To break her reality bound by rules, Letizia impulsively participates in a project communicating with a stranger and shares the life she desires behind the name "Juliette". Can she keep up with the lies about her perfect story and not fall for the m...
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"YOU know you don't have to be okay, right?" tanong ni David habang nakaunan ako sa braso niya.
Kasalukuyan kaming magkatabi sa buhanginan at nakatitig sa kalangitan na nagdidilim na. Stars were slowly sparkling in the sky even though the moon was still out of sight. And the dancing of the waves were music to my ears. Bawat hampas ng alon ay nagpakakalma sa aking isipan at gusto ko na lang makatulog.
Sadly, my eyes were red and swollen after crying so much.
Ilang oras pa lang ang nakalilipas magmula nang umalis kami sa kompanya ni Mamá. Sa halip na bumalik sa hotel, dinala ako ni David sa beach. I don't actually know where we were, and since David is unfamiliar as well, we just hailed a taxi and was brought here.
Pinagtitinginan pa nga kami ng mga tao sa paligid. Siguro mukha kaming magkasintahan na nag-away.
Nang makarating kami sa harapan ng karagatan, I just kept bawling my eyes out. Nakaakbay lang si David sa akin at tinatapik ang balikat ko habang nakasubsob ang mukha ko sa aking mga braso.
"Estoy aquí," ilang beses na pag-uulit ni David.
He wasn't stopping me from crying. Instead, he allowed me to pour out everything I had kept in my chest. David knew how much I yearned to speak to my mother properly. Pero nauwi sa sakit ang pag-uusap namin.
Ayaw ni Mamá at halos ipagtabuyan na ako palayo. How should I justify her action?
Pakiramdam ko talaga talo ako sa pagpunta ko rito. Ang dami ko pa rin na katanungan pero hindi ko alam bakit ayaw ako makita ni Mamá?
"Let's lie down, mi princesa." Nagpatianod lang ako kay David, and that was how we ended up staring at the sky.
"Have you cried it all out?" malambing niyang bulong.
"I . . . I don't know."
"That's alright. You can take your time and let me know if you have to cry. You know I'll be here."
I stretched my neck to be able to look at him. Nakatingin na pala siya sa 'kin. "You promise?"
Bumagon kami ni David nang marinig ang pagtunog ng smartphone niya. Umupo ako nang maayos upang suklayin ang buhok ko at tanggalin ang ilang buhangin na kumapit doon. Nang harapin ko muli si David at hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagkakukunot ng noo niya.
"What's wrong?"
"It's my father . . . " He then showed me his screen.
"Take it. I'm fine here."
Huminga siya nang malalim at saka tumayo. "One moment."
I watched as he placed the phone on his ear, and he started talking. Hindi ko na naintindihan pa ang sinasabi niya nang dumistansiya sa akin.
Pinunansan ko ang aking mukha at ilang beses na napasinghot. Wala na 'kong pakialam pa kung sino ang makakikita sa akin. Wala naman nakakikilala sa 'kin dito.
I'll be leaving the Philippines and will include all my feelings. Perhaps I could leave all this heartache with the waves. Or maybe not? Baka dalhin pa nila sa Espanya.
Babalik na kami ni David sa Esapanya at babalik sa dati ang lahat. The only difference was that I wouldn't longer search for my mother. I could close this chapter of my unfortunate life and . . . just move on. Iyon din naman ang gusto nilang lahat, 'di ba?
I must stop searching for my mother and be hidden from the spotlight. Maybe I could be Juliette and hid being Letizia. Wouldn't that benefit the royal family more?
"Is everything okay?" tanong ko nang makita na papalapit na si David at nakababa na ang smartphone niya.
"Yeah, there's just . . . " Napamulsa siya at nang-iwas ng tingin.
"What's wrong? You can't tell me?"
"Well . . . " Naupo si David na paharap sa akin at nilahad ang kamay sa direksiyon ko habang nakapatong naman ang braso niya sa kaniyang binti. He was worried about something and I could see how he was contemplating whether he should tell me about it.
"David . . . " Nilapag ko ang kamay ko sa palad niya at awtomatiko niya iyong hinawakan. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I respect that."
"You're too kind, mi princesa." He raised my hand and landed a kiss before lowering it back to his knee. "It does involve you."
"Is it . . . my Papá?"
Tumango siya bilang tugon sa tanong ko. "Su Majestad quiere hablar con usted. My father said he would like to schedule the call by tomorrow if you agree to it."
Napabuntonghinga ako. "So they know my wheareabouts already?"
"They likely do," David said as he started playing with my hand—pressing every finger as if giving me a hand massage. "Maybe they knew that you've found and spoken with your mother . . . "
Napalingon ako sa karagatan. Napansin ko roon ang isang mag-anak na nagsasaya lang. Hinahabol ng tatay ang isang batang lalaki niyang anak na tawa lang nang tawa. Nakasunod naman sa kanila ang isang ginang na mukhang nanay ng bata. They were in their little world and just filled with happiness as if the words 'problems' and 'worries' did not exist.
Nakaiinggit na makakita ng isang masayang pamilya. It had always intrigued me how it felt to be complete. Sadly, it was no longer wishful thinking on my part since my mother had made her choice. She had moved on in life.
And that part didn't include nor involve my existence.
"So . . . they were successfully watching me from afar."
"I'll be honest . . . it's unsurprising to know that." He stopped pressing my hands. "You are still His Majesty's daughter and—"
"Illegitimate," pagputol ko upang itama siya. "Illegitimate daughter."
"Letizia, you are still his daughter, and your security and safety are paramount."
"Why? Because he could marry me off for political reasons?"
Umiling si David. "Letizia, no. You may need to meet the person you'll be betrothed with, but if you don't wish to marry that person . . . then I'll help you out."
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa pagtataka. "What do you mean you'll help me?"
"N-nothing. Let's focus on the urgent matter at hand." Umayos siya nang pag-upo at hindi pa rin inaalis ang paghawak sa kamay ko. "Would it be okay for you to do a video call with His Majesty tomorrow?"
Ayaw ko man kausapin pa si Papá, hindi ko siya maiiwasan nang matagal. He was still my father, and compared to how my mother pushed me away, my father kept me clothed, fed, and educated me. He may have hidden me, but he still allowed me to bear his name, no matter how secretive it was.
I squeezed David's hands before answering, "Yes, I'll speak to my father."
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Don't forget to read Sole Mate: Rome by Imcrazyyouknow for Rome's POV!
