Photograph

The one with the neighbor - 2

M

Michelle is not really hiding because if she really is, she won't rent one of the biggest apartment in the province using her corporate card. Because after all, she is the heiress of the biggest company in the country right? She can use some of its perks.

The moment she landed, she received a message from her dad asking why she used the card to book a place miles away from them. Michelle, bored, said she needed time away and needs some "creative break to fully immerse herself for business soon" after all, her dad and his group of employees are adamant for her to take business course in college, with no remorse of what Michelle truly wants: art.

Being rich has its own perks. An example is buying a converted maserati. Thanks to her bestfriend's boyfriend, she could hook up with such nice cars in such a short amount of time.

Michelle haven't smiled this wide since she was in this interview with her parents, the camera man tried to calm her down when she was crying so he let her touch the camera and play with it a little bit before shooting for a magazine cover for her and her parents. She was 12 back then.

She took a deep breath and realized how long it has been since she was truly free. No one is breathing down her neck, pressuring her to study the ins and outs of the business.

Michelle arrived in a duplex kind of apartment by the beach front. A wall dividing a modern beach house into two. The two houses are totally separate from each other unless you step out to the beach. She didn't event bother to sort her stuff out and went to stretch her long figures on the beach, her toes touching the fine sand.

Her phone rang and it was her best friend, Rhian who sent her a message. She just learned she's in the province because of her newly purchased car. "You brought your cam?"

"Of course I did, Rhi" she replied.

"Well, I hope you find your much needed peace. You call me when you need anything, okay?"

"Will do wifey!" After reassuring her friend, Michelle throw her phone nearby and soaked herself to the peace she always wanted.

A

The Philippines is a very special place for Anntonia. This was the last country she ever visitied with her mom when was a kid. A place where felt she was just a regular kid, not the princess, not the heir to the throne.

Being next in line, the pressure of taking over an entire nation is both an honor and a very big responsibility. She knew all along her destiny and she really doesn't have any choice but to follow the pre determined one for her.

But for the last few years, it has been rough for Anntonia. A terrorist group were trying to bring down the monarch back home and a tsunami almost wiped out her whole nation. As the next queen, she had to show people how strong she is so when it is behind the doors of her room, she becomes a really different person. She sometimes joked that she's like a robot, operating in a mere 'need' a battery.

The last straw for her to decide to run away was when she accidentally saw a photo of her and her mom. She couldn't handle the pain anymore with how long she has been holding the strong facade. She wanted the pain to stop. Going to this country, she have a big hope that she can turn her life around, finding her purpose, or maybe finding the joy of her traveling down the path she needs to take.

She arrived in the Philippines short after she ran away from the castle. Her brother told her that their father saw her message and could not blame Anntonia for wanting to have some time off alone. He really just hoped that after a month she will be back stronger than ever to be ready to take over their country.

Her brother, the ever so responsible and dependent person booked her a nice home by the beach. He said he figured he wanted the best scenary the place could offer. She sometimes thought why was she born first when her brother is literally the best person to take over the throne instead.

She took a very deep breath and felt free for the very first time in years. She couldn't remember her time here in this same place, but she remembers the happy feeling and memories. She was 11 at that time.

She heard a loud rumble of what it seems a sports car outside. She assumed it's her neighbor because after all, the house is a duplex one. She doesn't mind at all, because she has no plans on talking to anyone. She is a real monarch but she assumes no one will know her because she is from a small country in Asia. Aside from the international talk the time of the tsunami, her country is not really the talk of the world. And for the first time, she is glad that it is the case.