Kasalukuyan akong nandito sa may gazebo ng Poppy Palace. After I fainted and all of those incidents, bumalik kami agad sa palace at dalawang araw akong walang malay. Kakagising ko lang kahapon and as usual, may nangyaring interrogation. Kakamulat ko palang ng mga mata ko may mga nakaabang ng mga tanong. Marami silang itinanong saakin tulad ng kung ano ang nangyari saakin, saan ako napunta, etc. etc.
I understand that they were worried about me. Even the crown prince was so sorry about the incident na feeling ko ay nabalitaan na ng Kershian Kingdom dahil nagpadala na sila ng letter of return. Kaya naman bukas ay babalik na kami sa Kershian. Hahahaha...
Maliban pa sa letter of return na ipinadala dito ay may ipinadala rin saakin na letter galing kay Ash at Chadwick. Feeling ko pagdating ko doon bobombahin nanaman ako ng mga tanong. Or more likely sesermonan ako ni Chadwick.
After that long day of interrogation and apologies, binigyan nila ako ng alone time which is now.
But before I got here, kinausap ako ni Sir Howard, privately. He really wants to know what happened to me. Pero tulad ng sinabi ko sa crown prince, sa mga investigation officials ng Merriole Kingdom ay wala akong maalala.
This is the lie I thought about. I just told them that I forgot what happened when the ground swallowed me. Told them that I was falling down for hours until I lost consciousness and waking up next to the big rock. To make it a lot more convincing, of course, I acted out like I really don't know what happened.
Mukha naman silang naniwala dahil hindi na sila ulit nagtanong, well except for Sir Howard which is strange. Talagang tinatanong niya kung paano ako napadpad doon sa may malaking bato at kung wala ba talaga ako maalala.
Hindi ko naman pwede sabihin na na-meet ko yung demon na hinahanap nila. Speaking of demon, hindi pa bumabalik si Zaggy. Well, sabi niya i-summon ko nalang siya kapag kailangan tsaka mukhang busy sila sa demon realm at matagal na siyang hindi nakakabalik doon.
Plus, there are these demon worshippers, Az'goch Tath'tinir. Should I look into this? Nope, I think it's best to ignore it for my safety. Tsaka dapat ang inuuna ko ay ang paraan kung paano ako makakabalik sa mundo ko.
But I'm really curious. Az'goch Tath'tinir, I mean, what's their objective? The beginning of a new era? What does that even mean?
"Lady Eveque?", napatingin ako doon sa tumawag saakin.
"Ah! Good day Sir Glyn", pagbati ko sabay bow.
"Forgive me for disturbing your tea time".
"No worries Sir Glyn, have a seat"
"It's fine my lady, it wouldn't take long. I just want to introduce my younger sister, the one I mentioned before", ani niya. Ay oo nga pala, nabanggit niya dati yung kapatid niya. "Actually, she's here me and she really wants to meet you. Of course if it is all right with you".
"I would be glad to meet your sister and she can absolutely join my tea time".
"Thank you, my lady. Then I'll take my leave now and call her", umalis na si Sir Glyn para tawagin yung kapatid niya.
Pero bakit kaya gusto ako makilala nung kapatid niya. Did my bad reputation reach here? Of course, it did.
"Good day Lady Eveque. I humbly thank you for allowing me to meet you. My name is Violet Glyn", a lady with violet hair and red eyes greeted me with a full-on curtsy.
Nakakaloka.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Glyn. My name is Alexandria Eveque, please have a seat".
"Thank you".
Teka, paano ba ito? Ano ba pag-uusapan namin? Sabi ni Sir Glyn, nase-sense niyang magkaugali kami nung kapatid niya. Papaano nangyari yun? His sister is so graceful compare to me na walang delikadesa.
"Ah! I heard from Sir Glyn that you want to meet me, Miss Glyn", panimula ko. I'm curious, I'm not really an interesting person, to be honest.
"Yes, and please call me Violet, Lady Eveque".
"Then, just call me Alex", me acting as elegant as I can. "So, is there something you want to ask or..."
"Actually, there is something I want to confirm. Ever since I heard that there will be scholars from the neighboring country, I've been wandering here in the palace", okay?
"I haven't been to another country so I'm a bit curious", dagdag niya.
"The same as me, this is my first time to visit another country. I might say, Merriole is a beautiful country".
"It is... since it was designed to be beautiful".
"Pardon?", medyo hindi ko kasi narinig yung huli niyang sinabi.
