Chapter 3 - The Runaway Cinderella

Gareth was pissed as hell with the disappearing act of his Cinderella two nights ago. How dare she leave him hanging by the hair! He was the friggin' fourth prince of this kingdom for Pete sake! For the first time in his life, he wanted to impose his title over someone! He really wanted her, and he will get her no matter what.

He could still remember the sweetness of her succulent lips against his, how it tasted so decadently delicious like wild berries. Just remembering her taste brings pain on his crotch. It was so destructive that he was even tempted to bring matters in his own hand. And damn her for doing that to him!

Mariin niyang tinitigan ang isang pares ng sapatos na nasa kanyang mesa. It was the same pair of shoes that Steffanie aka Cinderella left during her 'Grand Escape.' He did not care if he would fit this friggin shoes to every maiden in the kingdom. He will find her. He'll definitely have a taste of those wild berries again.

"Mahal na Prinsipe, naririto po ang mahal na Inang Reyna upang makausap kayo," doon naputol ang kanyang pagmumuni-muni.

Why is the Mother Queen seeking his audience? This is highly unusual. Her majesty never leaves her mannor. Sa mga normal na pagkakataon, ipinatatawag lamang nito sa kanyang tahanan ang nais nitong makausap. Bakit siya sinadya nito?

"Tuloy po aking kamahalan."

Bumukas ang dalawang pinto ng kanyang silid at inuluwa nito ang mahal na Inang Reyna. After his long years of absence in the palace, he finally saw the Mother Queen. The years have been good to her, she was still the same beautiful and graceful woman he knew.

He met her half-way and made a ninety degrees bow to her. He may hate the King and everything in this palace but this woman deserved his utmost respect. She treated every child of the king equally – even if they are the children of a concubine. She never made it awkward for them. In fact, she was more of a mother to him than a grandmother. Dito siya nagsasabi ng kanyang mga saloobin at dito rin siya nagpaalam isang gabi bago niya lisanin ang palasyo may limang taon na ang nakakaraan.

He is expecting the same bow from her to return his respects but she did something else. She came to him and gave him a tight embrace, a motherly hug that assured him that he is indeed home.

"Maraming salamat at ika'y muling nagbalik, mahal na Prinsipe," she said in between sobs.

He cannot help but to have his heart melted over the compassion of this woman. He laid out one of the chairs in his living room.

"Maupo po kayo, mahal na Inang Reyna," and sit she did.

Pinunas nito ang mga namuong luha sa mga mata.

"Sa nagdaang limang taon ay napuno ng pag-aalala ang aking puso. Parati kong iniisip kung ano ang nangyayari sa iyo sa labas ng palasyo."

"Ipagpatawad nyo po mahal na Inang Reyna at nagdulot ako sa inyo ng takot at pangamba," he was about to kneel down but she got up from hr seat and stood him up.

He sat opposite her while she returned to her seat.

"There's no need to be formal with me, tayo-tayo lamang naman ang naririto. How are you? Kay raming bali-balita ang umaabot dito tungkol sa yo. And call me like you used to. Call me Lola."

Inilayo niya ang tingin mula rito. If that's his father, he would have furtherly rubbed his escapades down at his face. But it's the Mother Queen who's in front of him right now. And for the first time, he felt embarrassed that his beloved and compassionate grandma got to know of his exploits to bring shame on the palace.

Marahil nahulaan nito kung ano ang kanyang nasa isip, "Don't worry my prince, hindi ako naririto para sumbatan ka. I'm just happy that your back."

"Hindi na po ninyo dapat ako sinadya rito Lola, I am actually planning to visit you at the Rose Palace later," siya na ang tinutukoy ay ang palasyo ng reyna.

Simula pagkabata ay Lola na ang itinatawag niya rito. Part of it is because he is so deviant enough that it really satisfid him to break the palace protocols. But most of it is simply because, the Queen Mother is really kind to him that he feels very comfortable in her presence. Hindi naman siya tinutulan nito.

"It's not a bother to me. Sa katanuyan nga ay dalawang araw nang nahuli ang pagbisita ko sa iyo. Dapat ay sinalubong kita noong unang araw ng iyong pagbabalik."

"Your highness, I do not deserve your kindness."

