Chapter 1: The princess

"Now, for our princess of the night... goes to Ms. Irene Desylvia!" I smiled and walked to the stage with chin up. I know I'll win. Eh ako lang naman talaga ang maganda dito.

"Congrats, Irene. You're really stunning tonight." I just nod on MC's compliment. I already expected this. The flashes of cameras, boys shouting my name and girls glaring at me for winning again this title.

"Any message, Ms. Irene?" The MC asked.

I smiled again that made boys drooled over me, "Thank you for the four years of owning this title. Now that I' am graduating, I want to thank everyone who voted and made me feel incredible. Hope we all passed in Howard U! God bless everyone!" Then, everyone clapped.

I looked at my other side where prince of the night crowned. I just smiled on Nathan. He's also owning the title of prince of the night for four years. He's Section A and I'm Section B. We've never been classmates because of his intelligence. Samantalang ako ay sabit lang sa Section B dahil konti nalang ay muntikan na akong mapapunta sa Section C.

He smiled back at me. Ganito lang naman kami palagi. We always smiled and nod our head when we bump into each other but we never talked. Well, we actually talked before. That was in our Grade 9 and that was also the last time.

Inalalayan niya akong bumaba ng stage and as usual, we don't talked. Ni-congrats wala. Kahit noong mga nakaraang taon, tuwing nananalo kami as Prince and Princess of the Night hindi niya man lang ako kinocongrats. Binati ko siya noong Grade 8 kami pero tiningnan niya lang ako. That was my embarrassing moment when I was in that Grade. Kahiya kaya! Para bang bumati ako sa hangin!

"Congrats, friend!"

Bati sa akin ng mga kaibigan kong sina Denise, Joanna and Lei. We're friends for 6 years and counting. Pare-parehas lang kami na sa Howard U papasok.

While everyone's partying, napukaw ng atensyon ko si Nathan na mag-isang nainom sa table. His friends are busy flirting with their girls. May lumalapit sa kanyang mga babae pero hindi nalang niya ito kinakausap.

"Irene, let's dance!" Alok sa akin ni Lei.

"No, thanks. I'm not in the mood." I said.

Napatingin naman si Lei sa direksyon kung saan ako nakatingin, "Kasi wala rin sa mood si Nathan?" Pang-aasar niya sa kin.

I just laughed, sarcastic, "Hindi no. Ang papangit lang kasi ng lalaki na nakikita ko ngayong gabi. Kainis."

Lei just mouthed 'weh' tapos ay bumalik na siya dun sa dance floor. May mga nag-aalok sa akin na sumayaw pero tinatanggihan ko. I'm not in the mood to flirt with them. Gagraduate na kami at marami pa akong makikilala.

While staring at Nathan, some memories flashed in my mind.

-Flashback-

"Ikaw ang kumuha ng notes ni Andrew sa table ko di ba?" I went to Kiko's hide out at the back of the old building. The notorious gangster in Howard Academy. Lumapit ako sa kanya at binato sa kanya yung dala kong bottled water.

Nagsitayuan ang ibang barkada ni Andrew at dahan-dahang lumapit sa kin pero hindi ako natinag. I'm Irene. A princess. Isang lambing ko lang dito, lalambot 'to sa kin.

"Hindi porke't prinsesa ka dito pwede mo ng ganyanin ang boss namin." Maangas na sabi ni Dave na kabarkada ni Kiko.

"Ano sasapakin mo ko?!" Mas maangas kong sabi sa kanila.

This time, tumayo na si Kiko at hawak-hawak na niya rin yung bottled water na binato ko sa kanya. "Asan na yung notes ni Andrew? Akin yon! Binigay niya sa kin 'yon!" Andrew is a graduate student from Howard Academy. Binigay niya sa kin yung notes nya para may reviewer ako. Pero nawala ito noong isang linggo at nalaman ko nalang na kinuha ito ni Kiko sa gamit ko.

"Just because you're called a princess, it means you'll get what you want." And I swear, his glare makes me want to die in here. Can't someone butt in right now?!

I gulped, "It's mine in the first place. Asan? I'll leave right away if you hand me the notes." I badly need that notes. Malapit na akong mawala sa Section B. I need to maintain it. I need to maintain my grades and even my popularity.

Pero laking gulat ko ng hawakan nito ako sa kwelyo ng damit ko. "Tingin mo hahayaan kitang umalis nalang ng basta-basta? Yung lintik lang pala na notes na 'yon ang paraan para makapunta ka dito e!" Kiko was my suitor when we were in second year. Masyado pa kaming bata at hindi pa ko handang magka-boyfriend. Kaya in the end, pinaasa ko siya. Maybe, that's why ganito nalang ang galit niya sa kin.

