The Princess Outside A Fairytale Story

Viridis

After almost 17 hours of flight, the plane where Syr is finally landed on Viridis. Syr is so excited. She has never been this excited when she’s running away from home. She knew it was a selfish and childish habit of her, she can just sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with the King, and after some explaining, the King will surely understand her. But that’s the case, Syr hates drama. Syr hates heart-to-heart talk. Syr hates explaining herself. Syr hates repeating her words. She doesn’t have patience. And most of all, she hates dealing with older people.

Running away from home is just the label but it’s far from what she’s doing. It’s most closely to taking a break and traveling. Why? Because the money that she brought was really not hers, it was from her mother. She doesn’t have the money that she earned herself since she’s not allowed to work on her own. Her parents are just spoiling her every month though she actually doesn’t have a lot of things she's fond of where she can spend the money except for her plants.

Syr giggled at herself once she finally stepped outside the plane. She took a deep breath, to inhale the air that wasn’t so fresh. After looking around and realizing that there was nothing for her to see but just planes, Syr just continued walking towards the departure area. While seeing herself out, Syr glanced at the people who were so happy to see their loved ones, exchanging warm hugs and kisses. A small smile was seen on her lips as she just continued walking, feeling a little bit envious.

Syr yawned as she finally get herself a cab. Syr doesn’t have any idea what time is it already but base on the surroundings and the cold wind, it’s probably nearing midnight already. Syr is so exhausted, she barely sleeps on the flight, though that’s the only thing she can do during the flight. She was so excited and that made her stay awake.

“To the closest hotel.”

Syr said to the driver of the cab as she checked her phone. She has a few messages from her mother and her best friend Harold but they are all nothing that important. They are just reminding her to take care and immediately contact them if she encountered any problem. Syr didn’t bother to reply and just stuffed her phone back into her pocket then looked outside the window. There’s no traffic and there are only a few people in the streets, maybe because the night is no longer young. After a few minutes, the cab finally stopped in front of a fancy-looking hotel. A relieved smile plastered on her lips, feeling really grateful that she will now finally be able to rest. Syr no longer needs to ask how much is it, because the driver said it himself.

“It’s 100.”

Syr almost cursed when she heard the fare. Did she hear it right? Already a hundred even if she’s only in the taxi for a well less than 7 minutes? How does that happen? She doesn’t have any idea about this country yet. But she was pretty sure that that fare was way too expensive. It’s probably tripled the real amount already. The currency of this country isn’t even that much. The currency of their country, Jura is even higher in demand compared to this country, Viridis so she was really sure that that 100 is nothing but a bluff. And more importantly, she only has two hundred and fifty of this country’s currency in her wallet. She doesn’t have that much money to change in this country’s currency ‘caused she forgot to ask her mother for some money. And now she will spend 100 just for the fare?

Syr groaned internally but can she even complain to the driver? The driver is shooting her stares that Syr is sure not friendly at all. She felt like if she tried to complain, the driver will do something bad to her or even raise the fare. Is it because she is a tourist that’s why he is treating Syr like this? He assumed that Syr doesn’t have any idea about their currency and will just pay so he raised the fare? Syr really is a tourist but it doesn’t mean she’s an i***t.

“Miss?”

The driver called since Syr had been just sitting at the back for a whole minute already.

Why is she even hesitating? She can’t do anything aside from paying so why still insist on paying?

Syr finally fished out one of the hundreds of bills in her wallet and handed the money to the driver. Syr gave the driver an obviously fake smile while wishing for the driver to be guilty of at least an inch. The driver returned the smile, looking everything but guilty. Syr just rolled her eyes then dragged herself outside the cab. Sighing once again, Syr finally started walking towards the hotel. She was really tired now. Her body is aching and begging to lie down now despite sitting for almost the whole day. Just sitting still can make you tired, right?

Syr, feeling relieved that she’s finally in a hotel approached the receptionist and gave her a warm smile.

“One room please.”

Syr politely asked while looking around the place. It really is a fancy hotel. Now, she can’t help but look forward to the room that she will get. She hopes that she will get a room that has a good view of the city lights. Then tomorrow, when she finally received the money, she will visit some tourist spots, eat different types of foods and-

“We’re so sorry to tell you this Ma’am, but we’re currently fully booked.”

“E-Excuse me?”

Syr snapped her head back to the receptionist, checking if she really heard her right.

The receptionist lightly bowed her head and gave Syr an apologetic smile then repeated her earlier statement.

“We’re fully booked now, Ma’am. We’re very sorry but you will need to find another hotel.”

Syr can’t hide the disappointment in her when she nodded her head and leave the fancy hotel. She still thanked the receptionist though, after all the receptionist is really polite.

Syr was again greeted by the cold wind when she stepped her feet outside the hotel so she pulled her winter coat even tighten to her body as she glanced at the dark streets.

Great. Now she will need to look for another hotel in the middle of the cold night. Syr fished out her cellphone in her pocket to search for any nearby hotel. She double-tapped the screen but it didn’t lit, so she instead pushed down the home button but still, it didn’t lit.

