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NAGISING SI MARIS na katabi si Drake na payapang natutulog sa tabi nya. Hinaplos nya ang pisngi nito at hinalikan ang labi

Napamulat sya ng bigla itong tumugon at pinaibabawan sya "Hey, my Yna"

Bumuntong hininga sya at pinulupot ang braso sa leeg nito "I'm okay now" sabi nya at pinagdikit ang noo nito

"No, you're not" sabi nito na kinataas ng isang kilay nya

"Paano mo nasabi? Ikaw ba ang nasa katawan ko?"

Nginisian sya ni Drake at dinampian ng halik ang labi nya "You're not okay, Yna. I can feel it"

"Yeah, you're right but I have to be. Hindi ako pwedeng maging mahina sa lahat ng oras" sabi nya at pilit na ngumiti

"Don't worry, my Yna. You can be strong in front of everyone and show your weakness here in my arms" sabi ni Drake na kinangiti nya

"Thank you, Harvey"

"I love you, my Yna" sabi nito at sinakop ang labi nya

Napangiti sya at tinugon ang halik nito. Pumasok ang malilikot na kamay ni Drake sa loob ng damit nya at hinanap ang daan patungo sa dibdib nya

Bumaba ang halik ni Drake sa leeg nya habang patuloy ito sa pagmasahe sa dibdib nya. Natigilan sila ng may kumatok sa pinto

"Your highness, are you awake?"

"Yeah. I'll be there, Mia. Give me five minutes" sabi nya at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi para pigilan ang tawa ng makita ang iritadong mukha ni Drake

"Tsk. Storbo" reklamo ni Drake at umalis sa ibabaw nya. Hinalikan nya ito sa labi at pinisil ang tungki ng ilong

"Later, Harvey" sabi nya saka tumayo. Inayos nya ang sarili sa banyo saka lumabas ng kwarto

Inalalayan pa sya ni Drake habang patungo sila sa conference room

"I found the kid" sabi ni Richee at nilapag ang isang folder sa table

Kinuha nya iyon at mabilis na binasa. Nilingon nya si Richee "The Silvestres are here in the Philippines"

"How do you know that, your highness?" takang tanong ni Meter

"It says here that the kid is a Filipino so I conclude that they are"

"The Queen is in Spain" sabi ni Richee

Umiling sya "We don't know where she is, Fiery. Her messenger just gave the flashdrive to me. Kilala mo ang Reyna kapag naguutos sya dapat ginagawa agad"

"You're right. So, let's focus on finding them here---"

"That's just my conclusion, Fiery. We're not sure of those assholes are really here" sabi nya at nilingon si Ria "Find Armageddon, he could help"

Tumango naman si Ria at agad na tumipa sa laptop nya. Nilingon nya si Vernon "Let's proceed to the plan"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Vernon "It's too early, your highness"

"We need a prey, Vernon, to catch the predator" sabi nya saka nilingon si Drake

Napakurap naman ito habang nakatingin sa kanya

"I'll be needing you cooperation, Harvey" sabi nya at nginitian ito

"That smile means it's a bad thing, am I right?"

Umiling sya "It's in favor to you actually. Meeting my family is not a bad thing, right?"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Drake "M-meeting them, you say?"

Tumango sya "Let's go to Spain tomorrow, Harvey"

"You're not serious, right Yna?"

"Of course, I'm serious, Harvey. Kailan ba ako nagbiro?" sabi nya at inirapan ito

Napasimangot naman si Drake "Hindi kaya patayin ako ng mga kamag-anak mo?"

"Hindi naman sila serial killer, Harvey. Chill ka lang" sabi nya at kinuha ang cellphone

"I think, I'm going to be sick" sabi ni Drake na kinangiti nya

Tinawagan ni Maris ang kanyang Lolo Ricardo

(My beautiful granddaughter, how are you?)

"I'm fine, Grandpa. I'll be home the day after tomorrow"

(That's good news---)

"With my fiance" pagpuputol nya sa sinasabi nito

Natahimik ang kabilang linya at nilingon nya si Drake

(F-fiance, you say Maris?)

"Yes, Grandpa. With my fiance"

(The Lieutenant Drake Harvey, is that him?)

"Yes, Grandpa"

(Oh dear, my girl. You make your Grandfather so proud. I'll tell everybody to come here and welcome you and your fiance. I can't wait for the wedding, my beautiful granddaughter)

"See you soon, Grandfather"

(See you, my girl. I love you)

"I love you too" sabi nya saka binaba ang tawag. Kinindatan nya si Drake saka nilingon si Ace

"Let's talk in private, Fire" sabi nya at lumabas ng conference room

"LIEUTENANT, stop overreacting" sabi ni Blake

Mula ng lumabas sila Maris at Ace ay hindi na sya mapakali

"They will kill me for sure, Blake. I almost fainted when I met Maris father and now...her whole family" sabi nya at napaupo sa isang silya

Natawa naman sila na nasa conference room "It's normal to be nervous, Guitterez. But Blake is right, stop overreacting. Maris relatives won't eat you alive" sabi ni Justine habang patuloy na tumitipa sa keyboard

