(a/n: you might have noticed that i've taken down ANWO. it's a harsh decision on my part because it paved the path for this story, however my school schedule is getting more and more hectic so i decided to retain this one based on reader count. but don't worry i still have ANWO in my desktop together with the unpublished chapters and when break starts i will published it again. as for this, you might have read that i intend to publish this chapters on September 10 but unfortunately i got a copy of our school schedule and it's the worst, i only have Sundays for rest TT_TT. so i am going to publish the September share. just wait for the next chapter after our midterm..........yep it'll be after our midterm which will be *cough* on October. again i ask for your understanding guys, my profs are way stricter this year so i can't screw up on my studies this time.)
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"here miss, let's drink the night away as we celebrate and lament how you found and lost your crush at the same day" I almost gave Alexei a straight kick but Gram beat me to it when he knocked him on the head. "ouch!"
"Serve's you right" Mason said as he retrieve the root beer Alexei place in front of me and replaced it with iced tea. The five of us are hanging out on the pool side, its already dusk. brother's with father and mother talking about something while Kana went to check a relative who just check in recently so I am hanging out with my body guards.
"are you okay?" Hugh ask and I nodded "its okay, you're still young so you'll have another chance in the near future"
"I am okay, no need to fuss over me. besides it's not like I was heartbroken or anything" I walk to the pool and sat on the edge dipping my feet on the water as I look up at the sky, stars had already started to litter it. Looking at it I suddenly remember the one picture sent to me by my informant when I asked him to send me something he's interested in and he sent me a picture from the internet of the constellation Virgo.
"its good that you're finally smiling" I look up and saw Gram looking at me with worry
"I've told you already I am fine" I stand up
"Catherine?" I turn to the left and see a familiar looking woman smiling as she walk towards me. it's Leila Takano, the king's mother!!!! "what are you doing here? are you waiting for someone?"
"ummm.....no ma'am I am just passing the time here" she smiled at me and somehow I can't help but think on how did they managed to birth an unfeeling son like Ryuuji when his parents have a very relaxed and smiling countenance.
"no need to call me ma'am, you can just call me auntie or if you like I would not also mind it if you can call me mom" if the word 'auntie' surprised me the word 'mom' shocked me.
"ummm....." I look around me for help but aside from my bodyguards who are standing at a discreet distance no one is around us
"oh...you look cute looking flustered" oka-----y..... she suddenly hugged me that I became rigid in an instant. "you said you're just passing the time right?" she asked after she let go, I nodded in answer "good, then why not accompany me"
"eh?"
"come, let's have a girl bonding" before I could utter a single word I am already being dragged away by her.
"from the time Catalina had talked about you I've been wanting to meet you ever since" turns out Ryuuji's mother want me to accompany her shopping "she's always ranting about how her daughter is suddenly starting to become a tomboy"
"eh?"
"Catalina dreams of having a girly daughter that she could play dress up with" I remember those bunch of shopping bags from France and Australia that mother always bought every time she went abroad that contains tons of clothes for me and how mother always made me do a small fashion show for her. Thank god those started to ease when I reach middle school, although she still loves to buy me clothes and shoes, she never let me do a fashion show anymore. "so when you started taking interest in sports she have been telling me that you've been heavily influence by your brother" she took a dress and lift it on my direction "then my husband started telling me about Jirou's daughter, about how she cooks for him and give him homemade valentines chocolates" she giggled and I can't help but feel shy "it makes me more determined to meet you" she took another dress and lift it on my direction again "and I am glad I finally did today" she went to the other aisle and check their clothes. "here, try this Catherine" she put the clothes she'd pick on my hands and gestured the sales lady to usher me on the changing room
"ummm....auntie?" I ask not sure of what is happening
"go and try them. let's check if they fit you perfectly" I would've want to decline but the look of excitement in her eyes is the same with how mother look at me every time she asks me to wear the clothes she'd bought so I went to the dressing room.
The two women visited five boutiques in a span of three hours before Leila had finally said enough to their shopping spree and tell Catherine that they will be going back to the hotel. When they reach the hotel its already past nine that she invited Catherine to have dinner with her first before going back to her room.
"did you have fun?" she asked me after we've said our order.
