Another letter of invitation from the Malacañang Palace arrived at the royal castle in Denmark. This was the second invitation they received a few years ago when they went there to give help. Soon, the royals were in the palace again. Now, the president wanted them to see some of the major changes that happened in the area.
As they walked farther, they were all amazed except for Prince Mharl, who was not in the mood to talk and his mind flew back to the castle. In his senior year, he was the one to lead the group in their class, and besides his crush was there. This made him want to go home right away rather than join the trip to the Philippines again.
They turned right. A glass door automatically opened and the four guards were at their post at the entrance to meet them. Now, the president stood still suddenly, bowed his head, and gestured for everyone to enter. They were now in the dining hall overlooking the river and the garden on the other side.
“Prince Mharl, why not look at the river now? Look! The amazing arch in the center has a picturesque dove flying around,” the queen exclaimed.
“Yeah! So elegant and wonderful,” Prince Mharl exclaimed. Though art was his favorite, deep inside he was sleepy, tired, and uninterested.
Soon, dinner was served and maids came to give their food while the uniformed men were on their posts watching for their safety and other errands. While the conversation still going on and waiting for more food to serve, the prince asked to leave for comfort room needs. A PSG and a few uniformed men escorted him. While on the way, he saw a lady with long black hair crossing the other way near to the comfort room he was to use.
“Where is she? She might be somewhere working,” the prince thought as he now entered the cubicle of the room. “Wait! I guess I knew her,” Prince Mharl uttered to himself while did wash his hands.
Back to the table, the conversation was lively and full of fun as the host showed a friendly, active, and cheerful accommodation. Because of this, the prince completely forgets his bad mood. Dinner was over, and the plates and other dining utensils were gathered as the president and the highnesses stood to watch the view at the windows facing outside. Prince Mharl could not hide his curiosity as he intensely took a longer look at the young lady as he turned back to the table. He suddenly noticed the girl when she gathered his plate.
The prince asked the young lady with long black braided hair. “Will you get me a cold orange lemon juice?”
“Yes, my highness,” she replied timidly while lowering her head as she bowed.
“Please bring it to the Azotea,” he added while thinking of a way to get to know the lady. He was familiar with the face, but he cannot remember how and when she met her before.
The prince asked the president and his parents to go to the Azotea instead of joining them and they let him be accompanied by the PSG, uniformed men, and a few servants.
“My highness, your juice is here,” the young lady greeted the prince and blushed when he stood all of a sudden and faced her.
Prince Mharl inquired the young lady about the event that he now remembered. “Are you the girl that I bumped here a few years ago? Thanking silently that he vividly recalled everything now. “How are you?” he seriously asked with concern in his sweet voice.
Marie was so shy to nod, and instead, she lied. “No, my highness! I did not remember meeting you before,” she right away defended and asked permission to leave.
His sternness and authoritative but sweet voice were still familiar though he was in his senior year. She thought of his tall height, handsome face, and a charismatic smile that sent her butterflies in her stomach and a fast palpitation, yet created a tickle in her heart.
“What I am thinking? No! Marie behaves well. What happened to you?” she told herself while washing her face and facing the mirror after she used the comfort room.
“No! I cannot let that happen again. This time you need to be strong Marie,” she firmly told herself as she made her way outside. She cannot trust herself when a conversation needed to make, so she decided not to tell the truth.
Meanwhile, the prince wanted to ask what had happened to her after the accident. He knew she was the harelip girl he bumped before but she already answered.
"That was a lie. What happened?" Her lip is now fixed now though it still looks obvious when staying close to her told himself analyzing the changes he saw. He was upset because his plan to know her name did not succeed again. This time, he wanted to apologize for what had happened before but it seemed that she avoided him.
“Can you bring me to another area of the palace?” he asked the team that was assigned to watch him. He smiled and felt inspired by the plan he needed to make.
“Yes, our highness,” replied the PSG men, who led the group to attend to his needs.
They walked in the areas where he did not see before until they reached the place where he clearly remembered he and the young lady once made an incidental meeting.
“Great! The plant is still here." His eyes surveyed the area while making a soft laugh touching the trunk of the tree. "This looks like an old plant as the trunk obviously shows. Its flowers are beautiful. There is a big change now in the plants and the landscapes. It looks like one of the corners in their garden back to Denmark,” he thought while turning his head slowly back and forth.
“Our highness we have our man-made falls to the left side of that building,” the uniformed man pointed to the other side.
Soon, they walked more and the prince was delighted to see the unique greenery placed to highlight the falls in the midst of a bamboo tree and a mini mountain.
“This is cool,” he stretched his right hand to touch the water. The team answered some of his questions about the other stuff surrounding the falls. Now, as he made an exit, he noticed that there was a group of young ladies at the end of the way on the right side of the palace. He pretended to see the plants just to hear their conversation.
