A ROYAL SURPRISE

🎀Chapter 18🎀

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

-A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

*~*~*

I've never been one to deal well with disappointments. The first disappointing experience I had was when I was twelve, I had just began middle school and I was chosen to go for a reading competition for my school. Yes, the whole school. Everyone was looking up to me to bring home the world cup. And I did. I tried and did my best. I won the first two rounds, to which everyone was happy, elated and excited for what to come next- The National Level. The big win. Apparently, I wasn't the only who was good at reading, there were others even better than me, and I got to know that when one girl, who came from another school as well, won and took the trophy home. But that's not what I found disappointing, she deserved the win. What I found disappointing was that I should have come at second place. I was suppose to!

I was the only one who was able to get the right pronunciation of 'accident' right afterall. But no, for second place position they chose some boy who couldn't even read a few lines without breaking and pausing for about ten times.
I felt hurt. They didn't give me what I deserved. I was disappointed because I did better and I should have gotten better than what I did.

Right now, staring at the examination results slip in my hand, is the same disappointing experience all over again, and maybe even worse. I had studied hard for this exam. Had tons and tons of sleepless nights, even having to had taken coffee just so I can keep my eyes open and stop reading the same line for ten, twenty times. Even though I knew it wasn't good for my baby. But all in all I told myself that this was for my baby and I anyway, and that if I passed, I would be able to keep my job at the hospital and go into surgeries with Doctor Coben, which will all be in benefit of my baby and I.

But that's not what happened, the results are disappointing and discouraging. My shoulders slump, still staring intently at the sheet of paper I just printed out, feeling my heart break. This is not good.

"Eufy you did well. Really. Don't beat yourself up about it, it won't change the results" Ale says, coming infront of me.

I roll my eyes, looking anywhere but him, before replying, "Tell me something I don't know"

He sighs, and turns my face with his index finger, which does things to my heart, his touch affecting me almost immediately, "All I'm trying to say is that you did your best and that's what matters"

"That's exactly the problem Ale. I did my best but I don't see the 'best' I did reflecting. How am I going to go into surgery with Dr Coben? Already I feel as though the man doesn't like me, what is going to make him take an incompetent nurse like me to surgery? I'm going to end up getting his patients killed by giving him an injection when he asks for a pair of surgery scissors instead"

"Eufy that's enough"

"It's just that I really wanted this to work out. To make me feel fulfilled. That even if nothing is working in my life right now, this is" I raise the slip, a frown on my mouth "My education is. My career is" I scoff "My mother is going to flip in excitement with my sister when they learn of what I did"

"Don't think about them. They are not top priority Eufy, you are. This baby is"

"You're right" I release a heavy breath "I just really wanted to ace this. And get the extra money that came with being a surgery nurse"

"I could always give you money" he says and I shoot him a glare immediately, as though his words just bruised me

"I don't want or need your money Ale" I snap back harshly

"Woah, relax. I didn't mean to offend you" He says, raising his hand in mock surrender

"I'm very fine working on my own and being independent thank you very much" I roll my eyes

"I'm sorry"

"It's okay." I fold the results slip and tuck it in between the sofas, so far somewhere I won't have to see it and get heartbroken all over again "Wanna stay for dinner?" I change the topic

"If you'll have me" 

I chuckle at his statement, shaking my head in disbelief.

"What has got you amused Eufy?" He asks, resting his elbows on my kitchen counter, and I wonder how that simple act can make someone look so hot.

"It just sounded funny hearing you say that. Of course I'll have you" I say with a happy grin playing on my face

"I'm glad to know that babe"

I freeze mid-action, the knife I'm using to cut the carrots suspended in the air.

"What did you just call me?" I ask, turning to look at him

He doesn't say anything, just comes towards me with a smirk on his face and a mischievous glint in his eyes. He backs me to the counter, his grey orbs staring directly into my green ones. He dips his head into my neck, and I release a gasp at the feel of him being so close. I can feel the smile on his lips on my skin, tingling and leaving goosebumps in its wake.

"I called you babe" he whispers sensually in my ears, his lips brushing against my ear lobe "Why? Does it have an effect on you babe?" He asks again, making the word "babe" sound as though he's asking me to have sex with him.

My eyes close, as his mouth trails light feather kisses, almost as if it's non-existent, down my neck to my collarbone.

It drives me crazy.

But then he abruptly pulls back, looking at me with a smug look, a smirk still plastered on his face.

"You might want to check the food babe, it might burn, and then we wouldn't have any to eat" he winks. Dirty. Dirty minded. That's what he is. What we both are.

I clear my throat and back away from him, enjoying the breath of fresh air, still feeling his lips on my skin, teasing.

I need to do something about these feelings. They are getting out of hand.

🎀🌺🎀

"So what do you do aside working at the restaurant?" I ask Ale as we sit to eat, having moved on from the awkward tension in the kitchen earlier.

He hesitates before replying, "Nothing much. The restaurant pays well you know. And uh, I do some small jobs here and there in addition"

"Mhm" I pause "You refrain from talking about yourself" I point out, having noticing his hesitation earlier on, today not being the first time either.

"I just like to be more reserved that's all"

"Even with me?" I ask, treading carefully on the path of boldness

"Maybe that will change as time goes on" he says quietly.

Maybe.

But there's also,

Maybe not.