Umiling ito, "Hindi, mahal na prinsipe, kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito. Kung hindi ko iginawad ang aking pagpapala ay hindi ka sana lumisan. Hindi sana ito magdudulot ng kalungkutan sa Imperial Consort Guinevere."

He remained quiet for a moment, trying to find the right words to say to his grandmother.

"But who am I kidding? I am just an old woman, I could never ask you to stay. You are always a free soul. Kahit noong mga bata pa lang kayo ay kinamuhian mo na ang palasyo. You hated the laws and protocols. And you hated the restrained life inside this place. Others see the palace as place of money and power but you see it a prisoner. So I set you free, letting you feel the freedom outside our ancient laws. At ngayong nagbalik ka na, hindi maihahambing ng kahit na sino man ang galak na namumuo sa aking puso."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Ngunit hindi lamang ito ang dahilan ng aking biglaang pagbisita, I came to deliver a bad news."

Lumunok muna ito bago muling nagsalita, "This morning, I received news from the Royal Physician. It's about the Imperial Consort Guinevere."

He felt like he has been kicked to his gut.

"What happened to her?" he asked, dreading to hear something good.

"The Royal Physician Reported that her situation worsened. Kinailangang dalhin siya sa Asphodel upang agaran itong maagapan."

He immediately stood up, prepared to immediately chase his sick mother. Ngunit bago niya ito magawa ay napigilan na siya ng Inang Reyna. She tightly held his arms.

"Please! Be level-headed my Prince. Natitiyak akong hindi nanaiisin ng iyong ina na sundan mo siya, not when you just got back to the palace."

He wanted to shrug-off her arms, but he just couldn't. Not with her tear-stricken face. He calmed himself and returned to his seat.

"Do my brother and sister know?"

Umiling ito, "Prince Lancelot left early this morning for a parliamentary visit in the European Faction and I'll go visit Princess Lavaine after this."

"Thank you for letting me know first, your Highness."

"I also came here to deliver a message from the King."

"What does he wants from me now?"

"Please, don't be like this. The King just wants the best for you."

Best my ass. He just wanted to rub off his power to his. But he did not dare to voice it out, not in the front of the Queen anyways.

"Please treat this as my personal request also. Nais ng mahal na Hari na manatili ka rito sa Camelot. Nais niyang ipagpatuloy mong muli rito ang iyong pag-aaral sa medisina."

"I will not do such thing! I refused to be manipulated years ago and that did not change over the years.."

He clenched his fist. How likely of his father to tie him back down to this giant cage. He will never give in.

Bumuntong hininga ang mahal na Inang Reyna, "Mahal na Prinsipe, nais kong ipaalala ang nakaambang kaparusahan sa tahasang pagsuway sa kautusan ng mahal na hari."

How would he forget? His father's power is tail-gating him ever since the day he was born, always imposing his authority all his life.

"I would never come back to royal school," he said in finality.

"You won't. This time, the King is asking you to study at the University of Pendragon, otherwise, you would be exiled from the kingdom."

Hinawakan nito ang kanyang mga kamay. Tears are now free-falling from her eyes, "Nagmamakaawa ako sa 'yo mahal na Prinsipe. Just this once, heed to your father's request. Hindi ko nais na ipatapon ka sa labas ng ating kaharian. Do it for me, for your siblings and for the imperial consort."

Steffanie is having a dinner together with her bestfriend Sofia at the renowned cafeteria of the University of Pendragon. Iginala niya ang paningin sa paligid. This was certainly not your typical cafeteria for a typical university. With professionally trained chefs ready to cook for you, opulent structural design, and waiters always ready to serve you, this was more of a five star restaurant than a canteen. But why else would she wonder? This is the University of Pendragon, the home of the rich, brilliant and the bold.

"Steff, I gotta asked you this," Sofia while feasting on her steak.

"What is it?"

"Where were you two nights ago at the King's party? Bigla ka na lang nawala. I was looking all over for you."

Muntik na niyang mabitawan ang hawak na tinidor. Memories of her midnight escapade came like a massive kick in her solar plexus. Hindi niya mapaniwalaan ang mga pangyayari. She would never have done that, not in a million years. But she did. It was as if her rational thinking was razed at the touch of that man. Not that she'd blame the entirety of it to him. Unexpectedly, she was so delighted by that kiss, it was so unexplainably arousing that she was enchanted to yearn for more.

