Once Upon A Princess

Chapter 12 - Shopping

We arrived at the mall that I usually went to, to shop and Caroline must have always loved this mall too but this man might have not come into this one since he might have been staying abroad for quite a long time and this has just been built the moment my brother left. It has already been four years, I guess?

Right then, I stiffen when the man beside me accidentally brushed his hand from mine. He wasn't affected by it but I was... so much so the point that I couldn't move from my seat.

"Nat," Caroline called looking at me in the rearview mirror, and suddenly grinned like a devil when she noticed me as stiff as a stick.

Before we departed from our house, my plan was to seat right next to her, at the shotgun to be exact. For the main reason that I feel like I always become a statue when this man is always around me and being right beside him for a long minute trip will only make me feel like crying but... Caroline insisted that I should just sit at the back for safety purposes or whatever reason but in reality, she just wants me to be right beside him.

"Wear this." She said handing me a cap.

"What's this for?" I asked confused.

"I hate to be swarmed at." She simply answered and also wore a cap on her head.

"How about him?" I asked pointing at the man and just then she handed another cap to him.

"I'm sorry but I don't need it. I am not known as you guys." He said handing it back but Caroline just pushed it to him.

"I also hate attention because you, my man. I know you gain a lot of attention from the ladies and this place... you should be aware that in this mall lurks those ladies may they be young or old. They always get what they want if they say that they want it and those people include us but don't worry at least I won't prey on you." Caroline explained looking at me as if he was referring to those last words to me. Ethan wore the cap immediately because of her warning. He might not really like girls.

It saddens me... a little.

"Alright, let's go!" Caroline said loudly and finally went out of her car.

When we headed inside, the staff bowed at us the moment we stepped our foot in. They might have recognized us but thank goodness that everyone isn't looking in our direction or else they will start to wander and ask who might be us and this shopping will end early without even us buying anything.

"Where are we heading?" I asked Caroline because she went to the other side of the store where all the bikinis are being sold. I usually buy at that store since the other ones in this place don't suit my taste.

"I am looking for someone." She said and wander her gaze around.

Right then, I froze to see who it was and took a glimpse at the man.

Yet, I was surprised when he suddenly hold onto my hand.

"Hi!" Henry said the moment he came to us. He was in disguise too just like us and without any bodyguards with him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked dumbfounded and was about to come near him but Ethan stopped me from doing so, by tightening his grip on my hand. Everyone looked at him because of that.

"Haven't you told him yet?" Caroline asked shocked and I nodded in return.

"What is it?" Ethan asked coldly which sent shivers down my spine causing me to only say one fact.

"He... He already knows that we aren't a couple." I said stealing a glance at him and his face suddenly went dark but right then, he smiled as if it didn't happen.

"Well, alright." He said, letting go of my hand. It surprised me but I recovered quickly and just didn't mind the way he acted. I went to Caroline immediately and pulled her away from the two.

"Why did you invite him?" I asked troubled but Caroline was just calm.

"He isn't here to make some trouble. In fact, he is helping you to get close to Ethan. I texted him before we left your house and now, he is here." Caroline said which literally left me speechless.

"What will he do?" I asked worried but Caroline just tapped my shoulder and pulled me back to the two without answering my question.

"So, are we going to eat first or shop?" Caroline asked the two.

"Shop." The two men said in unison.

"Then... let us shop!" Caroline said as she passed through them and now, we are heading to the store of bikinis.

When we arrived at the entrance, I took a glance at the two men behind and they were just calmly walking. I didn't bother to pay any attention to them anymore and just wander around the moment we came inside.

"Since that, you two are accompanying us to shop, might as well help us too," Caroline said pointing to the bikinis in front of them and I saw Henry become pale while Ethan was still left unfazed and even started to look around the store.

I sighed in disbelief and just looked around too.

After a minute or so, I got to choose maybe five sets of swimsuits while Henry chose three for me and Ethan only chose one.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked the man because it wasn't a swimsuit at all.

It was a rash guard and it doesn't have a panty or shorts but leggings or pants maybe if that is what they are called.

"No. This won't do." Caroline suddenly butted in and snatched the hanger from Ethan's hand.

"Just help her to decide what will be better from her and Henry's choices." She added looking at Ethan disappointed. Though I find it romantic at least because I think that he might be protecting me from other boys if I wear some revealing bikinis that is why he chose this or... is it just he doesn't really know how to choose one?

I glanced at the man who was with Henry, sitting at the corner where people are waiting for those who are fitting their bikinis, and noticed that he looked a bit tired. I should hurry this up now.

"Caroline," I called and she shifted her gaze towards me before going into the fitting room.

"I think I like this one. Do you like it too?" I asked and she nodded with an excited face.

"That will suit you!" She complimented and without notice, she was already in front of me.

"What do you say? Let's go to a beach? At our villa next weekend." She said with such a wide smile on her face and that is when I realized that she has thought of an idea for me to stay longer with him other than being at the house where I rarely see him.

"Let's go!" I answered immediately and she smiled happily as she went to her fitting room while I did too.

I decided to try the red bikini because it suits my skin tone very much but it is so complicated to wear not just because of the straps but also because of the lock that is making me so hard to reach it. When I was about to lock it from behind, I couldn't reach it because it was too low.

"Caroline. I need help." I said to her because she was just on the other side.

"I'm having trouble too, you know. Ask for those men's help." She replied and just before I knew it, someone was already knocking on the door.

"Natalie, you needed help?" The man asked, it was Henry.

"Yes. Can you come inside?" I asked and just after then, the door opened and the man came inside.

He was facing my back because I don't want him to see my body entirely. I quickly put all of my hair onto only one side of my shoulder so that he could easily see where the lock was.

"Help me lock this up," I said, waiting for him and finally I heard his footsteps getting near me then slowly his hand hold onto the lock of the bikini but was hesitating to move any more afterward. I noticed that his hands were cold as if he was nervous or something.

"Hey, you just need to lock it," I said and glance behind me only to find Ethan inside.

I got numb after that and I began to sweat heavily.

"Ahhh...Uhmmm... Can you please lock it?" I asked as if I wasn't troubled with him being with me in this tiny little room.

"Turn around." He answered which surprised me because it was as if he wasn't troubled at all even though I noticed that his hands were cold. I took a glimpse at his face again and noticed that he was just staring at me blankly as if he has seen a lot of naked bodies in his life. I got disappointed and just turn around.

Yet, I accidentally...

"Hnggghh." I moaned when his hand brushed off my back because of the strap that slipped and he quickly reached for it. I looked at him right that instant due to embarrassment and saw his stunned face.

"I... I'm sorry. It's because your hands... your hands were cold." I immediately explained because he might think of something else.

"It's alright. No harm done." He answered which took me aback.

As I have thought... this man will never see me as a woman.

I turn around once again and waited for him to lock my bikini.

Ethan wasn't fazed at all to see my body and also when I moaned.

I can't help but think that in his eyes I am just a spoiled ass kid.

"Still..."

I was about to talk once again but now he cut me off by getting the bikinis hanged at the corner.

"Just buy it all since they looked lovely. Change now, we will add that too." He said as he opened the door and left me dumbfounded.

He... doesn't give a damn about me and that somehow, makes me feel suffocating.