The Game of Time and Crown

Four

I almost had the urge to jump and yell as i make my way out of the conference room. I'm pretty sure for whatever reason it is that the king picked me, it's not because of me. I'm not as confident as the other ones and im also sure that some of us prepared and took extra efforts and i don't mean that i didn't took any but-- it's just so hard to believe.

A lady in a blue uniform guided me towards the lobby where all the other chosen journalists are. I was so nervous that i didn't even managed to c***k a smile or even say anything. I just sat there quietly and looked at Gisselle who is busy on her laptop unlike the other journalists who are happily chatting to other ones.

One thing I noticed about her is that she take her work very serious and meticulously. Unlike me, who always tries my hardest. My father always used to tell me that i am best at what i do and i believed him and that is the one thing that always gives me confidence when i don't have any left.

And that is the same reason why i got into the Helion Company. As the years go by, i could say that i became better. I always believed that i adapt so quickly and a good worker, both on team and individual.

Ever since i was little, i dreamed of being a writer, not this kind but an author who writes stories. But as i grow old, i kind of lost my love for everything around me, and that includes my belief that there is someone out there who can wholly accept me.

I was snapped back at my reality when someone suddenly bumped in my shoulder.

"How did you got in?"

I looked at Gisselle, which i have no idea how she got on my side without me noticing her, and shrugged because i was unable to say anything.

"You did something, right?"

My forehead creased and irritation rose up in my chest.

"I didn't do anything," i told her

I attempted to pretend to be busy and fiddle with my phone but she, once again, spoke.

"I'll find out."

That's the only thing she said before she stood and walked back to her seat.

I smirked.

I have no time to argue with her and most of all, i know i didn't do anything wrong.

Unless changing my first question counts.

I looked at her before sighing.

Gisselle came from a prominent family and one who is extremely known as a family of great journalists. His father founded one of the prestigious university for Journalism and their family has been running it since then. But, she chose to study abroad and came back as a famous socialite and journalist of their family.

Then after two years of staying, she made a her first move on applying to the company the same time that i did and four of us that day got accepted.

Ever since, we've been working together and the one thing that i learned about her is that, she always check on everyone, not because she's concerned but because she meant to know if someone is different. I also have read several articles that she published and anyone who reads it have the same impression as me.

She is good.

Every intern we have for the last few years wanted to be under her or trained beside her and i don't blame them.

And i don't blame her either if she doesn't even try to communicate with us, she always makes it clear that she's better off to work alone and everyone in the office hates her for that except for me. My mom always told me once when i was little that some people are better when they are alone and some work best when they are on team and that doesn't mean they are not good, they are in their own way.

Another ten minutes have passed and there were 2 more added before the lady who escorted me earlier, came back to brief us. I even saw the king leaving the room with a bunch of body guards with a man beside him who weren't there earlier.

They exited the building and disappeared to my sight.

I turn my attention back to the lady. She clasped her hands together before speaking.

"Since you have been chosen, you will have the privilege to stay at one of the hotels owned by the king himself. Since the king have to travel tomorrow to speak at one of the cities, we will take coverage of your expenses at the hotel for a day. Pack the things that you need and you will be fetched at your current hotel at exactly 6 in the evening."

I almost shrieked in excitement but luckily, i stopped myself. There were a group of girl who giggled and the lady looked at them making them stand straight in horror.

I immediately stood up and put my things near my chest almost as if hugging them. I walked out of the building and hailed a taxi going back to where i am currently staying to pack my things that is good for one day. Fortunately, the management guaranteed us that they will keep a tight security in our floors where all the other journalist are staying and they assured us that none of our things will go missing.

As i am in the taxi, i let out a deep sigh of relief and immediately dialed Tina, my father's nurse.

"Hi! Is Dad awake?" i asked.

"Oh, i'm sorry. He just drank his medication for 2 pm so he's out," she paused. "Do you want me to wake him up?"

I tilted my head as if she can see me.

"No! Just let him rest and please tell him i called. Thank you."

I ended the call.

After i paid the cab, i ran through the lobby and pressed my floor. After i arrived, i grabbed a bag and started to select the clothes that im going to pack. I carefully put my laptop in it's own bag and carried it.

I packed some important clothes such as dresses and two piece clothes that can both work best for formal and casual events.

