The Elusive Prince

Chapter 5: Questions and Advice from big sis

Merideth

As soon as Kairo and I finished dancing and he left me there, I couldn’t seem to catch him. I was hella confused by what he said earlier. Seriously? I thought we were just flirting with no deeper meaning behind but that, that was entirely different. It seems as if I have fallen down the rabbit hole and I was confused as to how the events have unfolded.

After that dance, I went back to my original table to calm myself down. That darn Kairo, I’ll rip his head off if he didn’t explain what the heck he did earlier. He had no business making me flustered like that, also the nerve of him leaving me on the dancefloor like that as if he didn’t do anything? Unbelievable!

I was seething as I furiously sipped on one of the juice being served, not wine because I would get drunk if I was drinking wine at a pace this fast. I was still downing the juice when someone approached me from the back. Thinking it was Kairo,  I turned around ready to give him an earful but instead I came face to face with Hailey who was looking at me concerned. She probably saw me drinking fast as if I was parched in a desert.

“Oh what’s gotten into you Your Highness? Did you not get to dance?” Hailey asked carefully as she pried the glass of juice away from my hand, a look of relief passing her features as she saw that it was just juice and not wine, clearly seeing that I was drinking it non-stop.

“No I did. That jerk Kairo danced with me and he left me on the dancefloor after. Augh! I can’t believe him. By the way, have you seen him by any chance?” I asked Hailey who had a very confused look on her face.

“What do you mean you danced with Kairo? He was with us this whole time, lamenting about the fact that so many of our classmates recognized him and whining about how he lost the bet despite trying to change his appearance so much. Also he was grumbling about not being able to recognize you in the crowd so he couldn’t ask you to dance.” As soon as the words left Hailey’s mouth, my brain almost shut down. What does she mean by Kairo was with them the whole time? I was hella confused that I demanded to her where they were and dragged her where she told me they were before. I couldn’t believe my eyes as it landed on the figure of Kairo, laughing with our classmates as they teased him. If I wasn’t drilled with lady like manners, my jaw would’ve dropped on the floor by the absurdity of the situation I was in. Kairo was wearing a dark blue suit, way different from the person whom I danced with earlier who was wearing a sexy black suit, ah s**t now’s not the time for that Merideth, focus. He couldn’t have possibly changed in such a short amount of time right?

“Oh hey! Is that Mori with you Hailey? No wonder I couldn’t find you! You look too stunning tonight for me to recognize!” Kairo waved as he noticed us approaching. I couldn’t hear them nor the subtle flirting Kairo was doing because of the turmoil going on inside my mind as it raised more questions too many for me to handle and have absolutely no way to answer to. That guy standing before me was clearly Kairo, with his usual beam and a little high pitched voice and cheesy flirting. But if Kairo was with them this whole time, which I confirmed after a series of questions and confused answers on their part, then who danced with me tonight?

I went outside, not caring when my classmates threw me confused glances, questions and concerned looks, especially from Hailey and Kairo. I couldn’t care less when they asked for answers because in the first place, I couldn’t even tell them what the heck was happening.

I am currently in the patio, away from the crowd of people enjoying the celebration but close enough that I could just waltz back in when I wanted to, letting the chatter and soft music soothe me while I was in deep turmoil. Hailey tried to follow me outside but I just told her I want to be left alone for now which made her stop. I was still too shocked and confused by that dance, that I don’t think I can function properly for now. My mind was supplying me more questions and thoughts, leaving a lot of things unanswered and made me debate against myself internally.

‘Who was that guy?’

‘Why did he dance with me?’

‘Why did he say those words?’

‘Why did he left my heart fluttering?’

‘Why didn’t tell me who he was?’

‘Was he expecting me to know him or he wanted to keep his identity a secret?’

‘In the first place why did he hide his identity?’

‘No you dummy, you didn’t even ask in the first place.’ answered my subconscious.

‘I just assumed it was Kairo okay?!’ the other part of my brain countered.

‘Then it’s your fault. You know what they say about assuming right? It killed a lot of people emotionally, mentally, and even physically.’ Answered my subconscious.

