I woke up and came face to face with a gorgeous-looking man, whose eyes are closed. He’s sleeping so soundly. I stopped myself from tracing his eyebrows down to his nose.

Uhmm.. why does he look so familiar? Where did I see him again?

I am still sleepy and my mind is so foggy. But when I came to my senses, when I realized who he was, where I was, I felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was being poured on me. I immediately sat up.

What the f--k!

I immediately looked down to see if I was wearing any clothes. And thank goodness I am! But--

Why am I wearing a guy’s sweater?! Is this his? Oh my gosh! Did we--

No, we didn't, right?!

I tried to remember what happened last night. But no good. It only gave me a headache.

“Good morning, Rathna.”

I jerked when I heard him speak.

“Good morning?” I stammered with sarcasm. “How could you! What am I doing here? Why am I sleeping with you? Did we--”

I paused and tried to re-gather my composure.

He sat up too but unlike me, he does not insinuate the same anxious look I have. I looked at the sweater I am wearing which is obviously not mine and probably his.

“We didn't, right?” I plead with hope. I would go insane if I did sleep with him! “Is this your sweater? Why am I wearing this?”

“Why are you freaking out? It should be the other way around.”

“What?!” I exclaimed.

He leaned closer to me. “You, lady, will have to take responsibility for what happened last night.”

He withdrew and got out of bed.

“What? What do you mean by that? What do I have to take responsibility for?” I asked anxiously. Please tell me it’s not what I am thinking!

“My body is precious to me.”

Body?! Why is he suddenly mentioning his body?

“And I don’t just sleep with anyone. Especially with someone I just met for the night. So I’m telling you, you will be held responsible for doing that to my body.”

I gulped. What did I do? What did I do to his body?!

“You’re a guy! You’re strong! You should’ve resisted!” I screamed because of frustration.

“I would have resisted if I could,” he said with a small smile forming on his lips. “But darling, I couldn’t.”

What?!

He left the room and he left me alone feeling so confused. I had to grab my own hair with both hands for me to knock the sense out of my head. This isn’t part of the plan!

No! Let’s think positively! I think this is a good thing! This is a good thing! It’ll make my plan go quickly.

I looked around the room. The ceiling and the walls are sable black. There is an overlooking window in which the height of the glass stretches from the ceiling down to the floor. Beside the window, there is a magnificent-looking telescope.

With excitement starting to boil in my blood, I padded from the bed towards it. The lenses are facing down, so I have to raise them up if I want to look at the sky. I wanted to touch it and try looking into the sky with it, but I stopped myself. I am scared something might happen to it because I can’t afford to pay for the damage.

I retreated away from it. I gently rubbed my sole on the fury charcoal black carpet. The brown marbled floor is also beautiful. Even the lamp on his bedside table looked exquisite and expensive.

The bed is huge and so soft. The room is also spacious.

His bedroom alone is breathtakingly gorgeous. And everything looked expensive.

I looked for the dress I wore last night but I couldn’t find it. I got out of the room. And when I did, I felt like I was thrown into another dimension, like literally!

I expected his apartment to be luxurious. But it still amazed me to see how luxurious it actually is. Well? What do you expect? He’s a prince after all.

And it’s enormous!

The bedroom was located upstairs, and when you go down the stairs you will set foot in the living room. The chandelier dangling above is tremendously gorgeous. The couches are cream-colored, and a state-of-the-art television is placed in front. Opposite the television, on the other side of the room, there is a fireplace.

You could easily get lost here.

Luckily, finding the kitchen was easy.

“Where is my dress?” I immediately asked as soon as I saw him.

He is placing plates and other utensils on the table. It’s a surprise he didn’t have a butler or maids to do things for him. It’s odd seeing him personally setting up the table. I expected him to be lazy and bossy and all that.

“In the trash.”

“What? Why the f--k did you throw it?”

“Because I’m still thinking of how to make you pay for what happened.”

“Why are you acting like you were tortured by it?” I cried. “I’m sure you had a fair share of pleasure.”

He literally stopped for a second. And then a small amused smile formed on his mouth.

“Maybe I did. Right.” He sat down and motioned me to also sit down. So I did.

We silently started eating.

The kitchen had an ashy black-colored floor that is marbled. Even the walls are marbled. The dining table for two is just near the island counter.

He suddenly laid his phone near me on the table so I raised my eyebrows at him to ask what he’s doing.

“I’m asking for your number.”

“And why would you?” I mumbled.

