My Roommates are Princes! [Complete!]

Chapter 9: An evening with the Prince

I took a train to Berlin, Germany one weekend as Felipe was at the psychiatrist and Eric had gone back to England for a short period of time. One thing that had bothered me since I had heard news of it was the attempted suicide of Heather the brunette. If I could make a top tens list of suicides that shocked the world, for me, she would be on such a list.

In my opinion, she had been a beautiful girl. Before her surgery, as I had seen in pictures, her nose was large but it suited her features and made her unique. But I had known that she must have hated it and perhaps I wasn’t so kind to her as I should have been. Her eyes, in my opinion, had reminded me a lot of Felipe’s eyes: they themselves were also blue hidden behind a fog of mascara and eyeliner was a jewel, an aquamarine of life and joy that had yet to shine. It had only been tarnished by the harsh words, the sharp knife of betrayal from the people she had thought were her friends. The shining and precious jewel that perhaps would never shimmer again.

I clenched my fist as I looked out the window, unable to hold back the tears that were unfitting of the cold Princess Emerald, as bright and radiant as the treasure she was named after, green with envy for others. Was it because she was so envious that this poor girl had to lose her life? Was it because she couldn’t stand the fact that Heather had so much life in her that she felt the need to take it all away?

Why? I always asked myself. But it wasn’t just Princess Emerald to blame. I blamed myself at least half the time. I should have known how hurtful my own words are, my own sharp tongue. I should have realized how horrible I was treating her, what horrors I was exposing her psych to. Why didn’t I stop myself? Was I so intent on becoming Princess Emerald? Was I just afraid to stand up for what I truly believed was right? There was simply no plausible excuse for inflicting such pain on ANYONE. It is just too inhumane.

~~~~~

The hospital itself was a complete white with an undertone of pungent bleach. In a bed of flowers she lay, Heather, as beautiful and pure as the flowers she was named after. She was as pale as snow, her lips and face devoid of any color. She was hooked up to machines that barely kept her alive. She was slowly withering away if she had not done so already.

A priest had stood beside her bed, reading passages from the Bible, flicking holy water as Heather’s mother sat beside her daughter’s bed, not even a streak of gray in her hair and she was burying her baby child. She clasped her hands together in a grip of death as if holding onto the gospels would be enough to make a miracle happen for Heather. I stood and watched, only closing my eyes in prayer, attempting to make my presence as unknown and faded as possible.

Alas, this was a hospital room not a church. I could not rely on a veil of white to separate me from the world I so very well wished I wasn’t a part of. There were no rows of devoters, there was only me, the Satan inside of me, and the guidance and essence of God that stood in front of me, closing the Bible gently with a final clasp.

“Amen.”

All eyes were on me: the kind, neutral ones of the priest, and the dark, fiery, vengeful ones of Heather’s mother who would have done anything to get her revenge on me.

She stood up, claud in black as deep as the shadows cast behind me. The very presence of my silhouette was enough to set her off the edge.

“Why….” She approached me, her eyes bloodshot red, a bright color in comparison to the darkness that wrapped her being. She raised a hand, slashing it across my face in one fell swoop, the smacking sound rang across the air, catching even the attention of the priest, who saw this act as worthy as an act of God. In other words, I pretty much deserved that one and more. “How could you?” She asked me.

My cheek stung and swelled with pain, but I dared not to move from my spot, quiet and docile as a small child.

“HOW COULD YOU?! ANSWER ME! HOW CAN YOU TAKE AWAY THE LAST THING I HAVE LEFT IN THE WORLD?!” She cried, grabbing me by the collar of my dress and shaking me violently. The world began to spin around me as she shook me, all the different shapes of white in the room had all merged into a single line of sight. “HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO HER?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SHE’S BEEN THROUGH?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT HELL YOU’VE PUT HER THROUGH?!”

“I’m…I’m sorry…” I muttered weakly, though I knew that my words would not get through to her.

"HOW CAN YOU EVEN BE WALKING AND STANDING AT THIS MOMENT WITHOUT TAKING A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF?! YOU SHOULDN’T EVEN BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW!!!! YOU SHOULD BE IN THAT BED HALF DEAD NOT HER!!!!!!!”

Her words were exactly what I expected to hear. I expected to hear no less from a mother.

It wasn’t until the priest had placed a hand on her shoulder as if in consolation that she had stopped. “Please allow me to have a word with her outside.” The priest said. Heather’s mother had released me in that moment out of reluctant necessity.

The priest took me outside, gently closing the door behind him. This part of the hospital was rather quiet, as expected as Heather’s family had paid top dollar for this part of the hospital away from the rest of the crowds that could not touch them.

“Child, I know that you must have thought what you had said and done was of good and fun nature but I hope that you can see how such acts have affected a mother and daughter.” He warned me.

“Yes…I see that….” I bowed my head, wiping away some tears that I had struggled to hold back.

“Even if a miracle were to happen to this child, she would never be the same Heather you have known.” He added.

“I know that…” I replied, even if Heather were to survive she might not be able to live a quality life.

“You see…by killing Heather…you have also killed Heather’s mother. For her mother…..Heather was the only thing she had left after she had discovered her husband’s affair with a much younger woman.” The priest explained.

All his words had done was gnaw at my heart, making a guilty hole that was big enough to fit a baby inside.

“This family might not mean a lot to you…but every life is a precious gift that must not be taken for granted.” The priest concluded. “Life itself…is a miracle of God.”

