Steffanie was a little bit tensed. Hindi niya alam kung paano patutunguhan ang bagong kaalaman. Earlier today, she suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy. Noong una'y inakala niyang simpleng stress at pagod lamang ang nararamdaman. Pero nang magsimula na siyang maduwal at magsuka, doon na siya kinutuban. She suddenly made a mental calculation. Delayed na siya ng dalawang linggo.
Muli siyang napabuntong hininga.
"What's the matter, princess?" tanong ng kanyang kuya Michael Angelo. Kasalukuyang nasa lobby sila ng Lead Hotel. They were waiting for the arrival of their father.
"It's nothing," she said.
"I know a brewing problem when I see one. Alam mo namang nandito lang ako, princess. C'mon you can tell that to your big brother."
Was she that transparent? Was she that obvious? Nasapo na lang niya ang kanyang ulo.
"What's the matter? Wasn't your exhibit a success?"
"Hindi iyon about doon kuya."
"Then tell me what it is all about. You can lean on me, princess."
Huminga muna siya ng malalim. Tama ito. He was her big brother. All these years, ito ang naging sandigan niya. He was the one who gave her hope. He always made her feel loved and important. Ito ang kuya niya.
She summoned all of her courage, "Just promise me that you wouldn't berserk, okay?"
"Okay," he nodded.
This is it. "I think..." she trembled a little bit. Kung sakali kasi, ito ang una niyang pagsasabihan. She never mentioned it to Sofia earlier. Natatakot siya sa magiging reaksyon nito. And now, here she was, spilling the beans to her kuya.
"Go on..." he encouragingly said.
Napapikit siya. "I think I am pregnant," she suddenly said.
Namilog ang mga mata nito. "What?!" he stood in shock.
"I didn't quite catch this one. Ano?"
"I said, I think I am pregnant."
"But how?!" parang namatanda ang anyo ng kanyang kuya.
"Do I have to tell you how? Kuya, I am beyond the story of the birds and the bees."
Natigalgal ito. His brother was speechless. Kita niya ang pagtatagis ng bagang nito.
"Who's the father?"
Tiningnan niya ito sa mga mata nito. She wanted his understanding and not his condemnation. She wanted him to reassure her, not to convict her.
"Alam kong alam mo na kung sino."
"Fuck!"
Nagulat siya sa narinig. This was the first time she heard his brother curse. He was always the gentle and playful Michael Angelo for her. This side of her brother was unknown to her.
Ngayon pa lang ay nagsisi na siya at sinabi niya ito sa kanyang kapatid. Her brother was looking grim now.
"He needs to marry you."
She gave a smile to her brother. She briefly remembered the time when Gareth proposed to her. It was one of the happiest moments in her life.
Ipinakita niya sa kapatid ang suot na sigsing.
"He will, kuya. He will."
Her thoughts travelled to Gareth. Paano kaya nito tatanggapin ang balitang dala niya? Would he be happy like he always does? There were so many what ifs in her mind.
She was actually relieved when he cancelled on her today. Sinabi nitong may importanteng bagay pa itong aasikasuhin sa palasyo. She was still not ready to face him. She didn't know what to do and she still didn't know what to say. Not now. Not yet.
"Can I just ask for your help, kuya?" she asked.
"Anything for you, princess. Anything," the sweetness in his voice was now back.
"Please accompany me today at Dr. Flyheight's. I need to confirm this."
Tumingin ito sa suot na orasan. "Let's go now. May dalawang oras pa naman His Grace arrives."
Then, her Kuya Michael Angleo lead her out of the lobby and in to his car. Kahit papaano, mababawasan ang pag-aalang nararamdaman niya once na ma-confirm na niya ang kanyang tunay na kalagayan.
As for Gareth, bahala na. Let tomorrow worry by itself.
Gareth was now sitting inside the King's round table. Lahat ng kanyang mga kapatid ay naroroon. Lahat maliban kay Arthur. The Imperial Consorts were also there. And of course, the three most powerful Kingdom was there; the Queen Dowager, the Queen, and the King.