"Oh, nothing".
"So what was that you want to confirm?", I asked then took a sip on my tea. It's actually delicious, it's a bit different from Kershian tea.
"Lady.. I mean Alex, are you perhaps.. FROM ANOTHER WORLD?"
"Psshh cough-cough..", bigla akong nasamid sa iniinom kong tsaa. "Wh..what? How did you.. Wait? Don't tell me... you too?"
"Bingo!", masayang sagot niya habang naka-peace sign pa. Where did that elegant lady go?
No. That's not the case. "You? Wha? How do you know that I'm from another world?", tanong ko.
"When I was taking a stroll, I heard you talking to yourself. You are speaking in Filipino at that time. Our original language doesn't exist here that is why I assume that you are not from here".
"Hahahaha.. to think I could meet someone like me here in Merriole. How long have you been here?"
"I woke up in this body 4 years ago. How about you?"
"Four years? That is why you look so natural. You already adapted, as for me, I woke up 6 months ago", sagot ko naman. "I still have the same face and body, just the color of my hair and eyes changed", dagdag ko.
"Okay na yun, ako kasi iba ang may-ari ng katawan na ito", Violet.
"Do you have any idea what happened to us? Sa anime ko lang kasi ito napapanood. Ni wala akong idea kung paano ako napadpad dito".
"I don't have any idea. Since transmigrating here, I just accepted my new life and learn to adapt even though I know to myself that this world is from the book I read", Violet.
"Wait? This is also from a story?"
"Yes. There is this popular romance book I've read before. Maybe you had heard it before, it's called The Beauty Within. Yung settings nung story na iyon ay dito sa Merriole Kingdom. Halos mabaliw na nga ako noong malaman kong nag-transmigrate ako sa libro", Violet.
"What a coincidence. No, I haven't heard about it yet. Hindi naman ako masyado mahilig magbasa napilit lang ako nung bestfriend ko na basahin yung story niya. Kershian Kingdom is also the setting of the web novel my bestfriend wrote, maybe you also heard about it, the title is Charlotte. It's quite popular".
"Haa.. that's weird. I'm actually updated with the popular stories but I haven't heard of Charlotte before", Violet.
Sabi ko na nga hindi pa ganon kasikat yung webnovel ni Isabelle eh. Hahahaha...
"Anyway, have you search for any ways on how to go back to our original world? Like any ideas or leads?", tanong ko. Baka sakaling makakalap ako ng information.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't try. Alex, I can't go back even I want to. Of course, I miss my old family but there's no way for me to go back", Violet.
"What? Why? Well, I'm actually looking for ways. In case na may mahanap akong way, susulatan kita, keri?"
"Thank you for the thought, but as much as I want to, I can't really go back".
"Why?"
"Because I'm already dead", huh? "I mean my original self is already dead. Before ako mapunta dito, naaksidente ang bus na sinasakyan ko. I remember I was bathing on my own blood so I'm sure I died that night", Violet.
"I'm sorry to hear that", I really feel bad about Violet. I can't believe that she died.
"Oh, it's fine, I already accepted it and came to love my new life", I can really see how much Violet accepted everything but I don't. "How about you, Alex? Don't you love your new life? I hope I didn't offend you", napaisip ako sa tanong niya.
Love my new life? I may have adjusted but this is not my life. I'm not the real Alexandria Eveque of this world.
"I don't know since my character here is a villainess and it's bound to die".
"I'm sorry to hear your situation", Violet.
"I know, right? Ka-imbyerna".
Marami pa kaming pinagkwentuhan ni Violet. Nabanggit niya rin yung story ng The Beauty Within at yung part na extra character lang siya dito. Marami pa siyang chika, lalo na doon sa crown prince kaya naman ang dami kong nalaman sa nakakasilaw na prinsipe na yun.
Ikinuwento ko na rin yung tatlong deathflags ko. Kung anu-ano rin sinuggest niya gawin ko. Ang loka-loka kung anu-ano pinagsasabi niya.
===========================
Ngayon na kami ba-biyahe pauwi at kasalukuyan kaming nasa labas ng palace. Naka-prepare na rin yung mga carriages na sasakyan namin. We will be traveling by land until we reach the borderline.
"First and foremost, I would like to personally apologize again for all the incidents happened on your stay here, especially to you Lady Eveque", ani ni crown prince habang naka-bow.
"Oh no, it's fine Your Highness, no damage has been done", sabi ko nalang. Sa dami rin kasi ng alahas at damit na ibinigay niya matapos nung nangyari. Ewan ko nalang.
