The Game of Time and Crown

"Passengers of Flight BA20913E bound to King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia, please proceed to Gate 8." Adelaide stood up in the waiting chair as she breath in. She looked around and saw her officemates also standing up and preparing their luggage. She fell in line and handed her ticket to the checking officer. "Thank you for choosing to fly with us! Have a safe and comfortable trip!" one of the airlines' hostess greeted her. She nodded and smiled. As soon as Adelaide is seated, she rested her head and took a deep breath. Before the plane took off, she eyed one of her colleague seating just across the aisle. It's Gisselle. It's one of her very tight rival on finally being promoted. She always knew this woman is so good at what she do, but she just can't fail this time I need that promotion. She thought. When the plane was almost half an hour in the air, Adelaide decided to take a short nap. She closed her eyes as she hopes for the best. "Mom?" A little girl whimpered in her bed. She cuddled her turtle stuffed toy as the thunder roars. A fine lady entered her room with a warm smile. "Mom, i'm scared," she cried. "Honey, there's no need to be scared. I'm here," she comforted the girl. "Why don't you lie down and I'll tell you the princess story that you always love," the lady told Adelaide as if trying to make a deal. Adelaide then smiled and lay down in bed waiting to hear her favorite bedtime story. "There was once a princess, but the funny thing is that she grew up not knowing that she is. She believed she was just a normal person in that kingdom," Adelaide's mother started. She combed Adelaide's hair with her fingers before continuing. "Then there's a war. A big one. They captured the princess's sister. The one on the castle." "But i thought you said they're not sisters," the child confronted her, confused "They're not. But they still have the same father, so they have the same blood," her mother explains Adelaide pouted. "But the Prince of the other kingdom, captured the wrong princess.. The other prince of the kingdom fell in love with the unknown princess. And they almost lived happily ever after but the king doesn't want the girl. So they ran away, and in the pursuit something bad happen. They---" Adelaide felt a pang of pain in her head and she immediately woke up screaming in pain. One of the stewardess walks to her direction. "Ma'am is everything okay? Do you need help with something?" "I-i," Adelaide stammers She touched her forehead. "I think i hit my head on the window. I- i fell asleep. Do you have ice bags?" she asks. The hostess nodded and head back to the back of the plane to get what she needs. The hostess came back with an ice pack and she was about to hand it over to her when suddenly the plane went rigid and she almost lost her balance. "We're having some mild turbulence. Please stay seated and do not remove your seat belts. Thank you!" the stewardess announced She took the ice pack and dampen it in her forehead. With only an hour left in the flight, she decided to go to the restroom to at least try and look decent before the landing. After almost an hour and thirty minutes more, they finally landed and she was just waiting to get off the plane. They don't have to worry on where to stay because their company have already arranged everything for them and they only have one thing to do here. Publish their best article. They rode a bus until they reached their fancy hotel where they will be staying. Fortunately, they are entitled to have one room per person and they don't have to share with anyone. She unpacked her things and brought her laptop out and started typing every single detail she can remember in the start of her journey. If there is something she learned over the past years by being and working as a journalist, is that every single detail mattered. And you can use it later. When she finished jotting every detail down, she opened another pdf file. It's about their once in a lifetime interview with the King Abdul Jarehz of Saudi Arabia and a chance to exclusively see the 'sleeping prince'. Prince Darius ibn Abdul Jarehz. People her mostly knew him as Prince Darius of Saudi Arabia. And he's been in coma since a tragic car accident. But, it was rumored that he could've survived, if the doctor in the hospital where they confined him did the best he can. She looked at the clock and decided that she doesn't want to sleep because it's just two in the afternoon. She changed her clothes and decided to go out and grab some coffee. She didn't even hail a cab because on the first floor of the hotel where they are staying, there were numerous cafés in there. She sat down after she made her order. She heaved a sigh and try to not think about the interview that is set tomorrow. If she doesn't think about it, Adelaide fear that she may not do enough due to nervousness. But if she thinks too much about it, she'll also get nervous. "This is a one shot chance, i can't mess it up," she muttered under her breath. She looked through the glass wall of the café, there are a lot of cars passing through the highway. There were also people passing through, some with phones in their ear and some were just walking casually. "Adelaide?" She almost jumps in shock as someone calls her name. She realized it was the waitress calling her out for her drink. She was about to stand up when a lady came in the counter. Adelaide thought that maybe their names were both Adelaide but she didn't bother to take the drink she ordered. She walks through the counter and stare at her. And that's when she realized She looks like her Grandma! And her Mom! "Adelaide?!" She snapped back to reality. Adelaide tried to look around but they woman she saw, was nowhere to be found. "Ms. Adelaide?" the waitress calls her name again. She finally stood up, still in shock and confusion. She picks up her tray containing her Matcha tea and a slice of pistachio dome and sat back to her table. Am i hallucinating?