~~~~~

Before leaving Berlin, I was able to get a chance to be with Heather alone. I sat beside her bedside, beside the shell of the person I used to know.

“If we ever meet again…..” I said aloud to her. “Whether it’s a different life or a different path…..I’ll make sure that nothing like this ever happens to you again…I swear.” I promised her, gripping her cold hand, devoid of the warmth that everyone had failed to give her until the very end of her life when it was all too late to make amends for the wrong that had been set against her.

~~~~~

The week had picked up again as soon as I had gotten back to Switzerland as if nothing had ever happened. As cruel and cold that winter was, life had moved on. Time hadn’t stopped for anything nor anyone.

The grades from the midterms had been returned to us in homeroom: history.

I smiled once my eyes caught sight of my relatively high marks, an acheivement I made my way over to Duke’s desk to thank him for.

Chaiya also had a bright smile over his face. “CHECK IT OUT I ACTUALLY SCORED HIGH IN MATH FOR ONCE!” He pointed to a perfect score, 100% although his other scores were not as high.

“I’m very proud of you, Chaiya.” I smiled, holding up my hand for a high five.

“I got high marks too.” Duke turned his grades to us, perfects across the board.

“SHOW OFF!” Chaiya exclaimed. “OF COURSE YOUR GRADES WOULD BE HIGHER!”

I chuckled. “He means that we’re proud of you too.”

“Thank you.” Duke smiled as if victoriously basking in the given compliments.

I looked around the room, noticing that Analyn’s eyes had been darting around although her attention seemed focused on her own individual paper.

“Hey, Analyn, what did you get?” I stood in front of her desk, as if to peer over her paper.

Chaiya stood behind Analyn, looking over her shoulder. “WHAT?! SHE GOT THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE CLASS!” Chaiya exclaimed, ripping the paper out of Analyn’s hand so fast it was a miracle that she didn’t get a paper cut.

“Really?!” I exclaimed, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear as I went to see what Chaiya had suddenly become so excited about and indeed, her marks were extremely high, they would have been the highest if not for Duke. “Wow…Analyn, these grades are amazing!” I smiled at her. “You must have worked extremely hard! Congratulations!”

“R-really?” Analyn glowed, her eyes widened behind her thick glasses, as if she can’t believe that Princess Emerald just complimented her. “T-thank you.”

I smile at how happy she had become. I wasn’t willing to lose another life like Heather, this time, I would make sure that I changed the tables to prevent anymore suffering from dispensing at the expense of Princess Emerald. This way, not only would others be protected but also the image of the Agricolan Crown itself.

On the other side of the room, I saw what was left of the clique of girls I used to associate myself with. Now with two of them gone, it was only Josephine and Penny who glared at me with disgust, as if the very act of kindness was enough to make them lose their lunch.

I glared back at them with just as many daggers in my eyes as theirs.

The class was dismissed shortly soon after. I gathered my books and papers as quickly as I could before I headed out the door. At the door, the two girls had passed me. Their red and purple hair were definitely hard to miss around here. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? We don’t associate with people like her” Penny whispered with a slight anger as if I had just offended her.

“I’m no longer as low as you are and I’ll make sure from this day forward, I will teach you your place.” I swore before turning left while they had turned right.

~~~~~~~

The January madness ended soon and I prayed that this February would be at least a little more calmer. The brisk air was a slightly warmer, though to a girl from a tropical island, it might as well have been the same. I donned on my coat, a small red one that was enough to keep the chill away from my bones.

I thought it would be a good time to check out the downtown area, now that everyone else had been away, with the exception of Felipe, who had opted to come along instead of sitting by his lonesome inside the dorm.

“Do you remember anything about the downtown area?” I asked him as we got on a shuttle bus that took us to the downtown area. It was necessary to have proper identification of course.

“Not much….” Felipe chuckled. “But I’m sure I’ll remember something soon.”

The time was evening in the Swiss mountains in a bustling, crowded town fueled by the weekend fervor. People had gathered from all over Switzerland, to enjoy a beautiful, simple town, constructed of stone and wooden buildings reminiscent of medieval times though blessed with the luxuries of any modern city. Cherubs and spires dotted the dusk sky, preparing to wrap the small town in a blanket of black darkness.

