"Hi."

I called out to my animal friends after I found them in the 'greenhouse'. A place that was... not quite the island— just a tiny portion of it or maybe I should say a 'civilization' version of it. This was... just a reminder of how much I had started to miss my home already.

Stop thinking about the island.

I couldn't let myself down. I had to find my family and know where I came from. Those questions I asked myself on the voyage to civilization—all had to be answered.

"Ro, you came!" Tika was delightful to find me. "Look at you, that dress looks beautiful on you!"

I returned the smile, with a quick hug of gratitude. "How was... the last couple of hours for you? And Sagi and Azul?" the other two approached me.

"Oh, it was fantastic! I already love it in here! The little Princesses, the greenhouse, the food!" Tika was even more delightful to tell me her feelings. I was glad she changed her mind and was quickly adapting to this new land.

"My you say... this place is indeed a place for a Royal bird. Their services are impeccable. I am glad it was my idea I wanted to come when I did! I am so never going back to the island! I've found my place!"

Azul's words stung my heart but then... it made me laugh! He was just being Azul... I-I mean Prince... Azul.

"Sagi?" I turned my attention to the Red panda sitting quietly at the side of a mini waterfall. I think you call it a 'fountain'.

Sagi's brown eyes met mine, still quiet. I knew he was probably thinking of something wise to say like he always did and I eagerly waited to hear him.

"This place is fine, Ro. I will try my best to adapt in any place your heart wants to stay."

Where my heart wants to stay.

Right now, I would choose... home—The island. The island is where my 'heart wants to stay'.

As soon I had entered civilization, I had let lots of new hopes up—I thought I would be able to fit here just fine, but...

I had walked out of the dining hall, without even letting any food pass down my throat.

And no one noticed. Not even Antonio. Everyone was too engaged in a chatter and gossip I had no track about.

What was going on?

More than that, what was wrong with the food? It smelt and tasted like... like an unpleasant flavour my mouth wasn't familiar with.

I definitely felt my stomach starve but not only did I have a bad feeling about the food but lady that sat beside continuously kept on complaining about my... everything—The way I sat, the way I picked up the spoon or the food with the spoon. Even the way I sniffed and tasted it.

"Island girl, you are doing it wrong!"—"That's the wrong spoon!"—"Haven't you ever had ate with a fork before!"

Her words equally hurt me and annoyed me but I tried my best to not care and do what I felt like.

And of course, Antonio telling me I wasn't to sit next to him for the rules of the dining table had already saddened my mood for a reason I couldn't name.

Ugh, life already started to get messed up and sad. But I was happy at least the trio of my friends liked it in here.

...

The afternoon passed pleasantly. I took a walk with my friends on the castle garden and loved what I saw. There were even more flowers in here than the island. Some, which I never knew and was curious to know the name of while some I had already seen back there. They reminded me both of being back home and also to...maybe stay here forever so I could take walks like these every afternoon.

But my mind shifted towards Antonio over and over again. Maybe he did see me walk away and was too engaged to come after me? Or maybe he didn't want to cause he wasn't impressed enough with me; the things I had gotten myself into?

Who knows? If things keep going like this, I will ask him about the next ship to home.

I think I had already watched enough of civilization— Buildings, gowns, castles with the majority of people being ignorant to me and... lots and lots of flowers in the garden. I was in love with the garden. I picked up a purple flower I didn't know the name of and put it in my hair. I smiled when I looked at my reflection the water fountain—untied fair hair, deep pink lips, the purple flower. It was nice to see a new look on myself.

The sunset seascape from the palace grounds was enjoyable too look at. Yet, not as pretty as the ones I saw on the island. I deeply wished to have a look at the island sunset from the beach. How was the island like now? It must be quite ghostly now that no one sings and dances on it anymore. Lifeless. Did the dolphins and birds miss me? What happened to the tree I had made my home in? Did another storm take place and ruin the decorations I made on it out of flowers, shells and some contents I found on the chest that had my name on it?

Who knows? Who cares?

I do...

"Let's call it a day, shall we?"

...

"So, how was dinner for you?" Elise asked.

"Um, not too bad." I lied from the dressing corner in my room while I getting changed into my 'night gown', a dress you'd wear to sleep. This dress was so much better than the light yellow one I wore at dinner since I didn't have to wear a corset with it. I felt like I found my breath again.

"Did you like the new food in here? How did it taste like to you?"

