Verañas Royales I: Of Blues and Fire

Kabanata 15

The raspiness of the brown sand from the ground, brushed the soles of Prince Johannes as he made his way through the mark. Mas lalo pang napasingkit ang mga mata nito dahil nasisinagan na ang malawak na field ng araw. The light was spread all over the place. The wind whistled and the dust, went flying in the space. Pinaypay nito ang isang kamay sa mukha, inalis iyong alikabok sa harapan at pagkuwan ay umubo. He then, regained his composure again na parang walang nangyari.

Princess Lyca was seen, standing from behind the prince with golden hair and patiently waiting for her turn. Nasa magkabilang tabi nito ang kanyang mga kamay at nakakuyom ang mga kamao. She stepped a little bit aside; the arrows from her shoulder swayed from her movement, just to see the prince fully on her view.

With a heaved breath, kinuha ng pangalawang prinsipe iyong isang pana mula sa kanyang likuran. It was not actually a sigh, lalong-lalo na at di naman siya kinakabahan. On that case, he was so sure of himself. Siniyasat niya iyong pana, pinadausdos ang mga daliri sa dulo at hinaplos ang balahibo doon. When he heard nothing from the crowd, humanda na siya. Pinuwesto na niya ang kanyang sarili sa makinis at sementadong tatsulok na kinatatayuan.

The majestic strategist positioned his elbow—elevating in a small lapse and stopped from his waist. On the other hand, with moderate strength, he pulled the arrow inside the elastic band; his feet were working quietly and produced a distance in between, elegantly finishing his pose. Gamit iyong mga matang lalo pang napaningkit, pinatagilid niya ang kanyang ulo, pasandal kaunti sa pana. He heard someone gasped in his back. He smiled and released the arrow.

As usual, tumama iyon sa gitna. A guaranteed 10 points. Hindi na nagsayang ng oras ang prinsipe at kumuha ng isa pa sa kanyang likuran. In repeat, he struck a pose, he aimed for the target and released. Tumama ulit iyon sa gitna. Sampung puntos.

Kagaya nga ng inaasahan at paniniwala ni Lyca, nakakuha ng tatlong, sampung puntos sunod-sunod si Prinsipe Johannes. It was, as if the bow and arrow were steadily attached to his body and was born with the talent on it. She shrugged her shoulders and her lips drew a line, the corners arching upwards. Sabagay. Wala naman atang bagay na hindi ito magaling.

Now that she's into it, she remembered something.

The prince was actually a good kisser too—

What the—

She bit her lower lip and shook her head to throw the lewd thoughts away. She was not supposed to think of that. Nakatayo siya sa likod nito at sa kalagitnaan ng kompetisyon. She let out a sigh out of disbelief at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa pwesto.

"Remember, stay focus.." Sinalubong siya ni Prinsipe Johannes. He leaned and whispered right through her ear. "Kaya mo 'yan!"

Oh, God. How she wished the prince didn't do that. Kinilabutan pa tuloy ang buong katawan niya.

When she reached the shiny and silvery triangle, she hastily stepped on it. Iyong isang paa muna ang humakbang, pagkatapos ay iyong isa naman. Makikitang medyo kabado siya sa aktibidad na iyon dahil bahagyang nanginginig ang mga kamay niya. Pinigilan ng isang kamay niya iyong isa para matigil ang paggalaw niyon. Hindi pwede. Baka mamaya eh maapektuhan iyong pagpana niya.

She calmed herself by closing her eyes and by simply, inhaling and exhaling. Such breathing exercise was taught to her by Dra. Montañez and actually works if she's having a hard time having decisions, to quiet down the tranquils inside her head and focusing. Nagmulat siya ng kanyang mga mata at seryosong tumingin sa kanyang target.

Laking pasasalamat niya dahil malinaw ang kanyang mata. Thanks to the squash she learned to ate, since she was a child. Kahit ayaw niya iyon dati ay pinilit iyon ipakain sa kanya, ngayon naman ay natuwa siya at may dahilan naman pala talaga iyon. She smiled to herself and fixed her feet in the position, using the right measurement of distance said by the second prince. She heard it enough from the back. She heard him murmured positively and it somewhat gave her an assurance, na tama ang kanyang ginagawa.

Tinaas niya ang kanyang isang kamay, gamit ang mala-kandilang mga daliri ay dumulas iyon, pababa sa palaso sa loob ng arkong hawak ng isa pa. She squinted her eyes from upfront, clearly aiming to the target. Kahit kinakabahan ay hindi na niya iyon pinakita at binitawan na ang palaso.

Laking tuwa niya ng tumusok ito sa itim sa gitna. Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga na kanina pa pala niya naipon sa loob niya. In full spirit, she reached from the cast and off an arrow on her back and shoot.

But unfortunately, it landed on the second circle. Eight points.

Her dark, hazel eyes narrowed. Napalunok siya. Kitang-kita kung paano siya nadismaya sa puntos na tinamaan niya. The man on her back was not saying anything, nor whispering something out of his voice. Napakuyom siya sa kanyang mga palad. Alam niyang hindi ito natutuwa.

Matagal ata bago nakuha ni Lyca ang kanyang sarili dahil narinig niya ang tunog na nagmumula sa gong. Indikasyon niyon na patapos na ang oras ng paghihintay at kailangan na niyang isagawa iyong huling pagpana. Huminga siya ng malalim at gamit ang bahagyang umiilig na kamay, inabot niya iyong huling pana.

