The Royal Series 02: The Royal Wooing

Chapter 31

LAURICE

"Why are you outside?" I heard Chris so I turned. "Malamig dito."

"It's just for a while. Medyo nalalakasan kasi ako sa audio," I told him.

Chris just stood beside me while I looked up in the sky. It was snowing earlier but now I can see the stars. Not exactly the way you'll see it in the province but there's still a few visible stars.

All I could hear was the muffled sound of the music, the host, and the kids partying inside the villa. When I felt something filling the gaps of my fingers, I leaned onto Chris' shoulder and sighed.

"There's something I want to ask," he said and I hummed in response. "You're scared of loud sounds, so how do you celebrate your new year? You guys do a fireworks display for the new year, right?"

"I stay inside the palace and watch it through the TV. Honestly, I miss watching fireworks but...I can't help it if the sound of it makes me want to cry." I told him. "But really, I miss seeing fireworks."

"It's okay." Chris held my hand tighter. "If I ask you if you want to spend new year with me—"

"Akala ko ba you're spending the holidays in Great Emerald?" I asked him.

"Nakalimutan kong sabihin na Christmas lang. I mean I could have a month long break but that's unfair for the other workers in IC. But the HR didn't want to give me the same break that the others have."

"So you'll be back before the new year?" I smiled and he nodded. "And you want to spend it with me?"

"Ayaw mo?"

My brows furrowed at what Chris said pero he just laughed before putting his arm around my shoulder. I felt a quick peck on my head and I couldn't help but smile.

"Oy mga malalanding nilalang, kaya pala nawawala kayo sa loob."

When we heard Kuya's voice, Chris and I immediately parted. Pagtingin ko kay Kuya magkasalubong yung kilay n'ya but I only raised my brow at him before walking inside first. Though I heard Chris yelp kaya I looked back and I saw Chris holding the back of his head while glaring at Kuya. But when he saw me looking, my eyes widened because he pouted at me.

"Lauren oh, binatukan ako ng kapatid mo."

"Christopher what the fuck?"

I only looked at them briefly before shaking my head and proceeding inside. The sight of the organized venue where kids sat around a table with a few of them walking or running around made me smile. Some of them were making their way to the table where all the sweets and snacks are.

Seeing a lot of them lineup for the fountains with chocolate and white chocolate sauce made me laugh. Then I noticed the kids near me. They were eyeing the cupcake tower and they were pointing to certain characters from Looney Tunes, the party's theme.

"Do you need help?" I crouched down to their level.

Nanlaki yung mata ng isang bata at pinigilan ko matawa kasi it was so cute! This kid is either new to the orphanage or I just haven't met. Unfortunately, there's a lot of kids in the orphanage which is why it's quite difficult to keep track and make names match with the faces.

I carried the kid naman after n'ya sabihin na hindi n'ya maabot yung character na gusto n'ya and I did the same to the other.

Really, it felt like a workout since I had to squat down a lot then someone else carried the next kid. Nakita ko si Chris and then si Kuya na binuhat yung iba pang kids na lumapit who could not reach the Looney Tunes character cupcake that they wanted. They were talking to them and all I could do was just smile but then I noticed something.