QUATTRO

AFTER what happened earlier, I was silent the whole time. Lalo na ngayon na nasa byahe kami, I'm shocked at my actions earlier. The pleasure that I've felt earlier was out of reach, I can't make myself stop kung hindi pa nga kami tatawagin ng Mamma ay hindi kami mahihinto. Hindi ko inaasahan na gagawin ko yun, mas lalo akong naguluhan ng maalala ang sinabi ng photographer. 

"You're hiding something, Ash. It will just hurt you in the future, sweetheart.. so, you better not cage it, just let it out and face the consequence. It's better that way."

I didn't understand what he said, but there was a part of me that hit me with those words. But why? I barely understand what he said. And, it's just a kiss, nothing more than that. Hinalikan ko lang naman siya, ang fiancé ko, why would I hide something? It's not like he really knows me, how can he say that samantalang ngayon nga lang kami nagkita.

Nabalik ako sa sarili ko ng marinig si Khai.

"Ash, we're here. Are you okay?" tanong niya, tumango naman ako bago sumagot pa. I can't look him in the eye, ramdam ko pa rin ang hiya dahil sa nangyari kanina.

"Yeah, masyado lang akong pagod siguro. I'll go upstairs, can you bring me some of your tea?" tumango naman siya bago hinalikan ang nuo ko at bumaba na, hindi na ako sumunod kayla Mamma at umakyat na agad ako, I feel exhausted. I need to rest, akmang magpapahinga na ako nang pumasok si Khai.

"We need to talk." seryoso niyang saad at ibinigay ang tea na hiningi ko kanina, tumango naman ako at hinintay siyang matapos magpalit. I saw his perfect body and all I can say is he's hot.

"What is it?" Tanong ko ng matapos siya, I can see something in his eyes. Anger.

"It's about them." hindi ko tinanong pa kung ano yun, dahil alam kong sila Vanessa at Valentina ang tinutukoy niya. He wants to know my story or something.

"5 years,"

"I'm sorry?"

"Sa loob ng limang taon ngayon ko lang nabawi ang lakas ko para hanapin ang hayop na gumawa nun sa kapatid ko. Now that I have the strength that I need, I will find him and kill him. There's no point in letting him live, life for a life." I said honestly with a cold face, from the start I already made up my mind and that is to kill him and make him suffer until the end.

"He took the person who always believes in me no matter what, I'm close to getting lost but my sister guides me. And when she died, that's where I found myself in an ally that I'm not familiar with." I said while looking straight into his eyes. 

"But, that's not what I want, Ash. I want him to pay but not in the way that you want, gusto kong magdusa siya sa kahihiyan. We still have a name to protect, remember that. You're royalty and so am I." saad niya niya, tumingin ako ng diretso sa kanya. I can see the lividness in him, he's trying to fight the anger that he has. 

"Nalimutan mo na atang matagal na akong pumapatay, Khai in my world killing is not a problem. I've been protecting my name as a princess for so long, and take note I'm protecting it unwillingly." sarkastiko kong sabi, kasunod non ang pagbuntong hininga niya.

"I'll call X, to investigate everything. Even just a single drop of information will never be left behind, I want him dead that's final." I said while fixing our bed when suddenly he asked a question.

"Will you promise not to kill him?" natigilan ako sa tanong niya, I thought I already said that I'll kill him. Can't he understand that?

"I can't, I'll kill him at tapos ang usapan. Hindi ka sapat na rason para pigilan ako na patayin ang demonyong yun, Khai so no." walang emosyon kong sambit, I heard him sighed. I got my phone and call X. 

["Hello, what can I do for you princess?"]

["X, I want you to investigate something."]

Khai was just listening, but it looks like he's listening if I would order X to kill someone. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi, but X is not that kind of agent. Wala sa trabaho niya sa pamilya namin ang pumatay, pero nasa trabaho niya sa akin ang pumatay.

["Certo, inviami il luogo del nostro incontro.]

(Translation: Sure, send me the location of our meetup.)

["Tomorrow, lunch."]

["Copy, princess."]

Ibinaba na niya, humarap ako kay Khai. Katulad kanina ay may ibang emosyon akong nakikita sa mga mata niya, something that's hard to figure out. He's not easy to read, siya yung tipo ng lalaking may itinatago kahit alam mong open siyang tao.

"Let's sleep, nakakapagod lahat. This month is like a hell for me, Khai." sambit ko, tumango naman siya at nahiga na din. I felt his hand roamed on my waist and hug me from behind.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganon na lang ang epekto mo sa akin, but I want you to lean on me everytime you feel like you've had enough."

"Will you be there?" I felt his hand on my hair slowly brushing it.

"I will."

We just need each other, that's it. Nothing more than that. His movement and the way he made me feel some tensions may give me a pleasure that I never felt before but my heart will always be heartless.

PAPUNTA na kami ni Khai sa isa sa mga private beach resort ko, nandoon na din si X. X is our trusted secret agent, he's serving the Royalty of Kristoffel and Nicola tanging kami lang ang may kilala kay X. His family was the only agents that the oldest Royalties have trusted, nothing more kaya naman nang umalis ang magulang ni X ay siya na ang pumalit and now his soon-to-be children will be the next trusted secret agents of our Royalties.

Nang makarating ay agad kaming nagtungo sa loob, sinalubong kami ni X na dala ang mga gamit niya. He looks good as always, hindi na ako magtaka kung magiging interisado ang mga babaeng staff sa kanya.

"Ash, stop giving them glares." 

