Verañas Royales I: Of Blues and Fire

Kabanata 14

Natangay ng hangin iyong maputlang pulang buhok ni Prinsipe Jerremiah nang maibaba iyong saklob sa kanyang ulo. Si Prinsesa Ai nauna na sa kanilang pwesto at hinihiwalay iyong mga palaso at pana na gagamitin nilang dalawa. Saka lamang naputol ang tingin nito kay Lyca, nang bigyan ito ng dalaga ng ngiti bilang kompirmasyon sa presensya nito.

As for Prince Johannes, he was still looking at his twin brother with those, puzzled eyes. Ngunit ang bibig nito ay nakabukas ng bahagya; ang isang sulok nito ay tataas at kunwa'y bababa ulit. Maya-maya ay nagpakawala ito ng tawa habang ang isang kamay ay nasa beywang nito. Marahang sinipa nito iyong munting bato na nakita sa tapat ng kanyang paa at nagpagulong iyon sa gitna. Napailing-iling siya. Mas lalong dumaloy iyong excitement sa buong katawan niya.

There you are..

"Seryoso ka na ba dito sa gagawin mo, Jerry?" Bungad ni Prinsipe Collisse dito. The fifth prince's eyes were also focused on the first prince's body. He then, checked his forehead. "May lagnat ka ba?"

Napahinto ang pag-aayos ni Prinsipe Jerremiah sa kanyang mga kagamitan nang sumugod sa kanya ang makulit na prinsipe at kinapa-kapa iyong mga braso pati na mga binti at paa niya. Narinig niyang tumawa ang katabi niyang Kapares at tinapunan ito ng tingin na ikinatahimik naman nito.

"Mukha ba akong may lagnat?" Winaksi niya ang mga kamay nito gamit ang mga kamay na may bahid pa rin ng mga guhit ng sugat na ang ilan naman ay may band-aid at nagsisimula ng maghilom.

The prince having angelic features let out a contented sigh. "I'm glad.." Tumango-tango ito, nilagay iyong mga braso sa dibdib at humalukipkip. "Sure, your brother feels the same.."

"I'm doubtless about that, Your Majesty." His voice was covered with distrust. Hinubad ng prinsipeng may angking mahabang buhok, iyong nakasakop sa katawan na kapa at hinayaan na lamang maiwan iyong hoodie. Sinabit niya iyon sa isang upuan.

Dumako ang tingin niya sa kapatid. Nang makitang nakatingin rin ito ay umiwas ito ng tingin at nagpanggap na nakikipag-usap kay Lyca. He just shrugged his shoulders and sighed to himself.

He was certain that the moment he stepped out from his cage, fear and pain will start to chase him. He assured and accepted all of that.

It was all thanks to that woman.

The gong beside the Consuejos struck by two bodguards, summoned the participants. Michael, who was smiling handsomely through the crowd introduced the main persons of the whole event, with the precautionary measures of the said game coming, right after his explanation.

The said, royal archery competiton is comprised by three sections and each will be announced right after the another. The first part of the match is the one Prince Johannes taught Lyca. The Prince and his Kapares will be given three arrows; both will shoot in chronological order. The points will be added altogether and will be declared later on, para malaman kung sino ang nanalo sa round na iyon.

Para mapagdesisyunan kung sino ang mauuna, sinimplehan lamang iyon ni Michael at naghanda ng draw lots. One of the assistants walked in the center and gave the said wooden box from the right hand man.

All of the princes approached the middle, leaving their respective partners behind. Magkakasunod kumuha ng stick ang mga prinsipe. A pause and they finally decided on who will aim first.

Pagbalik ni Prinsipe Johannes sa pwesto nila ni Lyca ay itinaas nito ang kanyang isang kamay, waving the above one inch, rounded-tip stick. "Pangatlo.."

With a nod, Lyca towered over the field were the series of six bull's eyes were located. Kitang-kita ng kanyang dalawang mata ang lahat ng iyon dahil nagsisimula na ring uminit ang paligid dahil sa tirik tirik na araw. She realized, many occurences happened and now, they were already here. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang nagtagal na siya ng ganoon sa Palasyo at nakagawa na rin ng ilang bagay na hindi niya maisip na magagawa niya pala. Her hands balled into fists. Nahagip niyon ang nakalaylay na malambot na tela sa kanyang baywang.

She's getting nervous. Alright.

"Sit down.."

Napasinghap naman siyang bigla sa bench sa likod ng pwesto nila nang hilahin siya ng unang prinsipe para mapaupo sa tabi nito. Nakatalikod na ito sa kanya and already rummaging beside her. Nang humarap ito ay may hawak na ang kamahalan na dalawang botelya ng tubig. Binuksan nito ang isa at inabot sa kanya.

"Drink.." He told her, his one hand carrying the other bottle and the cap, already opened. "Mainit ang panahon ngayon. You should drink up and stay hydrated.."

Ininom na nito ang tubig at nagrehistro pa sa utak ng dalaga ang marahang pag-ahon at pagbaba ng adam's apple nito, sa kanyang mahabang leeg. It was kind of normal, but slow and seductive. Lumunok siya ng laway at nakaramdam ulit ng init. Hindi lang niya alam kung dahil sa panahon iyon o dahil sa utak niyang kung ano ano ang iniisip.