“Because I want to? I think I have a reason now given what happened last ni--”

“Fine!” I cut him off mid-sentence. “Can you please stop mentioning last night?”

He let out a low laugh. I took his phone and I suddenly remembered I still haven’t memorized my new number. Of course, I have to use a different phone for him. I can’t use the one I am using in the camp.

I took my phone to have a reference for my number. When I finished I handed his phone back to him.

Good. At least we will have a bit of connection even after meeting him only once. My plan is unexpectedly going so smoothly.

After we ate, he gave me a box. Which I think came from delivery.

When I opened it, there was a sundress inside. A simple sleeveless sapphire dress with pretty seam details. Simple. Not daring. A conservative type of dress I must say. Type of dresses I like.

“I don’t like this type of dress. I want the sexy, suggestive ones,” I commented.

“It’s not the dress that makes you sexy. It’s you that makes the dress sexy.”

Is he saying I’m sexy?

“So are you saying--”

“So I’m saying, wear that and get the hell out of my house,” he said to cut me off. “My generosity ends here.”

I just scowled at him.

--

Phone in my ear, I sprinted from the camp’s border to get inside the camp.

I ran past the tall trees, and another series of trees, before the wood fences of the camp came into sight. I didn’t even have the time to explain to the guard, as soon as the gate opened I ran to get to the breakfast tent. I must get there before my name is called by the Commander.

“F--k! Was I called already?”

“Faster, Rath! We’re on P now!”

F--k! My surname starts with P! And if the name drill is already on letter P, then I’m already late!

“I can’t make it!” I am already out of breath as I keep on running trying to reach the tent as fast as I can.

Breathing hard, I arrived in the tent. But unfortunately, the name drill was done and the soldiers are already eating breakfast. I had to rest my weight on my knees because I felt like I would die out of suffocation.

But then my eyes landed on a hawk-like pair of eyes that I immediately straightened my back and placed my right fist on my chest. “Commander! Pablo of Team One, Sir!”

“You’re late.” He had that usual stoic expression on his scarred face. He has this long-lined scar that added to his fearful aura.

“I was out on a mission last night, Sir.“

“That doesn’t excuse you from missing the name drill. You will work in the kitchen as punishment.”

Although I badly wanted to complain, I had to zip my mouth and nod as an agreement.

I roamed my eyes around to look for my team. Someone raised a hand and when I spotted it was Geraldine, I found my team. I sat with them.

I am part of Team One along with Geraldine, Isagani, our Captain, and two other guys named Loor and Gulu.

“How was last night?” Geraldine whispered. I elbowed her to tell her we should talk about it after breakfast.

I gazed at our team captain. “Isn’t this unfair? Why do I have to be punished? It’s not like I wanted to spend the night out.”

“Why are you complaining to me? Complain to the right authority.”

I scowled at him. He knows I can’t complain to the Commander.

After they finished eating breakfast, Isagani was nowhere to be seen so I had no choice but to ask the others for help.

“Brat, help me, please. You know kitchen duties are the worst punishments! I can’t do it alone.” I even clung to her in desperation.

But she had the audacity to push me away. She pretentiously looked down on her wrist, although she wasn’t wearing a watch, to look at the time.

“Oh my! Look at the time! I forgot I had to do something in the HQ.”

And she really just left! That brat!

I looked at Loor and Gulu, who are the only ones remaining on the table.

Gulu suddenly stood up. The ringlets of his curly hair juggle whenever the wind blows. He scratched his nose with his index finger. An indication that he’s about to lie. “I have an errand to make.”

And then he left.

Seriously? I thought we were a team?

No choice. Loor is my only chance. I looked at him while fluttering my eyelashes.

He smiled at me and that made the mole at the very corner of his eyes move a little bit too.

“Next time, don’t be late.” He snickered at my misery. “Even if I want to, I can’t help you. The Commander gave me a mission. Besides, you’re only washing a couple hundred dishes.”

Is he kidding me?!

I feel like I’m already tired even before starting.

“And another couple of hundreds after that, and another after.” I recited my own misery.

Loor also left me while shaking his head in amusement. My misery is their joy, huh!

“I f--king hate you!” I screamed at him and I just earned a laugh.

Sh-t!

Fortunately, other Somaras (female soldiers) were also assigned to wash the dishes.

--

After my kitchen duties, I feel like I’m on my last legs for the day. That’s how worn off I am after that nightmarish dishwashing job of hundreds and hundreds of kitchen utensils. But still, I have to report to the Commander’s quarters about what happened last night with the prince. I have to report to him the progress of my mission.