There was a constant, peaceful chatter in the German language, which seemed like the lyrics to the general hum of accordion music playing along the streets right along the outdoor restaurants where lovers and business alike came to meet. The boutiques had turned on their window lights, lighting up the entire town of marble alleyways and streets with so many colorful houses and buildings squished together.

The classic European town.

“Do you speak any German?” Felipe asked me.

I shook my head. “I only speak Agricolan and English. Do you?”

“I’m…... familiar with the language. I took some classes on it while I was young but I opted to learn French instead which of course is much closer to Spanish.” Felipe explained. I noticed that he was much more alert than he had been before. He was able to muster a smile that I hadn’t gotten a chance to see before, a vibrant expression marked by a tone of blithe content.

Before I had known it, my stomach had began to growl, quite loudly, overpowering the sounds surrounding us.

“Hungry?” Felipe chuckled.

“A little….” I scratched the back of my head.

“Let’s get something to eat.” Felipe suggested. He gestured to a small cafe nearest to us. “Alplemagronen. Swiss Macaroni and Cheese.” Felipe added as we walked inside. “Unless you prefer something else?”

I shook my head as we were seated rather quickly, blending into the dense room filled with tourists and couples alike. It was a small shop, barely sustaining itself from the weekend profit. “I can pretty much eat anything.” I replied.

Felipe raised his hand, saying some small words in German, an order as I could deduce. The waiter nodded his head, waltzing back into the kitchen.

I leaned back in my brass chair.

“My symptoms have gotten a lot better.” Felipe leaned forward with his chin supported by his hands. “And…I have you to thank for not giving up on me.” He smiled with his teeth showing.

I leaned forward, also supporting my chin with my hands like a crazed school girl. “You don’t have to thank me.”

The food came around rather quickly which was perfectly fine with me and my greedy appetite. As expected, it was layers of pasta mixed with soft potatoes and steaming cheese topped with a drizzle of applesauce: a wonderful dinner disguised as a sweet treat. I picked up my fork and immediately began digging into my food, perhaps eating a bit too quickly. Although my body felt that it was right, I could tell my Felipe’s chuckle and much slower eating pace that I probably looked like a wild animal at the moment.

“You must be hungry.” Felipe commented, a couple of bites in.

I nodded, three quarters of the way finished. “Before coming to Switzerland…I don’t think I’ve ever had so many large meals in my life.”

“Luisa Cardona….” Felipe repeated to himself, as if he had forgotten the name. “Sometimes….I forget that you were once a peasant.”

“I do have the same face as a Princess if that’s what you’re wondering….” I rolled my eyes as if it wasn’t obvious enough.

Felipe smiled before waving the waiter back, gesturing to my plate and saying something in obscure German.

“What did you just do?…” I asked him as the waiter came back with another serving of food, this time with a little extra.

“You seem to like it.” Felipe commented. “You finished way ahead of me and I can tell that you can eat much more.”

“But…doesn’t it cost you a lot of money?” I asked him.

Felipe shrugged his shoulders. “Not really. I’m the Crown Prince of Spain remember.”

“Well yes but…”

“Think of it as a favor for a friend.” Felipe said, an unknown spark appeared in his blue eyes.

