When the movie was over, Natalia walked out of the movie room to rest in a quiet place. But Selena sidestepped her with an evil smirk at the hallway. She rolled her eyes.
“What now?”
“I know you lied back there.” She stated. The princess shot her a clueless look.
“You lied about being just friends with Arian.”
“Why is everyone stating what I didn’t for crying out loud!” She groaned in frustration.
“I didn’t say ‘just!’. I said we’re friends.” She tried not to snap. But failed.
“Whatever!” Selena snapped back. “I just wanna tell you to keep. it. that. way! Staying as JUST friends.” Her voice was tight. But any sane person could feel the threat beneath those words. Natalia’s Bambi eyes stared at her in disbelief.
“You sound like Bianca Jr.” She pointed. Selena’s face lit up as she laughed, making the beholder see just how gorgeous the French beauty was.
“No sweetie. I don’t just bark like those bitches do…. I bite.” She growled and took a predatory step closer. Natalia unconsciously retreated.
“Real hard!” She finished and held her eyes. They stood that way for minutes.
“Is everything okay?” Natalia heard Arian’s enchanting voice from behind her.
Selena took a step away, returning to her bubbly self and threw a pretty smile his way.
“Mhn. Right Nat?” She smirked behind the innocent smile. Natalia couldn’t believe the number of snakes she had to deal with in a lifetime.
She scoffed and shouldered past her to a quiet balcony upstairs, without sparing Arian a look. She laid her hands on the railings and sighed out. On a reflex action, she untied the nightie jacket and made to remove it but a sweet part of her considered Arian’s blood pressure. Remembering his looks, she thought he’d gotten hypertension for real and pouted, leaving it on. But she didn’t retie it.
“Hey, are you okay?” Arian softly asked from behind her. Natalia left her gaze ahead.
“Why shouldn’t I be?”
He leaned on the exquisite railings with his side and stared at her with his favourite doting look.
“You seem mad, you’re not smiling, and you’re not looking at me.” Concern laced his beautiful voice.
“But I’m talking, right?” She snorted, still feeling upset about Selena and unconsciously venting at the first person that showed attention. Arian bit his lips, trying not to get hurt by her cold response.
“Oh. I’m guessing you wanna be alone. I’ll be downstairs if you need me. Good night.” He muttered and turned to leave but she back hugged him.
“I’m sorry. Don’t go.” She pursed her lips.
“Please let this go.” He referred to her hands. Natalia nodded and held on tighter.
“I said I’m sorry.” Her voice shook. Arian instantly turned to face her.
“Hey, I was just kidding! Please don’t cry.” He pulled her closer. She nodded and he let go after a while.
Arian pulled them to an outside couch where they sat. Natalia leaned on him and placed her head on his chest, listening to his calm heartbeats. He wrapped his arms around her and gently brushed her hair, trying not to get lost.
“Arian?” Natalia called after a while, toying with his sweatshirt straps.
“Mhn?”
“Who’s Selena to you?” She nervously bit her lips. Arian’s heart skipped a beat and his fingers slightly shook.
“She’s a family friend…. and my dad’s guest.” He mouthed and returned to her hair.
“Why hasn’t she left yet? Why is she still around you?” She tried not to pout. Because we’re betrothed to each other? Arian weighed his options, pros and cons in silence.
But at the end;
“Honestly…. she doesn’t want to leave yet.” Natalia inched her head to look at him. He looked lost and had a look in his eyes which she’ld have described as…. guilt?…. if she didn’t trust him. So she quietly laid back down.
“Do you like her?” Natalia believed him but Alexis, the future Empress, still had some lingering doubts that everything was that simple.
“No!” Arian was stunned. ”I don’t.” He continued on a softer tone.
“Promise me it’ll stay that way?” She whispered.
“I promise, sugar.” It came from the bottom of his heart. And Natalia felt it. She smiled, cuddling into him more.
Arian kissed her hair and watched as she slowly fell asleep.
“No one will ever tear us apart, my love.” He promised himself…
***
Elva wandered around the huge house with a drink in her hand. It was around four in the morning but she wasn’t yet sleepy.
The movie was enough nightmare!
She got to a classy door at a corner in the hallway and creaked it open a bit.
“Hello?” She whispered hearing her slight echo. “Is anyone in here?” She whispered again but got no reply, so she stalked in.
