belle of the ball

chapter ten

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: MENTIONS OF KISSING AND ABUSE ⚠️

"him or me?"

"what?! that's not fair! you can't make me pick! i.. i love you both!"

"so you expect me to go back and forth with my father over you?"

"that's not what i said!"

"but that's what you want!"

i stare at megumi, he was right. though i could never admit it it was what i wanted. i want the both of them but i know i can't have that.

megumi stares back at me, he's waiting for me to deny it. but he knows i can't, i can't bring myself to do it and honestly i don't know if i want too. megumi stands up from his seat by the infirmary bed; snatching his hand from mine i call after him but to no avail. he storms out of the room, i found myself fighting with him and toji a lot. maybe i shouldn't be with either one of them. or maybe going through with the wedding was the more noble thing to do my life was a mess and im hating every second of it.

after a few more check ups and test i was released, i wondered around the halls till it was dinner time this was going to be awkward.. i knew it.

i open the door and peek my head in seeing toji and megumi sitting there just eating and making small talk, it's weird how they were just talking so.. normally? did they fight a lot? i slowly enter their eyes wandered to me and both their faces dropped and the room felt ice cold. was i the problem? i took my seat between them to see my plate already had food on it i began to pick at the broccoli on the plate not having much of an appetite.

we all sat in silence, though i was distracting myself by picking at the food instead of actually eating it i somehow managed to finish my meal first. the two boys were too busy starting at me like lost puppies. i stand up; excusing myself.

i didn't want to interact with either of the boys; i was in fear of causing yet another argument. i thought of going to the gardens but they would probably look for me there first. i decide to go to the castles libary, i haven't been here much this would be the last place they would look from me. i walk around trying to pick a book, i find one at the edge of the shelf picking it up. i open the cover to see a bookmark it seemed someone had already read this before me. i wonder who read it.. i smile as i think of all the hands that have touched this book before mine; the fingertips of others flipping the pages. i sit down at the window my back against the cool glass i begin reading the first page.
hours feel like minutes and minutes feel like seconds, the only reason i notice time passing is because the light in the library is slowly dimming but i don't care. i'm engrossed within this book, i felt a connection between myself and the love interest i was about halfway through the book when i heard the library's door creek open.

"pride and prejudice hm? i finished this one recently. i think you'll love it ...princess"

"..i suppose you're not mad at me anymore?"

"i was never mad, i think i was just a bit overwhelmed. i'm sorry princess. i try not to argue with you but at times i feel my emotions get the best of me and so.. i'm sorry."

he looks down at me his eyes were apologetic i could tell he was truly sorry. i mean he was my age of course his emotions would get the best of him... i couldn't expect him to be as mature as toji could be. yet again he was barely an adult himself, after laying his hands on me i wasn't sure i should forgive him, but everyone deserves second chances. i had given megumi many chances so toji should get one too; right?

"well.. i suppose it's alright, i'm not too upset either, thank you.. handsome."

my face reddens as i call megumi handsome, how could he not get flustered when calling me princess? his face also reddens spreading to his ears. he chuckles a bit.

"say that again?"

"n-no way!"

"cmon.. please.. princess?"

there was that pet name again.. he leans down to my level and strokes my hair but i still shake my head no. unfortunately for me my words juxtapose my actions.

"i- i called you handsome.."

"you think i am?"

i slowly nodded my head, looking away from him.  his hands travel from my hair to my chin tilting my head up forcing my eyes to his he slowly leans in before kissing me.

he holds me tenderly as our heartbeats sync. the sun is shining in through the window and though my eyes are closed i can see the orange hue, i can see into the future it's our wedding, it's us and our child, and i can see his love for me it's here in the room with us; it's what's pushing us together. this moment is what made all these past few months worth it. every hardship we had to face made our love grow.

TIME SKIP: 3 MONTHS!!

months has passed, things had gotten better between megumi and i. we spent most of our time together; we have picnics, strolls through the garden, reading together, touring through the village and more.

while on the other hand toji and i's relationship wasn't thriving as it was supposed too, it was strange and uncomfortable. i spent as little time with him as possible and though i was trying to forgive him i just couldn't move past it. the day in the cave was engraved into my mind megumi assured me that it was okay that i couldn't find it in my heart to forgive him, he said that we were meant to be and his father wasn't needed anyways. i'm not sure what to do or who's side to be on if there was any to be on anyways..

the two constantly bickered on who should have me, they both constantly tried to impress me and coax me to their side. but i always felt a bit of sense of unease when this happened but in my head i knew who i wanted. and i was going to let him know soon.

TYSM FOR READING!!! i've been super burnt out but i'm better now:)) the story's coming to an end probably by the end of may/june? so i'm going to start wrapping things up on all drama and work on the falling action to get an happy ending for our characters
word count: 1159
weekly updates every thursday!!