“Can we make some garlands, later?” the husky voice said. Then, a giggle was heard.
“I know you just want to see the prince,” another voice of the lady said making a tease to the group.
Prince Mharl walked more and told in gestures the team to wait for him as he made a look at the rest of the area since they can still see him even though he walk fast away from them.
“I guess he is a good match for Marie. Marie is a type of girl who does not have a boyfriend since birth,” laughter filled the area.
The prince was amused as he listened intently to the young teens. Suddenly, he made a peek at the plants in their area. He pretended to touch the big leaf of a plant, but with a desire to look at them who probably working as he thought. There, he saw a group of young ladies, younger than him circling the hill of black soil. They were placing the soil in different pots.
“Where is she?” he wondered working his way to look more closely at them. He all saw the teenagers except for the one who sat still with her back on him. He noticed her long hair again as her right hand reached her back to pull her hair from her chest. The prince smiled at the thought of fulfilling his plan. He is about to approach them when the PSG man walked hurriedly and told him the news. Though a royal poise was still carried, a look of dismay enveloped him.
“Prince Mharl, we need to go back right away to Denmark,” the queen told him in concern when he returned to their room.
“But why?” he asked absentmindedly partly as his thoughts were still on his plan to work on later.
“Something happened to the butler,” while reaching a paper on the table the king answered sadly. “Prince Richard sent him to the jail,” he added.
“What? That is not fair. He is a loyal, kind, and helpful one,” the prince exclaimed with a shock at what he heard. His voice echoed in the guestroom his parents occupied in the palace.
“Prince George, your cousin, was poisoned and they sent him to the hospital, “
“So, he is their suspect?” he angrily got the point now. “Mom, Dad, you know how faithful Rain Dee is to the castle. He serves several decades there already. Do they see it?” he clasped his hands while standing all of a sudden. “Something happen and I want to know it,” Prince Mharl determined voice raised. He entered the comfort room a few minutes later while the king and queen started to gather the papers on the table. Maids came when he opened the door. Their luggage was filled with their belongings again as hands worked hurriedly to gather their stuff.
While getting ready the prince was furious and in mixed thoughts about the unfulfilled plan he made. He promised himself to make it happen someday.
“Something is not right. I knew how Prince Gorge wants the throne badly,” the prince fussed as he searched for his things in bed. While gathering them, a memory flooded her mind. That was one of his unforgettable memories of his cousin Prince Gorge. They played one day and their royal nannies were just watching.
“My father told me that I would be the next king, Prince Gorge told him while they were fixing their toy cars. I am fit to be the king because I have the leadership skills,” Prince Gorge proudly uttered loudly enough for him to hear.
“Oh! Am I not the eldest prince’s only son? You are wrong,” straightforwardly Prince Mharl exclaimed as he stood turning his face red. That was the start of their silent rivalry since then. However, the castle did not mind any of the teases and petty arguments they made thinking that the two were still in their childhood years. Yet, Prince Mharl knew that it was a serious matter that needed to be mindful of now and then. He was smart and marvelously solved anything that bothered him far, so he closely watched his cousin’s actions, so with his family.
Marie was in deep thought as she tried to find her things. She was in her melancholic mood. More than a decade already after she left Iloilo for good. “If only I can go back to Iloilo now. I, perhaps still enjoy seeing the greenery, playing games, and talking with my friends and relatives. But my parents are here. They love their work. We are four in the family now. Hard to be the eldest. I need to finish my assignments, so I can watch my siblings outside.” Marie thought while looking for her notebooks. She reached them together with her books at the upper part of the shelf, and an envelope appeared which was full of papers. She decided to arrange them. Then, she smiled when she saw a few pictures on the folded paper. She vividly remembered everything. In San Miguel, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, the place where she spent her childhood years, she and Lou had memories she treasured now and then. “I have enough. Want to add? Look at the other branches,” Marie urged Lou, her bestfriend, who a
“Marie!” She heard the loud call that became nearer as her mother approached where she was. "I have good news to tell." She turned to see Mar in her favorite chair in the library near the piano. Your aunt Shiela is already in Denmark.” “What! Really? How did that happen? Marie inquisitively asked while walking briskly toward her mother. Oh! I am happy for her. That was her dream even before when she was still in the province. Mother, that was too far for us though.” “Don’t worry your aunt is strong, independent, and courageous. She is ready for her housekeeping job. Her determination gives her an edge to pursue everything. She promised to help you in your college though you are a scholar. “I will watch her in her old age. No matter what, I will get Aunt She. I’ll take care of her.” One day, Shiela called Lan. “My couple boss was the owner of some hotels in Denmark and a relative of the royal family. They are nice, friendly, accommodating, and thoughtful. Don’t worry, I feel at hom
