Lady Rebel's Gentle Side
[Snow White]
"Show me your battle stances." Napalunok ako dahil nakalimutan ko na agad ang dalawa sa sampung posisyon. Bawat posisyong ginagawa ko ay ang bahagyang pagkunot nang kilay niya.
Napahawak siya sa sentido matapos kong gawin ang walong posisyon. "You're really a princess. You lack of balance. You're body is so fragile. Kulang din ang posisyong ginawa mo. Walang koordinasyon ang lahat nang parte nang katawan mo. Nakatingin ka sakin imbes na sa harapan ang titig mo." Hanggang kailan moko balak kutyain bago mo ako turuan?
"Again." Maotoridad na tono niya na ikinalamig nang katawan ko. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa kanya.
She's more strict than my father.
"Again–"
"Again."
"AGAIN."
Masama ko na siyang tinignan. Hindi ba niya alam na nakakapagod ang pag-utos niya sakin? Bakit hindi niya nalang ako turuan kung paano ba talaga ang gusto niya?
Morris said I'm fine but she's making me worn out just by repeating all of those battle stances!
"Tired already?" Is she teasing me on purpose? Pero hindi naman halata na sinasadya niyang ipaulit sakin ang mga battle stances.
"Again." Napabuntong hininga ako. Gusto ko siyang sigawan pero may utang na loob parin ako dahil sa tulong na ginagawa niya.
Nang makapwesto ko ay mabilis niya akong hinawakan sa bewang at inalalayan sa braso.
Sa sobrang pagkabigla ay napaatras ako bigla. "Bakit bigla-bigla kang nanghahawak?" My face feels like it's burning on fire.
"M–my apologies, Princess. I just wanted to guide you." It's not her fault. I'm just surprised...
"I'll be careful." Pinayagan ko ulit siyang gabayan ako. Sa bawat paghawak niya sa braso ko ay ang pagkasanay ko sa posisyon. Madalang nalang akong matumba kaya naman isa iyong malaking improvement para sakin.
Isang palakpak ang natanggap ko mula kay Lady Rebel. Hindi niya na pala ako ginagabayan.
"Hold this." Sabay bigay niya sakin nang isang magaan na kahoy. Tinuruan niya muna ako kung paano ituon ang atensyon ko sa isang bagay.
"I'm just nothing but a shadow. The sword is your true enemy."
"You know all of the battle stances kaya kabisado mo na kung paano ang galawan nang paa sa pag-atake."
"If they're stepping forward, then bend your left knee. It always work." She smiles.
Sinimulan namin sa depensa dahil karamihan nang mga baguhan ay walang iisipin kung hindi ang manalo sa paligsahan.
"Defense is a part of your success. Don't waste your energy on attacking the enemy. Let them come. If you're showing your weak face, they'll possibly be more aggressive."
Kaya naman sa bawat mahinang pag-atake ni Lady Rebel ay siyang pagsangga at pagdulas ko sa hawak niya.
Dahil kung mabitawan niya ang patpat ay tiyak ako na ang mananalo.
Ilang oras ang tinagal nang pag-eensayo at wala kaming ginawang pagpapahinga. Siguro ay masasanay na ako pagdating nang ilang araw.
"It's Princess Victoria's birthday tomorrow. Are you going to attend?" Tanong niya sabay inom nang tubig. Nagpunas naman ako bago tumingin sa itaas.
"I'm not sure." Dahil baka mangyari ang kinakatakot ko. Alam kong mabait na tao si Prinsesa Victoria pero alam ko rin na nakasuot siya nang maskara.
"Pwede kang sumabay sakin papaalis." Is this somehow an offer?
"Lady Victoria will be so mad at me if she found out." Pero mukhang walang silbi ang sinabi ko dahil hindi siya apektado.
"Please think about my offer." How can she continue the topic without being distracted?
"Is it true that you're Lady Victoria's future knight?"
"I don't know where did Lady Victoria get the idea." So she's not her knight... Pero bakit hindi siya nagsasalita? May iba pa bang dahilan?
"I just don't want her to cry." Even Lady Robel has this gentle side... "I don't want any lady to cry."
"You're also a lady yet you're acting like a Prince."
"Is it bad if I wanted to be a prince instead?" Natigilan ako at napatingin kay Lady Rebel.
"I guess I just don't want any lady to experience any sadness. It hurts to see them crying." She's really has a spot for a pitiful lady.
"It's not bad to be who I am." Then–
"Ang dahilan kung bakit ka gwardiya sa isang brothel–" She chuckles as she close her eyes.
"I'm the true owner of that brothel. I bought that when I knew that they're being harassed by the former manager. In order to protect them, I became a guard instead. And Miss Arkiel is the lucky woman that I chose to be the second manager."
"Malaki siguro ang pasasalamat sayo nang mga babaeng naligtas mo." Inilahad niya naman ang kamay niya sakin.
"It's already night Princess Snow, I'll escort you home." Now I know what makes her charming. It's because of her hidden personality.
I'm a stubborn princess who survives for myself. But Lady Rebel lives and survive for other people. Her actions are like an Empress duty.
"Will you really stand in Victoria's side as her knight?"
"Just like you said to her, you can't really tell. It's the destiny that will connect me to someone who's worth of my service." In this night, I met that person who really can stay by someone's side.
Who can be loyal and faithful.
A Knight who can sacrifice herself for her future master. A person like her is a rare gem.
"Let's meet tomorrow night Princess Snow." Sa pagbitaw niya sa kamay ko ay ang pagtago ko nito sa likod. It's been forever since I felt this kind of warmth...
"Are we friends Lady Rebel?" Nabigla ako sa salitang pumuslit sa bibig ko. She seems so shock kaya dali-dali akong nagsenyas na para bang isa akong taong may karamdaman.
"It's not like that Lady Rebel, I just–" Inilagay niya ang kanang kamay sa kaliwang dibdib bago yumuko.
"It's an honor to be friends with you Princess Snow."
"Snow is fine." Natawa siya nang bahagya at umiling.
"It's rude to call you Snow–"
"Friends are supposed to call each other's name."
"If that's what makes the Princess happy."
"You're too formal."
"Please bear with it." Tsaka naman ako tumawa nang bahagya. "See you tomorrow Rebel."
"We'll meet at the party Snow."
And with that, I enter the palace with a smiling face. It's not that bad.
Having a loyal and faithful friend... It's not as bad as I think it'll be...