HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE LIAM'S POV
January 19, 2020
Sinulog Festival Grand Parade
10:00AM/ Alcala de Escolta Real Cebu City
"Your Royal Highness, this will be the parade's schedule today," Jaques walked toward me and put the iPad on top of my table. "But it's not yet final. We're still firm with our decision, Sir."
I nodded at him. Naiintindihan ko ang sentemiyento ng mga tao ko at ng palacio.
"Duration?" I asked while scanning the gadget. Hindi pa man nagsisimula, pagod na ko sa nakikitang schedules.
"About an hour. Depends on the crowd."
I grunt.
"Tell the boys to coordinate with the city council. I can't be delayed for my flight later this evening. You have to fix this, now. I can do the opening for the program at the plaza."
"Noted Sir. I'll call the organizer and the office of the Mayor. I'll get back to you, ASAP."
I nod and Jaques went outside of my room here on the estate to do his thing.
Namasahe ko ang sentido. Hindi pa man ako nakaka dalawang oras sa Cebu, pinutakte na ko ng sangkaterbang meetings at engagements. I was supposed to ride in a bulletproof SUV, wave to the waiting crowd for an hour. With my patented I'm-your-crown-prince smile, followed by the compendious speech my staff prepared.
But the Controls and my security team were against it. Up to the last minute, there's been a deliberation whether I'll get be part of the parade not. It's getting on my nerves.
Nahahapong napasandal ako sa upuan at tulalang tumitig sa family portrait na nakasabit sa gitna ng maluwag na opisina.
It was us, the Royal Family. Nasa gitna ang abuelo't abuela ko habang nasa kanan ako't napapalibutan ng mga pinsan ko't kapatid. Picture perfect, right?
I'll say that it's bullshit.
My life is an endless engagement, complex protocols, strict traditions, and injunctions. Sa kabila ng karangyaan na nakikita ng lahat, hindi nila batid kung ano-anong mga kailangan naming gawin. Kung ano ang mga bagay na dapat isakripisyo para sa trono.
The Crown and the Family will always come first.
Kaya kahit gusto kong magpahinga hindi maaari. This parade or whatever schedule they have for me is part of my duty as the nation's crown prince. The heir apparent who's always expected to be wise all smiles for the camera and be a role model to all our subjects.
We can't really have it all,I thought. May kaniya-kaniya tayong mga sakripisyong dapat ibigay sa buhay.Naiiling na napatayo ako't lumakad patungo sa bintana.
Tanaw mula sa kinaroroonan ko ang malawak na lupain na sakop ng pinakamaliit na kastilyong pag mamay-ari ng pamilya namin. The Alcala de Escolta Real, a sprawling Baroque castle sitting in 2, 000 sqm of land. It's magnificent and speaks opulence just like the rest of the castles and estates we have across the country.
Abruptly, I felt a pang that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as memories of my childhood poked my brain. Fuck! When will I move on? Dalawang dekada na ang nakakalipas pero bakit ganoon pa din ang kirot kapag naaalala ko ang mga magulang ko?
Shit. Get a grip, fool!
But unlike El Estio, this place is tolerable for me. Isa pa, hindi naman ako mag tatagal dito sa Cebu, mamayang gabi lilipad rin kami pabalik ni Yñaki sa Manila. There are some Japanese delegates waiting for me tomorrow, so I better stop sulking and work my ass off so that I'm over and done here.
"Hey, pretty boy! Zupp?" Yñaki's voice cut me off my musings. He's my cousin and best friend. As if I have lots of them, friends.
I turned and saw him striding on my direction, grinning. Lalong lumalim ang gitla sa noo ko. Ano na naman kayang katarantaduhan ang nasa isip nito?
"Same old, same old."
"You look like shit, Liam!" He exclaimed then laugh.
"Joder! What do you expect? I only have 3 hours of sleep. I really want to hit the bed and hibernate for God knows how long!"
Inis na lumakad ako pabalik sa gitna ng kwarto at huminto sa tapat ng mesa ko.