"It's fine. It's fine. Really." I further lied. But I knew lying too much would leak the truth if she kept making queries about...the irrelevant topic of... dinner.

I wish I could just tell her I was too upset to eat anything at dinner.

And now, I was too hungry after all that walk and now to... talk.

Or think.

I walked out of the dressing corner to show Elise if I wore it right. I think I did. This dress was too easy to put on.

"Perfect." She nodded approvingly. "Get some sleep now, you look tired."

"Do I?" I let a hand brush my face only to find traces of makeup on my fingertips.

"Yes, um, you should peel those off your face before you go to sleep." She tried to smother a chuckle. I must have let the colour on my lips spread out further on my face to look funny. I blushed. "Yes."

"And how about... you tie your hair back into a plait? It will help it from not getting tangled while you sleep."

A plait? Oh! I got what she meant but I certainly forgot how to tie my hair back into one. I had that tied up too long ago to remember.

"Well, if you want to...you don't have to, really." She suggested.

"Thanks."

She nodded and smiled. "Well, goodnight." She headed for the door.

"Goodnight." I said blankly. I wish I could say that again to my family of friends like I did after I walked them to the greenhouse.

I pursed my lips. I didn't feel the least sleepy. Then I remembered I had to take my makeup off so I went to the washroom located somewhere in this room. I switched corners twice, before I found it. Even though I had already been here to get cleaned up.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was right, the pink colour did spread out and make look like as if I ravished a bowl of raspberries. This was so embarrassing. I hope Elise wasn't laughing behind my back now.

After I cleaned up my face, I wandered the room some more just to get familiar with all the things it contained. The things present here didn't fascinate me much though.

I went to the balcony instead. The cool breeze and moonlight felt much better. The night time was so peaceful and serene. As if the whole Kingdom was asleep except me.

I took a pair of slow sighs, summarizing all the things I had done in my 'first day in civilization'. Getting off the ship, taking a ride with Tika to the castle, meeting Antonio's sisters, his parents, knowing his father hates me already, getting dressed for dinner, getting compliments of how beautiful I look from him, walking to dinner and...

I hit my fist hard on the railing. Everything almost went perfect at the beginning but the end of the day didn't . Recalling Antonio's behaviour over and over again made tears stung the back of my eyes several times , and this time I let them flow free and ooze out.

Stop crying, nothing that bad happened.

So then why does it feel like it did? My tears turned into sobs. I didn't wish to remember what he said anymore.

How could he?

No. A tiny part of my heart said he didn't mean it and would apologize, while the bigger one said I was very unlikely to get another call from him to come to dinner.

The food looked weird, anyways.

I gazed up at the stars visible from the balcony.

Those stars, they were me and my family's stars. How I wish I could have been with them right now.

With all those thoughts murmuring around my head, I walked to bed. I started to sing, not caring if I would get into trouble for doing so. Singing always made me feel better.

Sun goes down

And we are here together

Fireflies, glow like a thousand charm

It's magic, when you are here beside me

Right here in my arms

Tonight...

A knock on the door interrupted me. I blinked and opened my half shut eyes that almost fell asleep with the melodious tunes of the lullaby I sang to myself. Should I go get it? I was too scared. Who could it be? Must be Elise...

I ignored the knocks for a moment before light from the corridor poured into the room, only leaving a silhouette figure standing in front of me. I rubbed my eyes. I still couldn't work out the face. But I knew whoever it was, knew how to get the door themselves. Why would they knock then?

"Ro."

I froze in my spot. This was Antonio's voice. This was Antonio.

"Antonio!" I couldn't quite pick if I was shocked or happy that he came.

"Shh, no one should know I am here at this hour." He fingered as he entered the room.

"Oh, sorry." Guilt pricked at my heart. I swallowed hard and slowly sat up, trying a suppress a yawn of tiredness.

He closed the doors. I felt a shiver run down my spine when I heard the soft slam of the doors. He said doors were a matter for one's privacy. But in this room, there wasn't one. There was two. What could possibly be private between two people? Especially when I felt weak when he was near?

No. What was I thinking? It must be so that no one hears him. But I was more than curious to know what brought him here or what he brought with him.

"I brought something for you." I saw him lift up a silver tray in his hands from that table and place it on my lap. My eyes grew wide when I explored the contents. Food. And not just any food, they were the food I liked—fruits—an apple, a bunch of grapes, a bowl of strawberries and a new one I saw. This were already too much.

My stomach churned and I felt my self drool. Stop acting like that. Please, not in front of him.

