The Royal Series 02: The Royal Wooing

Chapter 18

LAURICE

"Huh?" My brows furrowed kaya napatingin ako kay Vannie. "You applied to a med school in Great Pearl?"

"Same reaction," Hadley laughed. "Hindi pa ata nakaka-move on. Ang alam ko kung saan s'ya nag-apply doon nag-aaral ngayon yun eh."

"Excuse me? Nandon man s'ya o wala, maga-apply ako! That school is one of the top 50 medical schools in the world. He's got nothing to do with it," Vannie retorted while rolling her eyes and throwing a pillow to Hadley. "And for your information I applied to all the top 10 schools! Tsaka kung papasok man ako ron, graduate na s'ya."

"Well, you did get into medicine because of him," I blurted out and I was the next to be hit by the pillow. "But what about your gap year? I thought you were going to have a gap year."

"I can have some fun naman habang hindi pa nagsisimula. Gusto ko lang talaga matakasan yung politics, at ikaw kasi eh!"

"Me?" I asked while pointing to myself.

"Nag-open to dating ka kaya ang daming na rin nagtatanong sa akin. Ilan na rin yung dates na pinuntahan ko."

"Ay ako rin, pero 'di ko bet."

"If there was anyone to blame it would be Tori kasi s'ya nauna? She got married before she even got her diploma?" I said.

"May point but majority of the nobles, businessmen, and politicians know it's to strengthen their military power."

Because of what Vannie said, napaisip ako and then shrugged my shoulders. Great Amber's artillery did improve kasi I heard na since Tori and Clinton got married, a lot of crazy rich people offered to provide or sponsor their military with what they need. Although they might not need it in the near future.

Queen Charlotte Jones called for a ceasefire and since then, in talks yung peace treaty nila. That will definitely take years since their countries have been at odds for decades, almost a century na nga. It honestly makes me glad that my country isn't at war with anyone.

I might find myself in another arranged marriage and things don't work out the same for everyone. But I'm glad things worked out for Tori.

"Pero ano tingin mo sa dalawang dine-date mo ngayon?" Hadley asked as she put a pillow for her stomach to lie on.

"They're nice."

"Nice? Come on Lauren, you know that's not the answer we want."

"I don't know, okay?" I sighed and leaned on the head board.

"Hmm," Vannie hummed and laid on her side by my right foot. "Gan'to na lang, who do you enjoy spending more time with?"

"Both are enjoyable naman kasama," I answered.

But I think there's one of them I enjoy being with more...I think.

I don't really want to think about it because if I think of it, I know I would not be able to help myself from comparing things with Dominic. Kasi even if I have decided to let go of Dominic, it's not that easy. There's still times when I would blank out when I'm with Chris or Philip, I'll find myself thinking of Dominic.

How we used to go on dates when we managed to match our scheduled conferences or when he or I went to each other's country. And I'd rather feel than think.

"You still miss him," I heard Vannie say.

"Hmm?"

"Alam mo, pansin namin na minsan napapahawak ka sa leeg mo," Hadley said. "Akala ko nung una nangangati ka lang pero nakita ko na after...machugi ni Dominic, ginawa mo pala na kwintas yung engagement ring n'yo."