Of Heart & Duty ⚜ Ch. 5

Sabrina was going down the hall with Zahir and her friends, laughing.

"And then she looked him in the eye and turned the sofa pink," Kana was saying.

Zahir laughed. "Knowing Antonio, I'm sure he made a fuss about it."

"Oh he did," Sabrina grinned, almost running into someone. "Oh, pardon me. Oh..." She stopped, looking up at Raphael.

"Princess Leon. I was looking for you. Do you have a moment?"

She hesitated. "I um, I actually have to go study. Big exam tomorrow in economics. I should really get going."

He nodded. "Of course. Another time, then."

She watched him go, and saw him go down one hall, and her friends go down another. After a moment of deciding, she followed Raphael.

It took her several minutes to find him, hearing his voice outside Lady Aveline's class. Curious, she stepped up to the nearly closed door.

"You're trying to make a bride out of girl who's little more than an child."

"I'm not trying to change her, Aveline. I'm not pushing anything - it's all up to her. But I have a duty to her and I won't set it aside for self interest, which, might I say in the most respectful way possible, I'm not interested. You are perfect, don't get me wrong. You are a paragon." He paused and added, "I would disappoint you."

Sabrina gasped as he suddenly walked out. He was just as surprised to see her, and a smile grew on his lips. "Did you change your mind?"

She blushed to have been caught eavesdropping, especially at a moment like that. "I... guess so."

He offered his arm and they went back to his classroom, going to the office in the back. Sabrina looked at the pictures he had up, and saw that she was in three of them. She touched the frame of one from his graduation. She was thirteen, and he was seventeen.

They both were quiet for a short while, then he put a hand on her shoulder. "Mireya."

She looked back, surprised to hear her real name - her first name. It sounded so lovely in his voice.

His eyes were sincere. "I've seen you struggling, trying to decide what to do about... us. But you shouldn't. Be a kid, live your life. I'll support you and be a friend, or I'll keep my distance if you ask me to. I just want you to be happy. I always did, I always will."

She felt her heart pull towards him as he said this. She'd forgotten how romantic and genuine he could be. It was such a tempting thought, looking up at him.

"You make this so difficult, you know that?" she grinned, embarrassed.

He smiled, his brows furrowed. "Difficult how?"

"You make me want to be with you. It... it's not wrong, is it?" she asked.

He shook his head. "We're only four years apart. In ten years no one will remember or care. What matters is what will make you happy."

She nodded and took a breath. "Thank you, Raphael."

He gently touched her cheek. "Of course, Mireya. Perhaps, sometime this year, you might do me the honour of accompanying me to one of the balls?"

After considering for a moment, she nodded. "I can do that."

He smiled and kissed her hand. "I look forward to it."