Paradoxical Love

Chapter 18: Getting your number

Time flies fast, the peaceful afternoon I had come to an end after getting an hour-long nap, though now I have a headache for lying all day too much. I glanced at my smartphone first to find out what time it was, it's already five o'clock and it's perfect.

"Dismissal time!" I really savored my snooze today. The teachers lost their hope in me to the point they'd never bother to drag me back to the classroom ever again.

How ironic I hated being late but I always skip classes. At the same time, it doesn't matter at all since I'm making up by doing daily self-study; such methodology is far more efficient for several reasons.

Never mind that. Anyways, I have to meet Helenia for heaven's sake. Now I remember, this spot of mine is the meeting place for the two of us. I heard the faint footsteps behind me as the bushes were being stepped on. She's already there. I'd better get my things in my locker first so I can go straight home after taking care of this.

"There you are." She appeared at the top of the tree out of nowhere. In the first place, how did she climb such a tall tree when her body was still a grade-schooler? Helenia leaped over at such a dangerous height without a problem. Her soft, long red hair followed in the wind as she landed on the grasses.

"Have you decided yet? I think so. No one can refuse to protect a princess like me." Helenia places her right hand on her left chest before bowing down, underneath she's grinning menacingly I thought my eyes were tricking me again.

"You're a princess of pride. Yeah." I directly taunted her since I wasn't partly wrong.

"What did you say?!" She's approaching me from behind as she pats my back with her small hands. I can tell she's irritated, I'm guessing she wanted to shove me on the grasses but her fragility won't beat my lofty stature.

Her hands were as soft as Kiana's when she was young, her punches back in the days were just like her throwing with soft pillows.

"Stop that. I'm ticklish there!" I puffed, holding both her hands this time separating her in a meter distance.

"You stupid! But..." She lowered her head a little and looked below, she can't face me 'cause there is something she wanted to say.

"But?" I'm getting inquisitive. Instead of pushing me like I thought she would, Helenia gently tugged the bottom of my polo shirt from behind.

"Thank you for protecting me yesterday... your hold was warm." She then confronted me though she covered her face with her hands, peeking in between her fingers so she can maintain eye contact.

"It's nothing. It was my choice. Not to protect a stupid princess like you." I'm being harsh, I really can't stand how ignorant she is.

"What?! For your information, I don't want you to just lift me up. It was the first time someone carried me like that..." She put her hands behind her, squirming restlessly, anxious for getting embarrassed.

"Forget it, arguing with you is meaningless. Either way, what is this job offer you're appointing me?" I honestly have no knowledge about personal butler or being a servant. It doesn't mean she's a princess that she can deprive someone's freedom at her will.

"Right. It's simple. Just be my friend." Helenia told me the details, she's beaming a bright smile that confused me for a second.

"Just be your what?" I was dumbfounded for real.

A friend for the Crimson Princess. So being a friend with her is a job now. I suppose I learned why those who stand at the top of society have deep connections with many people. What delusion was she thinking that being a friend is a hob? It's more like responsibility, she was probably uncertain, maybe she doesn't know how this world works.

"That's the point, of course, you don't get paid. Just be my friend, we should have lunch together every day. You'll also come to my club so we can have more time together." Helenia's pretty ecstatic about this I find it a little bit disturbing.

"I thought it was a real job. So what's the personal butler thingy Jacob was speaking about?" I can't seem to wrap this situation around my head, I wanted to ditch her and get out of here.

"Don't even think about it. You are worth more than a butler. It means I recognize you as someone brave enough to face death amidst hopelessness and despair." Her smug face and dignified tone throws me off the most.

She's usually ignoring those around her, isolating herself with her mountainous pride; it's the way she lives up to now. Probably it's also the reason why she has no friends.

On another hand, she's in a rather difficult standing in society. She also holds her responsibilities as the Princess of the Reina family, this reason alone separates her from the rest of the students. Nothing will be lost if she becomes my friend. She's an interesting individual, I'm sure of it.

The outward appearance of a person is really different before knowing it, she must badly want a friend whom she can tell what she's up to, I can't abandon her now that she reached for me.

"If you're just looking for friendship, why not?" I agreed to her compromise.

"So you will?! Then that's settled, we're now friends!" She got too excited as if she were a child going to an amusement park. I could see the joy on her face, wearing her smile ear-to-ear. I was like that when I had my first friend. Today's kinda different since she's a legitimate princess.

"I forgot to introduce myself properly. I am Reyler Silva." In prospect to her formality, I first bow in front of her stepping my right feet behind, offering my hand to her like a knight.

"I know, the name's Helenia Camille Leblanc Reina. Just call me Helenia or Helen." She took it and we shook hands, I'm not used to this kind of etiquette so I crooked my smirk.

"Hmm... Helenia does prefer my style." We parted our hands and thus marking our agreement to be on good terms.

I can't imagine the time will come I'd have a princess as someone I can call a friend. Jacob's hiding behind the trees but he can't completely conceal his presence before me. He's overseeing Helenia securing her safety; the real job of a diligent and loyal butler.

"It's not like I'm asking you or anything... So, I hope we'll be best friends soon. You're just a commoner so be glad okay?!" She's flustered pouting after passively insulting me.

She can be nice sometimes. Although she can be brutal with the way she disparages through her affront.

"All right Helenia, I'm going home now, probably I'll stop by the nearby market. Be careful." I turned around going to leave her when she tugged me again from behind.

"W-Wait... can I get your email?" She meekly asked.

"Don't you have like, a number perchance?" I frowned confused when I can simply give her my number, less hassle.

"I'm a princess, have you forgotten? Privacy. I can't even have a smartphone let alone a number. I have a personal computer though so email is fine." Helenia nodded twice, being a princess sure is a bother, she can have all the game consoles she has except for a smartphone, how ironic could that be there's no way I can live with such a lifestyle.

She's giggling while I'm writing my email address on a piece of paper I found in my pocket, I find it adorable the way she hides her excitement.

"Thanks, Reyler! Next time again! Tomorrow visit the Gaming Club to register okay?" She grabbed the piece of paper as she tiptoed away from me.

"Okay. See you." We said goodbye to each other, she's waving both her hands from a distance, she can be childish sometimes. Her charms were on the points yet her pride gets in the way.

It's like an oxymoron, a combination of contradictory words. It seemed she was just pushing herself to become someone different. I might be imagining things again. I'm about to go home when I forget something important.

"Darn, my notes are still in my locker. I'll get it now." That's why I returned to our classroom to get my things, otherwise, I can't study on my own tonight.

Well, today is Thursday. I'll see what'll happen the day after tomorrow; the time when the Council President and I will have an official confrontation.