Chapter 3

I don’t know if it’s because of the pleasure of catching a white, shiny horse in the deepest of the woods, or the excitement to give a seemingly valuable present to her ‘lifetime crush’ without actually spending a penny, but the smug grin she has on her face really irks me.

She thinks this is funny?

I used to have a figurative rope tied around my neck as I am being pulled by the king’s orders, but now’s a different story. For the first time in forever, someone is literally pulling me by the rope tied on my neck as if I am a kind of animal.

Right, I almost forgot I’m a horse.

If I think about it, I can easily let go from this lady’s grasp if I choose to do so. I can take advantage of these feet and kick her to death. Unfortunately, while I am busy assaulting her, the guy might shoot me with his gun.

It’s in my prayer to die a while ago. But then I realized that if I am to get killed, it shouldn’t be done by the hands of these greedy lower beings. I might as well escape upon arriving on the residence of this lady’s ‘lifetime crush’—I guy which I think is not interested after all.

As we reached the mouth of the forest, my skin felt like burning by the radiant sun. This is the same path that I took when I entered the woods. I mentally cursed, rolling my eyes upon seeing the exact place where I came from—the stable.

Kung babalik lang din naman pala ako sa’king pinanggalingan, bakit ’di pa sa palasyo? Guh.

The two idiots, Jericho and Myra, are still here. I assume they’re already done in whatever they were planning to do before I left.

“Huh?” Myra tilted her head. “Buti naman nahuli n’yo iyang kabayong iyan, Boss. Hindi namin nahabol ni Jeric kanina nang nagtatatakbo itong pumasok sa gubat.”

They all looked at me before Rio turned his gaze back at them. “Galing siya rito?”

“Oo, Boss.” Jericho is the one who answered. “Galing sa loob. Akala ko bagong bili?”

Rio shook his head, confused. “Nakita lang din namin ni Haera dahil nahuli sa isa sa mga bitag sa gubat. Ngayon ko lang iyan nakita.”

The lady, which I heard is Haera, stared at me straight in the eye, while the three behind her are looking at each other.

“None of you guys have seen it before, so you don’t also know who the owner is. Then,” she rubbed her chin while grinning, “I can really take it. Kahit pa man malaman ko kung kanino, hindi ko na ibabalik. Even if I need to pay ten times of its price . . . it’s mine.”

I fought the urge to swing her with my hoof. No one gave her the right to own me. I am Princess Calista Harmony, you rotten lower being! I am a royalty in a horse’s body. Thou shall kneel and kiss my feet!

“Haera, mukhang obsessed ka na sa kabayong iyan,” Rio noticed, slightly scratching his head.

In return, she giggled as her palm covered her lips that looks naturally wet, with moist similar to a morning dew.

“The fur that as white as a snow, and eyes that looks like a deep blue ocean . . . ” I smelled menace in the awe drawn on her face. “So strange. Really strange.” The way she speaks, it sounds like a mad scientist who just got her favorite subject of experiment. “And every strange thing belongs to a strange person, Devon Hamian.”

“So that horse is in your liking because it is strange? Pero Haera, baka sa halip na matuwa si Dev, mainis pa 'yun lalo na kung hindi naman niya kailangan ng alagang kabayo. Papakainin at aalagaan niya pa ’yan. Besides,” Rio released a tired exhale, “I don’t think Devon is strange.”

Finally, Haera turned to look at him. “He’s strange! He knows that I like him! Tatlong taon na simula nang nakilala ko siya, at noon pa lang ay umamin na ako sa kanya. And I, Haera Acierto, the mayor’s daughter and the city’s beauty queen, was rejected!”

How I badly want to kick her in the ass together with her inflated ego. If she is obsessed with whoever that man they are talking about, I am completely out of it.

Yes, she is indeed a beauty and currently on top of the pyramid, but that doesn’t mean everyone would like her. The fact that she’s abusing her title, it’s already a shame if someone still likes her.

She’s just a mayor’s daughter, I am a crowned princess of a kingdom that is an outsize compared to this world, but never did I take properties I do not own nor did I expect people to like me.

“Dev is amiable, though. Kung hindi ka niya nakikita bilang isang babae, baka isang kaibigan.”

“Hah!” Haera’s expression flashed anger and disgust. “Kaibigan?! You know what, Rio, stop embarrassing me.”

He instinctively took a step back as if afraid she will hit him. “Chill, it’s merely an assumption. Pero ano na ngayon ang gagawin mo sa magandang kabayong ’to? How can you take it home?”

Haera’s brows arched as she faces him. “God, Rio. What about that Isuzu elf you always take to the city?”