When she drank hers, the formerly full bottle of his, was emptied when he faced her. "Just as I thought, they will use an easy one as a first segment to the whole game.." Ginusot nito sa mga kamay iyong plastic bottle ng tubig at tinapon iyon sa katabing basurahan.

"Sinuwerte ka lamang, Kamahalan.." Walang emosyong sagot niya at tinakluban ang iniinom. Dumako ang tingin niya sa naghahandang pares na mauuna sa kompetisyon na iyon. Their assistants were checking if there's anything that will harm them around.

"At least, hindi sayang ang pagtuturo ko sayo.." Tumango-tango ito at nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. With his arms crossed behind his head, sumandal ito sa kinauupuan. "Let's see how your team will do, Damienne.."

Prince Damienne was already on his mark, habang ang kapartner nitong si Prinsesa Taylor ay nakaabang sa likod niya at naghihintay na matapos ang pang anim na prinsipe. The youngest royal swiftly moved his one arm—his elbow pointed and lined in his waist, raising the other and finally stretching to aim his target. When he let go of it, the arrow landed flawlessly on the middle. He grabbed another one on his back, targeted the middle again, picked the last arrow and he got ten points again.

Napuno ang arena ng masigabong palakpakan at hangang-hanga sa galing at liksi ng pinakabata sa mga prinsipe. The said prince, just walked past his partner kahit na nakaabang ang nasabing Kapares para siguro, batiin ito. The frown was evident on Princess Taylor's face as she got up from the bench at pumunta na sa pwesto.

As the wind passed by, the golden feather drooping from her ear, swayed together with her brown hair. She then, struck a pose—the transparent, shaking movements of her arms and elbows affected her position. Nang bitawan niya iyong palaso, hindi ito tumama sa kahit saan sa bilog ng target. Still fighting, she grabbed another one from her back and released. Tumama iyon sa pinakababa. Nagpakawala ito ng hininga. Kumuha ng isa pa, pero lumampas lamang ito. With slumped shoulders, nagpunta ito pabalik sa bench.

"As expected.." Simula ni Prinsipe Johannes, ang kanyang isang kamay ay nakapatong sa nakade-quatro nitong mga binti. "The game itself will not work, if those who are in the team will not help each other.." He tsked, his one hand cupping his chin. "You little guy, what the hell are you doing?"

Sa paraan ng pag-ayos nito ng kanyang pag-upo ay masasabi ni Lyca na nakuha ng sunod na pares ang atensyon ng prinsipe. Bumaling siya sa kinaroroonan niyon at maging siya ay napapirmi.

The eyes of Prince Sid still shined as if he was so close to the masses. Kakakitaan ito ng kakisigan kahit iyong likod lamang ang nakaharap sa madla. Kinuha nito iyong mga gagamitin at bago magsimula ay tiningnan pamuli iyon. Afterwards, he silently composed himself. He distanced a right amount in between his legs. And with a blink of an eye, he already expanded his strong arms, reaching for the goal target. Isa. Dalawa. Tatlo. Magkakasunod-sunod na tumusok sa gitna iyong tatlong pana. Prince Sid left the crowd in awe.

"What a show-off.." Narinig niyang sambit ni Prinsipe Johannes sa kanyang tabi and unbound a chuckle of sarcasm.

As the third prince leave the position, Princess Anikka was already walking towards it. Just like the followed prince, kalma lamang ang itsura nito na parang hindi 'man lang nakakaramadam ng pagkakaba. Her dark, long hair tied up and the red feather showing, pinned in it.

When she struck a pose, it was as if, everyone was in her favor and they were casted into her spell. Her one arm swang then goes up, with the bow and arrow already stretched. Kagaya ng ginawa ng katuwang nitong prinsipe, dahan dahan nitong nilayo ang mga binti sa isa't-isa. When she freed the arrow, it pointed too in the middle. Seamlessly, reaching to her back for another, she freed and targeted the same place. Completely confident on the results, she grabbed the last one and it goes in at number ten.

Iyong malakas na palakpak na ibinigay ng mga tao kay Prinsipe Damienne kanina ay siya namang inilakas sa pangalawang pares.

It was all straight. All three, ten points. Both of them.

"Yan! That's what I'm talking about.." Tumayo si Prinsipe Johannes at sumabay na rin sa palakpakan. "That's the team!"

Now that the second pair concluded, it means only one thing.

Sila naman.

"Let's go.." Kinuha ng pangalawang prinsipe iyong mga palaso sa kanilang tabi at ang isa ay isinabit sa kanya.

"Just don't forget what I told you. Distance plus, focus.." The regal strategist laid his hands on top of her shoulders and looked at her intently. The action made her do the same.

Bahagyang nanginig ang kanyang mga kamay, an indication that she's nervous on the coming activity. Nakalimutan na naman kasi niyang inumin ang kanyang gamot, kaya ayun tuloy hindi kumalma ang dibdib niya.

Right after she closed her eyes and tried to calm down herself, she felt the lips of the second prince daintly pressed on her forehead.

"Good luck.."

How amusing. It made her breathing at ease.