"yes" I said finally relaxing around auntie, i've finally relaxed around her after I've started to notice similarities with her and mother. Like how she got excited when I wear the clothes she pick and how she smile triumphantly every time things got on her way. I've also enjoyed our shopping trip halfway through it that I've indulged auntie on buying me things although I am freaking out inside when I saw their prices. Just one dress can feed me for a month but I can't actually say no to auntie since she always insist on buying me things. I just shove my frugality for a while, while I keep repeating in myself to ignore the prices.
"I am really glad I had this time with you. I've always wanted to have a daughter but I only have sons, although I love them, a son is still different from a daughter" if I remember it right the Takano had two son, Ryuuji's brother is a graduating college student and on the manga he also doesn't get along with Catherine. "Raijin And Ryuuji is cute but I can't actually play dress up with them" I can't imagine the king playing dress up, just thinking about it is enough to give me a head ache. "so I am glad that I have Catherine"
"?????"
"hey, Catherine" auntie suddenly grasp my hand and lift it while looking at me with stars in her eyes "why not be a part of our family?"
................BOOM!!!!!!!!
I could practically hear an explosion in the background after auntie delivered her words. I feel like fainting...no more like I feel like I am about to suddenly collapse from shock and come down with a fever. I am having a nightmare.....right!!! maybe this is a nightmare I just need to wake up from this. wake up! wake up! WAKE UP!!!!!!
"Raijin is a year older than your brother so he's out of the picture, so what do you think of being Ryuuji's fiancé?"
.................CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This time I could practically see a lightning on the background. This is pandemonium!!!!! Be the king's fiancé?? No!!!!!!! I don't want to be covered in frost with that king's icy glare. And auntie what kind of nonsense are you spouting?! someone take me away from here!!!!!
"so? What do you think of becoming my son's wife?"
BANG!!!!!!!
This time I feel like I am being hit by countless bullets. Auntie why did it suddenly escalated to wife? I don't have a heart disease but I feel like having one right now with the way our conversation is leading to.
"ummm...auntie"
"yes?" I mentally winced when auntie look at me in expectation
"ummmm.......i...I think w-we shouldn't talk about this things yet, after all I am still in middle school furthermore isn't it better to let Ryuuji choose his own partner" just wait for the arrival of the heroine auntie then you can play dress up with her day and night, twenty four seven.
"hmmmmm......" I silently delivered a prayer to all the saints and gods from every known nation I've learned in history to help me on this predicament while I wait for auntie's decision "hmmmm.......i guess you have a point" hallelujah!!!!!! Whew!!!! I am saved! I almost tear up in relief when I heard auntie's reply "then let's just wait for you to graduate in middle school before we talk about this again" no!!!!!!!!
"what happened with you? you look like hell and what's with your room being so cold" Kana look me up and down when I open the door for her when she came knocking this morning. I had the worst night yesterday when auntie Leila started talking about wedding plans for me and Ryuuji that I even had a nightmare about it making me unable to have a peaceful sleep.
"I did not sleep last night"
"why? What happened? is it because of Jude?" I massage my temple and stop when I heard Kana. Ri---ght I did not even think about him anymore...no, more like I've forgotten about him because I was too preoccupied on stopping auntie in her future plans about me and king that I have no time to think about anyone
"no, its not about him"
"then what made you look like a wreck? You're so pale and your eyes looks red and sunken aside from those dark shadows under it"
"I've experience the worst nightmare of my life that I did not even had a wink of sleep" I sneeze before going back to my bed, snuggling under my blanket.
"are you okay?" Kana sat on my bed and took the remote and turn the temperature up. I am too preoccupied last night that I did not even managed to turn the aircon in a reasonable setting. No more like I did not even notice my surroundings last night that I did not know where the conversation end and how did I end up in my room.
"I don't feel okay" I took one pillow and hug it
"you're burning up!" Kana said after feeling up my forehead "what did you do last night?"
"hmmm....." looks like the scare last night made me sick.
"stay here, I am going to call brother Clyde"
"mmmmm....." I close my eyes and hug my pillow tighter.
"cold!" I slap the cold thing resting on my forehead before I snuggled under my blanket but it returned forehead making me open my eyes "its col—" my eyes widen in disbelief when I saw him looking down on me while holding a cold patch "y-y-you....." what are you doing here? since when did you came? Those questions keeps circulating on my mind but they never came out. Lord why is the personification of my nightmare here in my room right now? I feel like my fever's going to suddenly rise up again.