"Hurting a girl doesn't suit you." I clinched my teeth.

"Kiko, pinapatawag ka ni Sir Roque." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Nathan na nasa may bintana sa may labas, "You failed in 6 subjects and I guess he wants to call your parents."

Napamura ng mahina si Kiko pero hindi niya pa rin tinatanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa may kwelyo ng damit ko.

"Every seconds counts, Kiko." Tila ba pagmamadali ni Nathan kay Kiko para umalis na ito.

"Bobo na basagulero pa. You're a shame in Santos family." I saw in his eyes anger towards me. Well, I don't care.

Tinulak niya ako ng mahina at umalis na kasama ang barkada nya. Isang malaking buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko. Napayakap ako sa sarili ko dahil sa takot. Akala ko ay sasaktan niya ako. Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ako lumabas.

Sa paglabas ko ay nakita ko si Nathan. "Ba't andito ka pa rin?"

He just shrugged, "Checking if you're okay."

I rolled my eyes, "Do you like me?"

"Checking if you're okay doesn't mean I like you." Yung titig niya na para bang walang emosyon. Ni-kahit yata sinong tao ay hindi siya kayang mabasa.

"Then, go. Nakita mo na na ayos ako di ba?" Nakita ko ang malalim niyang paghinga. Am I too harsh?

"Okay."

Tapos ay nagsimula na siyang maglakad. Para bang gusto ko siyang habulin at mag-sorry dahil sobra yata ang katarayan ko sa kanya. Pero bago pa man ako humakbang ay bumalik siya at naglakad muli sa direksyon ko at inabot sa akin ang isang panyo.

"Anong gagawin ko dito?"

"Your lips." Turo niya sa may labi ko, "It's bleeding. Nakagat mo yata ng sobra dahil sa takot mo kay Kiko kanina." Dinilaan ko ang labi ko at nalasahan ko ang dugo. Ni-hindi ko man lang naramdaman kanina dahil sa takot ko.

Nang iangat ko ang ulo ko, tanging likod na lamang niya ang nakita ko.

-End of flashback-

Napaiwas ako ng tingin ng makita kong nalibot na ang mata ni Nathan. After our conversation that time, hindi na ulit kami nag-usap. Kahit noong parehas kaming naging Escort & Muse ng Math Club.

"Princess, will you dance with me?" I rolled my eyes on Gab, one of my admirers. Bigla-bigla siyang nasulpot sa tabi ko. Para siyang masamang damo na nasulpot kung saan saan.

"My name is Irene. Not Princess."

"But you look like a princess."

"And you look like a pathetic to me. Will you please leave me alone? Can you!?" Makikipagtalo pa sana ito sa akin ng magsilapitan na sina Lei sa pwesto ko at pinaalis na si Gab.

"Uso ang maging mabait. Right, girls? Para bang araw-araw kang meron!" Natatawang sabi nina Denise sa akin.

I'm a flirt. I'm a player. I'm nice to everyone. But not to all boys. Syempre may pinipili ako. Mahilig ako sa mga varsity players. They rich, athlete, smart and handsome. But unfortunately, wala ang mga type kong lalaki sa senior night na 'to kaya iritadong-iritado talaga ako. I'm 5'9 kaya naman go na go talaga ako sa mga varsity players. Syempre kung matangkad ako, bet ko rin ang mas matangkad.

Nagsidatingan na rin ang mga boyfriends ng barkada ko. Believe it or not, ako lang ang walang lovelife sa barkada. Hindi dahil sa hindi ako maganda. I'm damn pretty that I have a list of my suitors. Masyado lang talaga akong mapili.

"Irene, meet Lars. Lars, this is Irene." Pagpapakilala ni Christopher na boyfriend ni Joanna sa kasama nitong lalaki. He even offered his hand.

"Not in the mood for boys, Topher." I stood up and excuse myself to my friends.

Nagkatinginan pa kami ni Nathan bago ko siya lampasan at pumuntang ladies room. Mag-aayos lang ako ng make-up at don lang ako magpapalipas ng kaunting oras dahil sobrang ingay at ang lalandi ng tao sa dancefloor.

Pagpasok ko sa ladies room naabutan ko si Jessie, my number one hater. "Oh, you're here. Congrats by the way. Nagmukha kang tao ngayong senior night." I'm in a bitch mode.

She just smiled, a plastic one, "Tingin mo tatagal yan? You won't be like by anyone someday, Irene. You'll be an outcast. Lahat ng 'yan panandalian lang. So, enjoy every single minute."

I just laughed, "At least yung ganda ko alam kong magtatagal. Eh yung ganda mo?" Napatakip ako sa bibig ko, "Oooops. Wala ka nga pala non."

