The Dangerous Princess: The Red-Eyed Lady

CHAPTER 07

Weird

Fiona's POV

Nagising ako kanina na medyo nahihilo at sumasakit ang ulo. Para akong galing sa isang grabeng hang-over. Ngunit ang hindi ko inaasahan ay imbes na mapanuring mga mata ang bumungad sa akin ay nasa maaliwalas na kwarto ako. Kaya kahit nahihilo ay umupo ako. Sinuri ako ang paligid at napagtanto kong nasa isang malaking kwarto ako ngayon. Masyadong malaki at marangya.

Natigil ang tingin ko sa isang pitsel ng tubig na nasa lamesa na nakapwesto naman sa gilid ng kama. Agad ko itong kinuha at nagsalin ng tubig upang inumin. A soft sigh escaped from my mouth after drinking the water.

Tumayo ako at agad na naramdaman ko ang malamig na sahig, medyo nanginig pa ako dahil dito. Gayunpaman ay hindi ko ito inalintana at tuluyang tumayo. Bahagya pa akong nahilo kaya'y hinawakan ko ang edge ng kama. Nang medyo naging okay na ako ay naglakad ako at patuloy na inuusisa ang kwarto kung saan ako ngayon.

Even if I don't really know where I am right now, I still don't feel any danger. Thus, I feel safe and secured.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at sinilip ang labas, only to be welcomed by a comfortable silence from an empty hallway. Hinintay kong magreact ang katawan ko at magpanic ngunit wala. I stayed calm and collected. It feels like this is where I belong. It is my home. My real home.

Barefooted, malaya akong nakakalakad na walang nagagawang ingay. I scanned the place. Frames with pictures were on the walls. May mga random paintings, unfamiliar faces and most especially those family portraits. I was glued on that specific area. There's a man and a woman, they seem so happy and in love. Their eyes were glimmering with sparks and happiness. It shows too much positive emotions that it made me smile but at the same time, it hurts. Who are you? Why does it hurt me seeing your faces? What am I feeling? Is this longing? But why?

"Fiona?"

I was snapped out from my thoughts and looked at... her. Her.

"Where am I?" mahinang boses kong tanong.

"Nasa bahay ka namin."

Her voice was like a beautiful song for me. Who is she?

"Renee?" tawag ng isang malalim na boses.

Sabay kami ni Ms. Stranger na lumingon sa lalaki. Akala ko ako ang tinatawag niya since may Renee ako sa pangalan pero hindi. Instead, he came close to the girl and hugged her.

"Fiona..."

A pang of overwhelming longing crept all over me.

"W-Who are you?" I breathed out.

A smile made way to his lips and moved towards me.

"It's okay. We won't hurt you," mahinahon niyang sabi.

I tried to recall what happen last time. And I started to panic.

"Nasa'n ako? Bakit ako nandito? Sino kayo? Kasabwat ba kayo ni Mr. Killer eyes? Pakawalan niyo ako! Ano ba kasing kailangan niyo sa akin!" sigaw ko.

"Hey, hey—"

"NO!" sigaw ko.

I'm starting to panic and all. This is so scary!

"Hindi kami masamang tao. We saved you from those people. Gusto ka naming tulungan. Kalma. Kalma," aniya at dahan-dahan akong nilapitan at niyakap.

Agad naman akong kumalma. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at paano pero his hug helped me calm... and I also started to sob.

This is longing. I know it is.

"Doon muna tayo sa sala," biglang singit ng babae.

By how they cling with each other, mukhang mag-asawa sila, they're in their mid 30's, I guess? At kamukhang-kamukha nila ang babae at lalaking nasa portrait kanina.