Heraiah

CHAPTER 21

After eating breakfast. I went outside to get some air and peace. Ravier went back to his room doing God knows what. He’s probably back on his laptop. Typing away with his stern serious look that could scare kids away in a minute.

Why is he even considering having kids? Children would run in terror if they saw what I saw when I was staying in the hospital, when he broke into my room. But then again, kids like spies and agents nowadays and he’s also a prince! Kids dig that.

Oh, what am I even thinking?

He said it was okay and to keep it in mind. Maybe, someday? Or maybe I’d be too dead to have children by then. I sighed. I opened my phone then start dialing a number. Specifically, Nori’s number.

It rang for a second then she picked up, “No, I don’t want your stupid coupon shits!” a loud and angry voice shouted from the other line.

I smiled in amusement. She still has that really short temper. She might be nice but annoy her and she won’t hesitate to break her fuse and lash out at you. And of course, I am already used to it.

“But it’s a free ticket for the land of raining cats!” I said in a satire type of manner.

The line went quiet, then she spoke, “Hera!?” her loud but she had a tight voice. Meaning to say, she is now screaming on the top of her lungs, that type of scream that breaks glass and rings in your ear for the next hour.

“Who else would this be?”

She sighed in relief, “Oh, I thought this was your ghost haunting me for being mean,”

My eyebrows met in confusion, but I quickly shook it off and asked her, “Hey, I’m coming over,”

“Oh, are you bringing the prince?” her voice echoed my mind. Now how did she know?

I felt offended, she didn’t even ask me how was I, “What? No! what are you talking about?”

She laughed, “Oh, please! I knew it was you the second I saw you on the news with Ravier and besides, people talk,”

“What do you mean?”

“There has been a small talk around the palace, a maid was sent to one of the Prince’s houses to clean a room of a lady, more precisely, his lady,” she trails off, “she even added how there was blood on the bed and the room was completely a mess,”

Of course, that Madeline girl went and spread the word. I mean who wouldn’t?

“Now, tell me, did you do it?” the enthusiasm in her voice did not fail to show how evident it was.

I groaned, “You really are a woman of gossip,”

She laughs, proudly, “Of course I am,”

I thought for a few seconds. It must’ve been Ravier again. Trying to spread rumors about us once more. It was all part of plan, after all. I just can’t believe he would let a anyone spread the word with those specific details. Now when we’ll go public, everyone is going to think I did it with him! Even his parents. I would rather die than face that reality.

“No, we didn’t,” I said, sighing annoyingly, “Look, I’m just going there, okay?”

“Okay, fine,” she coed, then hangs up hard on the call.

My faced turned into dismay when she suddenly hanged up. But I was glad, I couldn’t take any more of that conversation. Imagine what our conversation would be once we see each other later?  I don’t even want to imagine any of that.

I got up and walked inside the house. I put on my blazer and picked out some flats since I don’t want to wear any heels. I went straight upstairs to go to Ravier’s room. Not to ask if he wanted to come with me. Just to tell him I’m going out and to borrow his car. I arrived at his door and it was shut. As a well-mannered lady, I knocked on the door first. But no one answered, I opened the door to see nobody in the room.

I then searched the house and saw he was at his office study. Going through some files, my lips turned into a straight line. I leaned on the bedroom and watched him as his focused on the files, he wasn’t wearing his hoodie anymore. He was now wearing a white polo. It tugged his arms quite good, I could see his biceps through the fabric. Mostly because it defined it.

“Hey,” I disturbed his silence.

He lifts his head and his eyes landed on me, “Hmm?”

“I’m going to Nori’s,”

“You want me to drive you there?” he asked, pressing his hand together gently as he stared at me from a afar.

My eyes widened, with furrowed eyebrows, I answered, “No, I just need the car keys,”

He cleared his throat and stands up from his seat. He picks up his coat and puts it on. I stood there confused and couldn’t do anything. He snatched his car keys that was on the table. He fixed his collar then walked towards me.

“I’ll drive you there,”

“No,”

“Yes, I don’t want you to come home and carelessly drink,” he passed by me. The masculine scent of his filled my nostrils for a second, making me a little dizzy.

“I’m not a kid,”

“I don’t care, now follow me,”

I groaned. Why am I always treated like a child when I’m not anymore?