And after that, in which I didn’t even hear a single comment from him, I went to my room.

I laid on the bed and it felt so refreshing to feel like my back was finally breathing.

I peeked at the calendar hanging on the wall of the tiny room. I only have less than two months to do my mission. If I fail, my purpose in life will go down the drain.

The only reason I am living my life right now is to bring down Mirando Gruna. That’s why I need to do everything to make it work with the prince.

“Where were you last night?” I turned to see Isagani at the doorway. Then I got out of bed.

His striking slanted eyes make him look so good. He has a tiny scar on his left eyebrow, and that part is hairless. But it’s not really noticeable unless you really stare at his face. His eyes could look brutal because it looks cold and emotionless. However, it’s contrasted with his other soft facial features, and together, they create this image that’s both friendly but impactful as well. He’s actually famous among Somaras in the camp. He’s the Captain’s right-hand man in our team. While I’m the marksman and the main fighter of the team. I usually handle the main job. Like killing someone. Especially killing Mirando.

“Doing my mission,” I responded.

“The Chief was looking for you since last night.” He suddenly reached out his hand towards my head so I automatically took a step back, heart disturbed and beating erratically.

“There’s something on your hair,” he reasoned when he saw my reaction. I immediately tried to brush off whatever was in my hair.

“The Chief is here?”

Why didn’t he join the soldiers for breakfast?

The Chief rarely visits our camp. It’s because we need to be dreadfully careful not to get caught. If our mutiny is made known to the world, especially to the royal family, the years and years of hard work and efforts of the people here will be wasted. We’ve worked for so long. We slowly planned everything for so long. We cannot afford to lose everything.

Our Chief actually holds a very high position in the palace. He is the People’s Representative which is a very high position, higher than any other rank, and only below the prince and princess in title, but actually stronger when it comes to power. His position can be considered the most powerful next to the king. And the only reason Mirando had let him live was because of the support of the people. From what I heard, no one beats the Chief when it comes to having connections.

He is a very important figure to us because he is our founder.

--

Isagani and I headed to our headquarters to meet the Chief. The huge great logo of our organization, which is called Soldiers of Maharlica or simply known as Soma, greeted us. I stared at the huge lion balancing a weighing scale resembling that of the symbol of justice, in its mouth. There is always this kind of uneasiness I feel whenever I see our logo. Maybe because it reminds me of my resolve. My revenge. My parents.

The headquarters is just a large room, with a big round table in the center, and the huge flag with our logo on it displayed on the front wall. This is where all of the crucial gatherings happen.

All the members are called Somara for women and Somaro for men. All of us were trained to become fighters ever since we joined the camp. Those who were brought here as babies were already trained as soon as they started walking. The training is so intensive, and many have not made it and lost their lives in the process. But none of us fear death. What we fear is letting this country be ruled by bloody monarchs forever.

And what I fear the most is dying while Mirando is still sitting on the throne.

Everyone was already there as well as the Chief and the Commander.

We both saluted the Chief and the Commander by placing our right fist on our chest before the Chief told us to sit down. The five main teams of the organization are on the round table including both the Chief and the Commander. With Isagani and I joining, the discussion started.

These five teams are the most competent among all the soldiers. We are usually sent on a mission for the organization.

Usually to rob someone’s storage house. But it’s not just anyone’s storage house. We only rob storage houses of corrupt officials and that includes the royal storage house.

“We only have less than 60 days to make sure everything goes as planned,” the Chief mentioned. “I need you to work harder than ever.”

“YES, CHIEF!” We confirmed in unison.

The Chief came to stare at me. I don’t know how to properly describe him, but one look at him, you would already know he is someone of authority. Like his whole face declares authority. When you face him, you can’t help but revere him.

He has this rounded nose that’s usually red at the tip like he’s having sinusitis. It complements his round-shaped face. His hair is almost all gray. But an outstanding trait about his face is that his eyes look kind.

“Paul..” He called my code name and that made me automatically sit up straight.

“Yes sir!”

“You know that the weight of our assassination lies on your mission right?”

I nodded my head. For the king’s assassination to succeed, my mission has to succeed first. I need to get into the palace legally because breaking in is next to impossible.

I have to get inside Mirando’s study to plant a bug in order to hear their plan of activities during the 30th anniversary because His Majesty is stubbornly keeping everything a secret.

