The Princess's Guardian

4

I wake up to the noise of my phone, indicating that someone texted me. I groan when I try to read the message from my older brother inviting me over for another hockey practice after school with a smaller group of friends. 

Since I was suspended from school, I got to laze around until the hockey practice today. 

By the time I manage to kick myself out of bed, it's noon and Sunny texting me asking if I have any plans for lunch. Knowing my best friend, she's probably done with her physics test and want to rant to someone about it. I also know that she feels lonely without my presence since her shy nature prevents her from making close friends in school. It still surprises me how far I've wiggled into her tender heart after all these years.

Since my brother took the car to his classes today, I have no choice but to walk to school to meet up with Sunny. I decide to bring my hockey stick along and small backpack with some water bottle, a small aid box and towel in it just so I can straight go to hockey practice after lunch with Sunny.

"Are you sure you can play with those bruises?" Sunny asks me the moment she sees me approaching.

I roll my eyes. "I've played with worse injuries and I need to exert my aggression towards something."

"Gods know that Adam would have sported a broken bone if you hadn't bruise your knuckles," Sunny says with amusement. The both of us start to walk towards a cafe in town where we always hang out. "You should work on your anger management issues, Jord. We're in our final year of school and you can't afford to be kicked out of school!"

I grimace. "I'm trying, I'm trying. It's not my fault that Adam's asking for it."

My best friend gives me a scolding look. "No beating people up until we graduate! Please?"

I sigh when I see her puppy face. She looks so innocent to the point I can't help but agree to do as she asked. Our friendship is so strange since we are literally opposites. 

"So how was your Physics test today?" I ask to change the topic. I catch glance of her scowling in disappointment.

"It was horrible!" she complain. "I swear, Mr Hut hates us! What's the point of studying all these formulas if none of the questions involves any sort of formula? Explain this, explain that!"

I chuckle as I loop my arms around hers. "My dear, if you intend to study engineering, physics is essential!"

Sunny pouts at my logic. "Yeah, I've been thinking about studying something else... Probably law or politics."

"Politics?" I repeat in surprise. All my life, I have not heard of Sunny mentioning any desire to take up a subject besides engineering until today. It's shocking to hear that she does not only intend to give up a goal that she's had for years for a course that requires soft skills like public speaking.

I'm going to be honest; Sunny is super shy and awkward around people. I was always the person to present our findings during group works in front of our classes. I worry for my best friend if she has to one day work in the government with many horrible backstabbers.

Sunny nods in confidence. "It's something that I've been thinking of for the last few months, but more inclined to study law than politics. I just want to help people one day with words instead of fists. Who knows, maybe I can fight for you in court if you end up in jail for punching an important person."

I grin at her verbal jab at me. "I'll only go to jail if that important person is being an arse."

"Gods," she groans as I laugh. 

We reach the cafe where the owner greets us with enthusiasm. The owner knows us by name and order since we've come here for years. 

"Usual order?" the owner asks the both of us when we find a table by the window.