"They are Royalties, Andromeda. Baka paghiwalayin nila kami at ipakasal si Maris dun sa saksakan ng pangit na Prinsepe na 'yon" kunot noong sabi nya

"Pangit na Prinsepe?" takang tanong ni Richee

"The Prince of Grande Palace, Miss" sabi ni Blake

Napatango naman si Richee "He's after the throne for sure" sabi nito at bumuntong hininga "He's as greedy as his father"

"Like father like son, Miss. That's how it works" sabi ni Vernon at napailing

Bumalik na sila Maris kaya't hindi na nakapagmaktol si Drake

"Kailan babalik si Israel?" tanong ni Maris kay Richee

"I don't have an idea. Inutusan ko sya na pakilusin ang mga tauhan nya. I want to put an end to those parasites bad deeds" sabi ni Richee at bumuntong hininga

Napatango sya at tinignan ang oras sa relo nya. Hinarap nya ang isang computer at kinonekta ang earpiece na suot kay Israel

"Hey, Israel"

"Your highness?"

"Yeah, it's me. How many men are there with you?"

"I ordered 400 of them. I have 200 left here and another 500 coming from Spain" sabi ni Israel sa kabilang linya

"Order 100 of your men to find a kid name Freya Oligario. Find her and bring her to me"

"Yes, your highness"

Sinuot nya ang isa pang earpiece at tinawagan si Spade Marco Lopez

"Queen Maris, what a surprise"

Napangiwi sya "I'm sorry for tapping in, Spade. How's Shanaiah?" tanong nya rito

"She's fine, your majesty. She's with the Princess"

"What about you?" tanong nya

Mapait na ngumiti si Spade "I'm fine, your majesty. Don't worry about me"

"Spade, I'm really sorry. We came too late"

Umiling si Spade "Don't blame yourself, your majesty---"

"But it's my fault"

"Nobody wanted that to happen but it's already done. We can't bring everything back, your majesty. We just need to accept and learn for our mistakes"

Napangiti sya sa sinabi ni Spade "Call me if you need anything, Spade"

"Well I have a little problem, your majesty"

"What is it?"

"Albert Yangco"

Nilingon nya ang mga tao sa paligid nya at abala ito sa kanya-kanyang gawain

"Go on, Spade. I'm listening"

"He keeps on messing with the Queen. Shanaiah is starting to get irritated" sabi nito na kinabuntong hininga

"About damn time. Leave that man to me, I'll take care of him" sabi nya at nginitian ito

"Thank you, your majesty. I'll go now, we have a meeting"

"See you soon" sabi nya at pinatay na ang tawag

Kinuha nya ang cellphone at tinawagan si Rian

(Good day, your highness)

Tumayo sya at humarap sa malaking screen "I have a favor to ask, if it's okay"

(Ahmm. Ano po 'yon?)

"Distract a man named Albert Yangco"

Ramdam nya ang paglingon sa kanya ng lahat kaya't nilingon nya rin ang mga ito at nginisian

(Albert Yangco? The Boss of Yangco Mafia?)

"Yes. I want to know more about him. Other identities, family members, transactions, other companies and his connections. I want them all. I'm giving you six months to accomplish your mission and hand it to me personally"

(Six months, your highness?)

"Yeah. Don't worry about your family. I'll take care of them. I'll send you an email after this call"

(How on earth will I distract him, your highness?)

Napalingon sya sa taong pumasok sa conference room at nginitian ito ng makitang si Kristoff iyon

"I don't know. It's up to you. Can you do the mission?" tanong nya at hinarap ang malaking screen sa likod nya

(Yes, your highness. I will do it)

Napangisi sya "That's my girl. I'll see you after six months then. Call me if you need something"

(I will, your highness. See you soon)

Pinatay nya ang tawag at binulsa ang cellphone nya

"Albert Yangco huh? Sinong pinadala mo?" tanong ni Justine

Hinarap nya si Justine at pasimpleng nilingon si Kristoff "A woman who has skills. She was trained by Shanaiah Janice"

"Shanaiah is kinda scary, for sure that woman you asked to do the mission has a deadly skills"

Napatango naman sya "Her beauty is deadly too. She's too beautiful. A Goddess indeed"

Ramdam nyang napalingon sa kanya si Kristoff kaya't nilingon nya rin ito at nginitian saka naupo muli sa harap ng computer

"What's her name?" tanong ni Kristoff

Nilingon nya ito "Why? Interested?" nakangising tanong nya

"Tell me her name, Maris!"

Bumuntong hininga sya "You can call her Diety"

"Don't play with me!"

"Don't raise your voice to the Queen, Mr. Rodriguez. I might kill you right here and now" sabi ni Blake

Tinaas nya ang isang kamay para patahimikin si Blake at hinarap ang upuan nya kay Kristoff

"Whoever she is, she's not connected with you. She's one of my army, Kristoff"

Napayuko si Kristoff sa sinabi nya

"Huwag mo na ulit ako pagtataasan ng boses, Rodriguez. Wala man ako sa Palasyo, mananatili sakin ang pagiging Reyna ko" sabi nya at tumayo na  "Mag-iingat ka, Kristoff Isaac. Ayoko pa naman na may kaaway lalo na sa kaibigan"