Chapter 14: Again

"That was pretty interesting, huh?" I asked Sein, once we were done with the meeting.

"I guess it was. After all, we would just watch a movie for our favorite actors even if it sucks."

"What do you mean?" We would watch a boring movie, just for the sake of our favorite actors?

"Yeah. Like you know, I was bearing the meet only for my friend." He gave me a side hug and proceeded walking ahead through the palace halls. So, he was bearing the meet for me? So sweet huh.

"Hey..hey stop! Are you taking any writing classes?" I jogged ahead to catch up with his lengthy strides.

"Ha ha, no. Why'd you ask?" A deep chuckle left his lips.

"Because you just rephrased a phrase." I pointed out and met his back when his body suddenly halted.

"Why'd you stop, idiot?" I rubbed my forehead to subside the pain his masculine back caused.

"That was an insult you know?" he stuck his bottom lip out, turning to face me.

"What was an insult?"

"Any normal person who knows english can do that." He rolled his eyes annoyed, and turned forward to walk again.

"Haha, you said about normal people, Sein. We both know that you are no where near normal." I laughed slapping his back.

"Haha." He laughed at me, which definitely was an attempt to mock me. His attempt had failed drastically as we both knew well that he was trying to stifle his laughter by the mockery act.

"So, what was up with this Samuel guy? He was sending daggers through his eyes. Thank God, they weren't real, or else what would have happened to you?" he made a pity face and shook his head biting his lip.

I rolled my eyes saying, "Ha ha I will be very happy. No doubt about that okay? And yeah, you don't know right?"

"What?"

"Samuel's my ex." I sighed deeply and continued to saunter through the halls.

I took five to ten steps without a sound entering my ears, except for the light thumping sound of my steps on the hard floor of the palace. It took a good 5 seconds to realise that Sein was not by my side.

I spun a 180 degree to see Sein rooted in his place like a statue, five steps away from me. "You coming or not?" I yelled, my yell echoing through the empty hallway.

He shook his head repeatedly, and skipped his way to me. "Why didn't you tell me earlier today?" He asked me with a blank expression, not revealing a trace of his inner thoughts. I never actually had seen him with a blank expression and that caused a weird feeling to twirl in my stomach.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe, because it was not important."

"You wouldn't have said me if I didn't ask you now?" he asked, a tinge of betrayal playing in his tone though his face did not give away anything. I couldn't decipher the way he was speaking. Why was he shooting this kind of questions towards me?

"I don't know," I answered honestly to his question on wait. Maybe, I would have said him, but definitely not this early.

He nodded his head as if sending a message my way that he understood what I said. "I would've still known though, right? Like sooner or later."

"Yes."

"Then what about Phillipe? Don't you think that he deserves to know. After all, no brother would be ecstatic with the idea of his sister's ex living under the same roof as him." He definitely stroke a beat this time. I shared my darkest secrets with Ivanna and Valery but not with Sein and Phillipe. Phillipe would definitely be angry, but more disappointed and sad when he realises this.

"So...?"Sein broke the moment of silence that had just passed between us.

"I'll tell him."

"But when?"

"Today." It better be now or else it would become difficult to hold my guilt whenever I cross by Phillipe.

"Okay-"

"But on one condition."

"What is that condition?" He asked confused when we reached the hallway my room was in.

"You need to be with me."

He gave me a mischievous grin and replied, "Sure, Amor."

I felt blood rush to my ears and cheeks at the use of his endearment, with anger. I smacked his head playfully as he cursed under his breath.

"Woman, please attend the princessa lessons without missing a single one. You still hit like a man."

"Suits you right." With that words, I barged into my room to find Ivanna and Valery waiting for me.

"Oh goodness, you arrived." Valery embraced me into a warm hug. Ivanna was twirling her curls using her index  finger looking at both of us.

"How was the meet? Did our plan work?" She asked.

"What plan?" A suspicious and familiar tone reached my ears freezing me at the spot. Ivanna, for goodness' sake please learn to be quiet when needed.

"No-No-Nothing, Sein." I turned around to see Sein standing by the door with his hand placed on the door knob.

He raised his thick eyebrow and questioned me with his gaze, which was intense and tempting. By that time, I knew that he would not allow the matter slide, how much ever I tried to let go.

"I'll explain everything if Phillipe's here too." There's no way I was going to hide the matters under the shadows any more. They would be revealed sooner or later. Let it be sooner than later to avoid the upcoming rush of guilt river.

He nodded at me and took a leave to drag Phillipe here.

"So, you finally decided to tell them the entire truth of your past and our plans too, I see," Valery said.

"Yes, it is better like that you know. To avoid the guilt." I settled on my bed, once I had removed my footwear.

"Do you think that they will take this matter easily?" Ivanna asked, still twirling a strand of hair by her index finger. The trace of concern in her voice had got me thinking into the matter. They definitely would not consider it as a piece of cake. I should have informed them the day Samuel had stepped in this palace.

"I know they will not. But just let's pray for the best." A sad cum nervous chuckle left my mouth as we anxiously waited for the duo to arrive at my room's door step.

After some little chats about training, Ethan, planning etc., the two men strolled into my room casually. Sein had a hard expression plastered on his pretty face whereas my brother was confused as to what was going on. The tension was thick between me and Sein, and the atmosphere existing in the room turned heavy.

"Will anyone tell me what's going on in here?" Phillipe asked with annoyance in his voice.