"sleep" one single word before he put the cool fever on my forehead but I did not heed him instead I followed him with my gaze and I almost weep when instead of going out he just took a seat on the sofa and casually read a book. Why aren't you going out?
"Catherine" a feeling of relief flooded my system when I saw brother and Kana enter the room "you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" Kana placed the plastic bag containing something on the center table while brother sat on my bed.
"I feel weak and sluggish" I hug his waist and placed my head on his lap while brother placed the thermometer on my mouth
"bear with it for a while, looks like you have a Summer fever" he took the thermometer "thirty-eight degrees. Do you feel hungry?" I shake my head "then at least eat some so you could take your medicine" I shake my head and snuggle closer to my brother
"it's rare to see Catherine acting so spoiled like this" I look up at Kana who is looking at me teasingly then she pointed at Ryuuji, I almost forgot that he's also in my room, making me widen my eyes. What's more he's looking at me with those cold eyes of his that looks so angry it made me shiver in fear
"ummmm....i am going to eat after-all brother" I stop snuggling brother and tried to sat up right but because I am feeling weak to my bones i can't even sat straight so brother helped me
"no need to force yourself, wait here for a while" brother went out while I look questioningly at Kana who just shrugged her shoulders, luckily Ryuuji had turn his attention back on his book when brother went out
"umm....aherm......kin—I mean Ryuuji" when he look at me again this time with his unfeeling and cold eyes I almost hide under my blanket "w-why are y-y-you here?" I mean I can't think of any reason why he would suddenly be here in my room, after-all we only had a few conversation and we're not even friends more like he's my one sided enemy!
"my mother and auntie Catalina asked me to look after you"
"umm....t-there's no need to look after me a-anymore, af-after-all m-my brother and friend are here"
"I know but I still prefer to stay here, it's more peaceful since there's no noisy girls around" he then look at me "looking after a cat is better than hearing incessant chicks" what do you take me for??? a pet? And don't treat my sick room as your sanctuary!!!!!
I look helplessly at Kana but the expression on her face tells me that she seems to be enjoying my discomfort. What kind of friend are you???
"anyway where are father and mother?" I'll just ignore him, I'll pretend that he's just air
"uncle is conducting a business meeting, brother Clyde and auntie Catalina decided not to let uncle know about you being sick"
"how about mother?" well I could pretty much understand their reason, after all father always love to fuss over me when I am sick that I tend to get worst when he's the one taking care of me.
"she's with Ryuuji's mother, they were here a while ago but because you're asleep you did not get the chance to see them"
"I understand. Anyway, you also don't need to be here, after brother will give me my medicine you can just leave me as I will be sleeping this fever away" I feel bad that I had to burden Kana like this when she deserve to enjoy this vacation too.
" I know, but I'll wait until you're asleep" the door opens and brother came holding a tray with a glass of milk and a small covered pot.
"here take this" I accepted the pill and a glass of water as brother carefully place the contents of the tray on my bedside table. "just rest okay, I'll take care of father" I smiled at brother. "Kana, Ryuuji you can now go, I'll take care of my sister" Kana nodded and left the room after waving goodbye at me while Ryuuji remain seated. "Ryuuji, I know auntie ask you to look after Catherine but I am already here"
"I know but I don't feel like going out yet" hey, this is my room don't treat it as yours
"don't you have any plans?" brother's smiling face did not even falter, brother's really patient compared to this stubborn king
"no, I don't have plans, so looking after her is not a bother"
"but your friend Aoi is looking for you"
"do you want me to leave?" I want you to leave!!!! Brother make him leave I don't feel comfortable with him around. I yawned as the medicine starts to kick in
"no, I just don't want to waste your time"
"don't worry my time is not being wasted. After all taking care of a sick cat is much more productive" I did not get their words anymore as I am slowly being pulled to sleep.
"do i have to throw you out?" i think i heard brother's voice...........but i feel sleepy.....
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Raijin: what a plain looking girl
Kana: what an arrogant looking man
Raijin: *smiling* I like you
Kana: I very much like myself too
Raijin: *smiling more*
3_FM