~~~ CHAPTER 19 - PRINCESS ~~~

I looked at my watch and learned that it was past 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. We were seated in a table at a diner where Nigel took me for lunch... well, late lunch.

"It's past three o'clock, I know. It's my fault," he said in an apologetic tone. Wow, for the first time, he was apologetic. Seriously?

"It isn't your fault," I assured him.

"You think you can wait 'til they're serving us?" he asked sounding concerned.

Hearing him talk with that concerned tone made me feel so weird deep inside. Perhaps, I was just used to his signature cold, icy mode.

"I can wait," I smiled, still trying to assure him.

Whatever happened to his being apathetic? I wondered and stared at his handsome face. He was not smiling at me but the look in his eyes made me feel that he was worried about me.

I surrendered first from our eye contact. Gazing at his deep, dark eyes would just make me out of breath. Besides, it would just lead me to believing that he was in love with me... That would be very assuming.

Instead, I let my eyes to roam around. I noticed that the restaurant had minimalist interiors. Its main colors were white and green, with hints of black. I wondered if our attires matched its ambiance. I let out a sigh of relief that most of the people there were not in formal attire.

"Lovely..." I heard Nigel speak. He was still staring at me intently when I looked at his direction. Instantly, my heart beat fast as I felt the warming of my cheeks.

Did he just say lovely? Was he referring that to me?

"Huh?" I stuttered.

He blinked his eyes and cleared his throat, "The place is lovely, isn't it?"

I bit my lower lip for I had just become too assuming indeed. I felt my cheeks became warmer than ever. Boy, was I stupid!

Then, I saw the reddening of his cheeks. Wait, did I just see him blush too?

Nigel averted his eyes away from me.

"Y-yeah, it is," I mused.

As soon as our orders arrived, both of us dug in promptly. Well, it looked like I wasn't the only one who was hungry. I enjoyed my well-done steak as much as he enjoyed his roast beef. We finished the meal with a yummy cheesecake. That was the best lunch I had ever because, firstly, it was our first time to dine out together and, secondly, it seemed like we were on a date.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Are you okay now?" he asked when we had settled on the car. I was already sitting on the passenger seat.

I gave him a wide grin, "Never been better."

"Next time, tell me if you're already hungry. I can't starve you, you know. Mom will definitely kill me," he said also smiling as he inserted the key in the ignition.

Wow! He was pretty friendly to me after the fainting stuff. Should I fake passing out every time so he would be sweet to me like this? Hmmm... That's a pretty evil plan, Althea, I scolded myself.

When the engine was started up, I leaned my trunk on the backrest of the seat and closed my eyes. Oh, God, why did I feel so happy and content?

Wait, did he just say next time? Did he plan to travel with me again? Maybe I would if I'd be sitting here next to him. This would make me feel better and that would at least prevent me from losing consciousness. I hoped Stella wouldn't be around anymore.

Stella? Where was she?

I opened my eyes. "Where's Stella?"

"She's gone home," Nigel answered.

Good for me, then.

"Does she know about our engagement?" I threw him the question that I had been wanting to ask.

He became silent.

I began to fret. Why did I have to ask that question anyway? Afraid that I might have ruined the newly found friendliness he was showing me, I didn't insist anymore on finding the answer. I quieted myself.

"No," he spoke out a few seconds later.

I remained quiet.

"I don't find any reason why I should tell her about the engagement because..." he paused for a while.

I waited for him to continue.

"Because our engagement isn't official. I haven't proposed to you."

Ouch. So, that was it. I was the only one here expecting that the wedding would ever take place.

"I only see you as the girl that my mom is very fond of, nothing more, nothing less, princess," Nigel averred calmly. "As I said, I'll marry the girl I love, not the girl that my mom loves for me."

The piercing pain in my heart made my whole body numb. Here I was again hurting... How could I ruin the wonderful atmosphere between the two of us?

"Why still bring out the engagement, Althea? I thought you're already giving up?" He cast me a sideways glance as he maneuvered the car on the busy city street.

I remembered our heated conversation that took place at the sugar factory.

"I was just... asking if you want me to give up already," I clarified. "Why, do you really want me to give up on us, Nigel?"

It took him a while before answering, "Why? Do you want to give up now?"

"No! never!" I replied in an instant. That was true. I couldn't give up on him.

The guy smirked. "I have a girlfriend, princess," he said as if he was reminding at the same time teasing me.

That hit me again. Oh, that's why I hate you, Stella. I hate you very much.

But, once again, a newly found strength came over me. "Girlfriend? That Stella? Yeah, she may be your girlfriend but I am your princess, am I not?" I clearly enunciated as I smiled at him.

The car suddenly stopped. I wondered why until I saw the red light. Nigel tapped the stirring wheel lightly. He was still smirking. What was with his smirking? Was he amused or peeved? I couldn't exactly read his expression.

"Thought you'd never notice," he piped up, catching a glimpse of me.

The butterflies awakened in my stomach. Did he really mean that?

"Really, you're not contradicting?" I giggled on my seat.

He turned his drop-dead face to me. There was an amused glimmer in his eyes. "I'm not contradicting, my princess."