Syr cursed internally. This can’t be happening, right? Syr pushed and hold the power button for a few seconds, waiting for the brand of her phone to appear but her cellphone really won't turn on.

Syr stomped her right foot in frustration and almost threw her phone on the ground if only she didn’t remember that she doesn’t have any more money to buy a new one. So Syr just put it back in her pocket and started walking towards the sidewalk to hail a new cab.

But what if that cab driver tripled or doubled the amount again? How will she even check-in for at least one night if the drivers of the cabs here are taking advantage of her being a tourist? Maybe I'll just walk and find another hotel close here.

Whether Syr want this or not, Syr started walking towards following her hunch.

Syr really did found another hotel but like the first one, it was also fully booked. She’s already getting tired from walking, from her flight, and from keeping up with all the shits that this country is offering to her. The cold wind is not even helping her and even making this night three times harder for her.

Syr sighed and decided to take a seat at a plant box for a few minutes to catch up on her breath.

How can this happen? How come I am this unlucky today? Is this the sign that I really shouldn’t leave my country in the first place? Or does it mean that I should have settled in a country close to my country than this one?

Syr rubbed her hands for a few seconds then cupped her cheeks to share the warmth of them to her freezing cheeks. What will now happen to her? Will she be able to find a hotel before sunrise or she will end up sleeping on a bench? Syr curse internally and shook her head at the thought. That can’t be happening. There’s no way she can sleep on the bench on this cold night. She will find a place where she can sleep, she will indeed find one. 

What Harold said to her, that the crime rate at this country is the highest among other countries in Asia and the worst country for a tourist before she left their country suddenly crossed her mind again but she just shook her head again. Except for the drivers of the cabs, other people looked nice like the receptionists of the hotels she went to. This country won’t be that bad, right?

“Are you lost, Miss?”

Syr felt hope when she heard a voice coming from a guy probably standing before her.

“Not really. I’m just look-”

Syr didn’t get to finish her statement when she have seen who is, or should she say who are the ones standing before her. Earlier, Syr felt hope when she heard the voice because she thought that finally there will be someone who can help her. But when she lifted her head and saw three guys standing before her, her hope was eaten wholly by her fear. The tone of one of the guys who asked her worriedly if she was lost isn’t really complimenting their expressions. They don’t look worried at all. They looked even glad that Syr is lost if she really is. Syr is not that dumb, she knew this situation. It was pretty obvious, that these guys don’t have any plan to help her but even planned to keep her on the ground.

“N-Not really. I’m just waiting for my friend. She just bought something at the convenience store and will be back any moment from now.”

Syr tried to be calm. She can’t let these guys discovered that she’s really nervous. If she did, these guys will only push more on her.  She needed to sound cool and confident.

Syr, not moving her head and just her eyes, looked around to look for someone who can help her but none. Not only that they are covering the field of sight of Syr but also because there’s so dark wherever she is. She didn’t know how the hell she reached the place where she is now. She didn’t realize that she’s already in the dark because she was too tired to worry about those things.

The three men just exchanged glances with each other, not believing at least an inch of Syr’s statements.

Syr, internally panicking but still trying her best to remain calm, stood up while tightly gripping her bag.

“Looks like my friend is already done, I should leave now.”

Syr said and was about to take the first step and the next step will already be her running, but she was stopped by a grip on her arm.

“P-Please get your hand off me.”

Syr begged, can no longer hide the fear in her voice. Hearing that fear, the three laughed out loud.

“Come on. Don’t be scared of us. We won’t harm you. We will even get you to heaven.”

Syr panicked more at what she heard so she tried to pull her hand away but the grip is just too tight. That attempt of her only made the three men laughed out loud more. Syr really is so close to crying now. Despite her, reminding herself to be calm so she can think of what to do, she can’t. She can’t stay calm knowing what will possibly happen if she didn’t get to escape from these guys.

Syr suddenly remembered what her best friend taught to her when she was studying self-defense. She didn’t know any moves and if she is, she doubted if they will be even effective because she lacks the strength to hurt them. But Harold taught her the strongest attack.

Syr took a deep breath and made sure to gather all her strength on her knee. She will gamble everything she had in this attack. The three are still busy laughing their assess out loud so Syr got the chance to do it. Syr, with all her strength, hit the man’s pet between his legs with her knee. That made the grip of the man lose so she get the chance to run.

Syr just ran and ran without looking back at them. She can hear them yelling and cursing her while chasing her but she never bothered to look back at them and just keep running despite her exhaustion. She’s now starting to regret coming here. She’s now okay to be married to Harold just please let her get home safe and has her body parts complete.

When Syr turned in a corner, she didn’t notice that someone is coming in her way so she ended up bumping at her and they fell down on the ground with her on top.

Syr heard the woman groaned loudly because the woman hit her back hard on the ground. Syr opened her eyes and saw the woman wincing in pain. Seeing another person made Syr teared up.

“Help me please. Help me.”