"T-This face...whose face is this?" gulat na hinawakan ko ang aking mukha habang nakatingin pa rin sa salamin. Malakas kong sinampal ang sarili dahil baka dala lamang ito ng ilusyon ngunit agad akong napapikit nang maramdaman ang sakit mula sa pag sampal.

What's going on? I don't understand anything.

Inilibot ko ang mga mata sa kabuoan ng kwarto. Ang kwartong ito ay tila makaluma, ang mga kagamitan at istilo ay parang masasabi kong nasa 18th century ako ngayon. Muli ay ibinalik ko ang mga mata sa salamin at sinuri ng mabuti ang mukhang nakikita rito.

This face. She has an oval face shape and a rose ivory skin tone. Her brows are hard-angled and her eyelashes are clustered, paired with royal blue upturned eyes that scanned the depths of your soul the moment her gaze met yours. Her straight nose fits her perfectly, with a pink rose downward-turned lips. Its crimson-blood hair reaches to her tailbone. And the beautiful shape of her body cannot be denied either even though she looks a little thin-

Just who the heck is this person? Whose body is this? Why am I here, then? By now, I should be dead, but why?

"P-Princess H-Harmony," Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa babae nang banggitin niya ang pangalang iyon. That name may belong to the owner of this body, is it?

Napa-atras naman ako nang bigla siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko kaya nangunot ang noo ko. "Pardon my audacity, Your Highness," wika niya habang nakayuko.

Ayan na naman siya sa your highness. Prinsesa ba talaga ang may-ari ng katawang ito? Huh? Harmony? Is that what I heard? She addressed me as Harmony. Maybe she's not talking about Harmony, who happens to be one of the characters in my favorite novel.

Inilibot ko muli ang paningin para lang matulos sa aking kinatatayuan nang makita ko sa tapat ng kama ang portrait na nakasabit doon at sa ibaba n'on ay na ro'n ang pangalang...

"Harmony Azmin La Evalor?" nanlaki ang mga mata ko't dahan-dahang umawang ang labi.

No way! This can't be! Harmony is one of the characters in my favorite installment of the Astaria Series!

And...

And why this fucking body out of all the bodies I could own? I became Harmony Azmin La Evalor, a useless, weak, and burdensome side character for freaking sake!!!

Dahil sa matinding gulat ay hindi ko na namamalayang sinasabunutan ko na pala ang sarili habang walang tigil sa pag-iling.

"Your Highness! What is happening to you, Your Highness?" lumapit ang babae at pilit na inaalis ang mga kamay ko sa ulo. Itinulak ko siya at tinapunan ng masamang tingin.

Her face is thick enough to pretend to be worried about me. After she fed Harmony rotten food, may gana pa siyang magpakita ng ganiyang ekspresyon.

"You! Get out of this room now!" she didn't respond to my yells to get up and leave the room, so I got up and pulled her out. I shut the door and leaned against it, panting. "Bakit nangyayari ito?" inilibot ko muli ang paningin at tumingin sa mga kamay ko.

Nangunot ang noo ko dahil ang payat niya-ng katawan na ito. Kumakain pa ba ito? Or more correctly, is Harmony being fed properly?

Habang laman ng isip 'yon ay na-agaw ng atensyon ko ang pagkain nasa sahig-that can no longer be called food because that food has gone moldy. My palms clenched because they mistreated Harmony. Kahit man lang sa maayos na pagkain ay ipinagkakait nilang ibigay kay Harmony.

I slowly walked towards the mirror. I seriously looked at myself in the mirror.

Why am I angry at what Harmony suffered? I shouldn't care about her, yes I don't.

I don't care for her. I hate everything about her, especially how frail she is. I am annoyed by her name only by hearing or reading it in a book, so when her character died, I celebrated. But should I be happy now? Should I take back my wish for Harmony to die because I became her? No! Where else for? What's the point of living if my little sister isn't here? What is the use of this new life in Harmony's body if Savy is already dead?

Especially since this side character is also destined to die.

"I was reincarnated in the body of someone who was about to die. How funny HAHA," nag lakad ako malapit sa kama at pinulot ang fork na nakita rito, "I'd rather end this life myself before the scenario of Harmony's death at the hands of the Assassins takes place." After saying those words I slowly thrust the fork into my chest but just as the tip of the fork was going in, I was stunned by what I heard from my mind.

