Hand to Hold

Chapter 2

To turn around and move away, when I want nothing more than to run into you.

.

.

Inches apart from his face and close to his heart, proximity with him took away my ability to breath. Enchanted, we stood in the same position for a long time until a voice burst our bubble.

“Your Majesty, the interview is in a little while.”

The Prince with the brown hairs removed his hand from around my waist and my body immediately craved the warmth radiating through his body. Taking a step back he turned to face the owner of the voice and following Ash’s gaze my eyes landed on an intimidating man.

Due to formal dress code, he reminded me of Sir Blair and that was then that it clicked, he was Ash’s new security in charge after Sir Blair. Earlier, the whole 'approach Prince' thing was done by Sir Blair.

There was no other way I could have explained the effortless indifference on his face just after witnessing his master in close vicinity with a strange girl, provided his majesty never acted this way. Practice is the only answer as to how members of royal force do it.

Ash smiled in a spellbinding manner, such that it hid his disinterest, “Hmmm, Rehaan ask Orion to get the car out from parking lot. I will follow by as soon as I finish my business here.”

Nodding, Sir Rehaan turned around and walked away, and with his departure, the atmosphere heated up. Not chaffing, his eyes could put the South Pole to shame with the professional coldness in them.

Moving around Ash fetched the fallen journal from the floor then extended it in my direction with a warm, more natural smile. Appreciating his presence in front of me, I was dazed... again. Insofar that even stretching my hand to take the diary from his hands was like vaporizing the magic.

He grinned, “Here, I suppose the journal is yours.”

The spell disappeared, and a deep melancholy rose inside me.

Acquiring my diary from his hands I tried curving the ends of my lips in the direction of the heaven, “Thank you for helping me.”

Ash’s widened his smile, “No problem, because of you I got the chance to delay the birthday interview.”

The mischievous teasing shone brightly, but my eyes refused to glance away from his dull eyes.

“It will be fine as long as you stay honest after all the main aim of this interview to let us understand our rulers,” I replied trying to ease his nerves.

But His Majesty sighed, “I am seriously tired of hearing it.”

“Still,” I urged gazing in his troubled optics, “you know you are an international figure, being to-be-representative of Salovia. It is hard but there will be always haters and critiques behind you for you are our face. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher what people on your level are trying to say but if you don’t act then we can make the right interpretations. As long as you truly care for us we will reciprocate and won’t be blinded because of a handful of haters and a bit of negative criticism.”

He blinked bewildered, and I left a breath shaking my head, “Not to lecture you, I am telling you this as someone who hears you from this side of the screen. This sort of interviews where you or His Highness or Her Highness are true and let it reach to us is what keeps us from distrusting royalty’s decision. The trust you earn from here is what makes us accept you as our ruler.”

Regarding firmly, I kept his attention from turning.

“Not all but there are more people than you think which understand the pressure of being in such tight security, growing up early and devoting yourself completely for the welfare of the country. It is okay if you are not always perfect there is whole life for attaining it. We don’t expect complete perfection it gives the vibes of being a robot and all we want is honesty.”

Even after I stopped he remained lost, the enchanting smile vanished long ago.

When he went on to furrow his brows unconsciously, my words dawned upon me.

...I shouldn’t have said it all in the first place.

Sigh.

I was supposed to not cross paths with him ever again but I couldn’t even remember such a simple thing. When he joked being a gregarious person, certainly, it was my cue to smile and excuse myself.

“Actually, it is great to know your opinion as someone who looks from outside and although I have to disagree that people can see the actual efforts or real face for they only see what they want to see. I am a Prince in their eyes and according to them, members from the royal family aren’t mere mortals, they can’t be flawed. If only there were more people with your outlook...” Smiling gratefully he near blinded me with newfound char in those eyes.

“Still, it was great having this opportunity of taking in such a rare insight, though I hope that your theory will be proved correct with this interview.” He added and I pursed my lips.

“I am sorry I was rude to throw my words at you.”

Ash chuckled, “Don’t worry about it. I have heard worst and from those who don’t even think about what I am going through. But as you said, I am now going to believe that more people like you understand the pressure.”

And suddenly I broke into a smile... Just like that.

No trace of the suffocation I was feeling since morning. I should mention after failing in trying to smile the past whole year and even a few minutes ago. He eased me, such that the walls I built for the whole year came down in a blink.

My expressions must have shown more than I would have allowed consciously because his eyes bore into mine with a sea of concern in them, similar to the how he gazed at me when I was in his embrace.

“You don’t look well.” He verbalized his concern catching me off guard.

I nodded, “Am not feeling that well today.”

His eyes dimmed and the crease on his forehead wrinkled further.

Ere I could ask he answered my doubt, “Looking at you it presents you will not be able to come to the party tonight. I was hoping to see you again.”

Party!?

I almost forgot it while conversing with him, it is his birthday and-

Sighing internally I stopped myself from faring there. Some things are better left alone.

“You are right. I don’t think I will. I didn’t wish you before because of the direction of our conversation. So, getting the chance I should do it now... Happy Birthday, Ash, may happiness standby your side.”

The teenager smiled, “Thank you... But I guess I took up your time. Having already delayed the interview quite a lot using stairs halfway across from where I was supposed to be, I should now take my leave. Or else, Rehaan will call Mom and report my conversation with you as my intentional attempt to postpone the interview.”

His phone rang and glinting at his phone screen he knitted his brows together. Sparing a last glance, he made a face, “It is Mom.”

Turning towards the exit he made his way outside the school building. The conversation we just shared... what have I gotten myself into?

My head turned heavy and headache rushed back after going missing the whole while I was with Ash. It would be better to not ponder about this right now.

With a sigh I reached out for the phone in my pocket and dialled Aunt May’s number, asking for her driver. The last thing I could make out coherently was it would be better to skip the rest of the school.