Princess

It didn't make any sense. I thought Logan was supposed to be a womanizer who forces girls to get abortion. So, paanong nagkaroon siya ng anak?

"Baby princess, huwag mo na ulit gagawin 'yon, okay? Pinag-alala mo si daddy." Logan caressed the little girl's head as he looked at her in the most endearing way I'd ever seen.

I just stood there still, a few meters away from where they were, not wanting to interrupt their moment. Marami akong katanungan sa aking isip, but I chose to keep them to myself for now.

"Daddy, gusto ko lang naman kumain ng ice cream," the child reasoned out.

Nakita ko ang pagbuga ng hangin ni Logan sabay tapik ng kamay ng bata. "Princess, pwede ka namang kumain ng ice cream, huwag lang masyadong marami, okay? You need to listen to your Ate Therese."

Tumango naman ang babae na nakaupo sa tabi. She was probably Therese.

So, hindi siya ang mommy ng bata? This was making it more complicated to think about.

"Daddy, who is she?" The little girl suddenly pointed her hand in my direction, making the guys turn to me.

I saw Logan's brows meeting in the middle as soon as he locked eyes with me. Ngumiti ako sabay lakad patungo sa kanila. "Hi, I'm Bee, your daddy's... friend." Pinag-isipan ko pa kung ano ang sasabihin ko at baka may masabi akong ikagulat ng bata.

"Friend? I don't think I've seen you before," sagot pa ulit ng bata. Mukhang kilala niya lahat ng kaibigan ng kanyang daddy.

"I'm a new friend of his," I explained, glancing at Logan and flashing him a smile.

"Is that a ballerina?" Biglang tanong ng bata habang nakaturo ang kanyang kamay sa may sling bag ko.

May isang maliit na pink ballerina keychain na nakasabit dito. It was given to me by mom when I was kid. It was that same day I told myself I would make her proud by being a ballerina someday.

I nodded at the kid as I removed the keychain off my bag. Inabot ko ang keychain sa bata at agad naman siyang napangiti sa tuwa. "You can have it, but promise you will listen to your daddy from now on, okay?"

Agad namang tumango ang bata habang nakatingin sa bigay kong keychain. "Thank you, Ate Bee."

"You're welcome, Princess," I tapped her arm lightly and immediately noticed how warm she was.

"Excuse me po ma'am, sir, ichecheck ko lang ang IV ng pasyente," isang babaeng nurse ang dumating kaya lumayo na rin ako at umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa may waiting area.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at biglang dumating si Logan. Umupo siya sa tabi ko sabay abot sa akin ng isang bote ng lemon iced tea. "Oh, uminom ka muna."

"Uh, no, thanks. I don't drink iced tea," sabi ko sa lalaki.

Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Logan. "Walang lason 'to."

I shook my head, stifling a chuckle at him. "Alam ko. I just don't drink that."

He exhaled a breath. "Arte naman neto. Ano bang gusto mo? Bibilhan kita."

"No. Hindi ako gutom," I reasoned, folding my arms over my chest.

"Bahala ka," the guy spoke again, turning to me in a serious tone. "Salamat pala kanina."

"For what? Sa keychain? That's no big deal," I waved him off.

Umiling si Logan. "For making Princess happy."

His eyes glistened upon saying that and I suddenly felt the weight of his words. He was worried sick for his child that he ran his ass off just to make sure she was okay. If that's not a definition of a good father, then I don't know what is.

"It's the least I could do. Sorry rin for arguing with you earlier," I mumbled. "If only I knew..."

Tumahimik ulit ang lalaki habang nakatingin sa di kalayuan.

I cleared my throat, trying to break the silence. "So... uh... about your child, what's wrong with her?"

Logan snapped his head at me. "May type I DM siya kaya mino-monitor namin ang sugar intake niya."

My eyes fluttered in shock. "DM? As in diabetes? Pero ilang taon palang siya, di ba? Isn't she too young to be sick?"

