There Must be a Reaction.
2368 Words
At the celebration party, the King entered the hall. His magnificent presence stunned those who are below him. His reputation precedes him after winning the revolutionary war against the Unified States.
The war between the two countries lasted for six months thanks to the arbitral information Gerald gave about the enemy’s chokepoints, weaknesses, and predetermined logistical transportation. But instead of Gerald taking the credit, it was the king and his magnanimous generals.
Gerald doesn’t mind at all since he is staying low. He doesn’t want to attract the attention of those who are the same age as him being able to do such a feat.
Now, the king stood at the podium and looked like he was going to announce something. He puffed out his chest and cleared his throat before speaking. He looked at Gerald’s who seems to be mesmerizing his earlier time with Catarina. Which is obvious due to his unusual goofy face.
“Thank you for coming here to my people for this grand celebration of my son's graduation and debut. Now, I know that all of you want to continue partying and dancing with your partner so I’ll make this brief. My son Gerald del Stuart graduated top of his class and a lot of recognition was passed onto him. Like research contributions on improving the way of life, the new designs of aircraft, vehicles, and trains. His vast knowledge in the field of science and engineering helped scientists to move forward to their passion. Though some of his feasible ideas that he presented at the Royal Researcher Association are still under validation and analysis…”
“Stop boasting your son, please announce the marriage.”
The impatient Gerald can’t take any longer.
“Hence, congratulations my dear son” He clapped his hand and the others did the same.
The clapping stopped and the King cleared his throat again. This time he might have announced the engagement between him and Catarina.
“Today, I will announce to my son, Gerald del Stuart his engagement to Catarina Belmont! But, Gerald del Stuart declared a challenge on her that he will make her love him genuinely. Did he succeed? We will find out.”
The king beckoned the bewildered Catarina at her table eating sweets. Noble daughters are looking at her filled with jealousy. Gerald’s a full package, he has the looks, he has the wits, and he has an aura of being a king. Even the boys are jealous but not towards Catarina but of Gerald. The sons of the nobles are really charmed at her beauty that is on par with the goddesses. She walked magnificently to the red carpet, leaving her sweet scent and fragrance behind.
Then, stand beside the King.
“Tell me, Lady Catarina, did he win your heart?”
A direct question. Answering yes will be a direct confession. If she answers yes then it will be music to Gerald’s ears but if she said no. Then man down, again.
She cannot keep her posture since that question. She fiddles as she tries to remain in her composure. She keeps looking at Gerald bashfully with her reddened cheeks. His genuine smile hoping for her to say yes makes her heart throbbing so fast.
“...Yes…”
Her voice is so soft that anyone could barely hear her. The king questioned again but she only replied with a soft answer “Yes”. The king's mouth opened wide as he finally knew the answer. But the crowd in front of them still.
“Can you repeat your answer to the crowd? Especially to someone who’s eager to hear your answer.”
The king pointed at him who was still wearing his genuine smile that could reach that corner of his ears.
“Yes, Gerald del Stuart! I love you!”
The crowd was stunned after she gathered all her strength to that line and said the words that everyone’s waiting for, especially Gerald.
Gerald placed his hand to his chest and fell to the ground flamboyantly. His heart beats so fast that he couldn’t take it much longer. He can die in happiness. Even though he is lying on the ground, he still wears his goofy face. Is this love? It felt like he won the most treasured thing in the universe.
He stood once more flamboyantly and said.
“Uhm...Can...you...repeat that again, please? I didn’t hear it from here.”
Gerald teased the bashful Catarina who is still fiddling.
“I said I love you!”
“Again, I didn’t hear it!”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, geez”
And now, everything is settled. Gerald and Catarina are now engaged in a genuine relationship. He imagines himself walking on his drawer and opening it to grab the book and put a check on “Make Catarina his wife, genuinely.” His priority goal in terms of a relationship.
Nothing can explain or oversimplify what Gerald is feeling. He approached Catarina who can’t make eye contact due to her being embarrassed at herself. Well, this is the first time Catarina declared her love publicly. It was different from the private ones where she can act so cheeky and teasingly.
Gerald hugged her tightly and said.
“You’re mine now Catarina,” He whispered softly in her ears, “On this day forth, I’ll be taking care of you from now.”
Then he looked to his father who was clapping softly.
“Father, when’s the actual marriage? I can’t wait any longer.”
“Marriage will take up to two years!” He said without hesitation, he was serious about the time.
Two years? That’s a long, long time.
“Father? What the? Why is it happening in two years? You know me. I can’t wait that long.” He protested but not in a rude way, he said it jokingly.
“Well, Gerald it doesn’t mean that you and this lady here are engaged because you love each other. In those two years, you will encounter hard times that sometimes can lead to you fighting each other. And if you pass that together, you can marry each other. You don’t make an engagement to someone just because you love each other. You engaged yourself to someone so that you can prove your love to each other.”
What profound words coming from the king. He felt enlightened.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness and my lovely daughter.”
A man called them out from behind, it was Catarina’s father and there were two people behind him. Gerald’s brother and Elise Clorance.
