Her Royal Highness

15

My Grandmum called me when we arrived in Santorini. She told me that we will stay here for a week. I want to strangle her. This was an unwanted honeymoon. Does she expect that something would happen between the two of us?
        I dropped my bag when we got in the hotel room. They just packed summer, floral dresses and short clothes. I don't want to wear those kind of things. I saw the bedroom and I was shocked to see only one bed. I turned to James.
        “What the hell is this?” I asked.
        “A bed?” He said. He just stated a mere fact.
        “But why is it just one?”
        “I don't know.” He scratched his scalp. “I'm going to sleep on the sofa, if you want.”
        “I'll sleep on the bed. Are you going to be comfortable on the sofa?”
        “Yeah. I don't have a bed in California before.”
        I rolled my eyes and jumped on the bed. “We need to make this work, James. You are now entitled as my husband and in terms of public life, we need to make it work. I can't be romantically involved with you. Love cannot be intertwined with my responsibilities.”
        “You already told that to me, Jamielle. I know where I stand. And as you know, I'm already in love with somebody.”
        I nodded. “That girl mustn’t mingle with me if you must. And use your own treasures if you're going to shower her with gifts.”
        “Do you think that I would use the country's wealth? I have my own—”
        “I know. I suddenly thought, who is that girl?”
        “Cindy.”
        I don't know why but I felt something in my chest. It was a sharp pang in there. I've never felt this way before.
        “Ah, it was very obvious. Can you lessen the closeness between the two of you whenever we are all together? That would be a big problem if any issues leak.”
        He nodded. “I will keep myself at bay. Have you no relationships right now?”
        “Our relationship is the only thing I had since birth.”
        “Ah, so it is.” He stood up and went straight to the bathroom. “I'll just take a bath.”
        He was still wearing his knitted sweater and slacks. We were still both shaken on this trip. I might want to take a few minutes of sleep. Somehow I feel a little relaxed but nevertheless, that admission of his love for Cindy made me dream about it.

~¤♡¤~

I was drinking my pineapple juice while looking everywhere. I was in a beach here. James was surfing and I was sitting under an umbrella. We rested for a day and here we are trying to enjoy the Santorini atmosphere. The good thing here is the beach was not full with tourists, there were some but not entirely many.
        Santorini was a peaceful place but I'm still struggling on my relaxation. The taunting memory of what James told me never escaped from my head. I tried reading a magazine, it was useless.
        Also, I went green when James went out of the shower with just his boxers on, his hair wet and droplets of water on his perfectly built body. If I was the typical girl you see every day, I'm going to drool all over God's creation in front of me but no, I won't. He is my husband but I have no intentions on crawling on top of him.
        I placed my pineapple juice on top of the beach table beside me. I need to walk around or my butt skin will thicken.
        I took my summer hat and put it on. I walked around the beach. I was wearing a floral two piece bikini. I don't like the pattern and moreover, I don't like showing my body. I was wearing a see-through dress but my body was still bare.
        I went uphill and I heard James calling me. His hair was still wet. He was still wet and I'm bothered.
        “Hey, where are you going?” He asked.
        “Strolling uphill.”
        “With your attire?”
        “I'm half naked not fully naked, James.”
        “Still. Wear something that would make you look presentable.”
        “This is presentable!” I said. I'm very exasperated.
        “Wait here.”
        He ran to the umbrella and took something. He went back and draped his jacket over my shoulders.
        “What the…? I look presentable, James David!”
        “You're not. You are the Crown Princess and showing your body to the public would be the apple of their eyes back in England.”
        “This is the consequence of a royalty, James.” I tried shrugging the jacket off but he puts it back again. “For crying out loud, it is very hot here in Santorini!”
        When I was about to shout at him, he draped his shoulder around me and he put his face near mine.
        “What now?” I muttered.
        “I saw paparazzi. Now, would you want to be a cold bride or what?”
        “Ugh!” I put my sweet fake smile and he pulled his face away from me.
        We went uphill and while walking, we decided that we have to change and take a walk around the city.
        When we finished getting dressed, we went to the city. We both enjoyed the afternoon walk. This was the first time this year that I felt relaxed. Actually since I returned to the Palace from the shabby, I never felt this kind of relaxation. I wish this continues but I'm hoping for so much.
        James brought his camera and I just brought my phone. He was snapping at photos all around the place. He was really good at photography. I must admit that James was a very good company.
        The city of Fira was very great. The festive atmosphere here was very welcoming. I felt so happy here. I danced with the indigenous group. I ate Greek specialty and we walked around Fira. The highlight of the walk was we were walking while holding onto each other's hands. The uncanny thing is that I felt fine with him holding my hand.
        Nobody knew who we were and that was better. Some of the British fellas we saw didn’t mind us and let us continue our stroll.
        Right now, we were in a thrift souvenir shop, looking at little things. James was on the other side looking at the bracelets. I, on the other side, was looking at figurines when I heard James on the counter. I went to him and placed a Santorini house figurine to be checked out.
        “Who’s that for?” I asked pointing at the bracelet he bought.
        “Oh this is for Cindy.”
        Suddenly, my whole day got ruined when I heard her name. Should I care? Of course, I shouldn’t. But why did my day turned gray when he mentioned her name?
        I went to where the bracelets were and took a manly bracelet. I paid for it and slipped it on James’ hand.
        “What’s that for?”
        “My Grandmum would ask how it went. Just show that to her and she’ll be more than satisfied.”
        I marched out of the store not minding James with me. He caught me when I was about to cross the street. He draped his arm around me shoulder but when I shrug it off he just tightens the embrace.
       “What’s for dinner?” He asked.
       “Your intestines, Californian Jerk.”
       “What? Californian Jerk? I’m British-Norwegian and you brand me American?”
        “You grew up there, adapted their culture and their accent. You don’t sound like your father so, you are a grown American. Can you please take your arm off my shoulder? It is heavy.”
        “What? Is that how you think an American is made out of?”
        “Well, mainly, a head, arms, legs and a brain. But you actually don’t have a brain so that makes you half a Californian Jerk.”
        He rolled his eyes. “You have a narrow mind, wife.”
        I pushed him arm off my shoulder. That made me cringe. “Don’t call me ‘wife.’”
        “What are you to me?”
        “Queen.”
        “You’re not yet crowned.”
        “Now what’s your status with me?”
        I rolled me eyes and turned around. I smelled something delicious. I saw an outdoor restaurant, my mouth started to water.
        “Hungry?” He asked.
        “You’re quite noisy today, aren’t you?”
        “Am I?”
        “Yes. Let’s eat or I’ll eat you.”