Whew! Should I pass out again???

A very, very big smile appeared in my lips as the car moved once more. Really? I couldn't believe it! It just felt so surreal! The nickname that he gave me since my thirteenth birthday was given formerly as a form of sarcasm... Now, did he mean it as a term of endearment?

"W-why?" I dreamily asked.

Nigel's eyes were directed to the road and, from my angle, I could apparently see the reddening of his cheek, his ear, and his neck.

"Why?" he echoed as if he didn't grasp my question.

"Why do you call me princess?" They said curiosity kills the cat, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to be enlightened. Had he finally started to fall in love with me? Would that even be possible after he told me that he'd never marry me one hundred and one percent sure?

"It has become a habit, princess, a habit I can't get rid of. Now, don't ask me why," he said not looking at me. Then, he smiled but, immediately, he concealed it by biting his lower lip.

What was that?

Way to go, Althea! Winners never quit; quitters never win. I was his princess. That meant he was my prince. Could a prince marry another not his princess?

Think.

Now, I was back to the game.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Isn't it amazing?" I marvelled at Kara after I told her the sweet moments I had with Nigel in the diner and in the car during the weekend. I was still in the state of disbelief and sharing it with my close friend would be some sort of release. "He said calling me princess has become a habit that he can't get rid of. Does that mean I've become a habit for him too? What do you think?"

"I only think that Nigel is in love with you. But whatever it is that makes him hold back his feelings for you, I don't know," she expressed like she was certain of her words.

"You really think so?" I toned down my voice a bit knowing that we were in the library. Kara was scanning a book.

"Remember the time when you were drunk and Serge and I brought you to the condo? Nigel was very, very worried about you. I knew that he was waiting for you to arrive because he was at the lobby. What do you think he was doing there at almost three o'clock in the morning? And also, when I stepped out of Serge's car, why did he immediately spot me? He even rushed to me and freaked out where you were. Of course, I told him that you were there in the car totally unconscious. He freaked out even more and called me a bad influence," she paused and smiled. "What happened next was the most romantic thing I've ever seen in my life so far."

I became curious. "What happened then?"

"Haven't I told you this? Your Nigel carried you in his arms into the building."

"In bridal style?" I asked.

"Yeah, baby, in bridal style," she grinned. "Now, tell me, why would he do that?"

I thought for a moment. It wasn't the first time that he had carried me in his arms. He did it when he found me sleeping at the bank of the lagoon after he searched for me back when I was still in The Fields. He also did it last Saturday when we went out of the hospital. He probably did it as well when he brought me into the ER.

"Because I was unconscious," I said.

"No, because he was freaking worried about you!" she exclaimed.

I could only hope it was true.

"I was there, Thea. I saw how he cared for you. Nigel is definitely in love with you," Kara assured me.

If it was true, why couldn't he just tell me? Why couldn't he just give in to the engagement?

I knew I got attracted to Nigel the first time I laid my eyes on him. When mom introduced him to me, my young heart instantly developed a crush on him. From that day on, everyday wouldn't be complete without seeing him. Being a depressed girl who lost both of my parents, I began to realize that life must go on because there was still more to it. Life has a lot to offer --- future, happiness, love. Knowing Nigel, therefore, gave me a sense of hope that love and happiness would still come my way. Nigel's presence alone warmed the cockles of my heart. He was my dream... he had to be my future...

I knew he got kind of irritated of my presence in his life. However, when he told me last Saturday that calling me a princess had become a habit to him, I sort of believed that he might have already developed a soft spot in his heart for me.

If he was still not ready to confess his feelings, I would be willing to wait until he would find the courage to express it.

Lost in my reverie, I unknowingly stared and smiled at Kara.

"Know what? You're grinning like you've won the lottery," Kara commented.

I chuckled at her remark, "Not yet, but I'll win this, I swear."

For the rest of our vacant period, I stayed at the library with Kara. She had been writing her research paper for her Psychology class and I managed to stay with her to help her scan books. Every now and then, I would insert Nigel in our discussion and she would always say, "The guy loves you, no doubt about that." Then, I'd laugh and she'd laugh as well.

In short, I was deliriously happy today.

When we were about to leave the library, I was surprised when a guy suddenly sat beside me. Feeling awkward that some guy apart from Nigel was sitting next to me, I gathered my things immediately in the table and looked at Kara who was sitting across me. I gave her an eye signal regarding the guy for I couldn't afford to look at him. She looked stunned herself as she stared at the guy.

"Nice to see you, señorita," a familiar voice greeted me.

When I finally turned my face to him, I was elated to see Dylan Fernandez. He was showing me his angelic smile. Wow, that kind of smile again!

"Dylan Fernandez, you're here!" I exclaimed.

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A/N

Hmm... I wonder what's Dylan's role in our heroine's life... Joke! Of course, I know but I can't still spill the beans right now. There's the right time for that, eh?

For just being there for this book, thank you so so so much! I looove the support I'm getting from you guys! I may not be able to reply every one of you but please note that I appreciate every vote, every comment (positive/negative). It keeps me pumped up I wanna write more... Hence, the update of this chapter, too.

Love lots,
(sapphiregirl22) ~_^