The King's Little Maid

ROYAL AFFAIR 31

I was quite the whole time while watching him treat his wounds. Gusto ko sana siyang tulungan kaya lang ay pinangunahan ako ng hiya dahil sa nangyari kanina. I burst out in front of him. I even thought him as the person who gave me trauma. Ngayon ay hindi ko na alam kung paano siya haharapin.

"P-pasensya na nga pala k-kanina." I croaked.

I started to play with my fingers while waiting for his response. Mas lalo akong nahiya nang wala akong narinig mula sa kaniya, patuloy siya sa pag gagamot ng kaniyang sugat na hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha.

Napayuko na lang ako dahil sa kahihiyan. Hindi na ako muling nagsalita pa.

Mariin akong napapikit nang muling maalala ang mga pinagsasabi ko sa kaniyang harapan. It's really embarassing.

"You're supposed to be sleeping at this hour."

Napaigtad ako nang marinig ang malamig at malalim niyang boses. Inangat ko ang tingin sa kaniya.

I bit my lower lip when I saw him staring at me seriously. "Uh... hindi kasi ako makatulog."

"Nightmares?" he asked.

Marahan akong tumango. This is the first time that we had this kind of conversation. He's a snob most of the time and I don't want to bother him, I don't even want to cross the line.

He did not say anything but I saw him stood up and took a few steps towards me na bigla kong ikinakaba. What is he... doing?

Nang nasa harap ko na siya'y bigla siyang lumuhod na ikinagulat ko. What is up to?

Halos hindi ako makahinga ng maayos habang nasa harapan ko siya at seryoso akong tinititigan. Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang kanang kamay niyang umangat sa ere.

"Y-your majesty," I whispered, almost breathless because of his sudden gesture.

Halos tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko nang pasadahan niya ng kaniyang palad ang aking pisngi. His dark eyes remained on me. My hands started to tremble. Hindi ko alam kung sa takot ba o sa ibang dahilan?

Mas lalong lumala lang ang kabang nararamdaman ko nang nilapit niya ang kaniyang mukha sa 'kin. I put my trembling hands on his chest to stop him from what he's about to do.

Halos manghina ako nang nilapit niya ang kaniyang labi sa aking kaliwang tainga at bumulong.

"Do you want to be my woman?" He whispered.

My heart almost stop because of what he had said. Ano daw? Is he asking me to become his woman? Is he serious?

Bigla akong nanghina nang maramdaman ang kaniyang labi sa kaliwang pisngi ko, humahalik. What the hell is he doing to me? He's not like this.

"I-I don't want to commit the same mistake, Your highness." I replied.

I don't know him that much. I only know his name. I only know that he's my savior. I only know that he's living alone in this huge palace but I don't know the reason why.

"What kind of mistake is that?" He asked, nakaharap na siya ngayon sa 'kin.

"I don't want to become a mistress. Ayoko nang magkamali ulit." I answered, napayuko ako nang muli na namang maalala ang masakit na nakaraan.

"I'm not committed to anyone." He said, I nodded.

Kahit na walang babae sa buhay niya, natatakot pa rin ako dahil hindi ko pa siya lubos na kilala. Paano kung parehas land din siya ni...

"I'm not gonna force you to something you don't like." He added.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtulo ng luha mula sa aking mga mata. I almost closed my eyes when I felt his thumb wipe away my tears.

"I know you've been through a lot before I found you in that dark forest. You are traumatized, I see." He softly said.

Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya. Hindi makapagsalita. The insides of me were shock because of how his majesty acted in front of me. He's a snob, he's cold. He's not like this.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to give you another trauma." He said with an assuring smile.

Napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa ngiting iginawad niya. He knows how to smile!

"It's late, Liyana. You should sleep." Aniya at tumayo mula sa pagkakaluhod.

Habang ako naman ay tila nanghihina, hindi makatayo dahil sa pagkabigla. The corner of his lips stretch a bit when he saw that I didn't even move to my sit.

"Liyana," He called my name once again.

Bumalik lang ako ulit sa katinuan nang dahil sa pagbanggit niyang muli ng pangalan ko.

"Your majesty, bakit po—" I wasn't able to finish what I'm going to say when he put his index finger on my lips, to shut me up.

"Ssh. Let's go upstairs and rest. Okay?" He uttered.

Marahan naman akong tumango. Gulat na gulat.  My heart is beating so fast. I can't even control it.

Nang tumayo, muntik na akong mawalan ng balanse, mabuti na lang at agad akong nahawakan sa baywang ni King Gustav para hindi ako tuluyang matumba. My knees are shaking. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nangyayari sa 'kin. Dumagdag pa ang kamay na nakapulupot sa baywang ko.

"I'll send you to your room."

"You majesty—"

"Just call me Gustav."

"Pero—"

"Call me, Gustav. No buts." He said with finality.

Inalalayan ako ni Gustav paakyat, patungo sa kwarto ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ginagawa niya 'to. Does he have a hidden agenda? Is he doing this to get my trust? So he could control me?

That night, I was able to sleep peacefully. I wasn't visited by my nightmares. I'm more than thankful that I was able to get a good sleep. Is it because of him?

Gustav.