“You really did make her fall in love, brother?”
The relationship between the two is rising steadily. Roland was completely different from before in his previous life. Meanwhile, the girl who is bowing her head in sadness is Elise. The engagement did hurt her feelings.
“By the way, your majesty, your highnesses. The project Hercules is completed and Gerald can test flight it tomorrow along with our talented pilot that you’ll be meeting tomorrow.”
“Hercules?” Roland, Elise, and Catarina tilted their head to the side quizzically.
“The aircraft that Gerald designed and sold me the proprietary rights. It looked magnificent. You’ll see me tomorrow at the airport.”
“Don’t tell me that in his early age he was able to design an aircraft?” Roland was bewildered after hearing Ivan.
“I want to see it,” Catarina added.
“Me too,” Elise added.
“Then everyone, meet me at Londoln airport tomorrow at 8:00 am. Military officials, investors, and dignitaries from foreign countries will arrive in the flight test.”
…
The party ended, Gerald took a stroll around the royal palace backyard. He was walking in the backyard while reminiscing his memories earlier. He swayed left and right joyously.
After reaching the royal palace garden he saw someone sitting on the bench. Gerald saw a girl that is familiar to him. It was Elise.
She is weeping on the side. Gerald wants to comfort her but he waits a lot of time to vent her sadness in that cry. Come on, he is a doctor in the modern world and knows why a person needs to just cry it out. She’ll feel better after she stops crying. Then that will be the perfect time to butt in.
Then arriving with the decision. He waited for about seven minutes. She stopped crying and now is the time.
“Uhm, Elise? What are you doing here alone in the garden?”
Elise heard someone called her, she jumped involuntarily hearing that familiar voice. It was Gerald.
“You scared me there, Gerald.”
Her voice was shaky, didn’t he wait so much time?
“So, what are you doing here?” Then he notices a hint of tears that cascaded earlier. It really messed her makeup.
“Ah? This? It's nothing...hehehe” She averted her face trying not to look at him.
“Elise, I've been your best friend for seven years. I know when my friend is telling a lie or the truth. I can also know that you’re going through with something. Is it perhaps my engagement to Catarina?”
Then he asked that question. Her shoulder stiffened when he brought that topic up. Still, he cannot look towards him. It is embarrassing for her to look at someone while this is messed up.
“Hey, do you want us to talk about it? If you’re comfortable with the idea, we can. But it's up to you. I shouldn't have brought this matter up so I’m sorry. If you feel uncomfortable when I’m around with you. I’ll give you space. But remember this, I’m your best friend. Nothing can change that, I’ll be at your side when you need something…”
“Please stop…” Elise said shakily. “I know that, I lost to her, so there’s no reason for me to feel this right? I mean...you never loved me more as you do to Catarina. I’m the one who’s declaring its love to you every time Catarina is rejecting you. It's just that I found it unfair. It's unfair, unfair, unfair, unfair.”
She cried again. Gerald can't help but pull her close to his side and give him a warm hug. Indicating that he understands her situation. He felt that frustration before, how could he be so selfish acting like that when the woman who loved her is beside her? It was his fault. But, he loved Catarina. Sometimes, that’s how life works.
She wiped her tears using his seat. She drowned herself to Gerald’s chest and he can feel the frustration in her muffled voice.
Then she said something.
“You know, I was going to have my fun date with you today, I have to end these feelings of mine with a smile. And you’re going to hit off with Catarina. So in the future, I’ll be cheeky and poke fun at you like ‘good for you!’ And I’m going to become your friend. Good friends who can talk about anything. An older friend who can spoil me a little bit. Everything up today will be something to talk about, like the date that we had before was fun. And we’ll be good friends forever! We’re going to. That’s all I wish for. It’s not like I wanted anything special. I wasn’t being selfish. And I’m not troubling anyone else! But why...why...why is it my feelings grow since the first time I met you? Each time I wake in the morning all I think is you?! It’s too cruel. I decided none of it really happened…”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I have to do it!” She insists.
“After all, you’re in love with Catarina! I’d just convenience you, right? You don’t have feelings like this towards a friend. This emotion doesn’t exist among friends!”
“Did I ever say I was inconvenienced?”
“Huh?... You’re horrible. I hate you, Gerald. I hate you! It’s all your fault! You were too nice to me!”
“That’s right. So you don’t need to be considerate of me.”
“I hate myself like this! This isn’t me at all!”
“No, it’s you. It’s a part of you. You really did give your all. But we can’t make someone we like to like us. It’s a cruel reality. I hope there is a man who’ll love you the way as you do.”
He unbuttoned his coat and wrapped it around her.
“It’s getting chilly here, we should return to the party. Everyone might find us here. But, Elise. You really did give your all. You worked hard and I give you that. I really hope that there is someone who will love you but before that, I’ll be the one to love you even if there’s no one who is willing to love you. As your best friend.”
He stood up, “I need to sleep early, read the flight manual, and test the aircraft. So, let’s go. We need to return to the palace.” He offered his hand in which Elise grabbed it.
…
- Writer