He looked at her unbelievably. “Ang layo pa sa bayan! Anong oras na, o?”

“Alas otso. At ano ngayon?” Haera looks adamant of her decision. “Alangan namang isakay ko iyan sa kotse ko? Ang hina ng signal dito kaya hindi rin ako makatawag sa mga driver sa bahay para magdala ng pagsasakyan, so you have no choice. You’re taking this horse in the city.”

“Hindi ba sinabi ko sa’yo kanina na may gagawin ako ngayong umaga? Pumayag lang akong samahan ka sa gubat at mangaso kasi sabi mo hindi tayo magtatagal.”

Haera went silent for seconds as if she’s scheming for something in her head.

“I have a gun, it’s not in use. Pre-64 Winchester model 70. Kanino ko kaya ibibigay?” she asked herself, but loud enough for us to hear.

This . . . is making me . . . puke.

“E-ehem,” Rio exaggeratedly cleared his throat. “I can postpone my activities today, you know.” He started to walk through the other road beside the stable. “Tara na, Haera!” he called out without bothering to look back. “Kayong dalawa, Jeric at Myra, diyan na muna kayo hanggang sa pagbalik ko!”

Haera burst out a deep loud hearty laughter as we went after him. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa siyang magmanipula ng tao por que mayaman siya.

Just after an hour of staying here, I came to a conclusion—even in this world, bribery is powerful. Nothing good comes without a coin in exchange. Even kindness has a price.

Since the situation seemed to give me no choice, I will just go along with it. The three of us took the road that has no houses around, my hoofs are slowly being covered with dust.

Can’t they at least give me shoes?

It wasn’t so long until I finally saw few houses scattered in a wide area of grassy land. The airy atmosphere and the canopy of green somehow brought me comfort.

“Itatali mo ba muna riyan o daldalhin mo sa bahay?” Rio asked, his right hand is slightly above his head, protecting his eyes and crinkled forehead from the shafts of sunlight.

Haera suddenly rested her elbow on my back as she released an exhausted exhale. “I’m tired! Go by yourself. Dadaan ka naman dito.”

“Madam, baka ’yung sasakyan mo nasa garahe ko?”

“Oh, great!” She pulled me and tied the rope on the nearest tree before following Rio who already took his steps away.

This is already my chance to get away, only if this body is capable. I am genius for a horse, but my knowledge is useless of this body is worthless. Right, worthless. I should have just turned into a monkey instead, so I can use my hand to untie the rope and run.

I’m still in the midst of plotting my escape when I already saw two cars coming towards my direction. I am certain that the shock I felt was written on my face, even as a horse.

Hades! The first car, which I conclude is Rio’s, is the biggest car I’ve seen in my life! And Haera’s, who is a lot smaller than his, is still big enough compared to those we are using at Audravaria. Aside from that, these cars look so odd. I already learned about these on the book I was reading about Earth—I’ve quite read a lot about this world, after all—but it’s still strange to see their actual look.

Back in my world, we only use carriages. The only ones that are permitted to run them are those who have the magic of speed. Hence, the horse will be rendered power and strength. That makes the transportation more convenient. It’s quick and easy, but I haven’t realized that until I came here.

The truth, those who need to ride carriages are already considered unlucky, since they’re the ones who weren’t given enough knowledge to learn more about magic. Because all of us, with enough guidance, can be taught how to fly.

A better education is given to the rich. If a magician is poor, then it needs to pass the entrance test for alpha class—the highest class in the school of magic where we can learn the deepest information about wizardry, Audravaria, and the four other planets. Some of the important information we need couldn’t be obtained in Beta Class on time; most of the Beta students stay in school for five more years until they are qualified to have an access of all the significant information.

In Audravaria, those who were at the bottom of the pyramid of wealth and power would be even considered as deities when they come to this world.

But though here I am, degrading the life of these lower beings, I can’t change the fact that I can’t alter the situation where I am left helpless, struggling to keep my balance with Rio’s reckless driving.

It’s like a parade float, though, if only I am a human and the back of this truck was decorated. I’ve been in a similar situation before. I was carried on my opulent palanquin by four nobleman, all powerfully built and in immaculate robes of ivory colour. I was dressed in my gold and scarlet finery, passing around the castle as a part of my coronation ceremony as a princess.

Today is a different story. And Rio, this dopey bastard, deserves a cruel beating for his reckless driving. We are currently passing through the suburbs, and I already feel dizzy due to the pace of his driving that as fast as a strike of a lightning.

Hades! I assume I’m going to puke!

Not too long until the truck finally stopped. My knees weakened and I just . . . fell.

Dung, this weak body of a horse!

