Everything felt like it happened in slow motion.

Nicandro's face showed a sigh of relief when he laid eyes on me. There were so many feelings coursing through my veins that without putting in any thought, I ran to him and hugged him tightly. The warmth from his body comforted that for a second there, I forgot he is the prince of Spain and I'm the daughter of famous drug lords.

"It's good to see you," he spoke first and I could feel his breath on my ear.

"You too," I barely managed to get the words out as we broke the hug, as his beautiful face came into view.

I looked at him from head to toe, soaking in his glory. He was wearing a basic off white t-shirt with a pocket on the right side of his chest paired with black jeans and topped it off with sneakers. He must have just got off from the plane and came here straight.

"Where's Efren?" I asked when I didn't recognize the bodyguard standing at the glass door.

"He's on leave. His sister gave birth last week," Nicandro replied and gestured for me to take a seat.

His hand was on my back as he guided me to the couch over there. The silence was comforting and welcoming, allowing me to process that he's actually here, in Singapore. I had come up with so many scenarios in my head when we would meet next, never crossed my mind that it would be like this. I put my school bag onto the floor and scooted myself over to him.

His essence just made everything that much better.

I decided to start the conversation first, "Should I even ask how did you get everyone out?"

He leaned closer to me, which caught me unguarded for a second, but then his head moved past my face, to beside my ear and whispered, "Gas leak," before moving his head away from my face.

I cleared my throat, trying to gain exposure, "Are you going to be in Singapore for the tour thing you're doing?"

He sucked in a deep breath, "No. We only have ten minutes."

My heart sank, but I found the strength to say, "I'm just glad that I can see you again, it's been a while."

He gave me a smile back, putting his hand on mine, "I wasn't originally planning on coming here, but I'm glad I did."

I was taken aback by that, he wasn't going to come to see me when it was the first chance in months? Maybe he doesn't feel the same way as I do for him...

My body subconsciously moved a little away from him and he noticed that immediately, "No, it's not what you think."

I meet his eyes, not saying anything so he takes it as a cue to continue speaking,

He took a deep breath, "It's just... a lot's happening and I didn't think I could handle it. Watching the respect that comes with my family name just stripped away like that and have everyone around us look at us like we're a famous drug lord's family, not the royal family. It's like feeling disconnected to your own identity; an object floating in space, with no purpose and nowhere to go. There're plenty of times where I dreamed us back in Palenica again, just the two of us in that quiet city, having a picnic near the Puntene De Puentecillas."

"Yeah, that would be nice," I said softly. Not going to lie, I've thought about that too.

"I also have to apologise for not being here when you were attacked."

My eyes widened a little, and he knew what I was thinking, "After the countless times you were in life-threatening situations last year, I figured it would be best to keep an eye on you closely."

Well, I can't exactly argue with that, even though I don't exactly like being watched over.

"Can I help in any way?" I can sense the concern in his voice.

"Can't ask for your help if I don't know who is behind the attack now, can I?"

He frowned, "No clue at all?"

I sighed, "It can't be Felon because he would've just killed me. The detective said it was most likely someone who I knew, as the camera shows that the attacker knew exactly how to go to the house."

He laid his head on the couch, squeezing my hand a little, "It's never going to be over is it?"

I joined him, lying right beside him, "You know who my parents were, I'm going to have targets on my back for the rest of my life."

"Welcome to the targets-on-our-backs-for-the-rest-of-our-lives squad," and we both chuckled to that.

Both of us just laid there in silence, looking up at the ceiling and the big fans turning, with our fingers intertwined together. Right now, I feel more peace than I've ever felt the past few months. Even on the other side of the earth where Felon won't know of my existence, something just didn't feel right. Last week's attack made me realise that the place I feel the safest is with Nicandro.

After four months of being apart, I thought when we meet again, there would be some void or tension between us, as it happens when people spend time apart barely talking to each other.

But not for us.

I lifted my head off of his shoulders, leaned towards him and pressed my lips on his.

I can tell he was taken aback by my action as his body tensed a little. But within moments, his lips moulded with mine and kissed me. My hands landed on his chest and travelled up to his neck while shaking a little from my nervousness as I've no experience in this. That nervousness soon faded when I remembered that he also hasn't done any of this. I could tell from his action when he put his hands gently on my waist, using the swiftest motioned and pulled me closer to him.

Our lips were perfectly in sync, not breaking the kiss. The prolonged kissing caused our breathing to speed up, catching our breaths in between kisses. With one arm, he swooped me onto his lap, completely closing the space between us. In this moment, everything felt right.

Then we heard knocking on the glass door, causing us to pull apart from each other.

Both of our heads turned towards the glass door, the same bodyguard who was previously standing at the glass door signalling him that time's up. Nicandro nodded back at him, then turned his head back to face me and sighed, "I have to go."

Just like that, we were separated once again.

"Yeah, I know," I didn't hide my disappointment as he lifted me off his lap and gently put me back on the couch.

I straightened my school uniform and Nicandro slowly stood up from the couch. I can see the slight blush on his cheeks and I had no doubt my lips were puffy from our previous activity.

"I'm glad you did that," he rummaged his tongue on his inner cheeks, "Or else I would've apologised for kissing you on the balcony."

I couldn't help the smile forming on my face when he mentioned our first kiss. Everything was magical that night.

Until Felon showed up.

"Apologise? Why so?"

"Because I kissed you without your permission," I can see his cheeks turning a shade of pink.

"So I should apologise for kissing you just now then?" I teased him.

"No," he said too quickly, "I liked it."

"Good, cause this will be the last one you get from me in a long time."

"This isn't goodbye," he said with assurance.

"Sure feels like it," I couldn't help but feel pessimistic.

He analysed my face before reaching his hand out to hold mine, "If it's decided that my family will not be forcefully abdicated from the throne, I promise that we'll see each other again in one month."

I raised one eyebrow at him, "You'll come to Singapore or I'll go to Spain?"

"Neither," he gave me a smirk, revealing those dimples which I've missed seeing, "but I'm positive you'll like it." And I couldn't help my lips twitching into a smile.

"In the meantime, I promise I'll not be a jerk and ignore your messages," then he surprised me by lifting up my hand and placed a soft kiss on it.

He then walked towards the door, our eyes not leaving each other until we were out of each other's sight. I stood at the same spot for a few seconds, before squealing about what just happened.

I can feel my face getting hotter before someone walked in from the glass door, causing me to jump. The counter lady walked in first, followed by the kids and teens. All of them looked at me weirdly and that's when I remembered that by right, I was supposed to be outside with them.

"Where were you just now?" The counter lady asked me, "Apparently there was a gas leak situation."