The room was a bit dark aside the sleep lights flickering dully on the ceiling. Elva flipped a switch for better view and lights washed into the room.
Yeah… it was a guy’s room. Ricky’s to be precise.
~~ He even paints portraits of you every single day! ~~
Nicky’s words filtered into her memory.
Suddenly, Elva wanted to see those pictures. She walked around but didn’t find any. Her curiosity led her into his closet, searching around MATURELY….. but still nothing!
Just as she was about to give up and leave, she heard something crash on the floor and someone cuss. With her heart in her mouth, Elva moved further into the closet towards the sound and found a hidden door slightly opened.
She bulged her eyes, expecting zombies to crawl out at any moment but found Ricky instead!
A can of paint had fallen off and tainted his denim pants. He was shirtless but wore an apron. A bandana held his hair in place but what left Elva spellbound the most was the hundreds of her paintings hung around the hidden studio.
Pictures of herself she couldn’t even remember!
They were colorful and artistic that it brought tears to her eyes. Elva mindlessly walked in but Ricky still didn’t notice. Her soda fell off from shock when she saw paintings of her from the past few days at the academy.
It was crazy!
…. but beautiful.
Ricky froze and turned around sharply. His eyes widened in terror when he saw her. “Elva, what…”
“When… How… Why… How long?” She was confused. He hastily stood up and took careful steps towards her.
“No, it’s not…. Please don’t find me creepy. It’s just… They’re just… hobbies.” He stuttered noticing her flustered face.
The sane step for any sane person was to vanish with stealth. But Elva cleared her throat and tried to conceal a blush.
“So what are you doing?” She asked and mentally kicked her butt! Obviously, he’s painting!
Stupid.
Ricky awkwardly smiled and ran his fingers through his hair. A part of him that no one had ever seen…. even his twin!
“I… I was trying to… to.. this night… your picture in my head before…” He nervously trailed off and chuckled.
Elva was stunned for the second time that night. THE cocky Ricky Winterfield plus nervous was an alien combination!
What he said sounded messy but she put it all together. He was trying to create a painting of her before it becomes hazy in his memory.
Elva would’ve ‘aww-ed’ overflowing with sweetness but he’ld have gotten on her nerves the next minute! Before registering her action, she went over to grab a high stool and she placed it within a few metres from the canvass.
Then she sat on it and took off her purple nightie jacket leaving her in the matching pants and strap top.
“I might as well leave if you’re not gonna paint me.” She rolled her eyes at his confused face.
Ricky snapped into action and grabbed a brush. So the next few minutes, Elva sat still as he worked his artistic talent with a focused look.
“Aren’t you done yet? My back hurts.” She whined, trying not to move much.
He chuckled.
“Don’t worry. I promise to give you a massage when I’m done…. which was five minutes ago.” He confessed with a mischievous smirk and she gasped.
“Remind me never again to do you a favour, douche!” She frowned watching him chuckle. Ricky stood up and took off his apron before turning the portrait towards her.
Have y’all ever been in a tormenting situation where you’re trying to focus on something important like, maybe, reading…. but at that precious moment, your crush passes by in slow-mo and then BAM! you toss the book aside and start gawking?
Elva forced her eyes to focus on the beautiful painting but her side eye kept dragging her gaze away to the hot model leaning by the side.
Gosh! Didn’t he own a darn shirt?!
“It’s beautiful.” She croaked out. Ricky’s enthusiastic smile dropped.
“You… don’t like it? I could do a remake or… or just correct…”
“No, no, I really meant it! It’s beautiful and looks so…. so real.” She whispered because it was true.
“I’m sorry if I sounded unimpressed. I’m tired and i’d told you my back hurts and…” Elva squealed as Ricky swooped her into his arms bridal style.
“Come on. I promised you a massage.” He smiled and walked back into his bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed and rummaged through his bedside cabinet.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She mumbled, feeling somewhat guilty for telling him the half truth. Ricky shrugged and motioned for her to turn over. She giggled and turned in a heartbeat.
Ricky sat Indian style next to her and gave her the most enjoyable massage she’d ever received in her life!
“Gosh, you’re so good!” She mumbled and moaned.
Elva expected a cocky reply but Ricky didn’t utter a word. She raised her head and threw him a look. His hands were working yeah, but his gaze was distracted.
What was he looking at?
She shrugged and turned to lie back down when she suddenly felt his hands tentatively slide down her back, going lower…
Chapter 75