“You, jerk! You’re up for racing?” Haera laughingly stepped out from her car.. “You drive better than Ayrton Senna!”

“Hooh!” I saw Rio stretched his body, his hands are on air. “That was kinda fun. Racing tayo next time.”

“Gamit ang truck na iyan?”

“Baliw. May kotse naman ako.”

“I’m kidding! Anyway, pakibaba mo na iyang kabayo.”

Rio came to untie my rope and pulled me down from the truck. My knees are shaking as I carefully stepped down. And as soon as I gained back my composure, Rio who is standing next to me, painfully screamed as my strong and hard feet aimed for his ribcage.

I had hit him with only average strength, though. My body urges me to get him hospitalized because I know I can, but I’m afraid he took his gun with him. With this body, I can’t run away from a bullet.

“Tangin— ang sakit!” he cries as he rolls on the ground while hugging himself, specifically on the part of his ribcage.

“Oh my . . . oh my . . . ” Haera, on the other hand, doesn’t know what to do. “Should I take you to the hospital? Makakatayo ka ba?”

The poor Rio lies on the ground, unable to speak as if he’s dead. I saw that he shook his head while panting, eyes are half-closed and droplets of sweat are formed on his temple.

Both of them went speechless until a creaking sound broke the silence.

We all turned at the old woman standing near the small gate guarding a seemingly abandoned house in the middle of some gigantic trees, looking at us cluelessly in her pair of black irises and fading eyebrows.

“Lola Tasya!” Haera beamed as she approached the person. “Magandang umaga po.”

The old woman, Tasya, smiled in return. “Ikaw pala, Iha. Naparito ka?” She looked at me and to Rio who is now trying to take his stance. “May kailangan kayo?”

Haera excitedly ran through me, pulled me closer to where Tasya is. She looks old, but I bet my father is a century or two older than her.

“Nariyan po ba si Devon?” Haera asked, peeking around the front yard of the house.

“Wala, Iha. Nag-apply siya sa McDo, natanggap naman. Nagsimula lang siya noong nakaraan.”

“Hay nako, kung bakit kasi ayaw niyang tanggapin ang inaalok kong trabaho sa mansion. Maglilinis lang naman siya ng sasakyan.”

The old woman awkwardly smiled but she did not respond. Again, she took a look at me.

Haera seemed to notice and so she tapped my head like a dog, tugging me more towards her.

“Gusto ko pong i-regalo ito kay Devon. Baka gusto niyang mag-alaga ng kabayo, maganda rin kasi siyang pagkakitaan.”

After hearing what she said, Tasya’s eyes widened as her jaw hung open. “S-sobra na yata ito, Iha. Hindi ko matatanggap.”

Haera shrugged her shoulders. “Huwag kayong mag-alala, maliit na bagay lang ito. Gusto ko lang tumulong para may pandagdag pangkabuhayan. Lalo na ngayon, malapit na naman po ang pasukan. Kung gusto ninyo, ibenta ninyo. Basta hindi ko na po siya iuuwi sa amin.” And she shyly laughed.

They still had a little argument, but Haera succeeded to persuade the old woman to take me.

“Hindi ko alam kung paano kami makakabayad sa kabutihan mo, Haera. Maraming salamat,” Tasya expressed. “Matutuwa si Devon dito.”

A friendly smile made its way to Haera’s lips. “Wala pong anuman, masaya akong makatulong.”

Lies. She is just doing these merely because she likes that Devon guy. Real kindness occurs when one does not choose to whom she will show generosity. I know, even the old woman is aware of her real intention.

At the end, there’s no one left but the old woman, Tasya, who looks obviously bothered on what to do with me.

Though she looks occupied, she took me inside their small gate that gave me a full view of their house that looks so archaic, with wide cartilage yet dim atmosphere. The trees are preventing the area from the direct heat of the sun, giving both cold breeze and eeriness.

She pulled me though the huge tree beside of their house and tied my rope on one of its roots.

“Ang totoo, hindi ko alam kung matutuwa si Devon sa’yo,” she murmured under her breath, talking to herself.

After tying me, she slightly moved away to take a better look of me. She examined my body, awe is evident in her face.

The moment our eyes met, I clearly heard her gasped.

“Kaygandang kabayo.”

Oh, please. Don’t dare to compliment me in this state.

Later on, a whiff of burning food gravitated through my nose. Tasya’s nostrils moved, and before I could even blink, she quickly entered the house to perhaps check whatever the smell is coming from.

Looking around, I could say I am not really in the actual city. It is a suburban, and this house is even located in a much more isolated area. The ambience does not feel uncomfortable, but I don’t think this is better than in Rio’s place. Speaking of which, I wasn’t even able to see his condition before they left.