Nodes of electric impulses deluged her body, raising hot streaks of foreign sensation into her. Nahihiya siya sa kanyang nadarama. She looked down and played her salad, trying her hardest to conceal the on-going chaos inside her.

Erase that thought Steff! saway niya sa sarili. But it was no use. It's already painted in the canvass of her mind. She could still remember the sweetness of his assault against her delicate lips, how his well-trained tongue sparred with hers, how she responded to every movement of his mouth. It was so exhilarating that even remembering it could send overflowing blood to her cheeks.

"You know Steff, you are not very good in hiding your feelings," anito sa kaswal na tono.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagkain, waring hindi narinig ang komento ng kaibigan.

"You've got that I-have-a-secret-but-I'm-not-gonna-tell-you sign written all over your face," panunodyo nito sa kanya.

"How was your class today?" pag-iiba niya ng usapan, she's really uncomfortable now.

"You know Steff, you'll never be the segue queen. Wala kang pag-asa. You are too candid. In fact, your tomato-red face says it all."

Is she really that easy to read? She could imagine the thoughts and speculations running inside Sofia's mind. Humiliation flared in her already burning face. She was embarrassed to death that acids are now filling her insides. But she knew she got to move on. No matter how mortifying and unexplainably pleasurable it was the same time, it was still her first kiss. She should just charge it to experience.

She was suddenly disgusted by the flows of her thoughts. She sounded like a common tramp. What happened to the self-preserving Steffanie she knew? Naisapo niya ang dalawang palad sa kanyang mukha dahil sa pinaghalo-halong hiya at pagkainis sa kanyang sarili.

"Steffanie Mary Smithson, everybody needs to walk on the wild side once in a while. Don't be bothered much about it."

And just like what she always do; she remained quiet, silently consoling herself.

"Kung ready ka ng i-share sa akin yan, I'm all ears anytime anywhere Steff. You know that," her comforting smile says it all.

She is truly her best friend, her most trusted confidante. Noong una'y hindi niya inakalang magiging magkaibigan silang dalawa. They were worlds apart. Magkakaibang-magkaiba ang personality nila. She is not a very social person but Sofia was the pro-active type of individual. Sofia prefers to hike mountains while she'd rather paint inside her room. Quite unbelievable but it happened.

"O siya, switch na tayo sa topic at mukhang hindi mo na nalulunok itong fresh food mo," Sofia smiled at her.

This is how they actually both spend their time together, Sofia talks and she listens. She really fancies her bright personality. Sometimes she was even envious of it.

"Have you heard of the recent buzz?" Sofia is always updated to the recent happenings from the grape vine.

Tinanggal muna niya ang munting bara sa kanyang lalamunan saka muling nagsalita, "Of course not. Alam mo namang may sarili akong mundo sa loob ng studio ko."

Sofia rolled her eyes, "You're as lifeless as ever. What would you do without me?"

What can she do? She found tranquillity with her paints and canvass. It's what makes her feel alive. She'd rather paint by herself in her studio than have her nose stick on someone else's business.

She leaned more to her side of the table. "Rumor has it that a member of the royal family is going to study here," she whispered.

Napataas ang kilay niya, "How can that be when there is the Royal School responsible for the education of the Royal Family?"

Nagkibit-balikat ito, "Beats me, no one could really figure out the Royal Family. Alam mo naman kung gaano kalala at kalakas ang topak ng mga yun. They're a couple of loose cogs and sprockets."

They both laugh at their own humor. "That rumor is definitely circulating in the Medical Department. In fact nagkakagulo na nga ang mga female species sa department namin, nanghuhula na kung sino sa mga ever eligible bachelor of a prince ang mapapad rito."

"Look girls! It's a table of Jologs and whores!" sabay silang napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng tinig.

It was from a table near them where a group of five girls were seated. She did not need precognitive senses to know whose voice was it. It was from Natalya, the Queen Bee of their campus.

"At talagang lumingon pa nga sila," bumanghilit ng tawa ang mga ito.