"Five years old lang siya," usal pa niya habang umiiling. "Kung pwede nga lang saluhin ko nalang ang sakit niya, pero hindi eh."

"I'm sorry." I pressed my lips, thinking of what to say next. But, there was nothing I could say to make him feel better.

Nilabas bigla ni Logan ang kanyang cellphone at nag-type dito. "Ano'ng address mo? Ibu-book nalang kita ng Grab para makauwi ka. Hindi na kita maihahatid pa, sorry."

"Okay lang. I'll just call our driver," I answered.

He nodded, standing up from his seat. "Iwan na kita dito."

I nodded at him. "Go lang. I can manage myself."

Nang iwanan niya ako, I couldn't help but think about his situation. I suddenly wanted to know a little bit more about him.

#

"Ballerine, focus!" That annoying voice snapped me back to reality as I pulled my left leg back up with my left arm extended above my head.

Pilit na bumabalik sa aking isipan ang nangyari kanina sa ospital. Okay na kaya si Princess? Nasa ospital pa rin ba si Logan?

"Bal, kain na," narinig ko ang boses ni yaya sa labas ng aking kwarto.

Looking at myself infront of my mirror, I realized how round my face was yet again. Hindi naman ako kumain kanina pati kahapon. And yet, ang taba ko pa rin tignan. I couldn't afford to lose my figure. Baka hindi magkasya sa akin ang mga outfits para sa play.

"Bal?" Tawag ulit ni yaya sa akin mula sa labas.

I planted both my feet on the ground and marched my way towards my door. Binuksan ko Ito at nakita si yaya na may hawak na tray kasama ang isang plato na may lamang salad.

"Utos ng mommy mo na kumain ka, Bal," sabi pa ni yaya sabay abot sa akin ng tray.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Thanks, 'ya."

Bumalik ako sa loob ng aking kwarto at nilapag ang tray sa mesa. Hindi naman ako gutom pero kailangan kong kumain. Or else, mommy will tell me off again.

I forced myself to chew the green leafs on my plate. Every piece of it tasted like grass. No, it was worse than that. I couldn't even explain it. Basta hindi masarap.

Kahit na araw-araw kong kinakain ito, I still could never get used to its awful taste.

While eating, I decided to memorize my lines for the play. Halos kabisado ko na rin naman lahat ng linya dito. Ever since I was a kid, I knew the story of The Nutcracker like the back of my hand. It was mom's favorite play after all, so naturally, naging favorite ko na rin ito.

Before I slept that night, I wished I could meet The Nutcracker Prince, even just in my dream.

#

"What? Hindi na si Logan Maxwell ang gaganap na Nutcracker?" I burst out as soon as I learned that the cast had been changed.

"Bee, alam mo naman na siguro na dare lang 'yon kaya galit na galit si Mrs. Dela Fuerte  nang malaman niya ito," sabi ni Melody.

I shook my head in dissent. "That's it? Papalitan nalang? Akala ko ba nag-audition si Maxwell?"

"Totoo namang nag-audition siya at may ibubuga naman kahit na medyo awkward siya sa stage. Not to mention that he even wore a custom-made mascot costume during his audition resembling that of The Nutcracker's face. Grabeng effort ng dare na 'yon ah," another classmate spoke.

My jaw fell open. "He really did that?"

"Akala ko ba ayaw mong si Logan ang maging lead? Tapos ngayon gusto mong bumalik siya? Ano ba talaga, Bee?" usal pa ng isa.

I huffed a breath. "What if I can convince him to continue the play?"

"Bee, nag-decide na ang director natin. Pero kung ipipilit mo ang gusto mo, baka pati ikaw ay palitan rin," ani Melody.

"Fine. But, I assure you I can make him say yes," I replied with a smile. And that's what I planned to do.

During our rehearsal break, I marched my way to the field. Alam kong may practice pa si Logan hanggang alas siyete. If I could reach the field in ten minutes, sigurado akong nasa field pa rin siya.

