XXXIV

XXXIV

I did not listen to what he had said. I walked away without minding to go in his car and went back to the palace alone. I had no freaking idea where he would go, but wherever it was, my heart broke from the reality that I was only his secondary priority.

Yes, he was a prince. There were a lot of things on his back he needed to carry. However, women had this kind of instinct. They knew when a man was lying or telling the truth. I was one of them. I had no doubt that Prince Alexander's meeting was not just an ordinary government meeting. It was more imperative than that. I just wanted to be with him, but it seemed like he felt different.

Since Christmas season was a month and half away, the city was filled with colorful lights. I strolled on the pavement, I did not know where I should go or where this path ended, but I continued to walk. People around me had their loved ones with them while they were busy eating in restaurants or visiting a park. I was alone, my family was not here, and the only person that made me feel better, drove me away.

A tear fell on my eye when my surprise confession crossed my mind. It was supposed to be in my room, where all the cards I made last night occupied my bed. All cards were heart shape or there were hearts drew on the cover. It contained all the poems about love I researched from the internet. Then, there were ten bigger cards, where a heart between my name and his were written on each card.

Together with the cards were the petals of two dozen of roses. Scented candles shaped a heart in the middle of my room, and inside it was red candles formed with the answer he wanted from me, YES. Supposedly, I would light it once we were done with our dinner. But it seemed like, there would be no dinner, and no confession would happen.

-----

I entered my room and immediately cleaned up all the cards, roses, and candles. There was no reason anymore to display these things in my room. I felt tired all of a sudden when I started cleaning my bed. I had no sleep because I forced to finish my plan. What he did to me was more than rejection.

All I wanted was to sleep. So, after I put all in several paper bags, I laid down on my bed, not thinking to change my clothes. I was too damn tired, physically and emotionally, including mentally. I might end up to the asylum if I kept on dreaming that Prince Alexander would change because of me.

The ringtone on my mobile phone killed the deafening silence. Wait, my mobile phone? He did not return it to me since Paulo and I had some time in the London Eye. How come it was ringing in my room?

The sound was still playing when I decided to sit up and opened my lids. I possibly slept for less than an hour. I felt ache in my head and it was hard for me to prevent my eyes to shut again. I walked my gaze to see where the ringtone was coming from. I stopped when I saw it on my study table.

I was right, it was my antic phone that disturbed my rest. Nobody was calling me, it was only an alarm clock. It would not stop if I did not click the dismiss button.

No choice, I stood on the ground and walked to the table where all my paper works were waiting for me. I held the phone near the edge of my table and clicked it to stop its loudness. I was wondering why it was here, when two messages popped out. They all came from the contact name, 'A.J.P.L.'

I chuckled, knowing it was only a dream. Duh, my phone was mysteriously placed here, then Prince Alexander texted me. I did not remember I saved his number. To assure my conclusion, I pinched my cheek...and it hurt. Same with my other cheek and both arms, even my tummy. Oh my gosh, I was not dreaming.

Without a second thought, I viewed the SMS, which was both received today at seven PM. The two had same messaged,

'Let's have dinner at 7:30 in the Bel Canto restaurant.'

If I was not mistaken, I had arrived at the Palace at exactly eight thirty. I had drifted off probably one hour after, and now, I was standing here at five minutes before eleven PM.

My body trembled at thinking he might wait for me to arrive at that place during the time all I sought was to remove all his brain cells. If only I could play the time backward, I had checked my table when I came in earlier. What I could not understand, why he did not tell me that he had already returned my mobile phone.

I ran my hands through my face up to my hair. I brought my mobile with me and sprinted out of my room. In palace, no one should run because you might stumble or you might meet the royals in the hallway. But I did not care, my steps were faster and bigger than the normal until I exited the gate.

Thankfully, a cab immediately stopped in front of me and I climbed in. I told him to bring me to the Bel Canto restaurant quickly.

I did not bring anything, except for my mobile phone and money in my pocket. I forgot to bring a coat because of the adrenaline rush and worries. Why I was coming, anyway? He might already leave. That man had a lack of patience. He would never ever wait for a woman.

Once the cab stopped just outside the Italian restaurant, I gave the driver a tip and got out. The 'close' sign on the door greeted me. I held the doorknob, doubting that he was still here. My chances were possible and impossible. Possible that he already left three hours ago, and impossible that he was still waiting for me.

I turned the knob and entered the glamorous restaurant. No one was here except for the staff who began to clean the tables. I looked around to see some hopes, and fortunately, I saw a bouquet of roses on a table. I did not mind what these people were thinking about me, I got near that table and held the bouquet.

There was a small card bundled with it. I opened it to see his own handwriting: For Shirley, my love.

I sobbed. I put the bouquet on my face to hide my wet cheeks because of the unstoppable streaming of my tears.

"He already left," I murmured.

At first I did not hear a guitar playing on my background due to my sobs. But, it became louder especially when a voice sang along with it.

