“What are you doing here?” Ricky Winterfield growled at the delivery boy in front of him. Eden, Elva’s project partner, paled the moment he saw him. His hand holding the rose flower shook slightly.
“I… um… El… delivery.” He stuttered and shakily raised the package he was with. It was then Ricky looked him over and caught the staff’s uniform of ‘Luis soups and warmth’.
The young heir cocked a brow. So he’s a scholarship student? Eden squirmed uncomfortably, feeling belittled by his intense glare.
“And what is that for?” Ricky asked distastefully, sending burning gazes at the rose in his hand. Eden pushed his glasses away with sweaty fingers.
“El… Elva didn’t make it to school today. Natalia said she was Ill. I… I planned on visiting but coincidentally, she ordered some soup and I was assigned to deliver. I… I… just..” Beads of sweat appeared all over his face and the package visibly shook due to his unsteady grip.
Ricky reached for his back pocket and brought out more than enough tip before taking the opposite end of the bag.
“I’m gonna make this as clear as possible… Stick with just being her project partner! The second I sight anything…” He paused and glared at the rose flower disdainfully. “… out of the usual, I’m gonna start with your petty scholarship at B. H. A then I’ll have someone talk with your boss at your petty workplace. Is that understood?” He growled under his breath.
Eden nodded frantically, sweat now pouring down the sides of his face.
“Ricky?” Elva impatiently screeched from the living room. “Where’s the darn delivery?!”
“Be right there in a minute, cupcake!” He sweetly called over his shoulders. Then turned back to scowl at the panicky delivery boy.
“Still here?” He snarled and Eden vanished in a split second. Ricky sneered and walked back inside.
“I got your delivery.” He announced with a cute smile and crashed beside her.
“I’ll get some cash.” Elva stood up but he stopped her.
“What do you take me for? I paid.” She rolled her eyes at his upset face and sat back down.
“I wanted to return your money so you won’t demand my precious body some day.” She snorted and opened the bag.
“How ’bout we start now?” Ricky turned naughty and moved closer. Elva narrowed her eyes at him, but moved closer as well with a smiling face.
“Firstly…” She naughtily lowered her voice to match his and toyed with the straps of his hoodie. “… we’re not on good terms. Secondly, I don’t want your nasty bedmate tearing out my intestines and thirdly?…. I’m sure you don’t want blood all over you.” She whispered in his ears and pulled away.
Ricky Winterfield furrowed his brows in confusion. What was that all about? He was her first and… He suddenly let out a low gasp and stared at her smirking figure…
***
Natalia woke up with a huge smile on her face. Spending her evening with Arian De’ Argent was lovely! But the high point of her night wasn’t him driving her back home… but his lingering kiss on her cheek before saying goodnight.
The Princess helplessly blushed as she dashed out of bed to prepare for the day. After her usual morning routine and clad in white crazy jeans and an orange tank top, Natalia picked her white shoulder bag and went downstairs for breakfast.
After hugging Elva goodbye, she skipped out of the house to see a hot French leaning comfortably on his car in a sexy model poise. Natalia froze on her tracks almost stumbling in the process.
“Hi.” Arian looked up with an enchanting smile on his handsome face.
“H… hey?” She stuttered as he placed a soft kiss on her temple, getting lost in his million dollar fragrance again. Natalia looked up at him with huge brown eyes glistening in confusion.
“Why…” She started but;
“We’re late for school.” He pulled himself up and opened the door of the passenger’s seat for her. Without weighing the consequences of hitching a ride with him, Natalia smiled and gracefully got in like an enchanted fly.
Two minutes after arriving the school’s parking lot, the princess was instantly mauled by the student paparazzi waiting for their idol at the area. It took the intervention of the security agents to restore order and let them through.
After saying hi to Ricky and getting a bear hug from Jeffrey which earned him a weird glare from him French friend, Natalia met up with Nicky and Leo at the hallway. Not wanting to upset Arian again, Natalia casually looked away and smiled when Leonardo tried his usual hello kiss.
Since the teachers in their grade were busy with preparations for the camp trip which was gonna stretch from Thursday till Monday’s eve, the senior students had a couple of free periods. Nicky and Leonardo went off to the drama club while Natalia met up with Adaeze at the library.
After the squeals and hugs, the elated princess made it out alive. She resumed her aimless journey at the premise. Just as Natalia took a bend, a pair of arms twirled her out of sight and into an empty corridor. She opened her lips to scream when the familiar fragrance hit her.
Arian!
Natalia looked up to see him gazing down at her with the same intense, sinful look in his eyes that made her knees wobble.
“What are you doing? Let go of me before your girl fans turn me into a walking dead!” She whispered and tried to break free from his warm arms snaked around her waist which made her giddy for no reason. But he held on.