"What you need is a little inspiration.  Perhaps, pop some cherry and paint the town red, old man," he said sarcastically, assuming my lack of social life.
"Gago. I'm just busy, not celibate," inihagis ko sa kanya ang papel na nadampot. Ang loko mabilis na nakailag sa ginawa ko.
"Busy? Por dios por santo. Malapit mo ng makapalitan ng mukha yung computer at ipad mo. Get a life, cousin. Sayang ang genes natin."
"Siraulo ka talaga. Lakas mo mang asar. Alam mo namang wala ang hari't reyna eh,"natigilan ako nang makita ang nakakalokong tawa nito. I groaned, praying to the holy for some more patience for my jerk cousin.
"Mierda. Why are you grinning like a fool? Are we having a contest with that two horny young rebels? Hindi ka pa nadala, Yñaki. Pang  three years dating history mo. Two days lang kay Lachlan."
"At least ako may dating history. Eh ikaw?"
Mabilis kong dinampot ang pen holder ko at ibinato iyon sa kanya. Tarantado talaga 'to. Anong akala nilang lahat sa 'kin, mongha?
"Fuck. Liam!"
I smirk. Tumama kasi sa braso ng pinsan ko ang pen holder na yari sa brass, lightweight man iyon but still it can do some damage to my prying royal cousin.
"I have! You fucking know that, prick!"
"Yeah. Kung counted yung date mo with some models before when we were studying abroad and some hanky-panky side flings na sa pagkaka alala ko, maswerte nang maka-date mo ng dalawang ulit."
I shoot him daggers. Are we comparing dates and bed experiences now?
I'm not like the two rebellious and naughty royal princes, a.k.a. Lazlo and Lachlan. But I'm no saint either. I date several women, even flirt some, and have my fair share of fuck-me-now and leave-me -when morning comes kind of relationships. But my sexual endeavors combined with Yñaki will pale in comparison with Lachlan's. And as much as possible, I do my monkey business privately.
Besides, I'm not the show and tell type. My libido, my business. Period.
I narrowed my eyes at him, I know where this is going.
"Are you on a truce with that two idiots? I swear, pag uumpugin ko ang mga ulo n'yong tatlo once na malaman kong pinagpupustahan n'yo na naman ang sex life ko!"
"Cool, Liam. I'm just merely stating some facts and putting some sense to that robot-like brain of yours."
Ilang minuto ko siyang pinagmasdan bago ko itinuon ang atensyon sa speech na kailangan kong i-deliver mamaya.
"You really need to get laid, Liam. Masyadong mainitin ang ulo mo, napapansin namin. At least kapag ka nailabas mo 'yung init sa isang ulo," he grinned and eyed at my crotch.
"Hindi na sobrang hot tempered 'don sa isa. Nakasingaw na eh!"
"Fuck off!" Galit na itinuro ko ang pinto.
"Si," ani to at tumalikod pero biglang huminto.
"Speaking of truce. Have you read the GC? Nag aaya 'yung dalawa. Your horse and my car. Against...anything we want from those two assholes. I said yes. Thirty minutes tops. We need to win this."
"I never said yes."
"Oh, you will. I know it, 'wag kang killjoy. I'll text you later. Hahanap lang ako ng chance na mailigaw yung mga boys."
"Fine. Go!"
I motioned him to go out as I fetch my phone. Yñaki was right. Our two younger brothers put a wager on us. Kailangan naming mailigaw sila Jaques at ang ibang mga royal guards sa loob ng kalahating oras. It's our version of hide and seek.
Damn it! Aren't we old for this kind of game?
I heaved a sigh as I recall all the nasty things we did when we were teens just to avoid our guards. Lahat kami may mga kalokohan at ngayon mukhang balak i-revive ng dalawang pasaway ang gawain naming iyon noong kabataan namin.
Akala ko pa naman sasawayin ni Yñaki 'yun dalawa pero umayon pa ito. Ako na lang ba ang matino sa 'ming apat? Or is it the other way around? They're the normals and I'm being me, control freak, and serious.