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

I faced the stage, even though my vision was blurred, I could recognize the man playing the guitar, and, at the same time, singing the song entitled I won't give up by Jason Mraz. The shock eased in just a few seconds. There were a lot of events to be shocked right now.

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well, there's so much they hold

And just like them old stars

I see that you've come so far

To be right where you are

How old is your soul?

The cleaners were nowhere to be found, but I did not give a piece of my attention to them. I did not know if I was going to stay here, or go there and kiss him. He just continued to sing, giving me the best feeling happened in my life.

Well, I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

I smiled at him, while he was serious showing his talent. I could not believe that he could sing this beautiful. He was the most handsome singer.

He watched me intently, when he crooned the next lyrics.

And when you're needing your space

To do some navigating

I'll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

My anger, worries, and everything lost in the world him and I only knew. All I felt was the happiness exploded in my entire human body and my love for him.

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up

This time, I walked to the stage. He raised to greet me while holding his microphone to continue his song. Someone got his guitar, and there was a man not too far, also playing a guitar. He embraced me by his free arm. I hugged him, feeling his warmth, and how his chest vibrated due to his music.

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily

I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make

I finally recovered myself from this overwhelming plus unbelievable happening. I sang with him, while looking up at his gorgeous stares.

Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use

The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake

And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend

For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn

We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in

I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

The backup singer continued the song, and Prince Alexander gave me a bone crushing hug. He removed the bouquet between us and placed it somewhere. I buried my face in his chest. I felt he kissed my temple.

"I won't give up, Shirley, on us. Never," he stated while we moved on the tempo of the song.

Our gazes met once I gave him more view of my certainly-disaster-face. He held my cheeks and his thumbs brushed the continuous flow of tears.

"Why are you crying?" he gave me an apologetic look, "You don't want what I did."

I shook my head abruptly, "It's too good to be real," I cried, "I'm afraid that it's only a dream."

He leaned closer, his hand slid down on my neck, "It's not a dream, babe. You're my dream, but you're here now. Giving me life. Hope. Thank you for coming here to make everything clear and right for me."

I held both his arms. I sighed, collecting all my confidence, "I have something to say, too." He did not respond, so I continued, "I want to be with you until my last heart beat."

He playfully smiled, "I know."

My forehead wrinkled, "How did you know?"

"In your room," he answered casually, "The cards, candles, roses. I never thought I would see those things this noon in your sanctuary. It amazed me."

Of course, the mobile phone. He was not able to put it there without seeing my surprise confession. It was not a surprise anymore if my plan was not broken by his own surprise for me.

"I read all of them, that's why I was late earlier in the report," I put a disbelieving stare on my face, "Sorry, babe, your plan not happened tonight. But believe me, all the cards are sweet and romantic, I want them all to paste on my room's wall."

I smacked his chest before leaning again on it, "So, you set up me. You left me in the gym. You're the one who placed my mobile phone in my room and set it to alarm..." I return my gaze on him, "Wait, are you waiting here since seven PM?"

He grinned, "No. Part of my trap. I made sure that you'll read my message late, so you would come here no matter what happened."

"How sure you are?" I questioned, "What if I did not come because I was thinking that you had already left?"

"Of course, there is Plan B," he whispered, "But, you still came, that's my one and only goal."

I frowned, "You know what, I was really angry earlier because, I thought you went somewhere to meet your ex or mistress."

Prince Alexander hushed me and moved his hand up and down on my back, "I'm glad that my acting worked, but I'm sorry that I made you mad again. When you caught me after the report and the game, I was having a phone call with the manager of this restaurant to arrange everything for me. It's hard to hide all of these to you."

"You still succeed, and spoiled mine," I pulped my lip, like a kid who was not given a gift during her birthday.

He ran his thumb on the side of my mouth, "I did not spoil it. Your effort is not wasted. I'll put everything in my room once we return to the palace."

I smiled and squeezed him again, "I don't know that you're such a good singer."

"I can be anything for you, Shirley, even a dancer of hip-hop, if you want," he said.

I giggled. Imagining Prince Alexander did hip-hop. He tightened his arms around me. His breathing on my hair gave me the assurance that he was not a fantasy, or what happened at this moment was true.

"Continue the music," he spoke to the singer on the back corner of the stage, "Don't watch us. Close your eyes or place it on the other direction."

Prince Alexander held my chin, after a few seconds, and tilted my face so our noses touched each other. His warm exhale seemed like the oxygen I inhaled. He settled his lips on mine, fitted it on the most romantic way. He was gentle, yet passionate kisser this time. He made me feel how his love really meant.

He was Prince Alexander, the man I fell in love with. He was not an ordinary prince like those who were written in the fairy tales. He loved to control women or owned them, but now, I owned him forever. He was mine and I was his. We had a lot of flaws, but our love for each other made us almost perfect. For me, he was perfect. He was the missing piece of my puzzle. This was my life with the prince...before he proposed.

"Shirley, marry me ."

(A/N: I won't give up video at the side. Also, Prince Alexander's picture.)