Natalia chuckled before turning back to the rest.
“I need some last minute prep. Shall we go to the library?” Becky invited Leonardo. He nodded.
“Later?” He smiled at Natalia before walking away.
“Sure thing.” She slammed her locker shut and maliciously glared at Arian before walking away too.
Gosh! She didn’t notice the crowd gathered behind with their phones. It was really starting to irritate her. Didn’t they have tests to worry about??
She huffed in double annoyance and stormed to class. Natalia was aware of Arian tailing her so she sat next to a student to avoid sitting with him.
But unfortunately;
“Move!” He snarled, and the innocent boy scurried away in a flash.
“Sugar, I promise it’s not what you’re thinking. Father forced me to study with her.” He sweetened his voice the moment he sat down.
“You promised me you’ld stay away from her. Your choice or not… You still broke it!”
“Baee.” He pouted.
“You owe me two favours right?” She asked and he nodded swiftly. Natalia naughtily scooted closer and played with his tie.
“Firstly, I need you to shut up. And then scram!” She scowled. His grin fell. She moved away and focused on her text book.
Their relationship was barely half a day old yet he easily broke a promise??
The princess scoffed again…
***
“Will you stop being pathetic and quit following me around?!” Elva frustratedly snapped at Ricky. They had just finished a test and was leaving the class.
“Why? I have nothing else to do.” He casually pocketed and kept up his pace with her.
“I don’t expect you to, after downloading every single word I wrote! Are you sure you didn’t even copy my name??” She angrily stared at him.
“Sweetheart, being in love makes you risk repeating a whole year.” He cutely smiled and she helplessly chuckled instead of getting mad.
“Eden!” She saw him ahead and waved. Eden, was her project partner and friend. It’d been a while Elva saw him…. probably even before the school camp!
Hearing her voice, he turned around and smiled at her. But the next second, he blinked rapidly under his thick glasses and walked away quickly.
Elva didn’t notice it. She ran after him and hugged him.
“Hey, how’ve you been? We haven’t seen in a while. Were you ill?” She pulled away looking genuinely worried.
Eden nodded quickly, fearfully looking behind her at the same time. Elva frowned and flipped to see the cold face of her boyfriend which automatically turned into a smile when it met hers.
“I… I…. I have to go read. I’m… I’m fine. Thanks.” He stammered and was gone the next second.
“What was that about?” Elva was confused. Ricky shrugged with the same puzzled expression.
“Dunno. Maybe some phase he’s going through or something.” He lied through his teeth.
Elva raised a suspicious brow. “If I didn’t know your ‘white lotus’ skills better, I’ld have believed that shit! Ricky, what did you do?”
He looked around innocently. “Me?”
“You know what? Forget it! I wonder when you’ll quit being such a bully! When you’re ready to tell the truth, you know where to find me! She snapped and walked away.
“Baaaabyyy, I’m sorry!” He whined and hastened after her. Elva hid a smile and walked faster…
***
Tests were over and they had a little break. Natalia and Leonardo had their friendly movie date. They went to the movies and then to a theme park.
It was fun! That is, if Arian didn’t have to ruin it by calling every five minutes to warn her not to sit so close to him, not to go anywhere lonely with him or look him in the face for too long!
There and then, the obedient princess almost blocked his number! But she figured that if she did, he’ld charge in there like a wounded bull and create a messy scene!
Like the one on their sleepover!
The rest of the school week flew by quickly and the weekend came. On that Saturday morning, Natalia ran into Elva’s bedroom wanting to frustrate her insane till she chases her away with a broomstick! But the royal assistant was busy.
Busy with her laptop and glasses. It was obviously related to some Royal duties.
She boredly dragged her feet back to her room and dully crashed on her bed. But a video call with Tommy Dé Argent, who never ran outta things to chatter about, livened her mood!
She leaned her phone on a pillow and laid on her bed with a bowl of ice cream, giggling like crazy.
