Princess Series One: A Cinderella Story

Ninth Shot.

The Princess Series One

A Cinderella Story: Ninth Shot

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Cinderella Tuazon

"Mom, I'm gonna spend the night with her. I miss her, okay?" rinig kong sabi ni Richard. Nasa hagdan ako nun, when I heard him talking. My heart skipped a beat.

Tita Chelsea sighed. "Okay," ani niya. "But please be there tomorrow. Para sa kuya mo."

"Opo, ma. Promise po, dadating ako. Kami, I mean," sagot ni Richard.

"I still can't believe you're dating her!" rinig kong angal ni Cassie. I rolled my eyes.

"It's more believable than you," gritted out Richard at natawa naman ako. They heard me, most probably, kaya naman tuluyan na akong bumaba at nagpakita sakanila. "Sweetheart," tawag niya at nilapitan ako. He grabbed my purse.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Cassie na nakairap sakin. "May problema ba, sis?" I taunted. She just groaned and turned to walk away. I turned to Casper. "Si Gracie?"

He shrugged. "Somewhere," he answered and I shook my head.

"Anyway, we better go ahead, babe," baling ko kay Richard na ngumisi. I hid a glare and just smiled sweetly.

Inakbayan niya ako. "What's the rush, sweetheart?" malambing na tanong niya.

"I have things to do tomorrow, and I need to sleep," sabi ko.

He frowned tapos bumaling na kina tita Chelsea. Nagpapaalam siya and I just nodded meekly, still thinking of my journal.

I was looking for it a while ago. Balak ko kasing iwan dun sa closet ko kasi ayokong dalhin sa condo ko where Rich can see it. Baka isipin pa na I'm one of those girly-corny girls who keeps diaries slash journals. I didn't know why I wanted him to like me--I just do.

I was still silent and in daze nung i-lead ako ni Richard sa kotse niya. I was brought back to reality when I felt his lips on mine for a quarter second. I blinked twice. "Um. Bakit?" tanong ko.

He rubbed his nose against mine and I swooned. "Lutang ka, Erella. Something wrong, girlfriend?" he asked, opening the door to the passenger's seat.

I rolled my eyes. "Wala," sagot ko at pumasok. He chuckled then pinched my cheeks before closing the door. Napasimangot nalang ako.

When he was seated beside me, tinanong niya yung address kaya sinabi ko. Then the ride was silent. That was until my phone started ringing nonstop. Hinanap ko yun and saw Belle was calling me.

"Hey," bati ko.

{ Where are you? } bungad niya and I rolled my eyes.

"On the way sa condo ko. Why, what's wrong?" tanong ko.

{ Makakapunta ka ba bukas? It's at 10am, bi. }

Kumunot ang noo ko at kinuha ko yung planner ko sa purse ko. "Bakit bukas? Hectic ako," angal ko at tinignan ko yung planner ko to see that I have a meeting with attorney Dela Rosa.

{ Sorry, bi. Bukas lang ako free. Pati si Ariel. Alam mo naman na mahirap kumalawa kina Prince at Eric. } she said, apologetically.

I sighed. "Saan ba? Hindi sure. Okay lang ba kung skype tayo mag-usap?"

{ It's really important, bi. Sa Clishique Baguio. }

"Baguio?!" I shouted kaya napatingin saglit sakin si Richard, but I just waved him off. "Ang layo! Galing pa ako ng Maynila nyan."