They are the most famous clique in the campus, the self-proclaimed rulers of the University's Social Circle. Rich, spoiled and dangerous! In fact they are actually the proponent of the Pure Bloods, a sorority in their campus that only accepts members with royal lineages.

They are also the same group who took a habit of bullying her, making her university life very miserable. All of those because she did not have any title attached to her name.

Marahang tumayo si Sofia, waring handang-handang sugurin ang mga ito. Her eyes were now flaming with anger and disdain. But she held her arm tightly before she could do any damage.

"Sofia it's not very wise to have a catfight with them now. Please remain seated," she pleaded her.

Hindi man lang ito natinag sa kanyang sinabi. Lumapit pa rin ito sa grupo ng mga kababaihan. She really adored her stubbornness and feisty personality. She can never be like that. But sometimes her hot-tempered personality got the better of her.

"Jologs and whores? C'mon Nattie, you could do better than that. Baka gusto mong alugin yang utak mo nang maalala mo ang mga bagay-bagay sa mundo. Oops, sorry wala nga palang maalog dyan sa ulo mo. Nakalimutan kong naka-quota ka na pala sa tagal ng stay mo sa University na to. Ganon mo siguro kamahal ang alma mater natin no, adding two more years. I mean, six years for a business degree? God! What puny little brain you have there. The university should charge double rate for overstaying students like you."

Sofia leaned her hand on their table, giving Natalya a viscous eye contact.

"And besides, nahiya naman ako sa 'yo 'te. Low and behold, the Queen of Harlots who reigned supreme on your sorority's recently concluded whore fest! Para ka kasing makating pantal, kapag kinamot nang kinamot lalong kakati, lalong maghahanap ng daliring papawi sa iyong kakatihan."

Hinawakan ni Natalya ang kopita ng tubig nito, ngunit simbilis ng ahas ang kamay ni Sofia. In a blink of an eye, Natalya is showering with evian.

"Nais kong ipaalala sa iyo ang pinagkaiba ng katayuaan natin sa buhay. Your Dad is an Earl and my Dad is a Duke. Get your hierarchy right. How would you think the Duke of York would react if his precious daughter was hurt by someone directly below us?"

"You know Nattie, bloodline is definitely nothing if the brain is empty and if the attitude is sour. So if I were you, you'd better recalibrate yourself for the better. And finally, I could speak normally if I want to. Emphasis natin yung, IF I WANT TO. I'm not like you or your girlfriends who conforms to the worldly standards of royalty. I make my own standards. If calling a person jologs means freedom from this radicalism, then be my guest and call me jologs all the time. "

Sofia really knows how to drop a bomb, all of the girls are rendered speechless and seething with anger.

"Mess with me, I can tolerate. But mess with Steff, ako ang makakatapat mo."

Nangigigil na lumabas mula sa cafeteria ang grupong ito ng mga kababaihan. Madaling bumalik naman si Sofia patungo sa kanilang mesa.

"Kakaubos ng ganda yun ah," dinaluhong nito sa mabilis na subo ang naiwang pagkain.

"Hindi mo na dapat sila pinatulan," she said.

Agad na nag-angat ng tingin ito sa kanya, "Why'd you always run away Steff? Kaya ka nila kinakaya-kaya. Try to stand for yourself once nad for all."

Isang ngiti lamang ang isinagot niya rito, "You know that I'm the passive type and I hate catfights. And besides, what would I possibly gain from them?"

"Probably some self respect. C'mon Steff, you should lose that Mother Theresa attitude already. Ako ang nasasaktan para sa yo," she squeezed her hand, trying to at least knock some senses into her.

"Lalo lang lalala ang lahat. If I defended myself, they'll fight back. It'll just be an endless cycle. I just want a low-profile college life."

Agad itong lumagok ng maraming tubig upang mabilis na malunod pababa ang kanyang kinakain, "Steffania, Low-profile ba 'ka mo? You know that this campus is full of metal detectors for low-profiled students. The more low-profile you are, the more bullying you get."

"Huwag mo nang pakaisipin pa 'yon. Besides, tama naman sila. Hindi naman talaga dapat akong naririto."

"You know that's not true. Ikaw talaga. You and your inferiority complex."