Natalia was a lost cause at dieting! Thankfully, she lost weight as fast as she gained. Out of sheer boredom, she bugged everyone on her little contact list before rushing downstairs to read a novel Nicky had lent her.
It was titled “Into the sunset.”
She took along a chilled glass of lemonade and passed through kitchen backdoor to read in the garden. She hummed a song as she skipped away cheerfully.
Do not blame her. The combined power of boredom and the bright sun seemed to toast her brain chips!
“Jake!” She called out, seeing him working on some plants as per his favourite hobby. But he didn’t hear her.
He was on earphones.
Jake was her personal chauffeur who Mom Rose had mistaken as a friend with ulterior motives. Natalia giggled at the memory and tiptoed to him in her fluffy slippers. Still, he didn’t notice!
As he pulled the earphones off, she covered his eyes and that got his attention.
“Guess who?” She altered her voice and he chuckled.
“Natalia, I know it’s you.”
“How do you always know!” She aggrievedly stomped her foot and pouted.
“Aside the fact that you’re the only one who plays this same game?…. I know your scent. Even in a rose garden, your lavender scent still stands out.” He continued trimming the flowers.
Heat rose to her cheek, turning them red. She picked up the lemonade and crouched beside him.
“This is for you.” She thoughtfully passed it to him. Jake smiled and removed the safety gloves he was wearing.
“Thanks.” She nodded and picked up the garden shears.
“What are you doing?” He froze from taking a sip and snatched it away.
“I wanna help.” She whined.
“You’re gonna hurt yourself.” He pushed it further away. “You can help by being safe.”
Natalia ignored the meaning of his words and sat on the grass with her red shorts. “I’m bored.” She pouted.
“Weren’t you reading?” He nodded at the novel next to her.
“Lost interest.” She laid back and stared at the blue sky.
“Oh.” He breathed and looked away. They lapsed into silence.
“I’m going out.” She finally decided and stood up.
“Woah! Alone?” He raised his eyes.
“Yup.” She called over her shoulders. The moment security let her out, Jake caught up with her. Natalia stared at him in surprise.
“What are you…”
“I can’t let you out alone. Who knows what could happen.”
“Something tells me you’re worse than Elva.” She made a face. He laughed and wore an outer shirt over the polo he wore. But he left it unbuttoned. Perfect for the sunny afternoon.
“Believe it or not, it’s for your safety.”
“And believe it or not, I’ve heard that all my life.” She retorted and he chuckled.
Natalia noticed he smiled a lot. Jake was really cute but his smile made him more attractive.
“So where are you from?” She asked as they passed the first block on their estate.
“I’m English.”
“Aha!” She jumped to his front. “I knew it! Elva’s second choice. It’s a shame you aren’t half Korean though, else she’ld have been dangling around your neck!” She gesticulated. He chuckled.
“What if I said I am?” He asked and walked ahead.
“Are you?” She caught up with doubt all over her face.
“Not really. But a circumstance made me spend a couple of years there. It feels like I’m part of their culture in a way.” He confessed with a shrug.
“I know that feeling.” She smiled to herself. A few months in California also got her feeling that way. Like she was a part of them already.
Natalia tucked her whipped hair behind her ears when she noticed a few girls make passes at him. She also noticed he wasn’t aware…. or seemed to care?
“Are you gonna break all of their hearts?” She teased when the temptation became unbearable and nudged him. Jake finally looked around and cringed when two brazen ones blew him kisses.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.” He blankly looked away.
“Soo…” She jumped to his front again and mischievously wriggled her brows.
“… what’s her name?” He fought the urge to roll his eyes.
“There’s no one. Stop getting funny ideas.” He walked faster, keeping his emotions under secure lock and key.
Natalia laughed and ran up to continue taunting him. But a poor little girl stopped them on their walk.
“Excuse me, sir. Would you buy a flower for another flower?” She politely smiled.
And Jake and Natalia froze, awkwardly staring at each other…
Chapter 80