Soon enough, I reached the field, all the lights still on, but only few players left on the field. Logan Maxwell was not in sight.

Nilapitan ko ang isang player na nag-aayos ng kanyang gloves at baseball bat sa gilid ng field. "Hi, alam mo ba kung nasaan si Maxwell?"

The guy turned to me. "Maxwell? Si Captain L? Nasa locker room. Gusto mo samahan kita?"

I arched a brow at him upon seeing a smirk hidden across his lips. "Uh, no thanks. I can find my way there."

"Sure ka miss? Madilim sa daan," hirit pa ng lalaki.

"May flashlight ako." I waved my hand, holding my phone up his face.

Napatawa ang lalaki. "Okay. Ikaw bahala."

Turning my back, I ignored the guy's creepy chuckle and made my way towards the locker room, which was next to the field.

Hawak ang flashlight sa aking kamay, binilisan ko ang paglakad para marating agad ang locker room. Just then, I heard footsteps coming from behind me. My heart raced along with my pace.

Buti nalang at nakarating na rin ako sa building kung nasaan ang locker room. Pumasok ako sa loob, only to find out it was empty. No one else was here. Nandito ba talaga si Logan?

I passed by a room enclosed in transparent glass walls, which was filled with gym equipment. I suddenly imagined Logan lifting weights in this room, bare chest showing his six-pack and sweat dripping down his whole body. Damn, kahit sa imagination ko lang, ang hot na niya.

"Ballerine, ano bang iniisip mo? Mag-focus ka nga!"

Shaking that thought away, I continued to march down the hallway until I saw the shower room. Maybe he's in here?

Peeking my head inside the room, I focused my ears on the faint sound of water coming from inside. Someone was definitely showering. Or maybe there's a ghost.

I was just about to take a step back, when a hand suddenly blocked my mouth from breathing.

"Mmmm... mmmm..."

I tried to wiggle myself out of the person behind me, but I was too weak. Was I being kidnapped now?

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" A low and familiar voice electrocuted my ear as he slowly let go of his grip on my mouth.

I coughed out loud, turning to the guy, who just almost killed me to death. "What the hell, Maxwell?"

I burst out in anger, but my breathing stopped again for a millisecond when I saw the guy shirtless in front of me, only a towel wrapped around his lower body.

"Sorry na..." he paused, pulling me farther away from the shower room. "Bakit ka ba nandito? Bawal ang girls dito. Paano kung may ibang nakakita sa'yo?"

My eyes continued to flutter, but I couldn't keep my eyes away from his sparkling, golden chest and formed abs. Wait, did I just count that right? 2,4,6...

"Ano nga?" He asked, pulling my attention back to his face.

"Uh... I... actually..." Damn it. Why does he look so hot right now?

"Ano?" he asked again.

Stop drooling, Ballerine.

"I mean... I want to talk to you about the play. Bakit ka ba nag-quit?"

The guy tilted his head to the side, staring at me. "Alam mo namang dare lang 'yon, di ba?"

"But, you're the perfect fit for the role."

Logan scoffed. "Don't get me wrong. Alam kong pinasaya mo si Princess, pero it doesn't mean that I owe you anything."

I gritted my teeth. "Maxwell, I never said you owe me. I just want you to do your part in the play."

The guy folded his arms over his bare chest. "Hindi ka ba nakikinig? Hindi ko nga gagawin 'yong play kaya umalis ka na."

Logan started marching away from me. But, I was not one to give up.

"Fine. You win," I exclaimed, making him turn to me again with a confused look on his face. "But, you're going on a date with me."

I swear I saw his jaw falling ten feet below the ground. "Ano'ng sabi mo?"

I flashed him a smile. "You heard me, Maxwell. You're going on a date with me. Tomorrow.  6pm. See you then."

After that, umalis na rin ako bago pa siya makipag-argue sa akin. I may not be able to let him join the play, but I can still make him fall for me no matter what.