I sighed as my stomach was definitely not complaining. Within ten minutes both plates had been finished with Felipe lagging behind in giggles.

~~~~

“I guess the hungry peasant stereotype does fit you, Seniorita Cardona.” Felipe commented as we had exited the restaurant, peering over me as my gluttonous eyes darted over to a street vender, selling round crispy fritters for a relatively small price.

“And the snobby Prince stereotype suits you.” I insulted back.

“How can you still be hungry after eating two large plates of food?” Felipe asked me.

“I’m not necessarily hungry, I just feel like I can eat more.” I corrected him, smiling as the vendor had exchanged my change for a medium sized fritter that was the size of a mini pizza. “Potatoes.” I commented as I tore off a bite, placing the steaming morsel into my mouth. Because of the drastic heat, I had to open my mouth, exposing it to the cold wintry air and fan for a bit.

“That is called Rosti.” Felipe told me.

“It’s quite delicious. Do you want a piece?” I tore off a piece, reaching up to hold it up to his chin.

“Even I cannot resist such a tempting aroma….” Felipe leaned his head downwards, biting the piece right off my finger tips.

“It’s delicious isn’t it?” I asked, seeing a surprised look on his face.

“Yes. It is.” Felipe nodded in agreement.

We joined the bustling street once more after I tore off another piece for him, allowing him to eat it right off my hand. Again, our conversation had faded into the general hum of the street, from the classical accordion sound to the chatter of friends and lovers alike. The only thing that set us apart form the later was the general distance we maintained from each other, as people who had a reason would.

“You know the real Princess Emerald wouldn’t be caught dead eating so much.” Felipe chuckled. “It is also quite unbefitting of a lady to eat so much on a first date."

I blushed with embarrassment. “Shut up….I haven’t had street food this good in ages….”

Felipe poked my cheek as we walked. “I’m just joking.” He laughed.

Our road was soon blocked by a group of dancing couples, spinning to the waltz of a small band in the centre of the town, marked by a large marble fountain whose base was covered in wishing coins.

“They’re dancing.” I commented, smiling. It looked just like a scene from a movie, every woman shimmered with different colors and jewelry while the men had worn neutral colors in an attempts to contrast with the women, which only made them stand out all the more.

“You seemed infatuated with this scene.” Felipe commented. “Would you like to join them?”

“I do like it…but no I wouldn’t-“

Without even so much as a notice, Felipe had tossed the rosti away, grabbing both my wrists and pulling me right into the blend of dancing couples. “Follow my lead.” He said to me. “It’s a waltz so one two three, one to three…” He commented.

“A-Ah….alright…” I blushed, unable to look into those deep blue eyes. Instead, I stared down at his feet which were rather large in comparison to mine. He wore dress shoes and slacks, a step forward from the sweatpants he dragged himself in. My eyes went up, back to his chest where my eye level was. He wore a black trench coat that contrasted with my red one. Between the thin opening, I could see that he was wearing a dress shirt. He seemed to care a bit more about his appearance today. Even his hair had been brushed and neatly tucked behind his ears, his face cleanly shaven.

Our eyes met, my light brown eyes, like a small ship in those vast oceanic orbs. I was a ship washed up on shore and he was the tides that brought me closer as if to envelope me in a sea that would drown me if I was not careful.

Under the glowing stars we danced, following the general beat of the music, two hearts somehow beating together to the same rhythm of a breathtaking accordion, one that with a single pull and push told a beautiful love story.

“I wanted to apologize…” Felipe began, before spinning me around unexpectedly.

“For?”

“I’m aware that I had stolen a kiss from you that was not meant to be mine. Duke had told me about the situation.” Felipe added. “I was out of my mind. I’m sorry.”

“Ah…no. I should be apologizing. I slapped you….” I remembered.

“You had every right too.” He chuckled.

I smile. “That one, I would not argue with. It was my first kiss after all.”

“Would it help if I bought Luisa Cardona some more food to reinforce my guilty feelings?” He added.

“That, Prince Felipe of Asturias, would be unnecessary.” I spun around again, this time, a lot less confused. In fact, I spun around with confidence, my milky brown hair swirled around me as I made a 360, turning back to Felipe.

And just like that, the beat had stopped and all dancers had paused for a moment in their place. Felipe and I had our eyes connected and if time could stop, perhaps I wish it would in that very moment when both of us were the most vulnerable. But alas, the harsh realization of reality would always creep its way into the back of my mind like the strike of midnight on Cinderella’s clock.

“I’ll forget about it one day.” I reminded myself for it was for the better.

~~~~~~

Felipe and I found ourselves walking back to the shuttle stop, far away from any crowds that would’ve hunt us down.

“You know…I don’t think you know this about me…” Felipe pulled out his phone, flipping through some old photos.

“Hm?” I asked him, peering over his arm.

“Before I had developed my alcoholism….I was actually quite obsessed with my appearance.” Felipe told me. He tapped on an old photo from a couple years ago. “This is me with my mother’s cucumber face mask on….I was quite the diva about my skin.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of a young Felipe with a different mask each night as part of his daily skin routine.

“I had a daily routine too.” Felipe added.

“Wow…..” I giggled as Felipe handed the phone to me, allowing me to browse through all the different photos of him in face masks.

“My skin now is pretty rough because of all the drinking I’ve done, but when I was really into it, my skin was quite smooth.”

“Like rose petals?” I asked, as if I had no other analogy I could think of.

“Rose petals?” He smiled.

“Yes…I would like to think that flower petals are soft.”

“Well, I guess it was pretty soft.”

“Have you ever thought of getting back into it?” I asked him.

“I don’t know…before, I used to do them with Emerald.”

“Ah…” I nodded feeling as if I had really crossed the line when the silence rolled around.

“I mean unless you want to try them with me.” Felipe said.

“Really?!” I exclaimed, perhaps a bit too excited.

“Yes of course.” Felipe chuckled. “You sound as if you had never put on a face mask before, Luisa Cardona.”

“Because I haven’t! These are luxuries that I couldn’t afford in Agricola!” I exclaimed.

“Tomorrow then?” Felipe asked me as he boarded the shuttle first, extending his hand out to help me up.

I smiled as I took his hand, stepping up onto the shuttle with him. “Tomorrow.”

And no matter how many times I tried to remind myself that one day there would be no promise of tomorrow, it was simply a sentence my heart would not obey.

~To be continued~