AQR1: A Peerless Genius from Two Cities [COMPLETED]

23: That Smell

Nagstay pa ng ilang araw si Grace para maituro ang mga dapat niyang ituro kay Anika. Gusto niyang masigurado na sa pag-alis niya ay may gagawa pa rin sa ng mga gawain niya para kay Emy.

Mabilis namang matuto si Anika kaya kampante siya dito.

Hanggang sa dumating na ang panahon ng pag-alis niya. Ikinalungkot ito nang tatlo pero wala naman silang magagawa. They just hope that she found new life in Royal City.

***

The next day...

Dahil wala namang pasok ay nagpaalam na si Emy na maglilibot libot sa bayan. Pinayagan naman siya ni Feng. Mabuti na lang at wala sila Franco dahil malamang ay mangungulit iyon na sumama.

Sinama niya sila Lia at Veronica dahil busy si Anika sa pag-aaral nung make-up guide na ginawa ni Grace bago umalis.

However, hindi sila magpupunta sa bayan para mamasyal. They will visit the Purple Boutique.

"Young lady!" Gulat na sabi ni Harley ng makita niya ang dalaga na pumasok sa boutique kasunod sila Lia at Veronica.

It's been a while since she saw Emy pero madalas naman niyang pinapapunta roon sila Lia at Veronica.

"I need to see Calix."

Unlike noong una ay inaya niya na agad sa loob ang dalaga. Sakto namang nandoon si Calix.

Actually, kausap niya si Sebastian. But they heard people coming their way kaya agad na nagpunta sa likuran wooden screen ang binata.

"Young lady..." Bati ni Calix sa kanya.

Napakunot ang noo ni Emy pagpasok pa lang ng tanggapan ng mga bisita ni Calix. What's that smell?

"Any problem?"

Umiling siya saka naupo doon sa bakanteng upuan. Ganun din naman ang ginawa ni Calix.

"I believe the reason you are here is because of that girl."

Emy smiled. "Yes. I heard you are able to locate her."

"Yes, young lady. She also agreed to work in here. I am just preparing her transfer, anytime now."

"Perfect. She's essential in my next plan so I need her to be in my territory as soon as possible."

"I understand. I'll have the task done immediately."

"Oh, and also, I'd like you to give me one of your men who is very skilled in martial arts and spying. I have to send away one of my maidservants and now I need someone else to replace her. I don't need a maid though."

"I will arrange for that. Probably tonight, I will make sure that he is already blended among your guards."

Emy nodded.

"Is there anything else?"

Hindi sumagot si Emy. Her brow creased again.

But suddenly she stood up. Sa pag-aakalang aalis na ang dalaga ay agad din na tumayo si Calix. But to his surprised, the lady walked towards him. Too close that he almost got disoriented for a moment.

"W-what..."

Pero bago pa man siya makapagtanong dito ay nakalayo na ito sa kanya.

"That's not you. Then could it be..." Emy looked around the room. Then her eyes landed on the wooden screen. She approached it.

"Young lady..." Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Calix but he was already late.

Emy moved the wooden screen to see behind it. She was indeed shocked when she saw Sebastian there.

"Hi..."

Sebastian could have moved and hid himself ng mapansin niya na lumalapit sa direksyon niya si Emy pero hindi niya iyon ginawa.

"You..."

Naikuyom ni Emy ang kamay niya. The Fifth Prince is here. It means, Calix has been betraying her for a long time now.

She gritted her teeth and calmed herself. As much as she wants to punch the face of this prince in front of her, pinigilan niya ang sarili niya. She had to confirm something first.

Nilapitan niya ng husto ang lalaki at inamoy ito.

Sebastian was stunned for a moment saka tumawa.

"What, are you a dog now?"

Emy glared at him saka humakbang ng isa palayo sa binata.

"That night when I took the White Mask... It was you, right?"

Nawala ang ngiti ni Sebastian.

"How did you know that?"

Then he realized na kaya siya nito inamoy ay para dito.

"Just by smelling me, huh? You must have a very sensitive nose."

Pero tinalikuran na siya ng babae.

"Young lady..." Gusto sanang mag-explain ni Calix but he already received a punch from her.

"Ooops."

Calix and Sebastian both watched her back as she exited the room.

"What a hot headed lady..." Sabi ni Sebastian bago napatingin kay Calix. His nose is bleeding. "Minsan din kasi, kailangan mo munang pahupain ang galit ng mga babae bago ka mag-explain. Tch... Poor you. Go on and clean yourself bago tayo magpatuloy sa pag-uusap."

Napahinga na lang ng malalim si Calix. This prince is really something. That punch was supposed to be for him. Nakita na kasi niyang galit na si Emy ay mas lalo pang inasar. Siya tuloy ang napagbalingan.

***

Samantha was very furious. Never in her life na nakaranas siya ng ganitong pakiramdam. Not even Diana had made her this mad.

Ramdam niya ang pamumula ng mukha niya at kanina pa rin nakakuyom ng mahigpit ang mga kamao niya. How dare that Prince?

Though hindi alam ni Samantha kung anong mas nakapagpagalit sa kanya. Yun bang pag-infiltrate ni Sebastian sa Purple Boutique niya o ang katotohanang ito ang nagligtas ng buhay niya?

She hated both reasons. At mas lalong lang siyang naiinis kapag naiisip niyang nalamangan siya ng binata sa pagiging pakialamero nito.

Bukod pa doon, she can't even reject the fact that he touched her body. Malamang, how can he treat her wounds kung hindi niya iyon gagawin. But still...

Tahimik namang nagtitinginan sila Lia at Veronica. Paglabas pa lang ng Miss nila doon sa pinakaloob na kwarto ay galit na ang expression nito. What could possibly happen in there? Never pa kasi nilang nakitang nagalit ng ganito ang Miss nila.

***