“Arian?” Her voice shook a little. Arian took a step away but didn’t let go.
“Come with me.” He tugged her further into the room. Natalia looked around and noticed they were in a music room.
“What are we doing in here? Should we even be here?!” She whispered like it was a crime. Arian chuckled.
“Since we’re the only unengaged seniors, we’re here to check out your musical talents.” Natalia chuckled as they spent an hour making a lot of intense, chaotic sounds that definitely had no relations to music!
“You’re crazy!” She laughed as they crashed on the floor by a corner of the messed up room. “Your dad will freak when he learns that his ‘aristocratic’ heir sucks at playing a simple piano!” She taunted and giggled more.
Arian chuckled. “Hey, nothing about it looks simple! There’s about a million confusing black and white keys on it! I doubt anyone really knows how to play it!” She chuckled and they lapsed into a comfortable silence.
“You have a beautiful voice.” Arian De’ Argent smiled after a while. Natalia flushed and looked away.
“When I was little, mom and I did karaoke every night. We switched storytime for music time… It was our special time.” Her voice slightly dropped.
“Oh. You’ve never mentioned anything about her before. It’ll be nice to know her.” He smiled.
“I… I don’t have her anymore.” Natalia muttered. “Dad and mom left when I was six. It’s only grandma and Elva now.” Tears slowly clouded her eyes. It was something the princess hadn’t gotten used to yet. She hated talking about it because it showed her weakness.
“I’m so sorry.” Arian whispered and softly entwined their fingers. Natalia stared at the bond and smiled at it.
“Who said you have no one? When Tarzan’s here, does Jane feel alone?” He threw her a wink and she chuckled, forgetting her previous mood.
Suddenly, Arian stood up. “Let’s go somewhere.”
Natalia was shocked. “Go where?? Arian, it’s school hours.” She breathed as he pulled her up.
“Wait! My bag and…” She started when she noticed his indifference and enthusiasm at the same time.
“I’ll text Nicky.” Was his short reply before hauling her into his car.
“Where do you love going the most?” He asked as his sport engine roared to life. Natalia’s heart turned fuzzy as she stared at him with love in her eyes.
“A theme park, the zoo, an art theatre, a carnival, the tourist market, an o…”
“Okay!… Go we shall.” Arian De’ Argent muttered, paling as he imagined the number of crowds in those places. But Natalia’s happy squeal made him chuckle, forgetting about his psychological disorder.
The zoo was amazing but the underwater aquarium was a major wonder! Underground tunnels were built for spectators to see the world of sea creatures through crystalline glasses. Natalia nervously held onto Arian as her phobia slowly crept in. She almost cried when he walked ahead after she called him a bluff!
After repeatedly apologizing, he grinned and led her out. After maliciously glaring at him, the fuming princess flung his hand and walked away.
“Let’s go to an amusement park.” He smiled behind her.
“Don’t bother! I’ll just catch a cab home before you get the chance to push me down the top of a ferry wheel next time!” She increased her steps. Arian chuckled and pulled her over to his car.
“I’m sorry, okay? You’re so cute being a drama baby.”
“Stop calling me that!” She aggrievedly whined but it only made him laugh the more. After insisting the park was off the list!… the duo merrily appeared at a tourist market. After waltzing around casually, they bought and exchanged pretty, matching bracelets before crashing at a restaurant.
A-foods was beautiful and looked like a cozy diner on the outside but inside, the restaurant was more exquisite and had an elegant taste. They found an empty booth at a secluded area and sat.
“You have a knack for fancy things.” Natalia smiled as she stared out the windows.
“I can’t help it. Cheaper places draws a lot of attention and I’m not a fan of crowds.” Arian muttered, not taking his beautiful eyes from the menu. Natalia turned to scorn his arrogance but paused seeing his genuine looks.
“Says the guy who runs the girls at school!” She snorted, helpless to her spite. Arian looked up puzzled, but leaned over with a mischievous smirk on his face.
“Is it just me or is that jealousy I sense?” The princess bulged her eyes and hastily his behind her menu.
Jerk! She scoffed after hearing his chuckle.
~ Oh, I knew he’s the one!!
~ The Argent’s heir?? He’s so sinfully hot! Just look at that face!!
~ Is that his girlfriend?? She’s gorgeous!
~ (Snorts) I don’t see anything special. She’s just slightly pretty!
~ O. M. G! He just looked my way!!
~ Dimwit, your boyfriend is right in front of you!
~ Why would he flirt with that slutty waitress if they’re together?
~ (Scoffs) I’ll tell you. Typical rich playboys!
Mummuring from the neighbouring tables wafted into Natalia’s ears. She hotly flushed at some but frowned at the rest. Waitress? What waitress were they…
The Princess’s flushed face slowly morphed into a teary one as she pulled down the menu from her view…
Chapter 57