further evidence. Pero habang nakikinig ako sa mga sinabi ni Christle ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin na ikaw ang Empress. Iyong closeness niyo ng Emperor, na ayon kay Christle ay sobrang close nito sa pinsan ngunit hindi naman sila makikitang ganoon ng tinatawag na Empress. Isa pa ay ang silent treatment ng Royal Lady at Emperor dito.”

“You’re just like Christle, you really study every single detail to form a conclusion. To answer your question, what if I am the Empress?”

“Sagutin ang tanong ng isa pang tanong, kakaiba ka rin pala Carmeline. I didn’t expect this other side of you,” komento ni Camelo.

Tumatalon si Cyst na para bang nanalo ng grand prize sa lottery. “Am I right, Carmeline , that you are the real Empress.”

“That was just a what if Cyst, I didn’t confirm it,” she firmly said.

“Yeah, a what if statement from you, makes my heart hurt. Anyway, we’ll surely find evidence that my what if is right,” determinadong sambit ni Cyst.

“Mas gugustuhin naman namin na ikaw talaga ang Empress kaysa doon sa Carmela na daig pa ang pinagdamutan ng langit ng magandang asal,” nakangising turan ni Camelo. “Kahit na bago ka pa lang namin na nakilala, asahan mo na nandito lang kami. At ang lakas ng pakiramdam ko na tama ang hinala namin ni Cyst.”

“You can hide the truth from us but still we will not neglect our assumption. Whatever happens, we got your back.”

“Sweetie, are you done thinking deeply?” Nagulat si Carmeline ng may nagsalita sa kanyang tabi.

“Sorry, kanina ka pa ba diyan? Anong oras na ba, bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?”

Nalulong na naman siya sa kaiisip sa mga napag-usapan nila sa dorm ni Cueshe.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin maintindihan kung bakit may nagpapanggap na anak ng may-ari. Hindi niya iyon matanggap dahil kilala niya ang tunay na anak ng Royal Lady at ang tunay na Empress. Mukhang kailangan niya ulit makausap ang kanyang ina kung bakit hindi man lang siya sinabihan nito na may impostor pala ang Empress.

“Yes, I already called you many times but it seems you didn’t hear me. What are you thinking that makes you ignore my presence?” nagtatampong tanong ni Inno.

“It’s about Carmela Orselleous-Orellius,” sagot niya rito.

“You know her?” tanong muli ni Inno.

“Yes, I encountered her for the first time when I was with Coreen and you fetch us at the mall, did you remember. And the next one is yesterday, she has an argument with Cueshe and she even mentioned that she will bring back the man that is hers.” Pinagmasdan ni Carmeline kung anong ekspresyon ang ipakikita nito sa kanya. Naiinis ito sa narinig, mali mukhang galit ito. Galit ba ito na nakaharap niya ang babae?

“Why didn't you tell me that you encountered her? Did she hurt you?”

Mali siya ng iniisip, galit ito dahil sa nag-aalala ito sa kanya. “She didn’t hurt me, but she shouts and hurts Coreen. I didn’t tell you about her because I didn’t know her in the first place. I just found out about her yesterday.”

“Next time, tell me if she hurts you.” Tumango-tango naman siya.

“Inno, who is Carmela in your life?”