Chapter 3: The Princess

*Years earlier*

"...ano ka ba, everybody wants to be a princess!" the 3 witches of the class are at it again annoying me

"Not me though."

"Wews, sabi mo lang yan kasi never kang magiging princess, there's absolutely 0% chance na magiging princess ka."

"So kayo may chance maging prinsesa, ganon?"

"Yeah! because first of all, we're rich!"

"Tama siya, in fact, ikaw ang pinakamahirap sa section natin. Baka nga pati buong school eh."

"I don't really get it why you're enrolled in this school anyway!" "

"Saka di naman ata nago-offer ng scholarships ang school na 'to."

HAHAHA Humalakhak ang mga bruha.

"Mayaman nga kayo, mukha naman kayong mga bruha." pabulong kong sabi.

"Anong sabi mo?!"

"Huh? Wala, sabi ko ang ganda mo!"

"Siya lang?"

"Edi ikaw din, lahat na kayo."

"Nang-aasar ka ba?!"

"Hay, ewan ko sa inyo, leave me alone! Ay hindi, ako na lang pala aalis baka kung anu-ano na naman masabi niyo ang sakit niyo sa tenga."

"Ay wow! Kami? Masakit sa tenga?"

"Guys! Guys! Pinapapunta tayo sa conference hall! Nandun daw ngayon si Adina!"

"Adina?!"

Di ako makapaniwala sa mga reaksyon nila nang marinig nila yung pangalang Adina. Ako lang ata di nakakakilala sa kaniya. Kung ibabase mo sa naging reaksyon ng mga kaklase ko, sikat siya. Balita ko mayaman, maganda, at matalino daw siya. Pati nasangkot daw siya sa isang eskandalo dati pero wala akong masyadong alam tungkol dun. At saka saglit lang pinag-usapan ng mga tao. Baka dahil sa takot or binayaran nila mga may alam. Balita ko mayaman pamilya niya. Pero di ko pa siya nakikita. Wala din akong time na puntahan siya ngayon kasi may research paper pa akong tinatapos. Saka hindi naman kailangan na makita siya. Yung willing lang naman daw. May lecture daw ata siya about architecture. Ang inaabangan kong lecture ay about sa art and or writing. Later pa ata kasi yun kaya unahin ko muna tong research paper ko. Sana matapos ko nato agad para makagala ako.

***

"Hoy! Desirae!" - teacher ko.

"Yes po, mamser!"

"What happened? Bakit di ka pumunta sa conference hall kanina?"

"Ahm, tinatapos ko po kasi yung research paper ko po."

"Research paper? Natapos mo ba? Let me see."

"Di pa po tapos. Sorry po, nakaidlip po ako ata ako."

"Of course you did! Saka di lang idlip yan, you slept for like, 2 hours! In the library!"

"Sorry po. Ma'am."

"You're sorry won't change anything. You missed the lectures! Pauwi na tayo, well actually ikaw na lang ata di nakakauwi sa section niyo."

"Oh, I ---"

"Come on, sabay ka na sakin."

"Thank you po!"

"Pasalamat ka I care for my students deeply plus you're going to be my daughter-in-law someday. Dahil kung hindi, baka pabayaan at iwan kita dito."

"Titamam ano ka ba, sabi naman namin sayo bestfriends lang kami ni Ace eh. Di naman niya ako gusto romantically."

"Hindi pwede, di ko siya papayagang asawin ng iba. Ikaw dapat."

"Grabe ka naman po, di naman po ata tama yun haha."

(We laughed together, she always does this even if Ace is around.)

She's still the best teacher kahit na masungit siya, masakit magsalita, umiirap, at istrikto. Lagi niya akong sinasabay pauwi eversince. Magkapitbahay lang kami. Magkatapat ng bahay to be exact. I have no idea where's Ace right now at kung bakit di namin siya kasabay umuwi. He's probably on training.

"Sayang wala ka sa lecture ni Adina. Na-mention ka pa naman."

"Ako po? Bakit po ako na-mention?"

"Nakasama mo daw dati yung isang kapatid niya as a representative of our school for the contests held last year. She told us na nagset ka ng magandang example para sa kapatid niya since they are used to being homeschooled. Nakakaawa nga eh, tig-iisang beses lang nila naranasan mag-aral sa physical school."

"Sa pagkakaalam ko po, mayaman daw sila ah. Bakit di na lang sila gumawa ng sarili nilang school tapos exclusively for them and other people na okey sa kanila makasama."

"Well, that actually happened. Pero binenta nila yung school sa gobyerno."

"Why, what happened?"

(chuckles)

"Baba ka na, lakad ka na lang, malapit naman na bahay niyo. Pupunta pa akong supermarket. See you in class!"

I was left wondering that day. Pero di ako masyadong ginambala ng curiosity ko. Mas binigyan ko ng pansin yung pagtapos ng research paper ko.

***

*present time*

"Good morning princess!"

"Princess? Sinong princess? Ako po?"

"Of course! Look at you!"

"I don't think so, kayo po ang prinsesa dito since dito po kayo nakatira."

"Yes! Just like you!"

"I'm merely a visitor. Uuwi pa din naman po ako di ba?"

I'm still in denial kahit nakita kong umalis at iniwan ako ng aking pamilya sa palasyong to.

"Please don't cry. It will ruin your beauty. Let's get to know each other! Also, you need to know some rules for this place."

"I have question po."

"Yes, what is it?"

"What's really my role in this place? What am I supposed to be?"

"A princess!"

"A what? Po?"

"No need to rush, magsisink in din lahat yan, it's just a matter of time. Let's see, here we are in the living room. All the residents, my family, and our lovely staff are gathered to welcome you, a new member of our family."

"A member of our? ---"

"Yes! First of all, I'm Adina, the second child along with Albert, technically because we're twins. Here's our dad, Don Adelio. That's Amir, our eldest brother. And our baby brother, Aiden. Lastly, you're Desirae. Our staff have nametags; you can ask them whatever, anything!"

"I still don't get it."

"Don't pressure yourself, dear. I know you're a smart girl. We've been watching your progress in school. Too bad you never go to one of my lectures when I'm there."

"Wait a minute, you're---"

"Yes! I am!"

"Oh I see, ikaw po yung tinutukoy nilang prinsesa daw. You're giving lectures mainly about architecture in our school!"

"I always wonder why you're not showing up."

"No reason. The last time was because I was doing my research paper."

"Really? I thought ayaw mo sa akin or sa amin."

"Di naman po sa ganun, at saka di ko po kayo kilala."

"Right, today we'll start getting to know each other! Di ba dad? brothers?"

"Yes, dear. And I think she needs a tour whilst you explain to her everything."

It was an exhausting but interesting tour. Napakalawak ng palasyong 'to. Kapag naglaro siguro tayo ng tagu-taguan aabutin tayo ng 24 hours. Saka madami ding rules. I should ask for it to be printed or save it as a file. Para on the go siya. Magkakaroon ako ng easy access via phone. Nakakamangha ang designs sa loob at labas ng palasyo. Madami ding paintings at portraits sa loob.

"Kanino pong portrait yan, sa nanay niyo?"

"Uh, this? Yeah, siya si Anne. My mom. Princess Anne."

"Princess Anne? Yung---"

"Princess Anne? Yung---"

"Yes."

"What should I call you or how should I address you? And also the others? I mean all of you?"

"Ikaw bahala. It's no big deal since you're now technically a part of this family. It's a known fact na Papa adores you so much since you were a kid and so do I! Now, I need you to approach my brothers and get along with them. That's your mission for, like, 1 week."

"1 week?!"

***