DUL (2)

Avery let her eyes to adjust from the light. Nang makapag-adjust na ang kanyang mga mata, she scanned the room that she is in.

"Where am I?" 

Nasa isang hinding pamilyar na silid ang dalaga. It looks like it's a bedroom. A very big bedroom! Halos kasing laki na nito ang living room ng bahay nila. And the room looks medieval. Based on the design and furnitures of the room, mukhang lalaki ang may ari ng kwarto na ito. The bed is also in king size. 

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Avery na dinala siya ng salaming iyon sa lugar na ito. A place where she is not familiar with. The aura of the room feels old. Even the furnitures are all look antique. 

Nang mapagmasdan ni Avery ng mabuti ang silid, something came into her mind.

*This all looks like someone royalty owns this room.*

Lahat ng bagay na nakikita niya sa loob ng silid ay pagmamay-ari ng isang hari o prinsipe. She is familiar with it because she saw it in movies and sometimes in her imagination when she is reading books. 

Suddenly, Avery was stunned when realization hits her. 

"Okay, don't tell me I'm inside a castle right now. I'll be going crazy!" she said, trying to convince herself. 

Unti-unti nang nakakaramdam ng kaba ang dalaga habang tumatagal siya ng pananatili sa silid na iyon.

"How am I going to get out of here?!"

Avery is starting to panick. Hindi na rin niya maalala kung saang salamin siya nagmula. Lalong dumoble ang kaba niya nang marinig niyang may nagbubukas ng pinto ng silid na 'yon.

She was about to run towards the full-length mirror when a deep voice stopped her. 

"Who are you?"

Avery felt her heart beats rapidly, like a monster wrecking havoc inside her chest.

Dahil sa sobrang kaba, hindi na siya makakilos. Napapikit nalang ang dalaga nang marinig ang mga yabag ng paa na naglalakad papalapit sa kaniya.

*Oh my gosh! What am I going to do?!*

"Who are you?" the deep voice asked again. 

Avery took a deep breath and slowly turned around to face him. She was about to say her name when she was stunned after seeing the person that is right in front of her. 

A tall and handsome guy is standing right in front of her. He is wearing a embellished cloak, tunics, leggings, trousers and black leather boots. 

*Oh gosh, he looks like a prince! Or he really is?*

He is just seriously staring down at Avery.

"Who are you?" he once asked again. 

Natauhan naman ang dalaga nang magsalita ito. Napalunok pa siya dala ng kaba. 

"I-I'm Avery.."

Tinignan naman siya ng binata mula ulo hanggang paa. Bumilis na naman ang tibok ng puso ni Avery nang magtama ulit ang kanilang mga mata.

"Do you live here? And what are you wearing?" 

Biglang nawala ang kaba na nararamdaman ng dalaga matapos sabihin iyon ng binata. Napakurap-kurap pa siya bago nakasagot. 

"Uhmm.. A dress," she said, referring to her what she is wearing. 

"Hindi nagsusuot ng ganyang kaikli na damit ang mga kababaihan dito. And..."

The guy eyed her suspiciously. "You're not from here." 

Napalunok ang dalaga dahil sa labis na kaba. "W-what makes you s-say that?"

"I know my people." 

Matapos sabihin iyon ng binata, nararamdaman ni Avery na tama ang kanyang nasa isip.

"A-are you a p-prince?" she nervously asked. 

A smirk formed on the guy's lips. "Yes, I am. Prince Darius Nixon of Luxuinia Kingdom."

*I knew it!*

Napatango-tango nalang ang dalaga at nag-iwas ng tingin. She feels uncomfortable with their situation. 

"Now, I am going to ask you again." Sumeryoso na ulit ang ekspresyon ng binata habang nakatingin kay Avery. Ang kaninang kaba ay muling nanumbalik sa dalaga. 

"Where are you from?" 

Hindi alam ni Avery kung ano ang isasagot niya. Kinakabahan siya na baka kung anong mangyari sa kaniya kapag umamin siyang hindi siya nakatira sa lugar na 'yon. 

The prince's eyes never left her that made her more nervous. Soon, she heaved a heavy sigh and answer his question. 

"I'm from the future.. 21st century."

Unti-unting kumunot ang noo ng binata dahil sa sinabi niya. It made him confused. 

"Don't mess with me, lady." 

"I am not playing around. I'm telling the truth." 

"If you are really from the 21st century, then how did you get here?"

"It's because of the mirror." 

Natahimik ang binata, nagtataka sa sinabi ni Avery. Pagak na natawa si Darius. 

"The mirror? What mirror? I'm not that easy to fool, lady." 

"I know it sounds crazy, but I am telling the truth."

"And how will you prove it?"

Instead of answering his question, naglakad papalapit si Avery sa full-length mirror. Sinundan lang siya ng tingin ni Darius, hinihintay ang susunod niyang gagawin. 

Nang makarating na si Avery sa tapat ng salamin, she took a deep breath and glanced at Darius before slowly raising her hand up to touch the mirror. 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Darius dahil sa gulat nang makitang tumagos ang kamay ni Avery sa salamin. He was so shock after what he had just discovered. Sa tagal na niyang nabubuhay at nakatira sa kastilyo na iyon, hindi niya alam na meron palang magic mirror sa loob ng kaniyang silid. 

*This is madness.*

Darius was so preoccupied that he didn't notice Avery was already in front of him. 

"Do you believe me now?" 

Darius slightly nods, "I guess that was enough evidence." 

Nakahinga na ng maluwag si Avery when the prince finally believed her. Well, a little bit relieve that is. 

"S-so?" 

Darius look at her confused. "So, what?"

"Y-you're not going to punish me or something, r-right?"

Seryoso lang siyang tinitigan ni Darius. Nailang at kinabahan ang dalaga sa paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kaniya. 

*Gosh! I can't stand that stare of his.*

Sa mga segundo na lumilipas, tanging katahimikan lang ang maririnig sa buong silid. 

"Well..."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Avery nang magsalita si Darius. She just stay silent and waited for him to continue his words. 

"I should punish you for invading my privacy, b---"

"What?! Invading your privacy?! I didn't know that the mirror will take me here!" Avery protested.

Napasimangot naman ang binata dahil sa sinabi ng dalaga. Mukhang natauhan naman si Avery sa ginawa niya at natahimik bigla. 

"Will you let me finish first, lady?" 

Napapahiya namang tumango-tango si Avery. Darius took a deep sigh. 

"Okay, so since it's just an 'accident' that you were brought here, papalagpasin ko na muna."

Gulat naman na tumingin si Avery sa binata. A smile crept on her lips. 

"Really?! You're not going to punish me?!"

"Ayaw mo?"

"Hala! Wala naman akong sinabi. Pero thank you talaga!"

Napangiti nalang si Darius dahil sa kakulitan ni Avery. He can't deny that he saw her very amusing. 

*What an extraordinary girl she is.*