Stars, so far away yet they captivate us to no end. Wishing we could be near them but such thing is simply impossible.
Such thing is nothing but wishful thinking, knowing damn well it is impossible to do so, yet, we find ourselves still watching them from where we are sitting despite the distance between.
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The night sky was like a mirror to his true feelings, as the stars reminded him of his constant struggles. Despite his melancholy, the castle was in merriment celebrating a certain occasion. With their cheers and hollers echoing all over
Cedric sat alone, caressing the rough feel of the wooden bench as he embraced his knees front. He was used to being alone, it was the only thing constant in his life..
His jet black hair hid his face, but his face stayed at the stars above. As he watches them shine at the night sky, it reminded him of a certain someone
It's her smile, her darn smile. That smile that he never really thought much of when it started. Those days she visited him and he thought of her as nothing but an annoying nuisance
But as time went by, as Sofia started crashing down them thick walls that he built to keep people away, those walls stood no chance against this adorable conqueror. As time went by, she sure has grown into such a beautiful young maiden – and eventually, Cedric started feeling different. He would often find himself staring at her when she's not looking – and when she does respond to his gaze, he quickly averts away
Her smile as innocent and pure as ever stood the same throughout the years. A lot may have changed in her but her purity and kindness stayed inside her. She was the best friend he's ever had and her faith in him is something that has surely changed a lot in his once gloomy and miserable life
But of course, everything good must come to an end eventually…
All those years of chasing such jewel, Cedric sure knows the feeling of not having something you genuinely desire and long for.
All the riches all along, the fame, the recognition..
But Sofia's love is simply the only thing that can never... ever have.
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Suddenly, he noticed a certain young maiden coming out from the castle. Her long lilac dress was flowing with every graceful move she does with her long auburn curls dancing with the evening wind. Her face illuminated by the moonlight from above was the most beautiful thing to Cedric that he couldn't help but be enthralled
As she slowly opens her sky blue eyes, Cedric almost jumped when their gazes meet – and just as immediately, he looked away. He was spotted and compromised for sure, and surely, another earful of scolding from Sofia about not coming to her party.
"Ceedric?" it didn't take long before she finally managed to approach him from afar "What are you doing here? My birthday party is in the castle, not here.."
"Well, what are you doing here?" Cedric returned the question in a childish way "Your birthday party is in there and not in this gloomy part of the garden"
Sofia rolled her eyes with a smile on her rosebud lips
"The same old Mr. Ceedric" she bubbled as she sat next to him in the bench
"You do know I'm gonna be scolded yet again for taking the princess away from her grand party when someone sees you here, right?"
"You still remember that time?" Sofia giggled to herself "That was my 16th birthday right?" she turned to him with the most innocent look ever
"Yeah.." Cedric smiled
"It was this same bench too under the same shady tree from before" Sofia taps the bench softly, which Cedric took notice
"And now look at us, four years later and here we are, the same place despite the party in the castle.." she added
"Time sure does fly huh.." Cedric murmured
"We've made so much memories here. Special and wonderful memories.." Her eyes were closed as she started reminiscing
"Like that time when you helped me make a small pond for the frog friends I made.. or when you helped me hide from Amber with her rather difficult princess lessons.." Her eyes started gleaming reminiscing about the past. With this, she turned to him
"I love reminiscing about the past, it takes me back to the days when I was genuinely and carelessly happy" a sweet smile forms on her face and her eyes was fixated at the stars above
She slowly looks at him "Do you remember when we used to play hide and seek here every afternoon after your work at the tower?"
Cedric chuckled. "And you would loiter around the workshop from noon?"
"I wouldn't say it as loitering.. Gee.." Sofia pouted in response
Watching her was a delight, and so, another memory came to Cedric this time
"I remember when I taught you the bubble spell by the fountain but you messed up and got drenched when you fell in the water" he jested playfully
Sofia couldn't help but cringe upon hearing this evident from her face. Her palms hid her face as a giggle came out of her
"And I loved that dress too, but yet again, it was because of my carelessness"
"please tell me you've mastered that spell already"
"Heck, I can do it in my sleep, Mr. Ceedric!"
"That's good to hear" Cedric smiled to himself as he watched her. Who was he kidding? Sofia is one of the most talented in magic, and he knew it well. She probably has surpassed him at this point
"But sometimes, I do make mistakes…" Sofia grinned goofily with her eyes closed "Sometimes.."
Cedric sighed as he leaned on the bench "You'll be fine, Sofia. Don't worry about it"
"Of course!" she beamed a nice toothy smile with this "After all.. I still have Mr. Ceedric to guide me whenever I mess up"
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Hearing this sank Cedric's heart to abyss. It was all he wanted, to be close to Sofia and be at her side all the time– but unfortunately, that is not how it is gonna be.. how things should be..
For after tonight…
"M-Mr. Ceedric?"
Cedric woke up from his daze to see a worried Sofia watching him
"Are you feeling fine" Sofia asked with concern in her eyes "Is there something bothering you?"
"Yes. Yes, something is bothering me, Princess Sofia. I'm afraid that this might be the last time that we will ever have a special moment together because after tonight… you will be taken from me"
Cedric's thoughts raved him but his mouth sealed shut. He just stared at Sofia tongue tied not even a word came out of his mouth. After a few moments of silence, Cedric finally broke the ice
"It's nothing, Sofia. Don't worry about it" he looked away
"b-but…"
Before she could finish her words, a sudden call interrupted them from afar
"Sofiaa!"