Ares immediately convened this meeting for the sole purpose of finding out the truth, especially now that the Crown Prince was involved.
Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa nalaman. How could Arthur be involved in this? How could he do this to his brothers and sisters?
"Why did you summon us here, Prince Ares?" the King said.
He looked at Halaena for support. But his sister was equally flustered as well. Nagtanggal muna ng bara sa lalamunan si Ares bago nagsalita.
"There was an impending danger to the Royal Family. Alam ko pong alam na iyan ng lahat."
Nagkaroon ng bulong-bulungan sa panig ng kanyang mga kapatid.
"Ilan na sa mga miyembro ng Royal Family ang naging biktima nito. At kamakailan lamang, naglakas ang mga itong magtanim ng mga pampasabog sa Jasmine Manor. Thankfully, no one was terribly hurt. But the rate and frequency of those attacks are already at an alarming rate."
"Me, and Halaena tried to dig deeper. We interrogated the captives. We wanted to know who's behind these attacks."
"And were you able to know their identity," tanong ng Inang Reyna.
"Opo kamahalan. Nagsalita na sila kaninang hapon.," He could now feel the indifference in Ares's voice.
"After that, we tried to delve deeper. Sinubuk naming maghanap pa ng ebidensiya," sa wakas ay nagsalita na rin si Haleana.
"And what have you got?" the King asked.
Both Ares and Halaena remained quite. Naroroon pa rin ang pagaalinlangan sa mata ng mga ito.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" the King goaded once more.
Napapakit si Ares.
"Mahal na Hari, ang tinuturong salarin po ay ang Crown Prince," mahina nitong pananalita.
Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang pumailalim sa buong lugar. Everyone was simply shocked at this revelation. Everyone mirrored his own disbelief. Everyone, except the King. His father just maintained his usual façade.
Napatayo na ang Reyna mula sa kinauupuan nito.
"But that is preposterous! Hindi kailanman magagawa iyan ng mahal na prinsipe!"
"Iyan din ang inakala namin. Until we found something else."
"Isa lamang itong paninira! Tell me Halaena, totoo ba ito?!" the Queen was now shouting.
Naglayo naman ng tingin si Halaena sa ina.
"I am afraid all of the evidences are leading to Prince Arthur."
Binuksan ni Ares ang projector. He slipped one slide at a time.
"Ito ang mga larawan na kuha sa CCTV na nakikipagkita ang mahal na Prinsepe sa mga taong iyan."
There was a picture of the Prince seating with one of those men in a café. Ang isang larawan naman ay kuha sa grahe ng palasyo. Nakuhanan ito noong gabing timambangan siya. And by the likes of it, kausap ng mahal na Prinsipe and isa sa mga bumugbog sa kanya. And last picture says it all, it was shot during the morning of his wedding date. Waring itinuturo nito sa mga kawatan ang lokasyon ng Jasmine Manor.
Tama si Halaena, lahat ng ebidensiya ay itinuturo ang kanyang kapatid.
Hindi pa rito natapos ang lahat. May isang bagay pa silang nakuha. Kumanta na rin ang isa sa mga nagtangka sa kanyang buhay. Si Arthur din ang tinuturo ng mga ito. He presented his bank account. Ipinikita nitong may naganap na transfer of funds mula sa personal na Bank Account ng Prinsipe papunta sa bank account nito. This information just angered him more.
But there was still a nagging question in his mind. Bakit? Was it really about him showing who's boss? Was it about the supremacy over the throne?
Ipinaliwanag isa-isa ni Ares ang mga nasa larawan. Every word that he uttered reinforced the claims made by those criminals. Lahat ay nagmistulang punyal na tumatarak sa kanyang pagkatao.
Arthur was his brother in every sense of the word. Naging magkasangga sila sa lahat ng bagay. It was him who gave him the idea to be a rogue prince. It was he who gave him the freedom outside the palace. But now... he just couldn't simply think why.
Nasa harapan na niya ang lahat ng ebidensya but his heart was refusing to accept it.
This was not happening to him. He thought Arthur and him had an impenetrable bond. How can he do such atrocity to his loved ones; to Lancelot, to Ares, to Anya and to him...
Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin. Everything was just in shambles.
"Mga kawal!" sigaw ng Hari.
Agad namang lumapit ang mga ito sa kanila. All fourteen knights surrounded them.
"Dakpin ang mahal na Prinsipe Arthur. Itapon siya sa dungeon. Doon muna siya mananatili habang wala pang linaw ang lahat ng ito."
"Pero, mahal na Hari... " pakiusap dito ng Reyna.
Ngunit nanatiling bingi ang hari. "Isama ring ipiit ang kanyang Chevalier. Siguruhin ninyong kahit anong magyari ay hindi iyan makakalabas. Nagkakaliwanagan ba tayo?"
Sabay-sabay na pumadyak ang mga ito. "Opo, aming Kamahalan. Masusunod po kayo."
Agad namang nagsilabasan ang mga ito.
"I can't believe you're doing this to your own son!" Nanlilisik na ang mga mata ng mahal na Reyna.
Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas bago ito tuluyang himatayin.
"Mahal na Reyna!" sabay-sabay na pagsigaw ng kanyang mga kapatid habang bumabagsak ang katawan nito sa sahig. Dinaluhan na ito ng Inang Reyna. His grandmother took the Queen inside her arms.
"Ibayong pag-iingat pa rin para sa mga Prinsipe at Prinsesa. Ares! Halaena! Tutukan niyong maiigi ang kasong ito. Nagkakaliwanangan ba tayo?!"
Agad namang lumuhod ang dalawa sa Hari.
"Masusunod po, kamahalan," they both answered in chorus.
"Gareth, I need to tell you something..."
"Hindi ko naman talaga sinasadya but it seems that I am pregnant."
Mali! Mali! Steffanie shriked in her room. She was rehearsing kung paano niya sasabihin sa kasintahan ang sitwasyon niya.
She kept doing this for hours and hours. And up until now, she was actually going nowhere. She can't seem to grasp the right words. Everything sounded so awkward and wrong.
Muli na naman siyang nahiga sa kanyang kama. Muli niyang hinimas-himas ang maliit na umbok sa kanyang sinapupunan.
She was 1 month pregnant. Dr. Flyheight confirmed it. She suddenly felt very proud. She was now harbouring inside her a life. A life caused by the love that she had for Gareth.
Will it be a boy or girl? She wondered. Excited na siyang makita at isilang ang bata. She may not grew up with a mother by her side; but, she knew that she live love this child in every possible way. That she will nurture and protect this child no matter what.
Napatingin siya sa kalendaryo sa kanyang bedside table. Limang araw na niyang hindi nakikita si Gareth. May importanteng ginagawa raw ito sa palasyo.
Somehow, she felt his stress. Alam niyang may pinagdadaanan ito. She wanted to be with him. Gusto niyang damayan ito. But despite that, she was still hesitant in meeting him. Magpasahanggang ngayon kasi ay hindi pa rin niya alam kung paano sasabihin dito ang pagbubuntis niya.
She composed herself. She needed to get this over with.
Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone. She dialled Gareth's phone number.
"Hello..." she called out when the ringing stopped.
"Hello, sweetheart," his sweet baritone voice replied.
Napapikit siya sa tinig nito. It provided her peace and solace. She was suddenly calm.
"I need to talk to you, can I see you today?" she said.
"Iyon na nga rin ang nasa isip ko. I haven't been with you these past few days."
His tone of voice was very unusual. Mistulang may mabigat talaga itong dinadala. But she didn't inquire any further. Instead, she just gave him a smile over the found. "That's okay. Magkikita na naman tayo mamaya."
"See you later then."
"Bye," she hanged up the phone.
Gareth was sulking at his own manor. Sa ilang araw na pag-iimbistiga nina Halaena, lalo lamang nadidiin ang panganay na kapatid.
All of the evidences pointed out to him. The most recent evidence was when Halaena found a CCTV footage of Arthur talking to the automobile mechanic of the Royal Household. It was the same mechanic who maintained Lancelot car. Ito rin ang sumiguro na masisiraan ang grupo ni Lancelot sa kagitnaan ng byahe ng mga ito.