All those thoughts and debate made my head ache like crazy. Augh, this is not good for my rational brain and my mental health to be honest. I wanted to grab my hair but seeing as I need to keep up appearances,  and also the fact that I don’t want to explain to people who happens to see me tearing my hair apart why I was doing so because even I don’t know anymore. In the end, I decided to just grip the handrail on the patio, hard. I wanted to drink something but seeing as Hailey took my glass earlier and my pounding headache prevented me to go back inside and get assaulted by the loud noise knowing it will only worsen it, I just stood there with a very bad headache.

As I was still debating inside my head and getting my headache worse by each minute that passes, I felt someone creep into me. Thinking it was that bastard from earlier, I furiously turned around only to be greeted by my big sister, Arcane who was carrying a glass of wine with her both hands. I immediately fixed my expression to a happier one as soon as I saw my sister’s face. I feel like this happened already but my brain was going on overdrive that I can’t remember anything between the events that happened from the moment I was left alone on the dancefloor and the time I found out that I was played by someone I didn’t know. (Later on I remembered that I did the same with Hailey. Seriously Merideth, how come you think that everyone who creeps behind you now is that guy?)

“Hey, I saw you leave the room and concluded that you need a drink and perhaps something to eat so I followed you out here.” She smiled at me and handed me the glass of wine and a plate of croissant that she had. How come I didn’t notice the croissant? (Maybe because you were busy looking at the wine glass Merideth)

“Aren’t you supposed to be talking to important people right now sis? After all you are a queen now.” I said as I approached her and happily accepted the plate of croissant and wine that she had brought me. She then led me to sit on one of the seats located on the patio.

“None sense, you’re just as important as those people. Besides I feel like you really need someone to talk to or maybe just a drink.” She just smirked as she saw me sip the wine eagerly. I just chuckled a bit as I continue on nibbling the croissant, my headache preventing me to eat much at a fast pace without making me feel like vomiting, so I took my time.

“So what’s bothering you? And don’t even tell me it was nothing because I wouldn’t be your annoying and overbearing big sister if I didn’t notice.” She said a little seriously but also with a hint of playfulness behind those words. Arcane has always been with me and has always been one of my biggest emotional support, so I know she could see right through me no matter how much I try tohide it.

“I don’t even know anymore sis, it’s just so complicated that I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around it.” I sighed as I try to open up about my problems. If there’s one person I know can help me with these types of problems, it would probably be her. She has always been too perceptive for her own good.

“And what exactly is it Mori? You do know that I can’t help you if you don’t tell me right? And really what could be more complicated than running an entire kingdom? I’m sure I can handle whatever your problem is.” She added the last one with a hint of playfulness. Really, even if she was a Queen now, she still will always be my annoying big sister that sticks her nose on her little siblings’ problem.

“Well, where do I even start?” I said and I saw any hint of playfulness leave her face as she switch on her adviser look that she used whenever she’s ready to solve something.

“Start with what’s the root of the problem.” She urged me and I just sighed knowing full well she wouldn’t let me go if she doesn’t solve this or at least help me solve this.

“So there’s this guy…” I started and she urged me to continue. “At first I thought it was Kairo you know, basing on how he acted in the first place.” She nodded as encouragement.

“I thought it was just him being dumb you know, trying to play with me with this mysterious persona and I didn’t question it because I really thought it was him, and before you interrupt and tell me it was my fault for assuming I already know that okay? No need to remind me. Anyways, as I’ve said, I really thought it was him. Although I was doubting a bit seeing as there were a lot of signs telling me that it wasn’t him but I decided to turn a blind eye to all of it.” I continued.

“Then, what is wrong with this guy? Did he do anything you didn’t consent to Mori? Is that it? Because if that was the case, I will call security!” Arcane apparently reached a bad conclusion based on what I told her and was already up from her seat, trying to go back inside to probably call security. I panicked when I saw her starting to walk in, ignoring my throbbing headache, I quickly grabbed her arm and made her sit down again.

