41: Pairs

Emy's mood drastically changed in the next days. Bumalik na ito sa pagiging makulit at palangiti kaya naman napayapa na ang loob ni Feng.

Kunot noo namang pinagmamasdan ni Franco ang pinsan. Naguguluhan na talaga siya dito. Oo, hindi pa rin naman siya nito pinapansin pero hindi na siya nito iniirapan kapag nagkakatinginan sila.

Si Anika naman ay nacurious kaya tinanong niya na si Red.

"Red, nakabalik na ba ang Fifth Prince?" Tanong niya sa binata.

"Oo. Noong isang araw pa."

Napangiti si Anika. Well, she was maybe just thinking things pero lately, nauubos na ulit ng Miss niya ang cookies na iniiwanan sa kanya ni Lia.

***

"Did you like my gift to you?"

"Gift?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Emy kay Sebastian. They were playing chess again and talking about things that had happened in Grey City.

"Yes. Didn't you hear about what had happened to Cherry and Kelly?"

"I was contained for many days in here so maybe that's why I didn’t got wind any news about them."

"Or probably, it was the news which was contained." Sebastian put a finger on his chin while thinking. "My timing was probably off. The Prince' Birthday must have been used to cover that."

"Do tell me what you've done to them. After I got back here, I reached out to Calix for those girls but he just told me to wait. Hanggang sa nawala na sa isipan ko iyon dahil sa dami ng nangyari."

Napatango si Sebastian. Unconsciously, inabot niya ang buhok ni Emy and played with it.

"I had my people skinned them alive and when they were dead, I asked them to left them hanging in front of Diana's house."

For a moment, nanlaki ang mga mata ni Emy. But slowly, as she imagined what could have been Diana's expression after knowing them, she smiled.

Sebastian laughed. "You're wicked, my vixen."

Inirapan niya ang binata. "Ako pa ang wicked? Am I the one who flayed the skin off those ladies?"

"Nope. But you actually enjoyed the thought."

"Not that, you know. I can just imagine how Diana reacted to that. She might be tough but things like that were always done by others for her. So malamang hindi niya kinaya ang nakita niyang iyon."

"And what about you?"

Emy tilted her head. Inilipat ni Sebastian ang kamay niya pisngi nito.

"I... I have seen death once. I also witnessed my loved ones to be killed in front of me. And I have killed people using my very own hands too. So I can't be compared to her at all."

Natigilan naman si Sebastian sa sinabi ng dalaga.

Had seen death once? What did she mean by that? And when did it happen that she witnessed her loved ones to get killed?

Emy saw the curiousity in his eyes. Magtatanong na nga sana ito eh. But she stood and deflected him.

"Anyway, my plan will be happening tomorrow night. It will be a favor for Diana for now but I wonder how it will affect the future."

***

Prince Vio received an invitation from Diana's family three days ago. The lady would turn 21 today kaya naman naghanda ang pamilya niya ng bonggang party para sa kanya.

She was months older than him but it was never an issue in their relationship. Actually, there was no issue in their relationship at all dahil somehow, pareho sila ni Diana ng goal. To stand at the top and own the Grey City.

But lately, the lady was being unbearable. Naiintindihan niya na nagseselos ito kay Emy. But what could he have done? It was his father's wishes for him to get closer to that lady. It was not like both of them had a choice. As of now, his father's word would be the priority first.

At the thought of Emy ay napangiti si Vio. Narinig na niya dati noon ang pangalan nito mula kay Diana. But he didn't expect her to be that... exquisite.

Even he couldn't help to steal glances noong party ng youngest prince. She stood out dahil na rin sa elegance niya. If only Diana was that natural. And if only she could catch his father's eyes the way Emy did.

Napailing siya. The more he compared them, the more Diana paled in comparison to her. And was there anyone who could blame him for thinking so? He would be the crown prince soon. He deserved the best.

"Your highness, are we going to the market now to buy Miss Murray a gift like last year?" Tanong ng second hand niya.

Umiling si Vio. "I don't have time for that. Take this card and just buy her the most expensive dress in the market."

Nagulat naman ang second hand niya. But he just took the Black Card saka sinunod ang utos nito.

***

Prince Vio was forced to attend the party. Well, gaya nga ng sabi ni Diana noon, people would talk if one of them started to be missing in the party.

Isa pa, nagbabakasakali siyang nandoon din si Emy.

But the lady was not there nor her family. Mukhang hindi sila inimbitahan ni Diana. Napailing na lang siya.

"Your highness, Miss Diana is in the garden. Do you want to go there?"

Nag-isip sandali si Vio.

"Yes. Give me that gift you have prepared."

Yun lang at pinuntahan na niya ang dalaga.

Agad naman niya itong nakita. She looked beautiful now. But her expression was solemn.

"My, my... A celebrant should be happy, right? Why does it feel like you are lamenting?"

Napatingin ito sa kanya. For a moment, Diana was surprised pero nagbaba din agad ng paningin ang dalaga.

Nilapitan niya ito and lifted her chin.

"Don't be sad, Diana."

"How can I not?"

Napahinga ng malalim si Vio.

"Please, sweetie. I am tired of this already. Inexplain ko na sayo, di ba? I cannot say no to my father. And my mother won't let me do so too.

"I just really have no choice."

Then he sighed.

Napahinga din ng malalim si Diana. Alam niya naman na walang choice si Vio. It was just that she couldn’t accept the fact that of all the girls in Grey City, si Emy pa talaga? Hindi niya maiwasan na mainis dahil doon.

But not now. The Prince was here to see her kaya naman she should stop being angry.

"Is that for me?" She asked eyeing the bag na hawak hawak ni Vio.

"Yes. My gift to you. I have picked the most expensive in the market. I hope you will like it."

Diana took the bag as he gave it to her. At nanlaki ang mata niya dahil sa ganda ng dress na iyon. It was more beautiful than the one Emy had.

That lifted Diana's spirit. Sa saya niya ay nahalikan niya ang binata.

Napangiti naman si Prince Vio and reminded himself to give his Second Hand a raise.

***

Nagising si Vio dahil sa isang sigaw. Masakit ang ulo niya at hindi agad makadilat. He groaned as a sharp pain struck his temples.

Then may narinig siyang suminghap. Napilitan siyang dumilat and found Diana's face in front of him.

"W-what..."

Napatingin siya sa paligid niya. He was not in his room in the palace. Katabi niya si Diana sa kama at ang pinto ay nakabukas ng malaki. May mga taong naroroon sa labas at sabik na tinitingnan sila.

"Y-your highness..." Namumutlang sabi nung Second Hand niya.

"Close that damn door now!"

***

Mabilis na kumalat sa buong Grey City ang naganap sa Murray's residence. Kung ang balita noon tungkol sa dalawang babae na nakitang nakasabit may harapan ng bahay nila ay nagawang pagtakpan ng Papa ni Diana, not this time.

Kasing bilis ng wildfire ang pagkalat ng balita tungkol sa nangyari sa pagitan nila Diana at Prince Vio.

Galit na galit ang Emperor dahil dito. Hindi lang dahil binigyan siya ng kahihiyan ni Vio kundi dahil na rin mahuhuli na lang din naman ito ay hindi pa si Emy ang kasama.

Syempre, dahil nagalit sa kanya ang Emperor ay nagalit din siya kay Diana. But he was forced now to marry her.

***