CHAPTER NINE

THIRD PERSON POV

SOMETIME PAST

"Aquilina, please be on your best behaviour," Moriah Yvette Jaye said straightening her little girl's bow.

She pinned Aquilina's golden royal insignia to the shoulder of her navy blue dress.

Moriah then linked her arm through her husband's and they along with their seven children filed into the grand castle of King Domingo II.

They were there for a simple dinner but received a grand welcome.

As they were ushered into the King's personal dining chamber, Aqui trailed behind the rest of her siblings content to be obscured from view.

The Spanish King welcomed them himself, acquainting himself with all the children.

He was there with his new wife — who was one of the daughters of the King of China — and her three children. Her first husband having died some years before.

The two countries had formed an alliance through their marriage. He then moved to talk more with Moriah and her husband.

"I am sorry, but my youngest son could not make it."

He must not have noticed the little girl shyly standing behind them. Aqui was glad, for she did not really relish attention.

But, as they all moved to sit, he finally spotted Aqui and froze for a moment. His lips then shook before he composed himself.

"This is our last born. Aquilina, greet King Domingo." Her father introduced.

Aqui recalled her instructions with care and curtsied.

"Greetings, Sir."

"You are..." he cleared his throat before continuing, "You are Aquilina?"

"Yes, Sir."

"May I hug you, Aquilina?"

She was baffled, for he hadn't done that even to her parents. One look at her mother told her she must comply.

She agreed and was soon enveloped in the surprisingly warm embrace of the King. He did not release her for a long time. And when he did, his eyes glistened.

That whole night, he gave her preferential treatment, allowing her to sit right by him — where his wife should have sat.

Her younger mind had not comprehended why this was. But she enjoyed it nonetheless. He acted like another father to her.

And after that, he always sought her out and sent her gifts claiming her as another daughter of his.

It was sometime later, when she had grown a wee bit more, that she learnt the reason... She looked just like his ex-wife used to look when she was younger. She had abandoned him and their young son not long after his birth.

Her location? Only GOD knew.

"I never knew that, that same reason would come back to play some day again in my life."

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Aqui hummed a simple tune as she walked through the deserted hallways to her cubicle in order to take her coat off.

Everyone else is in class by now. I guess I'll just stay in the cubicle then, and maybe read a book. Or, I'll visit the old library.

She welcomed the thought of that, and smiled a little to herself as she entered the code to her cubicle.

When oceans rise,

My soul will rest in Your embrace...

She sang softly, and entered the cubicle. She turned the light on, turned around and froze.

"What— How did you get in here? Javier!" She nearly screamed feeling her heartbeat speeding over its limit.

"Do you always have to turn the lights on?"

"Do you always have to sneak up on me?"

He rolled his eyes and turned the lights off, walking and acting every bit as the prince he was.

"Hey!"

He took out his phone and turned the flash light on, wincing a bit as it came on. He pointed it further away and sat in a corner on the floor.

"Hey... are you okay?" Aqui said assured her heart rate was back to normal as she took a seat beside him.

He leaned his head against the wall and with his eyes shut. He finally opened his eyes and fished something out of his jacket.

She saw it was the bottle she had given him — and it was empty.

"Oh... did you try it?" She perked up at the thought. She never thought he would.

He gave the teeniest bit of a smile she had ever seen him give anyone.

"Works like Heaven... but I'm out."

"Huh?" She looked puzzled. "It should have lasted four or five days."

He tucked it back into his pocket.

"When I realised how good it felt after taking it per your prescription, I decided to up it a bit. Now though I'm not taking it, it doesn't feel as bad. But I will like to have more down."

"No, you should take it per the prescription lest there be any side effects. I'm not giving you anymore." She folded her arms across her chest.

"How much should I give you for it?"

"I'm not selling it. My Grandma... came up with the concoction."

He groaned and held his head.

"Are you alright?" She asked softly.

There was more groaning. She sighed and opened the locker in the cubicle and retrieved another bottle.

"Here, take this. But no overdosing. If you use it up in 24 hours, no more for you."

The groaning stopped, he looked up and... smiled mischievously.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" He snatched the bottle from her hand and rose to leave.

Aqui opened her mouth to protest.

"Oh, and I'll see you at your place for our group work today."

She just stared at this point, arms folded against her chest once again.

"Okay, fine. But I'll be home late." She had promised to help Francesco out.

She then moved to take off her coat.

But he turned as he opened the door about to step out.

"And Aquilina..." She turned to face him. It was the first time he had spoken her name out loud. "I won't overdose this time around and... gracias." He finished quietly and left.

It was after he had left that she remembered, "I forgot to ask him how he got in."

And she groaned.

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GOD bless you wonderful family of the Prose. Hola! And thanks so much for everything so far. I'm so sorry for any mistakes. It's night here.

What did you think about this scene, please?

And... if there were to be any language in the world you wish you could speak but you don't already, what would it be?

I'll tell you mine in the next one, GOD willing.

Stay blessed,

Phela.