“I’m just doing you a very fiancée favor!” he shouted as he left the room.

My lips twisted and I let out a scowl, “Well I don’t need your fiancée kind of gesture!”

And yet I still follow him since I had no choice. I walked like a grumpy kid who just got grounded. Now I understand why people treat me like a kid. Because I act like one. Still! We got outside and he went inside first. Not bothering even opening the door for me.

I opened the door myself and got in, “You said you wanted to act like a fiancée but you didn’t even open the door for me,” I scoffed then aggressively turned my head to the window, the opposite from him.

“Though you weren’t a kid,” he said whilst maneuvering the car from the parking lot.

I rolled my eyes, I frowned, “You’re a bad fiancée,”

He just chuckled. I stayed throughout the drive. Not wanting to talk to him. The atmosphere was suffocating. Why am i always in suffocating situations?

“About those rumors you spread again,” I chirped, “you could’ve been done it without those specific details,” I shot daggers at him.

He chuckled, “It would be more believable that way,”

“well you should’ve asked me first,”

“I thought it didn’t matter to you,” he said whilst turning the wheel left.

I nudged my face over arm, looking at the window, “it does matter me because my name is also on the line, what are my parents going to say when we go out in public?”

“You’re an adult, they should understand that,”

“But its embarrassing!” my forehead creased. Frustrated how he is so okay sharing that type of information knowing he is uptight and reserve himself.

“Why? because it was with me?”

“exactly,” I faced him, nodding my head aggressively. Something caught my eye. It was the red gates of the Nexus.

We were here. We waited a few seconds then the gate opened, welcoming us to come in. If the Larousses were known for the color purple and the Hyveins were known for the color blue, the Nexus were known for the fiery and eye-catching color red.

It’s been a long time since I have been here. I always came here ever since me and Nori has been friends. And it was mainly because I got to be whoever I wanted when I was around Nori and her family. I got to eat, dress, act and be whoever I wanted to be and they didn’t care at all. They even accepted that way.

And it was all I have ever asked for.

The car stopped in front of their mansion and I didn’t hesitate to get out immediately. I’m meeting one of the only friends I had. I clutch to my purse and ran fast inside. The door opened and there showed Nori in her bred sundress with her dark black ebony hair down that ended on her waist. Her lips was as red as roses and her skin was as white as snow.

She opened her arms to welcome me in her embrace and I happily accepted. Th addicting smell of honey filled my nostrils as I accepted her hug. She smells like pancakes in a summer morning.

“You’ve always been such a baby,” she caresses my hair as we hugged.

I laughed and let go of her. I looked at her beautiful face. Her Cheshire cat eyes ventured else where than my face. Rather behind me. A smile crept on her face, “Ooh, you brought the Prince,” she teases.

I look back and saw Ravier standing beside the car, he raised his hand, “Hey, Nori,”

“Happy to meet your acquittance, your grace, and with who did you came with?”

I frowned as I furrowed my eyebrows, “I’m your friend-“

“My fiancée,”

I rolled my eyes and groaned, “wow what happened to ‘hey, how are you?’ to a friend you haven’t seen in 5 years?”

Her eyes averted to me, “Oh, I’ve known about you whereabouts,” she then turned to Ravier, “You want to come inside?”

“No, thanks I just came to drive Hera here,” he grinned then goes inside the car. There’s my name again, I liked hearing my name from him.

He drives away with his car. I watched as it faded away, I then felt a tight grasp on my arm and I was pulled inside the house by Nori.

“You better start talking, what is going on with your life?” she asked.

I then groaned. I do trust Nori, she’s been the only girl I have been friends with. But it’s just so tiring to explain everything.

“A lot,”

“Tell me,” her eyes widened to make them look like puppy eyes.

We sat on the couch in the living room, maids and helpers walking everywhere in the house. my eyes wandered around the house, it was grand but homey and comforting. Sure, the Nexu clan was one of the leading families in Adreene, you would expect them to be snobby and self-absorbed. But they are not. Once you get to know them, they treat you like family. they are like any other people. They never brag about their riches and they always make you feel accepted and loved.

I felt guilty I never told her anything when I left. It was easy packing up and leaving, but living with the fact that I never got to say goodbye to her, it was painful. Seeing her now, made me realize how much I have missed her.