Dakota

Flabbergasted

“You must be Dakota, the Astoria Princess!” My thoughts are slightly gotten by a loud guffaw of a beaming stout man. He must be David Obligation. “Yes.” I said. My eyes still locked on the young man’s eyes. I stared at him for like forever, trying to ask, if it was really him. And then the four of us, suddenly silenced by David’s question.

“You look like Silvia, a lot. When she was just Seventeen years old.” He said, astounded and surprised.

“Silvia? As in, Silvia Astoria? My grandmother’s Aunt?” My mom asks, flabbergasted.

I heard about Silvia Astoria before. But I couldn’t pin point what exactly I remember about her.

“Yes. I’m sorry, but I didn’t mention to you, that the reason why our family let you buy this mansion is because my father told me so, when he died. It’s a very long story.” Mr. David’s eyes shifted from relaxed to tremble. While, Alec, he stood still, playing his wine glass within his palms, eyes not meeting mine. For all I know, I just wanted to pull him somewhere, shake him, and ask him to just stay with me. I know I’m being crazy, but that is just what I feel right now.

“Why did your father told you so?” Mom is in total query.

“Mr. David!” Uncle Gabby came towards us, with my cousin Jane. “Let’s just talk about this later, shall we?” Then Mr. David left us, after my mom nodded to him.

Alec stayed in his place, circling the wine in his bottle.                                              “Princess huh?” He suddenly spoke.                                                                                    Should I ask him? Should I go and tell him that what I badly wanted to do now is runaway with him? And be with him forever?   No, I shouldn’t, he might freak out, and for some reasons, his eyes were tired, not intense and smouldering like the ‘Alec’ in my dreams, well, I didn’t know if the name of that guy in my dreams is Alec too. I gulped and breathe before answering;

“Maybe because I’m the youngest, and I’m their favourite, but it doesn’t make sense.” I muttered, as my heart was beating like a drum roll.                                     “I’m Alec Cameron Obligation, nice meeting you, Dakota.” He handed a free hand towards mine, I pushed mine towards his palm. And a roll of shock shot thru me. This isn’t happening. I can feel my muscles spasms because of nervousness, I don’t even know if my legs were still there, because they felt like Jell-O. Once he let go he said, “Is everything alright? You look paler.”

I couldn’t bring a word to say, this is really him. This is the young man that loves me in my dreams, that haunts me when I’m awake. I forced myself to say something. But all I know, everything went black.  

***

There is someone humming near my ear, a perfect lullaby for letting a baby go to sleep. It was the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard. Is that Angels?

“No honey.” The voice said, with a slight chuckle. “Mommy’s here, everything is alright, you fainted.” She stresses out every word. I forced my eyes to open, first thing I saw, is white, then blur, then, the heart shaped face and auburn hair of my mom. I smiled up at her, but frowned when I notice that the room was empty, just me and her. “What happened? Where’s everyone?” I ask. “Everyone is already at the Ballroom Hall, dancing. You had fainted; good thing Alec caught you before you hit the tables.” She said; so much worry in her voice. Alec caught me? Well, I could remember I was talking to him.

“Where is he?” I ask, trying to get up. “I think he’s in your library, he asked if he could see that room. I think he likes you.” Mom said, in her hopeless romantic voice. He likes me, well I love him. I don’t want to be mellow-dramatic but I guess and I know I really love him. The way I stare at him, it was like staring in the soul of your mate. Like seeing a firefly for the first time, like catching a dream. It was very powerful, I want him so bad. Never have I felt this way before. I had crushes, and I had few boyfriends too. But those don’t feel like this.

 “I want to see him, can I?” I ask. “Of course, but do you feel okay now?”

 “Yes.”