I’m not concerned. It’s nothing but curiosity.

Anyway, is it not feasible to escape here? I have no intention in staying any longer. Since there is no guarantee that Devon would be glad of my existence, I better be gone before he arrives.

I checked how my rope was tied. A glint of hope crossed my eyes as I noticed that it is not as tight as I expected it to be.

Ayos!

I forcibly pulled it for several times until it’s finally untied. I couldn’t help but to jump out of joy upon realizing that I’m, at last, free!

But . . . now what?

I don’t think there’s an exit at the back of their house—I guess it is another woods—so I chose to go through the most possible way for escape, the gate.

I ran towards the closed door and tried opening it using my feet. I’m halfway done of unlocking it when I heard footsteps coming closer to my hearing, not from my back, but from the other side of the gate.

I took a step backward and raised my head to see if someone is around, but what I saw made me release an ear-splitting kind of scream.

“Neeiiiggghhhh!”

The man in front of me looked shocked as I do, he almost broke into a yell. But as soon as he recovered, he did nothing but to casually stare at me with his eyes that seemed to reflect a night sky, dark with a sparkle of a star. Above of it are eyebrows that drawn better than a crescent moon, and they are almost connected.

He has a tall figure, seemingly sharing the same height with the man I was supposed to marry, perhaps even taller. His tousled hair that is as black as an endless abyss probably was messed up by the breeze, making him appear like an only-begotten son who did nothing but cause headaches.

Both of his arms are covered by his worn-out cardigan, but I didn’t miss to notice the tattoo he has in his neck. Despite being unable to tell whether it is simply a boat or a moon, the looks of it brings out an aura of sovereignty. It’s masculine, cool yet intimidating.

Everything I see in him resembles darkness, but I saw light by the way he looked at me.

Hades! Who is this freaking man, and out of many possible chances, why does he have to appear at this moment?! I have to get out of here as soon as I can, and annoyance is knocking my head off for I was even able to tell descriptions of his body’s details in this kind of situation.

But . . . how can I run away if I can’t even take my eyes off of him?

“Devon, bakit— ay bakit nakawala ang kabayo?”

The moment I heard Tasya’s voice from behind, I know I’m dead.

Wait, what did she just mention? Devon?

I fought the urge to cover my mouth with my feet when my jaw seemed to fall. I don’t remember wronging anyone in my past life, why do I have to be this unfortunate? Or is this because I let myself die despite having the possibilities to stay alive?

“Bakit ang aga mo namang umuwi, apo? Huwag mong sabihing tapos na ang trabaho mo?”

Now I’m sure. There is no mistaking it. This guy is the one Haera is head over heels on, my new owner!

Devon guy shook his head. “May kukunin lang po.”

I shuddered upon hearing his voice that is slightly hoarse, but confidently calm. He is wearing unusual clothes, a male outfit that is different from what I used to see in Audravaria. Simple, I see, but why is the atmosphere around him screams sublime authority?

“Siya nga pala, pumunta rito si Haera kanina, ibinigay itong kabayo. Regalo niya raw sa’yo.” Tasya glanced at me. “Tumanggi ako, kung iniisip mo na naman na hindi. Kaso alam mo namang mapilit iyon.”

Devon massaged the bridge of his nose, constantly sighing as if he’s been tired for a long time.

“Lola, I . . . we’ve never had a horse. At busy ako sa bago kong trabaho. How can I take care of it? At wala akong hilig sa pag-aalaga ng hayop.”

The misery is too evident in his tone and eyes that even me was affected, wondering how hard it is to be in his situation.

But, dung, I never planned to be a burden to anyone. As a matter of fact, I lived my life taking other people’s burden.

“Sabi naman niya ay gawin mo ang gusto mo sa kabayo. Ibenta mo kung ’yun ang sa tingin mo ang pinakamainam na gawin.”

Devon rested his hands on his waist, making his muscled abdomen visible from his fitted shirt.

He stared at me again, but I couldn’t handle the intensity in his dark irises. I looked away.

Oo, pati kabayo ay mag-iiwas ng tingin sa’yo.

“Ang ganda nga, Lola. Ngayon lang din ako nakakita ng kabayong kasing-puti nito, parang laging nililinisan. At ang mga mata niya, kulay asul. It’s more than surprising. Pero . . . ”

“Pero?” the old woman queried.

“Pero masyado na akong busy para dito. Unless . . . , ” His lips curved into a lopsided grin. “Lola, nakatikim ka na ba ng karne ng kabayo?”

Hades! Kakatayin niya ba ako?