***

MAHIGPIT kong niyakap ang suit na binigay ni David sa akin habang nakaupo at hinihintay ang flight namin. Hindi pa kami makapag-board dahil sobrang aga namin na dumating at pinili na manatili na muna sa airport lounge.

May reporters sa labas na nagawa namin na iwasan ngunit ang alam ko ay may posibilidad na may makakasama kami sa flight namin. Mayroon na rin naghihintay pagdating namin sa Espanya.

The flight returning home would be such a journey.

We were advised to come early to avoid any inconvenience. Kahit daw kasi VIP kami ay baka matagalan kami. Hindi lang kasi kami ni David ang kailangan nilang i-check pero maging ang ilang staff at security na kasama namin pabalik.

Again, I was surprised to learn how many had been secretly guarding me since day one. They masked their presence well. No wonder Papá sent a selected few.

Sinilip ko ang aking smartphone at malapit na ang oras ng boarding namin. Sana wala kaming maging aberya ni David. Gusto ko na lang talaga na makabalik sa Espanya.

Hindi naman kami maaaring ma-late ni David dahil may interview na kami bukas sa isang broadcasting network sa Spain.

I'm not sure if those words about the flights were real, but that was based on our security team and the clips I had seen online. Although, tama rin naman na dapat maaga lalo na dahil international flight kami. Mahirap na kung biglang ma-cancel sa kung ano man na rason.

I looked up the screen showing all the flights; some had departed, others were waiting, and a couple were cancelled. Hindi rin nababawasan ang mga tao na dumadaan sa harapan ko.

Inayos kong muli ang suot kong sombrero upang matakpan ang mukha ko. Ayokong magkaroon ng komosyon.

"Mi Princesa."

Napatingala ako sa pinagmulan ng boses at sakto naman na pagtayo ni David sa aking harapan. I lowered my cap once more. The funny thing was he wasn't hiding his identity. David was wearing his business suit, less the suit since I was holding it.

Hindi niya tinago ang identity niya dahil na rin nakapagtataka mula sa mata ng ibang mga pasahero bakit napalilibutan kami ng sandamakmak na security. Our faces had been posted all over the international news. Pero sa halip na gumamit ng private plane, mas pinili ko na normal na flight na lang.

After all, this might be my last flight in public. Gusto ko na lang sulitin ang bawat sandali bago matapos.

"Let's go?" tanong niya sabay lahad ng kamay sa akin.

"Okay." Malugod kong tinanggap iyon at hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagkinang ng engagement ring sa aking daliri. It was just a phenomenal sight.

Mahigpit ang naging pagkalilimglis ng aming mga kamay. His hand was bigger and warmer than mine and I could just feel the security from his hands.

We were receiving the expected gazes as we got closer to our plane. I could feel my heart palpitate as we approached the boarding gate.

Kahit nang makapasok na kami ng eroplano at ginaya patungo sa aming mga upuan, dumadako pa rin ang isipan ko sa mga nangyari nitong nakaraan na buwan—my estranged mother, my identity, and even Rome. Things had been very rocky and unexpected.

Napatitingin ako sa labas ng bintana. I could see the luggage getting loaded onto the plane.

"Champagne, ma'am?" alok ng stewardess kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Thank you."

Tinanggap ko ang champagne at sumimsim doon. Napansin ko na abala si David habang kausap ang cabin crew kasama ang aming staff at head of security. They had to sort things out while the other passengers get in to the plane and before we land to Spain.

We expected it would be busy and chaotic as soon as we landed in Spain. I would try to get as much sleep as possible during this flight.

'Kaya na nila 'yan,' pag-iisip ko at muling binalik ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. I took another sip as I set my thoughts aside.

It's time to leave the Philippines and face the reality.

***

PAGDATING namin sa Espanya ay inasikaso kami agad at naging mahirap nga ang paglabas namin ng airport. There were reporters and journalists everywhere. Biglang natalo pa namin ang mga artista sa naipon namin sa airport. Aiprort security had to assist us to get out of the airport and into our vehicles.