And upon checking a hefty amount of money was transferred into the mechanics bank account. Matalino ang may gawa niyon dahil nagawa niyang padaanin sa walong bangko ang pera. But eventually, Ares was able to trace it from Arthur's own bank account.
Dahil dito, Prince Arthur was already arraigned in the Royal Court. He pleaded not guilty. Sa susunod na araw, isasapubliko na ng palasyo ang mga nangyari. They couldn't keep this anymore from the people. At habang nililitis si Arthur, ang kanyang kapatid muna ang magsisilbing Kinatawan ng Crown Prince. Si Lancelot muna ang pansamantalang gagawa ng mga naiwan nitong trabaho.
Nahihirapan na siyang tanggapin ang lahat. Every little bit of evidences were directly pointing at Arthur. At iyon ang mas nakakapagpabahala sa kanya. Masyadong mabilis ang lahat. Masyadong obvious. Kahit na mga simpleng mamayan ay aakalain talagang si Arthur ang may sala. The evidences were so concrete that no doubts will ever be present in this case.
Somehow, it made him feel that everything was orchestrated, that there was still a bigger picture. There was still a missing piece. Something just didn't click in.
He stood up. Inayos niya ang kanyang sarili. He'll be meeting with Steff tonight. Ilang araw na rin niyang hindi nakikita ang dalaga dahil sa pangyayaring ito. He missed her touch. He missed her kiss. He missed her voice. He missed everything about her.
Steffanie was now standing face to face with Gareth. He looked a little bit haggard. Mukhang hapong-hapo ito. His stubbles were now very evident. Halatang hindi na nito maharap kahit ang simpleng pag-aahit man lang. But still, he looked very handsome. Only this time, he was ruggedly handsome.
She offered him a sit. Kasalukuyang nasa loob sila ng kanyang condo.
"I am sorry, sweetheart. I was not able to see your surprise during your exhibit. I was caught up in the palace."
"No worries. I have here it with me. Would you stay for the night?" she said.
For the first time today, she saw that boyish grin again. Kahit papaano'y nagliwanag na ang mukha nito.
"Are you teasing me, sweetheart?"he naughtily said.
"Did I do a good job?"
She said while she walked towards him.
"Sit on me, sweetheart. Know how much I missed you."
At yun nga ang ginawa niya. She sat on him. He then adjusted her so that her private parts would be sitting directly on top of his arousal.
She could feel his longing and desire for her. He was so hard right now and all she could do was die in anticipation.
She snaked her hands on his nape.
"Tell me, what's bothering you," she said.
Naglayo ng tingin ito.
"C'mon, Gareth. You can tell it to me. I want you to share your burdens with me as well. I want you to also lean on me."
Bumuntong hininga muna ito. She could feel the gentle breeze of his breath on her neck. This sent various tingling sensation on her system.
He then took her mouth in a passionate kiss. Gumanti naman siya sa ginawa nito, matching his passion with her own.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago ito tuluyang kumalas.
"Do you remember when you find me almost lifeless on the streets?"
Tumango siya. She remembered it but she would rather forget about it. She was really afraid for him during that time. He looked so battered and lifeless.
"Apparently, nasundan pa iyon. Prince Lancelot, ang kapatid ko, tinambangan naman siya ng mga taong iyon. And during Princess Sofia's wedding, those people tried to blow up my mother's manor."
Tahimik lang siyang nakikinig dito. She wanted him to feel that she will always be there for him no matter what.
"And right now, the prime suspect is Arthur."
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa narinig. No wonder he's stressed out.
"What about Sofia?"
He held both of her cheeks. He wanted her gaze to focus only on him. Their eyes met once more, and there she saw everything. His vulnerability. His fears. His confusion.
"She's okay. It was only Arthur."
She didn't care anymore. She just looked at the man that she loved. She wanted to show him how much she loved him.
She gave him a kiss. This time, they did it slowly. They relished their time together, their passionate had intertwined them together in a chain of foreboding pleasure. Everything else did not matter. It was only them and no one else.