He seemed irritated when the I did not utter any words and the silence continued to prolong. It seemed easy when I spoke to Sein but was having a hard time to converse to Phillipe about the same matter. Sein thinks before striking, but Phillipe was contrary to Sein. Angering him was pretty easy.

"Promise me that you'll not get angry?"

"That depends upon what you are going to say." I sighed. There was no running away from the problem.

Go on, Sofia. You can do it.

With the encouragement being received from my subconscious, I detailed the matters . The expressions twisted on their faces with each passing movement and I was growing anxious by every second. By the end, Phillipe was raging with anger and his fists were clenched by his sides, tightly.

He stormed out of the room when I was explaining my divorce matter with Samuel. Sein followed him after giving me a reassuring nod.

"He is very angry, isn't he?" I asked the two people who stood by me from the time I entered into this huge palace, I call home.

"He is. But I am sure that he will cool down." I felt a hand give my shoulder a light squeeze and turned to see Ivanna. These two people were more of a family than my own parents. I did not personally put the blame on my parents. It wasn't their fault that they were too busy involve in my life activities.

"Umm...why don't we hang out for today?" Valery piped in.

That wasn't a bad idea. Once after coronation, my wings would be cut to fly on my own. They would bound me with the ropes of responsibilities and rules. A mass of population would depend on my working and rarely an opportunity will knock my door to spend time with myself.

"Sure. Tell Alejandro to set the car."

Alejandro raced through the streets of Madrid. I and Ivanna were discussing about the dress for my coronation ceremony whereas Valery and Alejandro were stealing secret glances. That amused me and Ivanna but we kept our words and feelings to ourselves.

"Hey...stop! Stop!"Alejandro ceased the engine at Valery's request.

"This one designs awesome. You should definitely try their designs." Valery jumped ut of the car, followed by me, Ivanna and her lover.

Rozero's Boutique. It read.

Interesting.

We crossed the road and entered the inviting boutique which was shimmering with bright lights. I let my eyes trail over the dresses displayed by the glass doors of the shop.

"Hey beautiful ladies." A masculine voice greeted us. The guy twisted the cap that adorned his thick black hair. His brown skin shone under the lights of boutique that could dazzle ones eyes with its brightness.

"así, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle, Valery." He smiled at her, extending his hand as a friendly gesture. But of course, Alejandro could not see clearly and rounded Valery's waist with his masculine hand. (Hello, How may I help you?)

Possessive.

"I heard bodyguards are really very possessive with their girlfriends," Ivanna whispered in my ear and giggled excitedly.

"Please speak English. I don't need anything. In fact, that girl needs some help." She pointed at me with a tight smile tugged on her small lips.

I knew she was feeling uncomfortable with the way Alejandro was shooting the man with his eyes. Not to mention, the steel grip of the hand he secured around her waist.

Then the man directed his gaze towards me, saying, "Hello. My name's Luke an you might be..?"

"Ivanna."

"Sofia."

After the introductory part, he started taking my measurements and discussed the colours that would go with my features and skin tone. Meanwhile, Valery and Alejanro disappeared into the shadows to discuss ..ehem...private matters that would need their tongues battling.

The guy really was talented more than his looks gave out. He spoke like a person who would launch the biggest fashion show displaying the most beautiful designs the world could ever witness. His designs made my hands twitch in the way to caress their smooth silk. Each design had their own unique code to display a woman's beauty as a man's desire.

They were eye catching fixing my attention on them for a long time. I studied each and every detail of all the dresses hung in the boutique while Ivanna was making a friendly conversation with Luke for her next birthday dress.

Suddenly, my throat felt a little dry and my stomach grumbled for a bite of evening snack.

"Hey Ivanna, I am feeling hungry," I whispered in her ear after she had excused herself.

"Um... we will grab a quick snack then?"

"No, no. I'll go by myself. There is a restaurant across the street. Be with the love birds."

"Are you sure?" Her face showed concern.

"Yes, I am. What would happen? I am still not Queen and no one knows me."

"But you remember how edward-"

"I remember that Ivanna and I am sure that the person mistook me for someone else." I reassured her with my sweet words and left the boutique in a hurry to satisfy my complaining stomach.

I asked the cashier for a burger, fries and water bottle. She smiled and gave me the receipt to collect the order from take away section of the restaurant. I smile back at her as a kind gesture and strolled towards take away section.

Once I grabbed the deliciousness, I came out of cafe and advanced along the way that leads to boutique. The sun was going down colouring the sky with taces of orange and yellow whilst the sun was a colour of glaring red. The moon was set to come and shine on the dark sky of the night.

My legs were walking alongside the road and my bracelets jingled, the beads clashing with each other. The crowd was slowly increasing man by man. Through each passing second, the streets started becoming more crowded and busy in a mere two minute walk to boutique.

The women who passed by me, spoke about daily chores and how it was difficult to manage both household and work. I could kind of make an understanding with them considering I was in their shoes a month ago, struggling my life to manage the position of cafe manager and a four-year-old naughty Ethan.

On my way to my destination, I saw a familiar face advancing towards me from the far sight. I immediately recognised him as Edward when his features became more sharp and clear to my eyes.

I waved him excitedly and he waved back, grinning. But before I could go and greet him, I felt a cloth on my mouth and slowly my vision became blurry. My mind couldn't decipher what was happening and my eyes drooped dragging me into the world filled with striking darkness.

Chloroform.

*********

Okay. Long time no see. eh?

To all my silent readers, please and please and please.

VOTE AND COMMENT your opinions as they mean a lot to me.

and yeah.. I am thinking about a new book.

teenfiction or romance? please comment:)