I was about to stand up when suddenly felt dizzy, i balanced my self and used the bed as a support. Instinctively, i tried to find something in my chest but then i realized that i was not wearing it.

I relaxed my self and grabbed a white box in my luggage where my necklace is. It's a silver chained locket with my mother's picture on it.

It was an heirloom and every time it's passed down, we can take out the picture and replace it with ours when we turn eighteen but, i don't have the strength to removes my mother's picture in it ever since she passed away so i just kept it that way.

It instantly calmed me down.

I slowly walked through the vanity table on the other side of the bed to get an unopened bottled water that is provided. I drank almost half of the content.

Feeling refreshed, i decided to come down into the café to get some cappuccino for take out and if possible, a slice of pistachio cake, which is maybe not as good as her mom's but i still crave for one. It felt a bit weird entering the café since the incident of me seeing a lady which i think is just a sort of a dream or hallucination but i don't feel uncomfortable at all.

As the barista calls for my name, I didn't stood up immediately just to see if i can see someone again, but after the third call, i finally sigh and came to the counter to claim my order.

I came back at my room immediately after that. I was in the middle of eating when someone knocked at my door.

At first, i tired to ignore it since my dad always told me to never walk away on an unfinished food because that is a disrespect. I was pretty sure that if it is someone from the king's staff, they would have called me from the phone in the room.

But the knocking doesn't stop and it became more of like striking than knocking, i irritably stood up and opened the door only to see an annoyed Gisselle.

"Can i see your questions? I might have missed something the first time i looked at it."

I deliberately raised one of my eyebrows at her.

She almost knock the door over because she wanted to see my questions?

I tried to relax myself before answering.

"I'm eating. I'm sorry but i have to finish my food before i can attend to you," i calmly told her.

"I want to see them now. You're already standing here so you can just go get them," she replied.

I released a sharp breath.

"I can't keep my food waiting, you can just go and sit inside until i finish my food," I offered.

"I want them now. Go get them." She waved her hands in front of my face.

I made a 'tsk' sound and she unbelievably looked at me.

"Did you just--."

"I am not under you, we're at the same rank so you are in no position to order me around especially when I'm in a middle of eating something. You could've just asked me nicely," i shot back at her.

"What a b***h," she muttered.

"I can hear you. You're right in front of me."

"You know what?! Never mind, I never need your questions!"

"I thought you just want to see them? Why do you NEED MY questions?"

I put emphasis on 'need my' to put her in her position. She's not my superior and I am definitely not inferior to her so she cannot go around disrespecting me whenever she wants it.

"I understand you're trying to make me the bad guy here. Congratulations on passing the screening." She smiled

"Congratulations to you too!"

I shut my door and took a deep breath like i just ran a mile. I walked back to my food and said sorry before continuing to eat.

After the encounter, i texted Dad about what happened and he seems to be awake because he replied,

"Aye! Should have offered her the piece of cake right in the face! HAHAHA!" I read it aloud.

One thing that my parents don't have in common is my Mom always do the calmest things as possible while my Dad, always do the most risky and funny ones. Though I know he's joking, I am very sure that he's annoyed at what happened because he always makes it clear that he doesn't want anyone looking down or hurting me.

I sighed and then turn to my laptop which is already packed when i remembered something.

I opened the bag and pull my laptop out and typed Prince Darius' name.

Can't talk to a comatose person.

I've read the first article that popped up and i jot down important facts.

"He's the second child," I uttered.

Along with other facts and information such as being the odd one our of the two brothers, loves car and very common hobbies for a rich person such as fencing and horse back riding.

I clicked another article and was almost shock to read that he once founded a construction of a library and also founded a cancer institution that cures children for free and it was named very weirdly.

"Take an Apple?"

The institution was named Take an Apple Foundation and people dubbed it as a safe haven for kids with cancer, curing children for free until they made full recovery.

"But why 'take an apple'?" I asked as if someone is going to answer me.

There is also this article where it says he's just the usual youngest son, playing around and dating too many girls plus a matching list of models he had rumored to be with.

I sighed.

"I could make an introduction with these and I can just take pictures at the hospital."

I once looked again at Prince Darius' picture before shutting my laptop down.

"Wait, his eyes are green?"