( Beverly Hills, California.)
“So you’re really gonna keep avoiding him?” Elva questioned, looking at her best friend pointedly.
“Avoiding who?” Natalia looked innocent.
“Don’t play dumb! You know who I mean.” She nudged her.
“Actually, I don’t. I’m avoiding a lot of people and I’m seriously thinking of adding you to the list.” Natalia stated, pulling her head warmer closer around her ears.
Elva stopped to throw her a threateningly look. “I dare you!”
“I’m serious!” The Royal insisted. Arla purred between them and Natalia crouched to grin at her.
“You know I’ll never avoid you, right?” She fondly scratched her hair with gloved fingers.
A bird flew by and Arla chased after it. They were talking a stroll around the miniature forest with a dozen of guards following slowly behind. Natalia stood up and shoved her hands into her jacket. The garden was snowy and the weather was really cold.
“I’m not avoiding anyone.” She said.
“Not even after what happened between you two?” Elva faced her.
“I think you mean ‘even after what was supposed to happen but eventually didn’t happen between you two’?” She shot and Elva whined dramatically.
“Come on! You damn know I want you to tell me the gist all over again. Do I really have to say it?!”
“No!” Natalia finalised, feeling heat rise up her cheeks again. Elva linked their elbows and tugged playfully.
“Fine! One more time.”
“You said that seven times ago.” She taunted evilly.
“Don’t count on it!” They stopped at a pond where Arla was seriously trying to eat the bird which had perched high up on a tree.
“Nothing happened between us because HE was Esmond…”
“Yeah, the straight headed one. You couldn’t stop crying because of the news…”
“So he cuddled me throughout the night till I fell asleep…”
“And when you guys woke up together the next morning…”
“His parents and about a legion of royal guards barged into the beach house worriedly thinking the worst had happened to the Emperor of La Croft because of his sudden inactivity…”
Elva started to laugh making her words sound gibberish.
“And when their search stormed them into the guestroom, your face automatically turned red when you noticed that the….”
“Shut up!” Natalia screeched, more than ready to drown the giggling female because she was yelling to purposely embarrass her further!
Elva limped away from her, stumbling in the process out of laughter and wickedly turned to face her reddened best friend.
“When you noticed that the…”
“Elva!…”
“That the duvet had completely covered your strapless dress which made them stunned, thinking you both had been screwing each other!” She laughed uncontrollably and fell on her knees.
Natalia hastily looked around because the guards definitely heard. She furiously threw her gloves on the floor and murderously lunged at Elva.
“I’m gonna strangle you!”
Elva looked up to see her coming. She screamed and tried to run away but Natalia tackled her to the ground in no time.
After fight-rolling on each other like little kids, they finally yielded and laid on the grass and chuckled, ignorant of the silent strange looks the guards shot their way.
“I know you’re not avoiding him. I just wanted you to tell me the story again.” Elva pouted and Natalia nudged her painfully. She swallowed an ouch and giggled instead.
“But how do you do it? Meeting him almost everyday and not feeling awkward?”
“It’s obvious you haven’t met Esmond La Croft. His level of maturity can be too impressive to a point that it’s almost scary! Tell him your most evil secret and he’ll act like you never did the next minute. You won’t even be able to guess from his attitude.”
“He’s really that cool?”
“Super cool. Killer frost’s got nothing on him.” Elva giggled and faced the night sky.
“But Elva, something bothers me.” She sighed. Elva faced her back.
“I don’t want the situation with Leonardo happen with him too.” She fidgeted with her gloves.
“Oh.” Elva breathed. “Nicky told me he’s a complete mess. You know, he never got a father’s love or a mother’s attention. Leo has always been alone since his dad died leaving his mom to support him. And when he found his first love, his heart got crushed…. seemingly beyond repair. Poor Leo.”
“Please don’t make me feel more terrible. I still can’t get him out of my conscience.” Natalia confessed.
Leonardo was her first friend in school after Nicky, and her boy bestie before he fell in love with her and things got complicated.
“Woah!” Elva paused. “Why would Esmond falling in love with you be a mistake?”
Natalia gave her a look but Elva sat up enthusiastically prepared for a debate.
“There’s no problem, Nat! After all, you said you wanna move on. There are two people available right now and possibly thousands if you go viral!”
