CHAPTER SEVEN

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When all have failed, or you can't seem to break through, just love, like you have never been hurt. It is the greatest weapon.

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THIRD PERSON POV

Aquilina woke with a start as the bell sounded through the old deserted library. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

She glanced at her wrist watch and groaned. She had missed her last period but wait — where was Javier?

She had dozed off after singing to him and certifying he was asleep. But now, he was nowhere to be found.

Oh, well! She thought.

She yawned again, and headed home on the bus — filled with *ahem* only Commoners — after grabbing her bag from her cubicle.

She plugged in her earbuds and listened to some classical music whilst gazing out the window.

"I'm home!"

She shouted after code-unlocking their door. She had noticed her cousin's car parked outside — and another; a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

A neighbour? She thought. They lived in a decent neighbourhood but who would drive a Rolls-Royce?

She kicked off her shoes, and in her socked feet headed straight for the fridge. She gulped down the water in one go. She felt weary for some reason, and had not paid much attention to her surroundings.

After quenching her thirst, she heard a slight movement behind her and turned around expecting to find Jason.

"Ja-" She paused.

Gazing at her with his ever so violet eyes, was Javier. He sat behind the kitchen counter with his phone in hand.

She gulped at the intensity of his gaze.

"Oh, hi?" She said looking puzzled.

He only stared coldly as Jason descended the stairs toward them.

"Oh, you're in! I couldn't find you after school. Where were you?" Jason asked.

"I sort of... dozed off somewhere today," Aqui replied, sipping some water to muffle the sound.

Jason cocked an eyebrow at her, "Weirdo."

"I guess you already know Javier, right?" Jason grabbed his keys on the counter. "He's the friend I mentioned this morning. We are going somewhere, we'll be back late. Don't wait up. Oh, and there's food in the fridge."

And with that said, they both walked out leaving behind a very baffled Aqui.

Wait, what? She replayed Jason's words in her mind. When did the two of them become friends?

She capped the bottle back and headed to her room.

At least, she knew Javier was okay. She wondered why he had had the migraine and if it happened often — her medical brain analysing.

——————

It was sometime after midnight when Aqui awoke to the uneasiness in her chest. It had been a while since this happened.

She turned the lamp on and slowly got out of bed. She held her chest tightly and groaned a bit.

She unlocked her door quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone. She had heard Jason return sometime past (she was a really light sleeper).

After drinking a hot hibiscus tea, she felt the pain subside. She sighed, grateful to GOD.

As she turned to leave, there he was — again. Standing on the stairs this time around.

His black hair was slightly tussled, but the aura that emanated from him was intact.

"I wanted to talk to you." Javier said, quietly but cold enough.

She suddenly felt conscious of her night gown. It wasn't that short but neither was it the longest. She had not been expecting to encounter anyone.

"Okay. I'm listening." She wrapped her arms around her body in an attempt to ward off the cold air from outside.

"I think you may have misunderstood somethings today that I wanted to clarify." He walked a bit closer.

"What happened, does not change anything... I still regard you the same. And I will be grateful if you keep enough distance from me. I am not someone you would want to cross."

"I understand." Aqui said after a moment of silence on her part. She felt hurt. More than hurt, but she kept her face neutral and her eyes blank.

That had not been a hard thing to do... the smile had long since left her eyes. But perhaps, somewhere deep within, she had longed to smile again...

"Bueno. We still have our project to work on. That can be done with yet enough distance."

"Okay."

Then he walked up the stairs.

Aqui waited for him to shut the door upstairs, and run to make another cup of tea. She really needed it.

——————

"Aquilina S. J. You are needed in the Principal's office."

Came the voice over the intercom.

She gulped and ignored the stares that were upon her as she walked to the Principal's office.

"Is she getting expelled?" She heard someone say in a not-so-much of a whisper.

On arriving at the Secretary's desk, she was quickly ushered in.

It looked like a Presidential Office. With lots of awards and photos featuring Kings and Presidents from all over the world hanging around.

She immediately felt nervous when she saw Ray Fitzgerald, her boss' assistant at the WCO stand to greet her.

Tall and lean with his jet-black hair, he had never been her favourite. He was too cold and difficult to read. She sometimes found certain actions of his suspicious.

"Please, do have a seat Miss Aquilina," the Principal said after shaking her hand.

He was a jovial elderly fellow, balding and a bit heavy. He had always been fair to her, kind even. Probably because he knew her identity.

She sat on the comfortable plush chair.

"How has your stay been?" Ray asked, taking his seat as well. He seemed to be in a hurry to get to the point.

Aqui only gave a brief, "Fine."

"Well, I am here today inform you on how your investigation is going." He laid down the file he had been holding.

"Please." She had long learnt that there was safety in few words.

"I regret to say we have made not-enough progress yet. And while there are not enough facts to prove your guilt by association, there isn't enough to prove your innocence either."

He leaned forward in her direction, "And because of that, the WCO wishes to inform you to continue your studies here. Your missions are still suspended for now. And you are making fine grades here. Do continue, and don't hesitate to let us know if ever you need help."

Don't hesitate?

She was young, only 17, but had been around long enough to understand those words.

Her case, had turned into a "Stagnant Case". And oh did the WCO have enough of those.

Some, she heard of, had lived and passed away never clearing their names.

"But as you're here," the Principal cleared his throat and added, clearly trying to lighten up the mood.

"We would like to offer you a position, to be a part of this school's medical team.

The WCO has agreed to that and are more than glad to let you join us. We can not bear to see your talent go to waste."

—————

Aqui walked down the now crowded hallway feeling dejected.

We wish you the best. Ray had told her as she stood up to leave.

Her future felt shattered. She wanted to run, right now.