"A-ate, I want you to continue living without me. I've always wished every time your birthday comes na sana mabuhay ka ng matagal, masaya at malaya...sorry po ate ko da...dahil I was the cause of your suffering but now it's like I'm Harmony, I'm ready to be your supporting character so you can have a happy life and...and peaceful life na inaasam m-mo..."

Umawang ang labi ko't agad na nabitawan ang tinidor na hawak ko. Napatingin ako sa mga kamay ko dahil puno iyon ng dugo, pakiramdam ko umiikot ang paningin ko. "N-no...b-blood? Thi...this blood-NO!!!" napahawak ako sa ulo dahil sa labis na kirot.

Narinig kong bumukas ang pinto ngunit hindi ko magawang tumingin dito, patuloy akong sumisigaw. "Harmony! Harmony! Harmony!"

"Your Highness-oh, god! Napakaraming dugo!"

"Call a doctor! Right now! Hurry up!" malinaw kong naririnig ang mga sigawan ngunit hindi ko magawang ma-tuon ang atensyon sa kaniya para makilala kung sino-sino sila dahil sa biglaang panglalabo ng mga mata ko.

"Where are you going, Mother?"

Isang bata ang bumangon mula sa kama ang nakikita ko sa aking isipan. Huh? Ano 'to?

"Did I wake you up, my daughter?" Lumapit ang ginang na may kulay crimson-red na buhok sa bata at hinalikan ang noo nito. Ipinahiga niya ang bata at kinantahan.

"Mother, are you leaving?

"Yes, anak. But don't worry, I'll be right back." Tugon ng ginang habang patuloy sa pag haplos sa bata.

"Promise, Mother?"

"I promise."

Iyon lang at nag bago ang eksena na nakikita ko sa aking isipan. The child is wearing a black dress while crying in a coffin, it's crying non-stop and it's already wet with rain. Not even one of the adults dared to use an umbrella for the child because their faces showed no emotion. "Ang daya mo, Mother. You told me you'd come back, and although you did, you're lying in a coffin. You abandoned me here, where nobody cares about me. I hate you, Mother."

Hindi ko alam pero walang tigil din sa pag buhos ang aking mga luha habang nakikita ang mga eksenang sa tingin ko'y mga alaala ni Harmony.

"Stop crying," napatingin ang bata sa lalaking lumapit. The way he looked was intimidating kaya natigil sa pag iyak ang bata.

"F-father..."

"You are worthless. You can't even maintain your etiquette," bahagya itong lumapit sa bata upang hindi marinig ng mga tao sa paligid ang sasabihin ng lalaki, "I'm ashamed to have you as my child." Matapos n'on ay umalis na ito, nakasunod naman ang isang ginang na lumingon sa bata at ngumisi kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ng bata.

Matapos ng eksenang iyon ay muli na namang nag bago ang mga nakikita ko. Ang bata ay nakasilip sa isang kwarto at sa loob nito ay mayro'ng dalawang tao ang nag-uusap. Ang Emperor at ang sa tingin ko'y Aide nito.

"A-are you sure of this decision, your Majesty?"

"What's wrong with my decision?" nag angat ng tingin ang Emperor kaya napayuko ang aide.

"It's been less than a week or month since Empress Melody's death, and you're already planning a wedding with your concubine-"

"What's your point?"

"Please pardon my ignorance, Your Majesty. I just worry that people might think badly of you getting married all of a sudden...that they might think that..."

"That what? Na plinano ko ang pagkamatay ni Empress Melody?" nag iwas ng tingin ang aide kaya natawa ang Emperor. "When people realize that their new Empress is more deserving than the former one-especially since Vitalia was one of the candidates for crown princess at the time-that concern will also be forgotten. So make sure to take care of our wedding arrangements as soon as possible." Tumango ang aide at akmang aalis na kaya agad na tumakbo paalis ang bata.

Ang susunod na eksena ay naging marahas, matapos italagang bagong Empress ang concubine ay naging sunod-sunod ang pagmamaltrato nito sa bata.

"You little shit!" kinaladkad nito ang bata't itinulak papasok sa basement.

"P-parang awa mo na po, Stepmother! Don't lock me in here, please po!" gusto kong ipikit ang mga mata ko, gusto kong mabura sa isipan ang walang awang pananakit na dinanas ng bata sa kamay ng kaniyang Stepmother pero hindi ko magawa dahil ang lahat ng ito ay ang mga alaala ni Harmony na habang buhay ng tatatak dito sa isip ko.