“Stop making your eyes glow like you just solved a world problem!” Natalia frowned and Elva tapped her.
“Of course! I just solved your love problem. Maybe you’ll finally be able to get over HIM.”
“It’s impossible.” Natalia whispered. “I’ll never be able to get over Arian… I miss him so much.”
Elva breathed out and began picking twigs away from Natalia’s hair when hers was worst!
“That’s not advisable to say when you’re trying to get over someone. But I really can’t blame you when you tried to get over him, by getting caught up with someone else.”
Natalia was getting sleepy because of the head massage Elva was giving her. Her new life had been really exhausting.
“Sleepyhead, keep being yourself and let your guardian angel handle the rest. I’m really grateful you have someone who understands and cares about you like Esmond…”
***
“… What about this one? Mom’s been bugging me to add some more color to my room or she’ld do it herself! It’s best to do it now before I end up regretting it.” The uncertain Emperor pursed his lips, staring at the little artistic vase he was holding.
Yeah.
.
Natalia smiled because she was genuinely grateful for the friend who kept fussing over which decor would be nice for his room.
.
Esmond’s eyes were glued to the beautiful pattern on the Chinese vase which he kept on admiring. Whoever said ‘Women rock!’ was definitely full of wisdom because what would the people say if they knew their Emperor was still very much afraid of his mother?!
Natalia chuckled at his confusion. Esmond had invited her out AGAIN, to the launch of the biggest seasonal shopping complex in La Croft and she’d honored his invitation AGAIN…. Which was starting to become a habit.
After the official launch, he opted to get the interior decors himself so they shopped for it together. It was one of the largest malls Natalia had ever seen.
Every nook and cranny was decorated with Christmas lights and the biggest tree she’d ever seen stood beautiful at the centre of the mall. It was about four storeys high!
Natalia smiled at the sales attendants who were crowded around Esmond, giving him eh not-so-so-good advice just to get his attention. The store they were in was empty aside them. Security from both Empires looked proud patrolling around in their regal uniforms.
Esmond dropped the vase and picked up a stylistic grass which had little white buds on it. His smile lit up his entire face.
“How ’bout this one?” He swung the thing in Natalia’s face.
“It’s perfect!” She smiled and his face brightened.
“So the moment you hang mistletoe up on your room door, you’ll have to kiss your mother every morning because I’m darn sure she’s gonna be the first person to pass through!” She grinned wickedly.
His face became sour and Natalia had to bite her tongue to control her laughter.
“Or God forbid…” She faked a dramatic face. “You’ld have to kiss your dad!”
Esmond squirmed and unconsciously dropped the mistletoe. Natalia giggled freely.
“I’m sorry.” He muttered apologetically, slightly bowing to the manager who nodded love sick like the rest of the girls behind her.
“Well that settles it. I’m taking the vases.” He finalised.
“Which one, Emperor?” The manager respectfully asked. Esmond thoughtfully shoved his hands into the pockets of his sand colored winter coat which he’d worn over a white turtleneck, pants and shoes.
Casual, yet extremely elegant.
“Since I’m not yet certain of which type suits best, I’ll have everyone please.” A guard immediately ushered the gawking woman back to the counter to make payments.
“What are you gonna use everything for??” Natalia couldn’t stop herself from gawking too. Esmond casually shrugged.
“Not when Queen La Croft is involved. Also, by the looks of things, they probably won’t get many patronisers judging from the confusing advice they give.”
“I thought you didn’t notice!” She chuckled.
“It was hard not to! Especially as they were getting me more confused. Shopping is absolutely frustrating.” He concluded.
Natalia smiled tauntily at him. “Then you should’ve let your mother hand…”
“Hell no!” He gushed and she was amusingly stunned. It was the first time Natalia had heard him cuss.
“Do you know why I never let our tour get into my old room back at the ranch? Well, it’s because Queen La Croft took the stress of turning it into a backyard market. So I had to sleep with horses instead. I can’t make the same mistake twice!” He shuddered.
Natalia nodded with a teasing smile.
When the guards were done, the only time Natalia remembered she was in a mall was when the store’s doors automatically slid open and flashes from cameras rudely hit her eyes…