Marami pang sinabi yung crown prince na hindi ko na napakinggan ng mabuti. Now that Violet mentioned that the crown prince is odd, now I'm also noticing that he is indeed weird.
Pagkatapos ng mahabang goodbye speech nung nakakabulag na prinsipe ay nagpunta na kami sa mga kani-kaniya naming karwahe.
Excited na ako umuwi dahil nakakapagod na magpanggap na kagalang-galang. I can't believe that I'm about to say this but, I miss Kershian. I miss Prim and Charlotte.
Pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan nung coachman, papasok na sana ako nang mapansin kong may nakaupo na doon.
"What's wrong, my lady?", tanong nung coachman. Hindi niya kasi nakikita na may nakaupo na sa loob. "Nothing", sagot ko nalang tsaka pumasok at umupo.
"Uughhh", tumingin nalang ako sa may bintana. Nagsimula na rin umandar ang karwahe.
"Why are you sighing, my lady?", mapanlokong tanong saakin ni Daryl. Hindi ko nalang siya sinagot. Wala akong energy na makipagtalo.
Naubos na lahat ng energy ko ng bombahin niya rin ako ng mga tanong. Nung nagkalamalay kasi ako, siya nagbabantay saakin noon. Nagulat pa nga ako dahil mukha niya ang bumungad saakin.
"Is the lady ignoring me now?", let's just ignore him. "By the way, my lady, I haven't seen your pet snake. Where is he?".
"Beats me", his on a vacation.
Ipinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko. Medyo matagal pa bago kami makarating sa borderline.
//knock-knock//
"Huh? What? What?", nagulat ako sa mga katok nung coachman. Nakatulog pala ako, napatingin ako sa harapan ko wala na doon si Daryl.
"Lady Eveque, we will be staying at the inn for the night. We will continue to travel tomorrow", ani nung coachman pagkababa ko.
"Okay", gabi na pala.
Sabay-sabay kaming magkakaklase na kumain ng hapunan tsaka pagkatapos ay tumuloy na kami sa kaniya-kaniya naming mga room. Pagkatapos kong maligo ay nahiga na ako.
Nakatitig lang ako sa kisame at nagiisip-isip. Sa dinarami-rami ng mga nangyayari at mga nalalaman kong impormasyon, feeling ko punong-puno na yung utak ko.
Tsaka makakatulog pa ba ako? Buong biyahe akong tulog eh. Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga at naglakad-lakad sa buong kwarto.
Ano ba gagawin ko? I'm still full of energy. "Oh! I know what to do", since mahaba-habang biyahe nanaman, mag-istretching nalang na muna ako.
//After 10 minutes//
So what now? Tapos na ako mag-stretching. Hindi naman ako gutom. Tsaka malamang tulog na mga tao dito. Napatingin ako sa may bintana.
Mag-stargazing nalang ako. Tutal maraming stars ngayon. Pagkabukas ko ng bintana, may bumungad saakin na ulong lumulutang. "AAHHHH!!!", agad naman tinakpan ni Daryl yung bunganga ko.
Pumasok na ng tuluyan sa kwarto si Daryl habang ako halos mamatay na sa gulat. Feeling ko yung puso ko lumundag papuntang lalamunan ko.
"Sorry for startling you, Alexandria. I thought you were sleeping", ani niya.
"You thought I'm sleeping and you were going to sneak in?", hindi niya ako sinagot sa halip ay ngumiti lang siya ng nakakaloko.
Hey mister, answer me. Don't just smile there like it's normal to sneak in in a lady's room at night.
=================
Kinabukasan ay tumuloy na kami sa pagbiyahe hanggang sa narating na namin ang borderline. Hindi ko na napansin kung gaano kabilis tumakbo ang carriage dahil sa bangag ako. Idagdag pa itong si Daryl na sayang-saya sa sarili niya.
Pagkarating namin sa borderline ay hindi man lang kami pinagpahinga, mukhang g na g itong mga wind mages. Since we have no choice ay tumuloy na kami sa pagbiyahe.
Wait? Parang may mali.
Nagsimula ng lumutang yung kwarwahe. Shit! How could I forget this goddamn ride to hell? Hindi ko pa natali sarili ko sa upuan!
Baka may tali sa ilalim ng upuan.
"Alexandria, what are you doing?", tanong ni Daryl na inosenteng nakaupo.
"I'm looking for the rope to tie myself".