I eyed him with... shock and a tiny bit of amusement, I guess.

He sat down sideways on the bed, his beautiful leaf eyes never leaving mine. "I, um, I had noticed you didn't eat anything at dinner. So I..."

I let a huge grin flash on my face. He did care for me.

I could see him shudder in confusion as I picked up a strawberry in my mouth and put the tray in the nightstand beside the bed. Then I lurched towards him, pulling him into a tight hug. I knew I had forgiven him for that behaviour a long time ago...

"Thank you." I whispered into his ear.

Everything was perfectly perfect at the moment when my head rested on his chest and I could feel his heart beating. So warm and close.

Antonio's point of view

I was at a loss of words for I was experiencing right now, right here. Was this... real? Ro... was hugging me? By herself? Cause I brought her food?

I sensed my arms wrap around her shoulders by themselves. Did I really want to do this myself? I definitely knew I was in love with Ro but... I guess I was curious to know of she hugged me out of just gratitude, friendship or love. Why would it matter though?

Or maybe it did.

"Anytime." I smiled, trying to sound normal. Her grip tightened and she buried her head deeper on my chest.

The hug didn't last long. She pulled out and slightly smiled, her cheeks staring to flame. I felt mine heat up too. I have never been in this kind of situation with a girl before. Thank goodness, it was only a hug.

I saw her struggle to pick something to say. She continuously kept looking from corner to corner. "Um, I..."

"You should eat now." I chuckled at her.

"Oh, yes... I-I definitely have been hungry for a long time." My words brought her to reality and she picked up an apple from the tray.

I watched her, amused as she ate fruit after fruit... with no manners but in a carefree way like she enjoyed every bite of it. That's just how I like her and I do hope she doesn't loose it in this new world.

"What's this?" Ro asked, holding a plate with a slice of cake on it.

"A new kind of food. You call it a cake. I thought you would like it, though I don't...very much."

"Cake." She examined the texture and shape of the food she wasn't familiar with. She pricked the frosting on it with a fork and took a bite. And after that, I knew she very much liked it.

Watching her enjoy the cake almost made me forget what I wanted to say. "Ro?"

"Yes?"

"I, I am sorry for the dinner incident. I-I didn't mean to make you sit next to Duchess Erin."

"Duchess? Who?"

"Oh, the lady you sat next to. She... is not a nice kind and I noticed she annoyed you."

"Continuously." She rolled her beautiful, blue eyes.

"And, about the thing I told you when you came to sit next to me, well, I'm sorry I-I had to, there are some strict rules and table etiquette about where you sit. It has to do with your status and you sit close to your family members and relatives. It's something the palace members follow so-"

"So, I guess sitting next to you would have mean I would violate those things and maybe weaken your status, huh?" She cut me off sharply.

I sighed. "Well, according to the other people on the table, you kind of would."

She gasped quietly to herself and studied her hands. Tears started to form in her eyes. "Even after I tried to dress up like everyone else, act with manners, I...still get excluded from having dinner with you?"

I was just about to say something but she cut me off, "Very well, I think that does count me out from the dinner table then, I-I don't have any family and the person whom I thought I was close with," She eyed me. "says I would ruin his royal position if I am near him." She stuttered in a shaky voice.

"Ro, please. That's not true."

"No, no. I understand everything. And I do know that I have so many things to learn in here. Things that would teach me of I am really making the right choice or not."

I bit my lip. I could feel a hint of hatred towards me in her voice.

"Thanks for saving me, Antonio." She said flatly. "But this isn't a place where I would fit in. I feel like I already have had enough in one day. I...I want to go back. This world may have similar looking creatures like me who talk the same words but I could never be their type. Nor can they be mine."

"But what would I do if you went back?"

The thing I just said left us both stunned and blushed. But what I asked came from the bottom of my heart.

She bit her lip. "You'd just live life like you do and forget me. That's all."

"How can I forget you? You saved my life!"

"And you saved mine. Don't you see? I spent two weeks trapped and bored on a ship, I had a go on getting a civilization getup though it didn't quite work out to impress the royal people here and now... I miss home, already. I never needed to be saved anyways but thank you for showing me civilization. It's been a pleasure."

She lied the last sentence, didn't she?

"And...thank you for loving me." Her tears won the struggle to roll down her cheeks.

A/N: Cause for Delay = 55% laziness + 45% school stress. Thanks for all the reviews, favs, follows and reads!