The Elusive Prince

Chapter 10: A Glimpse

Merideth

After that very genuine and wholesome conversation with Cassian and his still flustered brother Shiloh, we settled into comfortable silence as we enjoyed our lunch peacefully. Although there were still a few conversations here and there, with the rest of the aide still teasing the permanently red Shiloh as we laughed.

“So Shiloh, how old are you already?” Hailey asked out of the sudden which made Shiloh redder, if that was even possible with him almost reaching the peak redness a human can ever have, as he spluttered out a reply.

“Umm umm, I-I’m Fif-fifteen.” He fidgeted in his seat as he told us his age which was a surprise really but not unwelcomed.

“Wait, 15? My you’re younger than all of us! I assumed you were the same age! Anyways I have decided, from now on you’re going to be my little brother! Ahhh you’re so cute!” Reiss exclaimed as she jumped out of her seat in favor of smooshing Shiloh’s round cheeks as she looked at us as if to show off the cheeks underneath her hands. All of us except the victim of Reiss’ acts who was I think reached peak redness already and his very confused brother wasn’t laughing at her antics. Reiss was very famous for squealing and squeezing whenever she sees something or someone cute and disregards any sort of social cues in favor of her can't be controlled reactions towards anything cute. She says it’s only natural to squeal on a frequency only dogs can hear and squeeze something, preferably the object of her squealing, to calm her down.

We should feel sorry for the victim of her weird reaction to cuteness if not for the fact that she acts a little crazed when she goes into these things so we just let her invade someone’s private space. It sounds weird and wrong when I say it like that but really it’s more of like a very excitable puppy that found a new piece of bone rather than it being malicious. There’s really no other way to compare to that and if anything it was endearing rather than irritating when you get used to it. And whose wicked soul and heart would ever get angry and irritated with an endearing puppy?

“Hahaha let go of her Reiss, you’re going to traumatize the poor boy.” Sumire said while laughing as she tries to retract the paws of Reiss away from Shiloh’s smooshed cheeks. She was successful and Faye, Sumire’s attendant got a hold of her hand so she doesn’t repeat that again as Shiloh massaged his cheeks a little because I’m sure it hurt after all that pulling and pinching from the grubby hands of Reiss.

“Are you okay Shiloh? I’m really sorry for her. It’s just that whenever she finds something cute, she gets very excitable. Don’t worry, the first time is always the most painful time so you’re going to be okay from now on.” I said but only with a little bit of seriousness behind it because I can’t help but feel a smile climbing up my lips at the sight of Shiloh paling.

“That sounds so weird and wrong when you say it like that Your Highness.” Hailey said as she covered her mouth to prevent a laugh from escaping out of her lips at the demise of their new classmate.

“Shiloh, you’re going to be fine. I’m sure Reiss just couldn't help it. Not with those cheeks of yours that oddly resembles a chipmunks.” Cassian unexpectedly decided to join in the teasing which made Shiloh whine and the table laugh. It seems the Lost Prince has a great sense of humor too.

“In all seriousness though, if you do need help with anything, and I’m not saying this out of duty, but you two can approach us anytime yeah? Don’t be shy about it, we’re always willing to help you adjust here in Irini.” I said genuinely as the laughter in the table subsided and the others on the table also exclaimed their agreement and looking at Cassian and Shiloh smile like that, it makes our heart feel warm just thinking that we make them comfortable in this otherwise new environment.

After that banter and more teasing on Shiloh’s part, the eventful lunch finally ended as we split up, with Shiloh going with the other two girls and Cassian going with us to our classroom as we brief him with the schedule for today. There was nothing really special for today’s class because Mondays until Wednesdays were reserved for regular classes and Thursdays and Fridays were reserved for special subjects and activities arranged by the school depending on the status and class you are in. As we were showing him the schedule for this week, well a very excited Reiss, a calm Ava and chattering Sumire was, I let my head roam around for a while. It has only been half a day and the things that happened went by very fast that I can’t help but feel exhausted just thinking of what will happen for the rest of the day. Well that was better because the more tired I was, the less chance I am going to have that nightmare again or even have the time to even think about it.

Speaking of that nightmare, it always boggles me how something I have no recollection of can leave me crying like a damn fountain without stopping. It was if my mind forgot but my heart remembers and I am very confused.

My expression must have shifted because Cassian pulled my hand gently which snapped me out of my thoughts as he throws me a concerned glance and slows his pace down to match with mine and letting the three girls get ahead of us, who was now currently engrossed on the same conversation they had earlier but with more information this time that they didn’t notice us slowing down.