While doing the laundry, Marie’s thoughts were back on the conversation made by Mrs. Grace Reyes. With the bible in hand, Grace asked her, “Are you familiar with John 3:16?” “Yeah!” “But do you understand what that verse is all about?” “It says that God loved the world that He gave Jesus Christ, His only son and we will not be in condemnation but have eternal life.” “That’s true. You know what God is the creator of heaven and earth. He made us and all the things in the world. But one day, Adam and Eve, our first parents, sinned. God drove them away from the garden of Eden. He warned Adam and Eve not to touch or eat the fruit in the middle of the garden as it is written in the book of Genesis. But the couple was tempted by the serpent which is the devil. Because of that, their eyes were opened, and they understood what they did. We inherited those sins from them and like them we were bound to hell when we die. The good news, however, is in this verse that God gave His only Son, Jes
“He was so cute, handsome, and perfect.” Irene giggled as she opened her cellphone and pointed Prince Mharl to Marie. “Yeah! I knew that already. His name is everywhere since they were here for two events last time. Girls are on their feet running just to see him.” “Wait. Where is Joe? I have not seen him in a while. "Do you two have an LQ?" Irene teased Marie and tried to lift her spirits. "He is currently working on his project in Cubao. His Bachelor of Electrical Engineering course gives him an edge to do electrical wiring." “Now let’s talk about your crushes. These French fries are so yummy. After this, let’s eat ice cream again. “ Marie drank her bottled water and smiled, "I can't finish another set since..." “You eat small amounts and that's why you're thin.". Keep on eating. After the ice cream let’s go to McDonald's." “What?” As the two walked near the palace's river and ate ice cream in cones together when Irene visited her one day, they kept heading outside to buy the
“Why on earth am I thinking about that girl in the Philippines? She was quiet when we had our first meeting, and when we had our second one. And why she lied that she did not remember me. "In Singapore, she was still aloof and timid." The prince sighed in his deep thoughts as he stared at the trees he created on the canvas hanging in his dad's entryway. "Prince Mharl, let's have a talk." The king motioned to the prince to sit in the chair near the queen, who wore her favorite emerald dress, watched them both, and later focused on her only son. She missed how innocent he used to be. With the remote control in his hand, the king opened the TV screen in the center, which had been used as a mini stage for meetings in his office. The king's office looked like a curtain when not opened, but now it was a sight to behold. With doubts on his mind, he analyzed why his parents called him. “Yes, my highnesses.” "Focus on your journey and see it clearly. Look at your mom’s belly when you were s
“This is amazing! There is a group of artists in this group.” Marie smiled. It was two days after her painting contest that he told her. She got second place in their school. Joe cheered and told her that a journey can sometimes be up or down, but what matters most was being sports regardless of the outcome. With a red comb on her table, she ran it through her shoulder-level hair and stood with a cellphone in hand to make a quick glance outside. “I’ll join here. International Artists Group.” She put her right index finger on the “join group” button of her phone. When scanning the profile pictures of the group, she was amazed by the paintings of the natural world, portraiture, arrangements of objects, and abstractions. “Who made all of these? They are breathtaking! The colors are mixed of lustrous, glossy, radiant, and shadowy.” Marie's series of questions on her thoughts as she was filled with joy as she checked each of them. Soon, a notification popped out from her phone. Her re
Marie graduated with flying colors. She was not at the top of the class but made a place on the list of awardees. She was then offered by her former school Ramon Magsaysay High School a position as they needed one English teacher. Their one old English teacher retired two months after her board examination and since the result of the examination was not yet released, she was advised to be a volunteer teacher in that school. One month after, she went home late. “Good evening, Mar!” the guard greeted her in the shadow of the flickering light near the gate. ‘Good evening, too!” Soon she reached their room but wondered why no lights were turned on even on the path outside of the palace’s garden. Everything was dark, so she got her phone and used the flashlight there. She called everyone but no one answered. “Did I forget to know our schedules today? For the past two weeks, we are busy in school. Then, next week. Thanks, God it’s Friday. Tomorrow, I have my piano tutorial again." Marie
It was Thursday afternoon when Marie felt a sudden pain in her back. She just ignored it at first thinking that it was due to long hours of sitting. This is due to the paper works she needed to finish for the incoming English Literary and Speech class. Aside from that, she was assigned to make the program and certificates. Her companions were the two English teachers who were about to retire that year, so instead of letting them work, she volunteered to do it alone. “Ouch! The pain is no longer slight but I feel something not right in my back lately as well last week.” Irene peeled three oranges on her table and put them on a simple flowery plate next to Marie. “Mar, I guess it’s time for you to see the doctor. You may never know what caused pain in your back unless that doctor tells you otherwise. Tell Joe to accompany you." "However, you know that he is no longer free from his job at the Alyesan Firm". Marie was saddened by the thought. Irene took a bit of one apple, swallowed,