Hindi na lang siya muling umimik at lumabas nalang ng ladies room. At least ngayon, solo ko na. I stared myself in the mirror. I even apply a lipstick on my lips. I'm Irene Desylvia. I'm a princess who doesn't need a prince. I'm a bitch because I don't want anyone to know my weakness.

I crossed my arms still looking at my reflection in the mirror. "I'll be an outcast? No way, Jessie. I won't let that happened." I smirked.

Once I took a step at Howard University in the entrance examination this coming Saturday, sisiguraduhin ko na mapapalingon sa akin ang bawat college students don.

After minutes, lumabas na ko. Okay na ko. Hindi na ko bitch mode. This time, nakipagsayaw na rin ako sa dancefloor. Kailangan ko rin ma-enjoy ang gabing 'to. Pumayag na rin ako sa mga lalaking nag-aalok sa akin ng sayaw.

Magpapahinga na sana ako at muling uupo ng makuha ng atensyon ko ang malakas na asaran ng barkada ni Nathan sa kanya. Bago ko pa marealize ang nangyayari, naitulak na sa akin si Nathan. Narinig ko nalang bigla ang salita ng MC na kailangan raw mag-sayaw ang Prince and Princess of the Night ngayong gabi. I mouthed everyone, 'Bakit pa kailangan sumayaw?' Because this is new. We never had the chance to dance noong mga nakaraang taon. Since, this was the last time of being a high school student pumayag na rin ako dahil mukhang inaantay nalang din naman ni Nathan na pumayag ako para maisayaw niya ako.

https://youtu.be/8zVLwsIsQuk

♪Going out tonight, changes into something red
Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress
Everything she never had
She's showing off

"C-Congrats." Nahihiya ko pang sabi sa kanya. Ang awkward kasi dahil parehas kaming naiilang sa isa't isa kaya naman ako naman na ang nagsimula ng convo.

♪Driving too fast, moon is breaking through her hair
She said it was something that she won't forget
Having no regrets is all that she really wants

"Congrats rin." Sabi niya sa akin. Ni-hindi man lang siya natingin sa mga mata ko.

♪We're only getting older baby
And I've been thinking about you lately
Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes

"Sigurado ka ba talagang hindi mo ko gusto?" I'm a straightforward person. I always said things whatever what comes into my head without even thinking. But those words made him looked at me, "Bakit hindi ka makatingin sa kin kanina?"

♪Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up
But there's nothing to be afraid of
Even when the night changes
It will never change me and you

"Because I don't want to?" Oh, that's it. I also forgot that this guy is same as my personality.

♪Chasing her tonight, doubts are running 'round her head
He's waiting, hides behind his cigarette
Heart is beating loud, she doesn't want it to stop

"Eh bakit ka inaasar ng kaibigan mo sa kin? Sure ka ba talagang wala kang gusto sa kin?" Pang-aasar ko. Dahil kung wala siyang gusto sa kin, jusko, hindi yata siya lalaki. Everyone is attractive in my beauty. Hidni pwedeng hindi niya ko gusto o nagustuhan man lang.

♪Moving too fast, moon is lighting up her skin
She's falling, doesn't even know it yet
Having no regrets is all that she really wants

"Because they are just bored?" Wala talaga siyang kwentang kausap swear! Ang ganda ganda ng kanta pero sinira niya ulit ang mood ko.

♪We're only getting older baby
And I've been thinking about you lately
Does it ever drive you crazy
Just how fast the night changes

"Ang mean mo." I said.

"We're the same."

♪Everything that you've ever dreamed of
Disappearing when you wake up
But there's nothing to be afraid of
Even when the night changes
It will never change me and you

"I shouldn't have dance with you." And he stopped. It was supposed to be a joke but I didn't know that my words will make him like this. Magkahawak pa rin yung kamay namin at nakatitig lang siya sa kin. We're both stopped at the moment that made everyone have their mixed emotions.

♪Going out tonight, changes into something red
Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress
Reminds her of the missing piece of innocence she lost

Then, he slowly removed his hand on my waist and walked away without even finishing the song. I just crossed arms at lumakad nalang rin paalis ng dancefloor. I don't care what people say. Bumalik na ako sa pwesto ko kanina. Umupo ako sa may isang upuan don at kinuha ang phone ko sa bag ko. I'll tweet something about that evil guy. Ugh!

Nang may maramdaman akong isang matigas na maliit na sobre sa bag ko. Kinuha ko ito at naamoy ang mabangong amoy. Tiningnan ko ang bawat tao sa paligid. Sino ang naglagay nito? I smirked, I guess this is from in one of my admirers. I opened it and as usual I was right,

You look great tonight, my princess.

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