The Queen & I (WLW)

Chapter 32: 30 Minutes

A/N: New phase, new book cover. Pitch na ba natin for GL movie/series? 😝

Make sure you've read Chapter 31 before hopping into this one (preferably as a late-night read).

Without further adieu, here's the latest.

Enjoy!

💋

———

Amanda's ride up the elevator from the new pool villa to her old floor was filled with nervous anticipation. She was looking at the small display screen and as the number increased, the faster she scratched the sleeves of her thick off-white hoodie.

The bright rectangular screen flashes the number 22 - the silver doors slid open. She sucked her cheeks while drawing in some air as she stepped out of the elevator and into the floor that had become her home for the past few days.

This particular area harvests a lot of memories. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia causes the Thai Queen to smile melancholy - in less than twenty-four hours, her pageant sisters will be departing this place.

The corridor of the twenty-second floor was quiet. Perhaps, the girls were all spent from their short after-party which concluded an hour ago. Amanda looked over at the time in her phone, it's already one seventeen in the morning - she worries if she came too late. She pinched the bridge of her nose before placing the phone inside her black joggers' pocket.

She brisk-walked to reach the front of Rabiya and Aisha's room.

She glanced at her feet and rolled her eyes. In a rush to leave the villa, she had forgotten to change her footwear—she can't go back now to change. She would have to carry on and walk around in a pair of white Hard Rock hotel slippers—talk about how classy the new Miss Universe's choice of footwear is. Just excellent.

Her time was ticking. She had to do it now or miss another opportunity. Amanda decides to knock on the door four times. She takes in a deep breath.

A minute has passed, yet still, there was silence.

Disappointed with herself, the Thai woman presses her palms on the door, followed by her forehead. She shuts her eyes slowly, losing faith in time.

"I'm sorry", she softly whispered as a lone tear escaped one of her already welling eyes. "I miss you".

Feeling adrift, she impulsively pounded her head lightly on the door a couple of times and after a moment, decided to walk away from the wooden barrier that was separating her from the woman who's been occupying more than her thoughts.

She forcefully dragged her heavy feet to leave.

It only took her a few steps when she heard a creaking sound. Her head swiftly turned around - Aisha's head peeked out while yawning.

"Amanda?"

The Thai Queen's eyes widened. She ran back to the front of the room meeting the sleepy Japanese eye to eye.

"What are you doing here? Did you escape or something?", the Japanese surprisingly asked looking at Amanda from the head to her hotel slipper-clad toes. She couldn't believe that the newly crowned Miss Universe was walking around without supervision.

Aisha was bewildered when Amanda suddenly wrapped her arms around and hugged her tight, "thank you".

Confused, she patted Amanda's back, "uh, congratulations?"

The Thai beauty queen pushed herself away from the hug and smiled, "I was about to say—"

"Aisha? Babe, what's happening out—"