“Why are you stopping me for Mori? Mother and Father need to know about this assault so we can punish this guy! Hurry up tell me how did he look like? What was his height? Build? Suit? Eye color—” before she could continue with her mini panic and rambling, I leaned in and covered her mouth with my hand successfully shutting her up but receiving a glare in return instead. I quickly removed my hand and she fixed her face and shot me a very disapproving glare, clearly insulted by what I did. I know what I did was rude and wrong but can you really blame me? She was getting frantic, and I even if that guy confused me, he didn’t do anything that bad that needs the attention of authority besides maybe confusing the heck out of me. I apologized and the angry expression remained on her beautiful face. With her glaring like that, she looks like a very scary queen that will make you bow down if she so wishes. I knew I had to do something about that seeing as I value my life and even if she’s my sister and loves me, she will not hesitate telling about this to our parents and I don’t want to take basic etiquette again just because of this.

“Oh come on sis! You were being so frantic I had to stop you, especially since he didn’t really do anything too bad for you to issue a warrant of arrest out for him. So can you please calm down and let me continue what I was telling you about? And don’t even try to do that again, you’re doing my head in.” I said as I began massaging my temple because her reaction earlier made the drumming worse and maybe also because I was scared about getting punished but we don’t talk about that. She seemed to sober down when she saw me massaging my head. Good, because I don’t want to deal with that again, especially now that I had started talking about my main problem, I just knew I had to finish it.

“Okay so going back, before your little meltdown, he was acting fine, though a little out of character for someone like Kairo and I really thought he was still playing with me, that is until he asked me to dance.” At the mention of dancing, my sister straightened up. It was a known fact that I loved dancing. So I continued retelling the moment where it all started to go wrong.

“Okay so we were dancing right? The first time I didn’t really feel anything other than usual you know but then at the end of the song and as he pulled me close to him and I got a better look at his eyes, I started doubting if it was really Kairo I was dancing with. Those eyes were a shade darker than Kairo’s but my suspicion didn’t intensify until he invited me for a second dance.” I paused, trying to gauge my sisters reaction who had nothing on her face other than encouragement for me to continue my story.

“There was something about those eyes, Arc. You know how we tease Kairo of being such an open book because the emotions always show in his eyes right? This guy however, I just knew, those eyes had secrets behind them, secrets I couldn’t even begin to uncover. I was already panicking by that time and it escalated more when he umm he…” I couldn’t continue, especially since a small part of me thought that that moment was too intimate for me to share but the look Arcane was giving me meant that I had to tell her or else she’s going to force it out of me and I’d rather not let it get to that point.

I swallowed before continuing. “He umm, he was basically flirting, hard. That’s when I doubted more because Kairo was never that smooth and that definitely not his style of flirting, especially since he was always so cheesy. He said something and I umm challenged him on, wondering how far he can go with his act but then I was left dumbfounded later. Before I could answer him however, the song ended and he was gone. I was too shocked to go after him, so I just umm stayed at that umm spot until I snapped out of it and he vanished by then.” I know I’m a coward for not telling her everything but a part of me wanted that moment to be just between me and that person, no matter how much the rational part of my brain protested.

Arcane seems to be thinking about what I just told her as I finished my story. Meanwhile I was fidgeting in my seat awaiting her judgement. Arcane was taking a long time answering that I couldn’t help myself and I poked her gently on her hand that was rested on the table. That seemed to do the trick as she snapped out of it and looked at me, the emotion behind her steely grey eyes were unidentifiable.

“Mori…I’m glad he didn’t do anything wrong to you. Gosh, when you first started telling me about this I really thought something bad happened but really... Ah anyways, I know you are confused but that guy probably did not mean any harm. He seems to just have wanted to dance with you and really it is a masquerade ball so not knowing who you’re dancing with is always common, especially to those who have no guts to actually invite someone to dance with them when their identity is known. Don’t worry much about it. I think you can just find out about who he is on future balls you know? He was probably a royalty or perhaps a noble since he can attend this party. I’m sure you’re going to meet again, basing on what you told me and I’m sure you're going to cross paths once again, just you wait."

Big sis…

That advice…

Does not make me feel any better at all!