It belonged to her sister of all people. It didn't take long before the blonde has spotted her seated in a bench just by the corner
"Sofia!" Amber hollered as she ran into the place "What are you doing here?" her eyes wandered to Cedric who looked distraught
"Oh, I just came out for some fresh air and a chat with Ceedric!" she responded innocently
Cedric couldn't help but smile hearing this. She still had her adorable tone in her voice. She was as pure as ever. Despite how she grew over the years, her purity and kindness is something that will never change
"Well, let's head back to the party now, Sofia. A surprise is waiting for you" Amber couldn't help but giggle with excitement upon uttering this
"A surprise?" Sofia grew confused over this "What is this surprise, Amber?"
"You'll have to see for yourself" Amber winked at her as she walked on ahead
Cedric clenched her hands hearing this.
"Okay, I'll be right behind you" Sofia beamed a hesitant smile as she turned to Cedric
She leans in closer to him "I guess I'll see you later, Ceedric"
No she will not, and Cedric knew this damn well. The moment she'll go back to that party is the moment he will lose her forever. The distance between them is only gonna get more and more. This is the painful truth unfortunately
She turned her heel to the other direction towards the castle. To watch her slip away from him was certainly very confusing for Cedric. The fact that as day passes by the distance between them becomes more and more imminent.
Distance..
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Sofia was suddenly halted when her arm was suddenly held by the man from behind. She looked at him and he looked very distraught and sad, like his eyes reeked of nothing but sadness.. and fear
Cedric raised his head to meet her gaze. Trying not to cry, he doesn't know really why he stopped her in the first place. But one thing is for certain, the feeling he's had in him over the years has gone overflowing to the point that he can't hold them in much longer
The fact that she will be mailed off to some different kingdom miles away from Enchancia and to see her only once a year is too much for Cedric to handle. He couldn't live a life without Sofia's support and presence near him, she was his beacon of hope and the small happiness that keeps on giving him a reason to believe
Without her.. he's nothing.
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Coming back to his senses, Cedric slowly releases her hold on Sofia's arm as he took a step back
"I-I'm so sorry, Princess Sofia!" he grew hysterical upon realizing what has transpired. He bowed down his head to hide his face from her and to avoid her gaze
"I… I didn't mean to.."
"Mr. Ceedric?" Sofia takes a step closer, noticing Cedric's sudden melancholy
Just as quickly, the man forced a smile in front of Sofia to cast her worries away
"Er.. I'm fine, Sofia. It was just some… stuff, he-he" Cedric couldn't help but sniffle for some reason, but Sofia wasn't very convinced with his show
"Either ways, shouldn't you be in the castle right now for the surprise?" It was painful for him to say this, but he had to
"But you're not okay.."
"I'm fine, Sofia!" Cedric flexed his arms to attempt to alleviate the mood "Besides, it is your birthday, your moment."
"And don't even get me started with the surprise. I wonder what it'll be, you're also curious, right?" he added in a sudden enthusiasm
Sofia stood frozen without a response. She just looked at him with a stoic face.
The sound of the crickets in the background made it more sentimental for sure. The pond nearby reflecting the wonderful stars from above and the way the moon shone right above them. Cedric smiled as she slowly walked closer to her..
"Go have a nice life, Sofia.." Cedric sighed as he slowly embraces her from the front. Inhaling her scent probably for the last time and the feel of Sofia's warm embrace that has always given him pure happiness ever since. He's hated them embraces and such, but there was always a special exception when it comes to Sofia
"Whatever happens tonight, I am so happy that you we're my friend.." he softly whispered as he closed his eyes in pain, holding her tightly than before. At that moment, he never wanted to let go..
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Cedric slowly pulls away. She was caught surprised by his sudden embrace. Her sky blue eyes stayed on his as her lips started moving…
"Mr. Ceedric, why are you saying thi–"
"Sofia!" Amber's voice literally roared from afar "You are needed now!"
This surely ruined their moment together, but it was a cue for Sofia to leave.
Cedric gave her a weak shove as Sofia started moving forward. She gave him a nod and ran to the other direction. She glanced at him for the last time just standing there with a proud look on his face with the same bench under the same tree and under the same moonlight
The sight of her Cedric just standing there watching her walk away has brought a certain kind of uncertainty that she couldn't explain well. She slowly turns to him again and realizes something –For the first time, Sofia notices her growing distance from her and Cedric the more she walks away from him. It didn't seem that much but she saw differently
And his words.. so cryptic and unusual..
It was like… that was his farewell to her..
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Upon finally watching her leave and enter the castle, Cedric took notice of a prince carrying a nice bouquet of flowers from the window. His outfit was as shiny as the shimmering chandeliers from above glistened by the shine of diamonds
Surely he was the man Roland spoke of.
He knew it well. That day that Roland told him about Sofia's suitor who plans on marrying Sofia and bringing her to his kingdom
And surely, Sofia would be happy with him right? He was perfect in any sense.
They would make the perfect couple even – it would surely unite both kingdoms of both ends and would result to a more wonderful flourish for the economy of Enchancia
Their union alone would cause so much good for everyone
Everyone except..
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The night sky seemed like a mirror of flurry lights as the stars become more and more flurried. And just as the stars shining was Cedric's tears falling from his cheeks was he watched the night sky of reminiscence
All he could do was reminisce about the wonderful past because there can never be a future for him and the maiden he loves…
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To reach the stars, his feelings reaching Sofia and making her stay is nothing but a reach to the stars.