Walang awang sinampal, sinabunutan at sinipa ng ginang ang bata. At sa nakikitang iyon 'di ko maiwasang maalala ang lahat ng paghihirap na naranasan ko sa kamay ng aking mga magulang.

"Save me, Mother...please..."

I couldn't stand the next scene. The child hangs upside down while she endures a stern wooden whipping from a servant's hand. This is, if I'm not mistaken, the maid who served Harmony dirty food.

"Magaling-magaling, Celia. Because of that, I shall appoint you as Harmony's Nanny to look after her. You know what you have to do." Matapos n'on ay lumabas na sa basement ang Empress at naiwan ang dalawa.

Mag mula n'on walang araw na hindi nakaranas ng karahasan ang batang si Harmony sa kamay ng walang hiyang servant.

"Tama na! H'wag niyo siyang saktan! Tama na! TAMA NA!" agad akong napabangon mula sa pagkakahiga habang kinakapos ng hininga. Napahawak ako sa 'king ulo't inilibot ang mga mata sa kabuoan ng lugar.

Where am I?

Na-realize ko na nawalan pala ako ng malay at wala na ako sa kwarto ni Harmony. Kakaiba ang lugar, kakaiba rin ang amoy na namamayani rito. Nang bumukas naman ang pinto ay agad akong humiga at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ayaw kong malaman nilang gising ako dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko sa oras na makaharap ko ang mga tao rito sa palasyo. I might even kill them.

"How is my sister's condition?" there is no doubt that he's the Crown Prince because he used the term "sister" in his question from a masculine voice-

Wait what-the Crown Prince?! The male lead is inside this room?! Damn!

"So far she is doing well, Your Highness," sagot ng sa tingin kong manggagamot.

"What happened to my sister? Why did she hurt herself?"

"She has a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how she feels, the way she thinks, and how she acts...she suffers from Depressive Disorder or Depression, Your Highness."

What? Me? Has depression? Depression your ass!

"Depression? But how? How can she be depressed when she has everything? She is the Emperor's daughter." Clueless na tanong ng prinsipe. Wala nga pala siyang alam sa mga pinagdaanan ni Harmony sa kamay ng kaniyang ina.

"Depression has different causes. Stressful life changes, such as the death of a loved one; chronic stress; traumatic events; and childhood abuse, your Highness."

"The first cause may be the cause. Maybe she still hasn't forgotten what happened to her mother."

No! The biggest reason is your mother! That bitch!

Gusto kong isigaw iyon pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. Naguguluhan pa rin ako sa nangyayari kaya hangga't maari ay dapat mag-ingat ako sa mga gagawin ko. Mahirap na, sa lugar na ito, sa mundong ito ay wala akong kakampi.

"The only advice I can provide at this time is to give her twice as much care, encourage relaxation, avoid putting her under stress, and support her in everything she wants to do because there is a chance that she will harm herself again. Next week, I'll check in to see if anything has changed. I'll take my leave now, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Iyon lang at narinig ko nang sumara ang pinto. Hindi ko pa rin binubuksan ang mga mata ko dahil ramdam kong naiwan ang Crown Prince dito sa kwarto.

And I can feel his stares. He's staring at me for Pete's sake!

"Alam kong gising ka, Harmony." Halos gusto ko nang bumangon at tumakbo paalis dito sa kwartong ito nang marinig ko iyon. Pero kahit alam kong alam niyang gising ako ay hindi ko pa rin minumulat ang aking mga mata and whatever happens I will never open my eyes-not in front of him!

Oh, come on! Get out of here now. Urgh! This is so freaking awkward!

"You don't want to talk to me? I see. Get well soon, Harmony, and I'll leave you rest now."

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil tuluyan na itong umalis. Umupo ako at napabuntong-hininga saka inilibot ang paningin sa kabuoan ng kwarto. Kasalukuyan pala akong nasa infirmary.

Malungkot kong tinanaw ang mga bituin mula sa bintana.
"Why, Savy? Why do you want me to continue living without you? You're so unfair." humiga ako't ibinaling ang mga mata sa ceiling, "A happy and peaceful life I long for, huh?"

Siguro naman paggising ko...wala na ako sa katawang ito.

After that, my eyelids slowly closed.