This year’s anniversary will be different than the previous ones because the king will get out of the palace to celebrate, at least that’s what the Chief was told. This has never happened before. His Majesty never leaves the palace no matter what the situation is. That is the reason why we decided to create an opportunity for Soma to finally live out its mission.

This is the perfect event to assassinate the king. It is most likely that we won’t get another chance like this if we fail.

We need to know exactly where Mirando will be during that day to situate our plan properly. And for that to happen, I need to earn the trust of the prince.

And in order to do that, I’ve listed the things I need to do to get close to him.

After meeting us, the Chief gathered all the soldiers. He gave us some inspiring and healing words.

Most of the Somaras and Somaros are orphans, like me. Whose parents were slaughtered during the insurgency led by Mirando Gruna twenty-nine years ago to establish a monarchical government and proclaim himself as the ruler. Some were victims. Some have deep grudges over the royal family. Some were just abandoned by the world. Some just needed a place to feed and clothe them. Some were just very poor and Soma was their last straw of hope. That’s why we’re here. Hoping that we can bring a little change to this kingdom. To alleviate poverty and suffering.

And for good change to happen, we need to replace our king with someone that understands the poor. Someone that listens to people’s voices.

Most of us here want nothing but revenge; to bring down the royal family and restore the democracy this nation had lost long ago. And it is the Chief who gave us that chance.

When His Majesty is dead, we will abandon this country that scarred us for life. That is what the Chief promised us.

Before everyone was dismissed Captain Mauro came to me with his thin lips slightly pressed. “Paul.”

“Sir!”

I don’t know why but he had this unknowing look on his cold black eyes. “Remember to stick to your mission. Nothing more, nothing less.”

I nodded my head a couple of times. “Yes, sir. When did I ever fail the team?”

He just nodded his head and went away.

It actually bothers me that the captain is a little bit worried about my mission. My team knows that what I do best is completing my mission successfully. I do not give room for distractions. Or even if I am, I still make sure that I will get the desired end result.

There is much pressure on our team. Because among the five teams, we are Team One, we are always tasked with the most important and dangerous missions. And there is much more pressure on me because I am the main guy on the team.

Me, failing the mission, means team failure, and Soma’s failure.

I can’t let that happen!

--

 As days passed I grew more anxious. Is that it? Is it over? He has my number. Why didn’t he call me even once?

How will I meet him again and make it look like a coincidence?

My mission has only one goal. It is to make the prince bring me to the palace on his own volition.

I looked at the paper printed with the steps I made to complete my mission.

Step 1, befriend the enemy.

Step 2, get close to him.

How will I get close to him? How will I do that if I don’t have an excuse to see him? Should I just lie that I’m pregnant with his baby? No, he’s too smart for that. And it’s only been days since we had se--nevermind!

He will ask me to go to a hospital for proof. And if he finds out I’m lying it will be over.

I’ve thought of hundreds of excuses in order to see him but I can’t find anything plausible.

So here I am in front of his apartment door, after battling the dizzying elevator ride from the ground floor towards the eighty-fifth floor, with nothing planned. Yes! His apartment is on the 85th floor!

We stared at each other when he opened the door. It seems like neither of us can’t process the thought that we are seeing each other face to face. He looks so casual wearing a mustard-colored hoodie.

His coffee-brown eyes, messy hair, and his startled expression somehow give me a cozy feeling. And I don’t understand why!

“What are you doing here?” He asked in a soft voice.

That’s what I want to ask myself too. What am I doing here?

“I’m pregnant!” I suddenly burst out.

Wait--what?! What did I say?! I know he’s not dumb to just take in what I said, so why the f--k am I being idiotic by coming up with this lie? Stupid! Stupid!

He stilled for a few seconds.

I don’t know what to do! Should I say it’s a joke?

I’m about to take back my idiotic lie but then he suddenly grinned and opened the door widely. An indication that maybe I am welcome to go inside?

I pranced inside his luxurious apartment.

“So you’re pregnant huh,” he teased.

I don’t know how to answer him. I can’t even nod or shake my head.

“With my baby?” he asked again playfully.

“Yah, and you’re taking responsibility.” I already lied. I should go with it as well.

He stood there just staring at me without saying anything.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I grunted as I felt uncomfortable with him gawking at me.

“I’m thinking,” he replied indifferently.

“Thinking of what?”

“Whether to let you in into my life or not,” he answered with a tone I cannot decipher. “I’m weighing which one I will regret less.”

“What?”