"Tie yourself? What? Could you sit for a second, Alexandria so that I can understand you".
"I don't have a second.. AAAAHHHH", hindi ko pa tapos yung sasabihin ko ay umandar na ng napakabilis yung karwahe.
Napapikit nalang ako ng mata dahil paniguradong magta-tumbling nanaman ako dito. Hmm? Binuksan ko mga mata ko dahil hindi ako nagta-tumbling. "Eh?"
"I didn't know that you are this aggressive, Alexandria"
Dahil sa biglang pag-andar kanina ay napayakap ako sakaniya habang nakaupo sa lap niya.
What kind of situation is this?!
Agad-agad akong umalis sa lap niya kaya naman bigla akong bumaliktad. Nakalimutan kong napaka-energetic ng mga wind mages ngayon kaya mas mabilis sila magpatakbo ngayon.
"Alexandria!", hinila ako Daryl sa may tabi niya.
"How in the world your sitting comfortably? You're not even a wind mage"
"I have my ways, Alexandria", oo na. Dinaig mo pa ang BDO eh.
"Just sit beside me, Alexandria. You can hold my arm or anywhere part of my body", huh? Dahil sa wala akong choice ay humawak ako sa may braso niya. The safest part. "Or you can sit on my lap again", sapakin ko kaya siya.
"I didn't mean to, it's an accident", huwag kang ma-feeling. Kahit na ramdam ko mga muscles mo braso, huwag masyadong mag-feeling, okay?
Pasimple ko rin siyang inamoy. Ba't ang bango niya? Kabwisit eh. Ganito ba talaga kapag male lead? Hindi bumabaho? Mabango lagi?
Si Ash din, minsan naaamoy ko ang bango-bango. Si Charlotte rin, si Chadwick nevermind na lang. Basta yung mga main characters ang bango nila, kahit na pinagpapawisan.
Ba't ako kapag pinagpawisan, amoy paksiw? Nanggigitata. Eh isa rin naman sa mga main characters si Alexandria Eveque, siya yung antagonist so dapat mabango ako lagi. May discrimination ha.
Masyado ka Isabelle.
==================
"Alexandria..."
"Alexandria..."
"Alexandria..."
Nagising ako sa mahihinang tapik sa pisngi. "What?"
"We've arrived", ani ni Daryl.
"Huh?", nakatulog pala ako sa balikat ni Daryl. Wait, nakatulog? Kinapa-kapa ko yung balikat at braso ni Daryl para tingnan kung basa. Baka natuluan ko ng laway nakakahiya.
"You really like touching me, Alexandria", napatigil naman ako sa ginagawa ko at lumayo sakaniya.
"We've arrived? Aren't the travel time supposed to be 72 hours?", ba't naging isang araw nalang? Kibit-balikat lang ako sinagot ni Daryl.
Masyado naman atang na-excite yung mga wind mages. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko. Napatingin ako sa may bintana. Nandito na kami sa harap ng academy. Tumingin ako kay Daryl.
"Why are you still here?", ningitian niya lang ako na parang nanloloko. "You are not allowed in here", dagdag ko pero nakangiti lang siya. Bakit feeling ko may binabalak ito?
"You better stay here".
"Why?"
"Huh? Well, as you may know, noble ladies are not to be seen alone with a man especially a lady who hasn't reach adulthood", pag-eexplain ko.
"Is that so?", tanging sagot niya lang.
"Do you really understand what I mean?"
"Yes, Alexandria", kahit na kaduda-duda yung mukha ni Daryl ay lumabas na ako ng karwahe.
"Alex!", rinig kong sigaw ni Prim. Hinanap ko kung saan galing yung sigaw. Nakita kong papalapit sina Prim, Charlotte, Ash ay Chadwick.
Lumakad ako patungo sakanila ngunit tumigil din nang mapansin kong nandidilim yung mga mukha nina Chadwick at Ash. Jusko, mukhang ready na silang sermonan ako. Nagtatakang tinignan ko naman sila Prim at Charlotte dahil sa gulat na gulat na itsura nila.
"Oh, graciousness! ALEX BROUGHT HOME A MAN!!!", sigaw ni Prim na ikinanganga ko rin.
Napatingin ako sa likuran ko at nakita ko si Daryl na kakababa sa carriage na nakangisi.
Aba't sinasabi ko na nga ba eh!
"ALEXANDRIA/RIA"
Napatingin nalang ako sa langit. LORD, WHY???