A Happily Ever After

Chapter Three

JESSA

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The first thing I saw was the blazing radiation of something from above me, that made the stinging electric pain to further sharpen beneath my temples. I winced and groaned in pain. I closed my eyes even more to at least try to suppress that bright thing hovering over me.

But instead, another shrill and ringing static fill my ears. Funky white lines dance around my closed eyes. Oh my God, what the hell is happening?

After what seems to be infinity, the static fades out. The funky lines disappear into the blackness of my closed eyes. Even my headache slowly departs from my skull.

Sa wakas, muli nang bumalik ang pakiramdam ko. Ramdam ko ang malambot na kung ano sa aking likuran, ang medyo malamig na hangin na banayad na umiihip sa bandang kaliwa ko, ang kung anong masikip na bagay ang nakayakap sa beywang hanggang dibdib ko, pati na rin ang mabigat at mahabang tela na bumabalot sa hita hanggang paanan ko.

Oh my God.

Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko. Mayroon 'nga na isang malaki at nakakabulag na chandelier ang nakasabit sa kisame sa itaas ko. Chandelier that looks like it's made from shining jewels, giving more chance to reflect light and create brighter glare.

Oh god, there's a freaking chandelier. Saan naman ba 'yan galing?

I close my eyes, take a deep breath, then open them again.

The chandelier is still right there. But right now, my vision has finally recovered. There are fancy golden flourishes etching at the white ceiling, some formed the shapes of flowers and thorny vines. Yet what actually caught my attention are the obvious designs of dragons.

What the hell.

Where the heck am I?

Tsaka ko nalang na napagtanto na nakahiga rin pala ako sa isang higaan habang ang mga paa ko ay naka-apak pa rin sa sahig, na para bang umupo muna ako bago tuluyang humiga. I tilt my head by the side to process where the hell I am.

I am inside of a very fancy room, with walls decorated with the same golden linings, still forming bigger and more detailed forms of flowers and dragons. A faint smell of lavender hit my nose, anchoring my consciousness more. There are cabinets, drawers, a bookshelf filled with books, and a human sized mirror.

As I stared at the things around me, I realize how fast my heart is beating. It's drumming against my ribs and thumping loudly on my ears. All of my four limbs are badly shaking, my hands are clutching at the bed sheets, my legs tremble from under the thick material covering me.

The warmth of the room hugs me like an old friend. May kung ano na sobrang pamilyar sa amoy at pakiramdam ko rito sa loob ng kwarto na ito. Pero hindi iyon sapat para hindi ako kabahan at magtaka. Nasaan na parte na ba ako ng mundo?

Dahan-dahan kong ginalaw ang mga nanginginig kong mga braso at ginamit ang mga siko ko bilang suporta sa pagbangon ko. Marahan na dumilim ang paningin ko at umikot ang mundo ko, pero agad din naman ito nawala nang tuluyan na akong naka-upo.

At tsaka ko lang napagtanto na iba na pala ang suot ko. It explains the tight thing covering my body that is almost suffocating me. Also the thick and long thing covering my whole lower torso. Because it's a gown. I am wearing a freaking gown.

Mukhang naka-suot ako ng napakasikip na corset, base sa pakiramdam nito sa katawan ko. Off-shoulder din ito, kaya kitang kita ang kabuuan ng balikat ko. May sleeves din ito na umaabot hanggang sa wrists ko, designed like a loose and flowy fabric. The skirt was perfectly puffed out in a huge rounded shape, with numerous loose layers that matches the relaxed design of the sleeves. Red, yellow and black beads covered the whole gown, twinkling from the bright illumination of the chandelier.