Hidden Beneath The Royal Mask

Chapter 2- Sweet Beautiful Face

The king was sitting in his chair with a serious face in the middle of the long table with the handsome young prince next to him. They are with the royal council and other members of the royal family who give their respective opinions on the effective ways to help all the citizens of the country, especially the poor.

Iris was just listening to all their opinions and complains, and from time to time he speaks what on his mind when they ask for his opinion.

"So as I was saying we need t—" Naputol ang dapat sana ay sasabihin ng isa sa royal council ng biglang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang isang pamilyar na babaeng puno ng kolorete ang mukha at tila kinapos sa tela ang suot na damit dahil sa iksi nito.

"Amore, perché non mi hai più chiamato? Mi manchi tanto." (Translate: Love, why didn't you call me anymore? I miss you so much.) She flirty said in Italian language while looking at him. He just remained calm and emotionless after that girl's interruption in their meeting. He didn't know why she's still chasing him after he rejected her for so many times.

Bago pa man ito tuluyang makalapit sa kinauupuan niya ay dumating na ang mga guards at hinila ito palabas ng silid na kanilang pinagpupulungan kahit nagpupumiglas ito at sumisigaw. Anak ito ng isa sa pinakamayaman at maimpluwensiyang tao sa Italy at iba pang mga bansa sa Europe kaya ganon na lamang kalakas ang loob nitong pumunta sa palasyo at gumawa ng eksena sa harap ng pinaka importanteng tao sa Netherlands.

"I apologize for the interruption, you may continue." He said as if nothing had happened. Their meeting continued for hours.

After the meeting, he went straight to his room where his fridge full of ice cream was located and took a one container of mint choco ice cream. He sit on the side of his bed while savoring the heavenly taste of his favorite dessert.

Pagkatapos niyang kumain ng ice cream ay tumawag siya sa intercom upang hatidan siya ng pagkain sa kaniyang silid dahil tinatamad na siyang bumaba pa at doon kumain. Habang naghihintay ay nilabas muna niya ang phone na nasa bulsa. Nagbrowse siya sa internet at doon nakita niya ang isang balita tungkol sa ugnayan ng kanilang bansa at sa bansang pupuntahan niya para mag-aral muli.

1 month from now, he will be flying to the Philippines because of the king's order that he should study there. Actually, he doesn't have to study anymore because he already graduated 3 years ago. He is only 16 years old when he earned a degree in Medicine. Pinili niya ito dahil sa kaniyang mapait na nakaraan, at dahil nagagamit niya din ang pagiging doctor kapag pinapadala siya sa delikadong lugar at may mga misyong kailangang gawin.

Tamad talaga siyang mag-aral buti na nga lamang at biniyayaan siya ng talino kaya maaga siyang naka graduate at naging doctor. Labag man sa loob niya ay kailangan niyang gawin dahil ito ang utos ng hari at wala na siyang magagawa kung hindi sundin ang pinag-uutos nito sa kanya.

Hindi niya alam kung anong plano ng kaniyang ama at pinapapunta siya nito sa Pilipinas. Wala naman itong sinabing misyon na kailangan niyang gawin. Siguro ay hihintayin na lang niya ang ipag-uutos nito bukod sa sinabing kailangan niyang mag-aral doon.

He has also started studying the Filipino language specifically the Tagalog dialect. He is fluent in many languages but it is not included on the list of the languages he know so he still need to learn it. However, it was not a problem for him because he's a fast learner and he can learn everything in a short span of time.

Pagkalipas ng dalawampung minuto ay narinig niya ang katok sa labas ng pintuan at pumasok ang dalawang maid na may bitbit na mga pagkaing inutos niyang lutuin. Pagka-alis ng mga ito ay nag-umpisa na siyang kumain habang nakikinig sa paborito niyang kanta.