David protected me at all costs. He had his arm around my waist as we walk between our security and the sea of crowd. Parang malulunod talaga kami kung hindi sila naging handa sa pag-uwi namin.

Hinatid na kami sa kinalakihan kong bahay. Sinalubong pa ako ng yaya ko at umiyak pa talaga siya. She said I left to look for my mother yet I return with no mother but suddenly engaged with my childhood best friend and world knew about my existence.

Kahit naman ako ay hindi makapaniwala. Tama siya. Iba ang rason ng pagbiyahe kong mag-isa. At nasira ni Mamá ang pangarap ko na makilala siya nang maayos. Ayaw niya sa akin at wala akong magagawa roon.

At doon ko napatunayan kung sino talaga ang totoong nagmamahal sa akin at gagawin ang lahat para mapasaya ako.

At dahil gabi na, sinabihan ko si David na dito na magpalipas ng gabi. Hindi naman niya unang beses na dito matutulog. Madalas ay siya ang gumagamit ng guest room dito.

Habang naliligo si David sa guest room ay kausap ko si yaya. Binigay ko rin sa kaniya ang kung ano-anong pasalubong na pagkain at tuwang-tuwa siya. At dahil late na rin, pinabalik ko na siya sa mansiyon upang nakapagpahinga na.

Ayaw pa sana niya pero sinabi ko na lang na kailangan na rin naman namin ni David magpahinga dahil maaga pa kami bukas. Returning to the main mansiyon was still a trek from where my little hidden abode stood.

"David . . . "

"Hmm?"

"D-do you want to sleep here?" nahihiya kong alok sa kaniya kung nais niyang tumabi sa kama.

I saw nothing wrong with it since we had always slept in the same room. Truthfully, I would trust David more than I would trust myself.

"Mi—"

"Think of it as practice!" agad kong usal. "When we get married, we're always going to be sleeping together and do much more!" Biglang nanaig ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin matapos kong magsalita. Napagtanto ko bigla ang mga salitang lumabas sa aking bibig kaya nang-iwas ako ng tingin. "Ignore me! I don't know what I just said."

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Why in the world did I say that?

Halos mapatalon ako nang maramdaman ang kamay ni David sa aking mukha. He made me look at him softly and I obliged.

"Alright. Let's go to bed."

Bumaba ang kamay niya upang mapaglingkis sa akin. Marahan niya akong hinila patungo sa malapad na kama. That was when I felt the erratic beating of my heart. My system was suddenly acting like it was the first time we slept together—literally.

He lay on the bed, and I followed. He extended his arm on t, the bed, and I rested my head on it. Halos nakaakbay na rin siya sa akin.

"We're going to be very busy tomorrow . . . " bulong niya.

"Yeah, I can't believe Papá had already organised everything."

"It took a while, but we're getting there."

Patuloy ang kuwentuhan namin ni David hanggang sa maramdaman ko na ang pagdalaw ng antok. That would make sense since I was still jetlagged from our flight and I stood like a porcelain doll for the public to admire.

Dumaan sa isipan ko si Rome at ang huli niyang mensahe ngunit mabilis ko rin iwinaksi ang ideya na makausap siya. Hindi ko alam kung sinabi ni Kath kay Rome ang tungkol sa pagkatao ko, but I trust that she wouldn't after learning who I really was.

Nakatatakot lang kung biglang lumabas sa publiko ang mga pinag-usapan namin ni Rome. Pero tiwala ako na hindi iyon mangyayari. I wasn't sure how I still managed to trust him despite what happened, but I do. Naniniwala akong mabuting tao si Rome . . . Mali lang talaga ang timing naming dalawa.

"I'm sleepy . . . " bulong ko at siniksik ko ang aking sarili sa kaniyang katawan. Mas lalo rin niyang hinigpitan ang pagkayayakap sa akin. I even felt his lips and nose rest on my hair. He started patting my back making me sleepier.

The weather and the way David patted my back made me sleepier. Everythinslowly turned pitch black, and I heard David's voice last.

"Sleep well, Letizia . . .  I love you . . . "

***

JO ELLE

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