Love’s test for royalty

Chapter three

Lily’s pov

"Wait! Please wait!" I shouted at the top of my lungs and ran towards the bus stop. But the bus driver didn't hear me, and closed the door.

"No!" Panting, trembling, breathless, I groaned with disappointment. The bus left, when I was just a few steps away from the bus stop. Now, I had to wait for another ten to fifteen minutes for the next bus. I would be late for work, which never ever happened before. I felt so tired last night that I overslept. I was so stupid, I forgot to set the alarm clock.

I dug out my phone in my bag to text My boss that I would be late. I was scrolling through my phone's contacts when I came across Michael’s number. I stored his number last night, despite having no intention of calling him.

Michael Carter was our neighbor and my best friend in New Jersey.Blond, cute with dimples, tall and lean. He looked like the young Brad Pitt. Aside from his good looks, he was also smart, very humble, God-fearing and very compassionate.

For me, he was the kindest man I'd ever met. All the qualities that I wanted in a guy, he had it all. He was Perfect. My Prince Charming, Knight in Shining Armor, Dream Boy and my Mr. Right.

I grew up having him as my best friend, my adviser, my protector and maybe my boyfriend. Well, he didn't know that, but in my mind, he was. We even got married in my dreams and lived happily-ever-after, in a castle, surrounded with infinite love, peace, and happiness.

I wanted him to be my first in everything: first kiss, first love, first boyfriend, and my first s****l encounter.

But I don’t think he thought about me that way so I never mentioned my feelings to him.

He was an only child and having me with him always, made him feel like an older brother. That's what he said all the time, maybe because of our four year age gap. But I wished we wouldn't remain in the sibling zone, forever.

The last time we saw each other was not worth reminiscing about. It was very humiliating, on my part.

It happened two years ago, I was eighteen and had just graduated high school. Dad's health condition was getting worse at that time and his body didn't respond to the medical treatment anymore. We lost everything, our car, savings, including our house. We were just fortunate that the new house owner allowed us to stay for two weeks to find a new place to settle down. I was so miserable, but I was trying to be strong, for my family, especially for Dad. I wanted him to fight for his life and not to lose hope.

Michael was there to comfort me. He taught me how to be strong, to be brave and trust everything to God. Since he was a nurse, he explained to me the nature of Dad's disease, the symptoms, the disease process, medical procedure performed, the medications, and everything that I didn't understand.

We were sitting on the couch, talking, mostly about Dad. His arms were around me and his fingers ran through the silkiness of my ginger hair. He loved my hair and never failed to touch it every time we were together. That's why 'Ginger' has always been his pet name for me.

I settled in his warm embrace and rested my head on his chest. It felt like coming home, every time I was in his arms. I listened to his heart, it pounded evenly, in a normal rhythm, like music. But mine was hammering wildly. I smelled his manly scent, hmm, so divine. Then, I touched his strong arms and feasted my eyes on his attractive face.

Everything about him enthralled me and drugged my senses. The tingling in the pit of my stomach wouldn't stop whenever I was with him.

I held his eyes, studying his expressions. I was looking for some clues and signs on what he really felt for me. If he developed a spectral interest in me, he had no intention of showing it.

He noticed me, staring at him. He pulled his eyebrows together in a crease and held my eyes. I smiled at him, then his face lit up. He gave me his usual tender smile that melted my heart and turned my limbs to jellies.

"That's my girl. Smile. Don't worry, everything will turn out right. God wouldn't give us problems that we couldn't handle." He caressed my arm, up and down, made me shiver with excitement.

I shifted my position and loomed over him. I held his face with my hands, feeling the roughness of his stubbles.

"I thank God, he gave me you. I couldn't possibly live without you now, Michael ."

“I decided to join the medical mission to South Africa.” Michael stated.

“What?” I suddenly felt cold like I just had an ice bucket. He’s going away.

"You know, how much I wanted this. This is my aim in life, to help and alleviate the suffering of sick people, especially the needy. Helping the less fortunate brings joy to my heart. I want to be there for them."

"For how long? A month?"

He shook his head. "Perhaps, years."

My world suddenly collapsed. I couldn't believe what I'd just heard. He was leaving for South Africa this weekend? I know how compassionate Joseph was with people, that's why I was drawn to him, completely. He studied nursing because of his passion to take care of the sick and the needy. He enjoyed being with people, talking, calming and soothing them to ease their pain and distress. But going to South Africa, why?

Since that day, we hadn't seen each other. Dad was fighting for his life, and I never left his side. Joseph was very busy processing his papers for his trip.

But he never failed to leave me a letter, saying goodbye.

Eros' POV

I parked my car outside the coffee shop. I never bothered having coffee in my apartment, since I was anticipating the cup of espresso here in the coffee shop. It was very delicious, simply the best that I've ever had.

Eros and I ordered the same coffee that we had yesterday. But when I tasted my espresso, I was so disappointed. It didn't even have the heart artwork design.

"This one didn't taste as good as we had yesterday." I took another sip, then pushed it away.

"Really? My coffee tastes good. Just the same as yesterday."

"Mine didn't. I don't like it."

Eros looked at the Barista. "Maybe because somebody else prepared it yesterday.

I looked at the Barista and looked back to Eros. " Who?”

"You didn't notice? The girl, who did everything. She was alone, remember?"

"No. I don't remember."

"The girl with black hair, thick-rimmed eyeglasses, and wearing vintage clothes?"

"I still don't remember."

"Anyway, she was the one who made our coffee."

I nodded and called the waitress.

"I want another of these, and make sure that that girl with thick-rimmed eyeglasses prepares it."