Steffanie urged him to continue. She made sure that her sex was directly sitting on top of his bulging arousal. She arched her back as she made some small gyrations.
"Steff!" Gareth was delirious, but she didn't stop. She wouldn't stop. She had been without him for a week a now. There was a brewing thirst inside her that needed to be quenched. She wanted him inside her. She wanted him to make love of him.
And make love her, he did. They spent the whole night making up for those moments that they weren't together. Their passion equalled the others. It was a cataclysmic union of their body and soul. They were indeed one. One round was always better than the other.
Gareth was now pumping in and out of Steffanie. This was their fourth round tonight. He's not normally into sex marathon, but his desire for Steffanie was too overwhelming. And besides, he missed her so much.
"C'mon, sweetheart. We're nearing the edge of infinity," he softly whispered in her ear as he increased the tempo of his movement.
She only answered him with her moans. He then gripped her waist. He began thrusting on an upward angel.
"Ahhh!!!! Gareth!!! More!!!" she cried out.
The room was filled of nothing but sound of their bodies slapping together. It was melody to his ear. She was nearing his climax and so was she.
He continued grinding into her. She began to pant. Her breathing became faster. This time, they both came at the same time. It was an earth-shattering climax for them. They were in a state of temporal stasis as they looked in each other's eyes. They were frozen in time, their passion mirroring each other.
"I love you, Gareth," she said.
"I love you too, sweetheart."
After their passionate love making, both Gareth and Steffanie were helping themselves with some treat. They were eating some of her leftovers.
Gareth just gulped a liter of water. Pagod na pagod silang dalawa.
"Grabe, uhaw na uhaw ka yata."
"Pinagod mo ako eh."
Napangiti na lang siya dito.
She loved doing these things with him. Kahit ang simpleng pag-uusap lang nila meant a lot to her.
But still, her problem was not yet solved. Hindi pa rin niya alam ang sasabihin dito.
"Can you show me your painting of me?" yaya nito.
Agad naman siyang nagpaubaya. She stood up from the stool. They were still naked and she can't help herself but to look at his throbbing manhood. It was still potent. It was still full of vigor. It was still standing in its full glory.
"Don't look at it, sweetheart."
"Aren't you tired?" she asked.
"I am beat. But it seems that this big boy has a life of its own. Just don't mind him."
He lead her to the room where she kept the paintings that she was not able to sell, kasama rito ang kanyang centrepiece.
"Gareth, meet Mars Gradivus and Mars Quirinus."
Panandaliang natahimik si Gareth.
"These were beautiful Steff, it's beyond words," pananalita nito habang nakatingin pa rin sa kanyang ipininta.
"Thank you, Steff. You made me look like a god here. It's wonderful," muling pagbibigay nito ng puri sa kanyang ginawa.
"Dapat nga ko ang magpasalamat. Kundi dahil say o, baka hindi ko natapos ang mga ito."
"Can I have this?"
Tumango-tango siya, "That's yours in the first place. I'll have that one delivered to your manor tomorrow."
Binigyan siya nito ng isang matamis na ngiti.
"Steff, I have something to tell you," biglang nagbago ang tono ng pananalita nito.
"Me too. May gusto rin sana akong sabihin."
Biglang naging seryoso ang daloy ng mood sa paligid nila.
"Sige, mauna ka na."
"Nope, I'd rather have you do this first."
Nilapitan siya nito. He touched her cheeks with his knuckles.
"Steff, I need to check on my mom. I need to go to Asphodel," pamamaalam nito.
"How long?"
"Ten days. I'll be out of town for more than a week."
"Just keep in touch, okay?"
"Thank you. I'm going to text you from time to time. But I am not sure about the reception. I heard Asphodel was one of the dead spots." Relief was registered on his face.
"What about you, Steff? Akala ko'y may sasabihin ka rin."
Huminga rin siya ng malalalim, hindi pa rin talaga siya handang sabihin dito ang naganap. "Ganito na lang, I'll tell you what I've got to say once you are back from Asphodel? Deal?"
"Deal!"