Once ~ A two-shot

Once : Part one

Once

It started twenty years ago. I was only about 6 years old, too. Once a year, we would meet. Not planned, nor a secret rendezvous, we just met. The place- it was far from where both of us live. Where we lived? The space between each of our homes were double. So each year, we'd meet halfway at that destined party. So, like I mentioned at the beginning, twenty years ago we first met. And damn, was that a first meeting. I ran throughout the back of the Kings garden, holding up my expensive dress with my tiny child hands. There, I see a boy about my age sitting at the trunk of a huge tree reading a book.

"Hey you! Boy! Hide me!"

He barely glances up and glares as I to run the tree.

"What on earth are you doing? And that kind of introduction... Vulgar."

"Eh?!"

He's rather... pompous? Vain? Condescending?

"Oi, girl. You said that out loud."

Yikes. I was about to say something, anything, when a butler came running toward us.

"Lady Lucy! Young Mistress, please come back to the party!"

"No way, Gerard! It's just some birthday party!"

"It is the King's, my lady, and as the Duke's daughter, you must attend. Greet everybody, as your mother does."

"I'm bored of this, Gerard! Sick and tired!"

The boy speaks up from behind me, saying, "Some you are a rude girl, as I presumed. Not even able to take upon your responsibilities.."

I could feel mysel growl and glare, turning towards him.

"And what are you doing here?! You're here for a reason, aren't you?! You're just reading a damn book!"

"The book is physics, might you. And yes, I have a reason. But it doesn't make a difference. I was a bastard son, whether or not I attend doesn't really matter."

This knocked me back. I didn't actually presume this kind of answer.. Gerard grabs my hand.

"I apologize if we bothered you, Sir Hana."

"It was no problem at all, although a certain brat did interrupt my reading."

"Geeze!" I yell, "Stop acting like you're so much smarter than me, we look about the same age!"

Gerard tugs my hand.

"Miss Lucy, Sir Hana is a few months older than you, I believe. Now we must get back to the party."

"Fine. But be prepared, 'Hana'! Next time I see you, you'll get an ear full!"

"I'm already feeling the pain, Miss Lucy."

I huff, turning to go greet relatives and whatnot while he smirks at me and turns back to his book. Although I said that, I didn't run into Hana again for a while. A whole year past and there wasn't a sign of him. I asked about his family, though. It was royal, but he was born from an affair, so he indeed was a bastard child. It took a year to see him, but each time, we'd come across each other in the garden at the King's celebration. It wasn't special though, just bickering or reading by the large tree. I was already 14, and I had arrive at that party once again. I strolled straight through, Mother glancing at me.

"Lucy, dear. Where are you going again?"

"Oh, to the garden I suppose."

"You seem strangely attached to that garden. Is there a reason?"

"What? No, no reason. I'll probably just run into Hana."

"Ah, so a person. A special person?" She smiled at me, a beautiful smile, and I blushed and shook my head, quick to walk away. I proceeded to the garden anyway, wondering that. I always went here, I can't find a reason why. It's only once every 365 days, but why do feelings build up? What feelings? And I ponder this, as I stand in front of a teenage boy who sat there reading an advanced book for our age like I'd expect.

"Oh, Lucy."

"Hello, Hana. Reading as usual."

"These kinds of things are simply easy to read."

"Any luck with colleges? Are you picking a degree? We're teenagers now, after all."

"Not quite.. It's rather complicated. And you? Like you said, we're teenagers. Has your family chosen suitors?"

"Indeed, they have. But, to simply have people chosen then forced upon me feels..."

He was right, Father set me up with Princes and royals and knights. It was weird. I think, I just wanted to fall in love and get married afterwards. I glance at Hana, his dark blue hair shaggy and his matching blue eyes already on the book. He's actually handsome.

"What about you, Hana? Suitors as well?"

"I don't know what's in store for me."

"What a vague answer."

He looks at me and we both start laughing, then he gets up and we begin exploring, seeing the tiny rivers and tons of flowers. Gerard and Mother caught sight and laughed but eventually pulled me away I attended the party, waving goodbye to a chuckling Hana. Two years later, time weighs upon me. Suitors piled up. I get forced into meeting them, constantly wearing pretty dresses and people always styling my deep, dark red hair. All the movement made my head hurt. I notice, when did I first start to anticipate for the Kings birthday every year? Why did I always look forward to it? But it came, and over these two years, I understood. I had feelings built. Slowly, each 365 days, one at a time, for ten years, on a day we meet. I selfishly began feeling something. Now I was 16, and I strolled into the large castle in a nice dress and curled hair with more people greeting me, as I was no longer considered a child. For the first time, in all these years, I ran into him, and he wasn't under the tree. He stood in nice clothing, tall and fit, greeting people as well. I even watched some girls who had the nerve and audacity to come and charm him. I kindly farewell the men that just greeted me and went straight to him.

"Nice to see you, Sir Hana." I greet.

"I feel the same, Miss Lucy." He replies. For some reason, it felt like eyes stayed on us. Like people's stared lingered for a moment as the two of us stood, chatting. We both make our way to the garden.

"Lucy..."

"Hm, what is it Hana?"

I lead my violet eyes to his face that kept his stoic expression.

"I think there's something I should tell you."

Is this my chance? If I said something, would he return my feelings...?

"Me as well. Hana, I believe I-"

"I've gotten married."

My words choke up. My throat doesn't word. What did he just...

"Three months ago. My Father chose a suitor and we were wed. My wife is now pregnant with our child."

No. I didn't see this coming. College? I expected that. To teach and write. That was it. He can't, no, I can't. It's hard. To bear this, it's hard.

"Hana-!"

He's looking at me, ever so gently.

"...Congratulations. I wish you happiness."

He smiles at me, which made it all the more painful.

"Thank you."

"Please, do excuse me."

I pull up my dress and turn towards the other direction, running. I can't really see him anymore, barely hearing his reply. I run past plants, new ones which we had yet to discover, and I stumble. Tears caught in my eyes, hiccuping and crying. In front of me, a hand reaches out. I look up to his sweet, handsome and smiling face. Slowly, he helps me up. I impose, losing myself and hugging him.

"It's okay.."

He doesn't even ask about it. I just look up to his brown eyes, his blonde hair reflecting the sunlight.

"Prince Nathan..."

So the Prince, one of my fathers chosen suitors, was able to comfort me that day..