"Sorry Sir. But she hadn't arrived yet." The blond waitress shrugged her shoulders.

I nodded and dismissed the waitress immediately.

"Are you done? Let's go." I stood up, not waiting for Donovan to answer. He was still sipping his coffee. "I'll wait for you in the car."

I opened the door of the coffee shop and went outside. I was reading my email messages on my phone when I collided with someone.

"Oww!"

"Oops!" I immediately caught the middle-aged lady before she fell to the ground. I held her small waist tightly with one arm to steady her stance. She was so light, slender, and very delicate. "Are you okay?"

She was clinging to me. Both of her arms were around my neck. She was trembling with fright.

Her face was pressed on my chest. Then, she slowly looked up at me. I was so surprised that she was not a middle-aged woman at all. She was young, so young... eighteen, probably? Her face was well modeled and very feminine. And the wind whipped color into her cheeks.

She parted her lips, gasping for air. It gave me the opportunity to stare at the moistness of her sweet curled lips. Then, I held her eyes for a while, behind its black-rimmed eyeglasses. She had beautiful sparkling green eyes, like emeralds. She looked so familiar. Her eyes reminded me of someone.

"Yes, I'm fine, I'm sorry, Sir... I'm okay."

"Are you sure? You look so fragile." I let go of her and she instantly stepped backward.

"Yes, actually, I'm stronger than you thought. Looks can be very deceiving sometimes."

I frowned at her. "That's hard to believe. You're so thin, I could easily break your bones with two fingers. You even look malnourished."

She inhaled deeply and smiled sarcastically. "Thanks for the compliment, Sir. I have to go, I'm already late for work." She spun and went towards the coffee shop door.

"You're welcome." I provoked her. She sounded so upset. "Are you sure you're okay?

She went back, stomping her feet on the ground and stood in front of me. I was surprised when she jumped up and down, then made exaggerated lunges and stretching, then, springing her arms upwards and sideways, she said, "See? Nothing's broken. I'm fine, OKAY!"

I was amused by her actions, she was a funny girl. "Okay, I'm convinced. Be careful next time and watch your step."

She glared at me, her lips thinned with irritation. We stared at each other across a sudden ringing silence.

"Everything okay?" Eros, who came out of the coffee shop, asked me.

"Yeah, come on, let's go." I strode to my car and left the girl staring at us.

"That was the woman who made our coffee yesterday," Donovan said, the moment we were in the car.

"Yeah, I figured that out." I drove the car smoothly.

"Too bad you haven't enjoyed your morning coffee, Sir."

"Yeah... too bad..." I groaned then, driving in silence. Thinking of glimmering emerald eyes. After five minutes of driving, I stopped the car and made a U-turn.

"Where are we going, Sir?" Donovan asked.

"I realized, I really need that coffee.'

Jade's POV

"Hey, Jade. Romeo is back, and wants you to make his coffee," Suzanne shouted behind me, that I almost dropped the bottle of milk I was holding.

"Romeo, who?"

"The guy, who looked like one of the Abercrombie models."

"Which one?" I asked Suzanne, but she already left, before I could even finish my question. I was in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Chang prepare the batter for the pancakes.

I went out of the kitchen and scanned the faces of the customers. Then, I saw him. The guy I

bumped into, this morning, and the one who called me malnourished. I saw him already left a while ago, I wondered why he came back. Whatever. I didn't care, anyway. I'm sure, he's also the guy that Suzanne referred to as Romeo, s***h, Abercrombie model.

Honestly, I didn't like the guy, he was very arrogant and didn't know how to apologize. He regarded himself so highly, as if he was someone very important. Actually, it was his fault, why we bumped into each other.

I was hurrying towards the coffee shop because I was already late. I instantly recognized him, as one of our customers yesterday, when he came out of the coffee shop. He was walking so fast, without looking at where he was going. His eyes were fixed on his phone. I was expecting him to

walk straight, but he suddenly turned towards me. I was surprised and didn't have the chance to

evade him.

My face hit the wall of his chest so hard. I was instantly cocooned by his warm embrace. I felt the

roughness of his hand on my arm and gave me a sense of protection. I devoured the moment and

inhaled his pure male scent, a combination of fresh cologne, musk, and coffee. When I looked up at

him, I was starstruck. He was indeed a very attractive man, tall, lean, with a beautifully

proportioned body. His jet-black hair was silky straight and his face was bronzed with wind and

sun. I felt like fainting, staring at him. His magnetic silvery-gray eyes melted my lower limbs.

Well, that was my first reaction. Ugh! I realized that he was not a Prince Charming, but a villain.

I thought he was a gentleman because he asked if I was okay. But, he turned out to be a pompous

ass. I was waiting for him to apologize since it was his fault, but he never did.

Then, he called me 'so thin' and 'malnourish.' I was really offended. Well, maybe a bit true, but not

to the extent of being malnourished. I looked thinner because of my height. I stood, 5 feet and 8

inches and weighed 120 pounds.

My impression of him? He was just like Kurt and Suzanne, a bully.

I took the order slip and read 'one coffee espresso.' Then, I looked at him. Romeo. Yup, that's what he is, a Romeo.

He seemed like an extremely rich guy, his suit spoke for itself. It was the kind of suit that famous celebrities and elite people wore. It probably cost, a month of my salary.

And yes, Suzanne was right, he looked like one of the Abercrombie male models. But, I doubt if he

was one, since he was always on the phone, talking about business.

I went towards the coffee machine and made his coffee. I did an artwork design on his espresso, a

double heart. Suzanne served the coffee to him.