“Are you alright Merideth? You don’t look so well.” I think I’m having Déjà vu because he just asked me the same thing Hailey asked me when she found me sitting in front of my desk at 6 AM. Was my face really showing exhaustion or maybe stress for him to notice enough to make him concerned? That was not right because I was known to be very good at hiding my true emotions that people complain a lot of not being able to read me. Only people that have been with me for a long time can really tell what I feel inside just basing on my face and actions, like Hailey did, but if the new guy Cassian can read me, does that mean I was slipping? That was not good. I better practice more then.

“No no, it’s nothing to be worried about. I guess I’m just a little tired because you know school.” I decided to use what most students reason when they’re tired lamely and I guess it worked because he just nodded in understanding and continued to walk.

We were in comfortable silence as we reach the classroom where our other classmates were already at and as soon as they saw Cassian enter the door along with me, they decided to swarm him again with the unfinished questions they had earlier that got cut off, pulling him near them while I head straight into my seat and just watch the chaos unfold in front of me as they decide who gets to ask first.

The day, thankfully, went by smoothly. Well as smooth as it can get with my classmates especially with Luna and Kellen in the class, who decided that they had enough for today and mucked about during our last subject, Biology, which provided us with some much needed comic relief. By the end day, we were exhausted by the amount of knowledge forcefully crammed inside our brains with the past lessons.

Luna and Kellen, despite being able to release their stress on Biology through the form of messing around, were still almost ready to drop like the rest of us. Even Amity was ready to drop but I’m sure it’s because she had to reign Kellen in earlier from trying to slither on the ground as he pretended to be a snake that we were currently discussing for class. She couldn’t reach him on time however and Kellen did slither on the ground in the middle of class.

We were all dragging our tired ass on the mess hall where we are ready to get our fill for dinner and hope that we can function later tonight to answer some of our schoolwork’s because of course we had our assignments on the first day back from a one week break.

As usual, dinner was spent together because that was the time where we can rant about the day that just passed by and enjoy the feeling of collective despair over the hellish day of lessons and tests. Everyone was particularly buzzing about how Sir Hexford enjoyed torturing us with more schoolwork and how Ms. April was an angel for being so understanding as always.

Cassian however was silent because of course, he still doesn’t get the inside jokes in our class but I’m sure he will soon because I see Levine and Spie trying to talk to him about what everyone was talking about and filling him in with information about certain topics only us can understand. Speaking of certain topics only us can understand, I can feel Kairo ready to flirt because he always seems to flirt extra cheekily when he was dead tired and its hilarious because his flirting gets worse during these times because his brain shuts down for a while due to overdrive.

“Heya Mori, how can you still be so pretty despite being so tired?” And he has started oh lord. The class stopped talking for a while to witness our flirting/banter because of course they find comedic relief out of this. Now normally I would flirt just as badly as him to provide laughs but as it seems, I wasn’t in the mood today so he shall receive my snarky response instead.

“It’s because I was born this way Kai. Unlike you, you must have gone out the womb looking like an idiot.” My reply, although unexpected than the usual, still got the table laughing because of course, it was directed at Kairo and basing on how he pouted so hard he can compete for a grand prize with it, it would get a laugh because such a big guy was pouting like a baby because he got teased. Ah the joys of teasing Kairo.

“Hey! Why are you so snappy on me nowadays? Gone were the days when we can go on for weeks without you teasing me, now it’s just teasing 247. I don’t like it.” He replied teasingly as he crossed his arms to show he was upset which only made us laugh but also got me thinking. Why I was so snappy recently? Back then I always used to flirt just as bad back but now it feels as if I can’t. Why is that? Is it because I was tired? Yeah that must be it.

“It’s because you screwed up on that ball Kai, Mori probably realized he doesn’t want a fool for a boyfriend especially a fool she has to be seen with on a ball.” Helena, the spitfire in class said which earned some teasing to slip through as their attention went back to the moment Kairo made a fool of himself. However that statement made me come up with an entirely different reason other than I was tired as to why I was so snappy to Kairo lately and said reason was the right one. Of course it would be because of that ball and how I thought Kairo was that guy but turns out he wasn’t. My brain probably decided that Kairo was a danger and decided that sass would be the defense mechanism against him so I can block that information out. But now that they mentioned it, that thought decided to be on the forefront of my brain again as it takes charge of my thoughts.