Please, make it.

She released the arrow but with no expectations from everyone, it went not on the bulls' eyes but from the field. It created a sound landing from the sand.

Walang puntos.

She can only took a step backward and turned around. Her one hand loosening the bow from her tight gripping.

Nang bumalik siya sa kanyang pwesto ay nagsalita agad si Prinsipe Johan, pero hindi ito nakatingin sa kanya.

"Maybe the wind caught your arrow or something.." Tumango-tango ito habang ang mga kamay ay nakayakap sa kanyang dibdib. "Yes. Yes. It might be the case. Alright.." Ang sabi pa nito na parang kinakausap ang sarili. Nagpakawala ito ng buntong-hininga at tumalikod sa kanya at anyong parang inaayos ang mga pana na ginamit.

For her, it was more likely avoiding her. Bumaba iyong mga balikat niya.

Bakit parang ang affected naman ata niya masyado? Eh ano naman kung talo sila?

The second eldest royal didn't open a conversation with her, not until the next segment was introduced.

Kung iyong unang parte ng kompetisyon ay mahirap na, mas mahirap pa ata iyong sumunod. Napakapit si Lyca sa kanyang inuupuan habang nakikinig sa paliwanag ni Michael. A demonstration headed by Ace and Heart, the bodyguard and assistant of Prince Damienne and Princess Sierra respectively shown for them, kahit na halos lahat sa mga prinsipe ay hindi interesado para doon. Talking about the privelege they have.

Kailangang mapataaman ng sabay ng prinsipe at ng kanyang kapareha iyong lata ng softdrink na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng waring pantay na plataporma sa harapan nila—at nang hindi natutumba iyon. Both the prince and the princess will only be given two arrows each; with which, if one can't pierce the can, may isa na lamang siyang chance gamit ang huling pana. Kapag isa lamang sa kanila ang nakapagpatama sa lata, it was, still not considered as a win.

Narinig siguro ng prinsipe iyong pagbitaw niya ng malalim na buntong hininga kaya ito humarap. The sun was now high and looking at them directly and her eyes hardly pried open. Nahihirapan siyang tingnan ito.

"We should at least win this game to catch from the others.." Nakapamulsa ito at gamit ang kanyang baba ay itinuro iyong mga kapwa niya prinsipe at ang kani-kanilang mga katuwang. "Kaya kung hindi mo kaya, sabihin mo na ng maaga.."

Ang kaninang hirap sa pagtingala sa prinsipe ay parang napalitan ng kung anong bumuhay sa dugo ni Lyca at tiningnan na ito ng diretso pabalik. "Ano.. 'yon?"

"Kung hindi mo na kayang gawin itong sunod na segment, sabihin mo na sa akin ngayon para mainform ko na sila Michael.." Nakakunot na ang noo nito at kitang-kita na nauubusan na rin ng pasensya sa pagsasalita sa kanya. "Hindi naman mahirap 'yung tanong ko. Oo lamang at hindi ang sagot mo.."

Napabuga ng hangin ang Kapares, her upteeth nibbling her lower lip as she looked down.

Was the prince asking her to give up without her trying? Oo. Aaminin niyang mahirap nga ang isang iyon kumpara sa nauna, pero ang husgahan siya dahil lamang sa nagawa niya nung huli na naapektuhan ng husto ang scoreboards nila? That's a big no, no for her.

The bride to be, ambled a step forward. "Do you want to?" The strands of her hair fall back down to her forehead and rosy cheeks. "Do you want me to, Your Majesty?"

May hintong sandali bago ito sumagot sa kanya, ang kanyang mga kamay ay nakapaloob pa rin sa kanyang mga bulsa. "Well, I'm actually giving you a choice. It's not too late and you can tell me.."

Her lips drew a thin line. "Do you trust me?"

Kagaya kanina ay parang natahimik ito, ang tanging pagkakaiba nga lamang ay nakatingin na ito ng diretso sa kanya. Ang mga mata ng prinsipe ay malilikot na parang pinapag-aralan ng mabuti ang sasabihin sa kanyang katunangan.

"I.." The prince shook his head, it somehow tells her something that makes her heart sank. Pero inalis na nito ang mga kamay sa kanyang pantalon at humakbang na papalapit sa kanya.

"I do.."

Her insides made twists and turns.

"Then, it's decided. Don't just settle on my mistakes and let's move forward.." Tinalikuran na niya ito at hindi na hinintay makasagot. She picked up the reserved arrows from the bench and placed them inside the cylinder.

"Keep doing that and I might marry you.."

Kahit na mahina iyon ay umikot pa rin siya at humarap sa prinsipe. "I'm sorry Your Majesty, I didn't quite, catch that.." She gulped, her expression waiting for the royal's answer. "What is it?"

"Hm?" Prince Johannes was cleaning the bow with white cloth, nakataas ang isang kilay habang hati ang atensyon sa paglilinis ng kanyang mga pana at sa kanya. "About what?"

Sabi nga niya, nilalaro na rin siya ng utak niya. Maglilinis na rin siya ng tainga para sigurado.

"O-Oh. Nothing.." With heated cheeks, she turned around and continued what she was doing. Strangely, her lips pursed into a pout.

She was so sure about it, but she ended up getting frustrated.

Parang nawalan na siya ng gana.