Lord, what do I do now? She questioned.

"Aquilina!"

She slowly turned around to the voice of Natalie. She was running to catch up with her.

It had been almost 24 hours since they last spoke to each other.

"Hold up!" She threw an arm around her shoulder. She looked worried. "I heard your name being called to go to Mr. V's (the principal). Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. I was given a position, to be a part of the Medical Team. An assistant, nothing special." Aqui forced a smile to encourage her friend she way okay.

"Oh! How nice!" She beamed. "Wait, I thought they only allow those interested in doing medicine to become assistants."

"I guess my Science grades convinced them."

"Probably. Look, I wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything that happened yesterday. I'm still a little sad, but you probably had your reasons. Forgive me?"

"I don't hold anything against you." And they hugged each other. "I'm sorry too for everything that is going on."

"Well, I have a question for you." And Natalie pulled back.

Aqui braced herself thinking she might ask about Francesco.

"Yes?"

"Do you think I've grown fat? Come on, tell me the truth."

"No, I was going to say that you've lost a little weight."

"I knew Cassie was being mean."

And Aqui smiled.

It's funny how a little conversation can cheer up someone whose life has just been turned upside down.

—————

Aqui sat quietly in the cafeteria beside Francesco not quite touching her food. Javier was absent, and everyone else ignored her, but she was grateful for that.

"Come with me." She felt his hot breath on her right ear.

Francesco nodded his head towards the exit. And she stood up and left with him, ignoring the stares and looks of disgust by some around her.

They passed through the hall, and took the elevator (yes, they have elevators). Francesco led her to the last floor and ascended some stairs obscured from view with her.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked again.

"Non ancora."(Not yet.)

She had acted like she did not understand whenever students spoke their languages around her. But that was not so. She had understood most perfectly.

She realised they had gotten to a chamber on the roof. It had flowers and a long bench.

"Wow," she exclaimed out loud.

Francesco just glanced at her and pointed her toward the seat.

She sat down and glanced around some more.

"I needed to get away, and to talk to you as well. Being in a quiet place is much better," he said after a moment of comfortable silence, his arm rested on the back of the bench. She noted the slight Italian accent.

"Look, I know what I have asked of you is very strange. And has cost you a lot. But I really need your help. I want you to understand. The thing is," he sighed and leaned forward.

"There is a girl."

"There's always a girl." Her eyes widened when she realised she had said that out loud.

Way to go, Aqui.

Contrariwise to the serious tone of their conversation, that caused Francesco to laugh out loud.

It was not a rowdy laugh. It sounded rather smooth.

"Yes, I guess there is." He wiped a tear from his eye.

"Well, her name is Rosa. Her father is the first ranking businessman in Europe."

Aqui nodded for him to continue. She had heard of her.

"We grew up together, she, Javi and I. It has always been understood that she will get married to Javier. I thought so too, until one summer, Javi traveled and it was just the two of us."

He had a far-away look and she could tell those memories were dear to him.

"And then, Rosa and I realised we didn't want to be just friends. When Javi returned, he said it was okay, it was a family arranged thing after all. But I knew it hurt him."

"So last summer, I told Rosa I had met someone else I loved and that she should move on with Javi. She was hurt. But she later realised it wasn't true. Two weeks ago, I received her call. She's coming back."

"Oh... I see."

"Yes, I need to make her believe it. And that's where you come in."

"But what about you? Will you ever forget?"

"Javi... has been through a lot. Seeing him happy, though it hurts will bring me great joy."

"I get your point."

Somehow, he looked different to her. He did not look like the same old, arrogant-but-handsome Prince.

He looked... normal at that moment.

"You did not look very cheerful in the Cafeteria." He did not question or push. It was a simple statement.

Something about his sincere gaze made Aquilina open up.

She couldn't say everything of course.

"It's just that... I heard some very discouraging news today. And I feel like I'm at my lowest. No way back up."

There. She had finally shared some of her true feelings with someone else for the first time in a long while.

"Do you remember the first time we spoke?" He asked suddenly taking her by surprise.

"Ugh... during your Art Class?"

"Which someone had interrupted."

"I did not. I was minding my own business. When you all waltzed into my path." They both chuckled.

"Right. But do you remember the painting and the explanation you gave?"

"How can I forget? It's the reason why I'm stuck in this mess." She said half-joking.

He gave her a stern look.

"Okay, I remember. The drowning man... and how he found hope even in the depths of the sea." She finished softly.

It clicked. There was hope for her even in all this. She smiled a tiny bit. But it was heartfelt.

It amazed her how easy it was to open up to him. He made her feel warm.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. We have some minutes left till lunch is over," he said glancing at his watch. "I'll grab a snack before that. Wanna go with me?"

"No, I'm okay. See you later."

They left together.

—————

It was after the talk with Francesco during lunchtime that Aquilina finally had the courage to do it.

He had hurt her, and said mean things to her, but there she stood — in the deserted classroom. Lunch break would soon be over, and she had excused herself from Francesco's side to do this.

I must not chicken out.

She looked at the bottle and little notes of instruction that she had written.

"Am I being foolish?" She asked out loud.

When she had woken up for a jog that morning, she had seen Prince Javier García sitting in his car with his head bowed in his hands. He hadn't seen her. But as he rubbed the left side of his head with his eyes closed, she knew. The migraines were back.

So here she was, at his 'permanent' desk. She knew this age old medicine — which was a mixture of herbs — concocted by her GrandMa could help alleviate his migraines.

If not permanently, it would be useful whenever the migraine dropped by for a visit.

After taking in a deep breath, she left it underneath his desk.

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Thank you for making it this far — for the votes, and comments. I am very grateful