Dammit, just as I was forgetting about it, well beginning to not make it the only thing on my mind because I’m sure that event was ingrained in my mind forever, they decide to bring it up. Thanks guys, ya’ll are a big help, really I appreciate it. Note the sarcasm there.

They don’t seem to notice me having a crisis internally as they continue to tease Kairo and he just gets more annoyed. Thankfully, Amity stepped in to stop their teasing and soon they were back to ranting about the amount of works we had, as they should. The thought didn’t leave my mind completely though, just got brushed away for now because I decided to join their conversation as I let myself talk about nonsense to take my mind off that event. 

After dinner and someone proposing a group study session on the dorms living room, I decided to not join them for now because after all, History was going to be their topic and I have already finished answering mine and today was Amity’s turn to hold the History study session so I was free to do what I wanted. Instead of going to my room and be productive somehow, I decided to go outside for a while and breathe some fresh air. Hailey wanted to go with me but since she also needs that extra History session, she stayed and just advised me to not go out for long and to bring a jacket because it was already starting to feel cold.

She wasn’t really that worried about me going out because Irini has one of the best security systems on the kingdom so there would be no harm to befall me unless for some reason the school’s security fails suddenly though that was highly unlikely. So 99% sure that I will be safe, besides it was still quite early to go to bed so a little stroll will help.

After excusing myself from them, who were now settled down in the couch forming a circle as Amity proceeds to review the lesson earlier, I stepped outside the dorm’s door with my coat on to prevent me from catching a cold.

At first I was just walking around aimlessly, drifting around the crowd of students who were also outside and enjoying the night breeze as they relax on the schools kind of mini park located just beside the main building, when I saw one of the swings were empty, I decided that I should just go there for a swing. I sat down on the white swing and took out my earphones and plugged it in on my phone to listen to music. I clicked on my favorite playlist again as I let the music fill my ears and block out the noise around me.

Whenever I was feeling overwhelmed or sad or just tired, I usually just go outside and feel the breeze sweep over me as I immerse myself on the music filling my ears to help me clear out all the thoughts occupying my mind and just leaving me with the tranquility of nature and letting the songs wash over me like a tide as it clears my mind out. This method works every single time and I use it a lot.

I slowly feel myself relax a bit as I proceeded to swing gently and just get contented with watching the other students enjoy themselves whether alone or with their friends on the distance because the swing was located kinda far away from the benches surrounding the park so I was alone on this area currently, with only a few people walking around in passing.

I stayed in that comfortable situation for a while before I noticed that the people on the park were thinning out meaning that most of them were back on their own respective dorms now as the curfew was closing in. The park was kind of far away from the dorms so I decided to go back 40 minutes before the clock stroke signaling the curfew. Wouldn’t want to get caught by the authority roaming around, checking for students still outside and besides, Hailey would be worried if I come in a little later so sighing, I reluctantly stood up and brushed the dirt that might have strayed on my dress as I began to walk towards my dorm. I would’ve loved to stay a little longer but alas it cannot be. I guess I could just come back tomorrow.

I was walking slowly as I wanted to enjoy the fresh air for a while longer while also trying to weave through the crowd of students going to their dorms themselves without bumping with anyone because I was not in the mood to talk at the moment. But it seems as if the universe was after me today because I did bump on someone firm on one of the dark spots on the hallways. We both stopped and groaned because of the force of that impact.

I rubbed my shoulder a bit because dang that hurt and proceeded to look at the culprit. I don’t know if I was the one at fault because I wasn’t paying attention or if it was them that wasn’t paying attention. His back was facing me so I couldn’t see anything other than his stature but I recognized that it was a guy despite the darkness surrounding us. I was about to say something when he beat me to it.

“I’m sorry but I have to get going now. I’m sorry for bumping into you.” The voice said and walked away but not before sparing me a glance that made the breathe I had caught in my throat as I recognize those eyes and the deep voice.  Beautiful emerald green eyes glinted slightly on the shadows as the little light from the moon hit him as he proceeded to walk away blending in with the crowd of other students passing by.

The same emerald eyes that haunted me for days now, the same emerald green eyes that looked at me with deeply concealed emotion as we danced that night. The same emerald green eyes that left me wondering and unsettled. He was here in Irini and as the same as that night, I was too slow to react and reach out for him as I was once again stuck standing there as he walked away and now he was gone, again. All I ever saw was a glimpse of those hauntingly beautiful eyes as he slipped away from my grasp once again, leaving me with more thoughts than I had before.