"Good day, royalties." magalang bati niya, tumungo lang kami at naupo na. I gave X a smile, ngiting maiintindihan niya.

"Here's the information, we want every single detail." binigay ko ang case ni Vanessa and Valentina. Binasa niya ito at kita ang gulat sa kanya, ngayon lang namin ulit tinawagan si X, matagal tagal na din ang huli naming kita. 

Hindi na rin nakakapagtaka na gulat siya sa laman ng folder dahil kahit siya ay hindi alam ang totoong nangyari sa mga kapatid namin, no one knew, expect us and our family. Sinigurado ng dalawang royaltiya na walang makaka-alam sa kahit na sino mula sa ibang royaltiya dahil gulo ang magiging resulta nito.

"I can't believe that someone did this, he's not scared of the consequences. I bet you want to kill him, princess." sambit ni X, I gave him a smirked. Kung may taong mas nakakakilala pa sa akin maliban kay Lia, siya na yun. 

"He's heartless," galit na sambit ni Khai.

"Find who did that to them, dig every information. Everything that will help us find him, masyadong magaling ang ama ko para itago ang katotohanan sa lahat pagdating sa case ng kapatid ko. He's a brainy but useless father after all." Pagpapaliwanag ko, tumango tango si X. He knows what to do and where to start, he won't be an agent of our family kung hindi.

"I will, by the way, congratulations and nice to meet you again." bati niya, napataas ang kilay ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi. 

"You knew?" Nagtataka kong tanong, tanging ang mga Kristoffel lang ang nakakaalam. Did they spread it?

"I'm the most trusted agent of your families, what do you expect?" saad niya sabay kindat, bago tumayo para umalis.

"Hey!" napalingon siya nang sumigaw ako, kahit si Khai ay nagtatakang tinignan ako. "Ikaw kailan?" he gave me a smirked before answering.

"Malapit na din, I threathed her that's why." Napailing na lamang ako at napagdesisyonan nang bumili ng ibang kailangan. That man and his flaws, he never failed me never.

NAPAGDESISYONAN naming dito na muna manatili, kaya nagpahatid ako ng mga damit kay Lia pati na rin ng damit ni Khai. Khai is buying us some foods, naiwan niya ang phone niya kaya hindi ko siya matawagan, ako naman ay nagsimulang magtrabaho. Hindi daw niya gusto pa ang pagkain sa resort ko kaya naman lumabas siya para bumili ng iba pang pagkain, he's picky and pansin ko yun.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagpirma ng mga papeles ng may tumawag sa phone Khai, I quickly answered it but I automatically shut my mouth when I heard a female voice. I knew this voice, that's why hindi ko binaba.

["Hey, Khai!"]

It's Beverly, one of the princesses in the Royalty of Hengrels.

["Are you okay? Dumalaw kami sa inyo pero ang sabi ng Mom mo ay wala ka daw, is it true that you're marrying Princess Ashiera? How about us?"] 

I can feel something in my heart but I just ignored it, the word us captured me. 

["It looks like your busy, I'll just call again, bye!"]

["Khai's not home, he's out to buy some food. I'll tell my 'fiancé' that someone called."]

Nang maibaba ko ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag, I can feel pain in my heart but still ignored it. There's something inside me and it hurts. I checked their messages, I know it's bad but I'm her fianceé after all. Habang nagbabasa unti-unti kong nalalaman ang namamagitan sa kanila, they're couple.

Noon, pero hindi na ngayon. She's Khai's ex, their relationship is against the law because their roaylites were relatives. Kaya naman hindi din nagtagal ang relasyon nila, but I think they just made that up. Agad kong naibaba ko ang phone ni Khai ng makarinig ako ng bukas ng pinto, he's here. 

"I'm here!" sigaw ko, agad niya akong pinuntahan at ibinigay ang pagkain. I acted like nothing happen and wait for him to speak."What did you buy?"

"Pasta and chicken, I left my phone here do you have it?" tanong niya, tumango naman ako at kinuha nag phone. 

"Yeah, here." inabot ko ang phone niya, "Someone called, I answered it but ibinaba ko din agad. Hindi ko kasi kilala kung sino, but I told her that I'm going to tell you that she called. Call her na baka importante ang sasabihin, she seems to be missing you." sambit ko at kumain na, he nods and prepare his food.

SIMULA nang makuha ko ang phone ko kay Ash hindi na niya ako kinausap, her reason? She's busy, busy in watching while working. Nakita kong si Beverly ang tumawag my ex, we still have contacts but nothing more than that anymore.

"Hey, Ash. It's dinner time." Tawag ko, she didn't look at me instead she continues working.

"You can eat first, malapit na naman na toh." Sagot niya, lumapit ako upang patigilan na siya. 

"Okay, stop with that." Isinara ko ang laptop niya na, making her raised a brow.

"What? why? I told you I'm busy!" 

"Non sono stupido! For Christ's sake Ash. Since I got my phone and you told me that someone called, you never talk to me. You keep saying that you're fucking busy!" Sigaw ko, she bitterly laughs.

(Translation: I'm not dumb)

"Okay, that's your problem? I don't care if you have a relationship with Beverly, okay? Just protect your name dahil kapag inannounce na nilang engaged tayo kailangan niyong magingat." she raised up and look straight at me, "We just need each other for our sisters, and alam nating dalawa na arranged marriage lang ang lahat. So, stop thinking about something! Focus on something like sneaking without the other royalties and reporters spotting the both of you."

I didn't speak, she just left and jumped at the pool. She doesn't know, that she's wrong.