--
She stared at his beautiful eyes. Staring at them brought a different type of electricity down her nerves. It was as if those were the same beautiful eyes she stared at during the most wonderful night she had in her whole life.
He was keeping the broken glasses away from the floor. She reached out to help him clean the flooring. She froze when their skins brushed against each other and they looked into each other's eyes at the same infinite moment.
Trying to cut off the strange feeling he felt, he stood up and continued his way outside the door sadly. His back view seemed frigid yet miserable. She felt his agony, but she didn't know the cause for his sadness.
After he turned away, Ella tried to hide her confusion, pain and desolation. His friend had something to hide from her. And she knew too well that he needed someone to rely on in this very moment, but she cannot provide it now, at the very moment, because of some unfavorable reasons.
"Oh, don't mind him," the prince inquired. "He's always clumsy. I am having thoughts of sending him away to another palace. It's the tenth set of glassware he broke today."
Ella's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she heard. The Philip he knew was the most careful human he ever met. And her green orbs extended as she heard he would be sent away.
Attempting to look unworried, she explained, "Maybe he's just disoriented. It's not a nice idea to send him away just because of that shallow reason."
"Oh," he was surprised at her words and smiled with all understanding. She spoke the statement with full delight and a certain voice of decorum.
But in truth, she was afraid of the thought being far away from him, maybe the farthest. She's afraid to lose him. And what will she do if she loses him for maybe, forever? With those sorrowful imaginings, she thought she would die. She would die of being alone and hopeful for someone who would never come. No, she can't live being like that. She cannot live without having her friend by her side.
"Ella?" cracked out a male voice. "Are you, too, disoriented as he is?"
She awakened from a deep reverie.
"I, I'm sorry. What were you saying?" she asked politely.
"I asked if you know him, my personal maid."
"Oh, he's… he is my friend… just a mere acquaintance."
"And?" he inquired, signaling her to continue.
"And… a childhood friend," she said.
"And?" he wished for her to say the truth, and managed to whisper, "Be honest, now." which didn't escaped her ears.
"And…" she felt a mixture of confusion and a feeling of indescribable thoughts. She knew what he would like to hear.
He waited for her answer, but when he finally got what she cannot say, he opened his palm up to stop her from opening her mouth to speak.
"Uhm, Ella? With all honesty, I would like to say that you are beautiful, maybe the most beautiful maiden I've ever met. Not because of what you are, but because of who you are."
She blushed at the prince's compliment.
"You are a woman with a pure heart, although it is not plain for others to realize, but the one who loves you sees it like a clear crystal."
His words sent daggers to her heart. Those were realizations that she never realized. What mesmerized her most was the way he said those words. It was as if they were not just meant for Ella, but for the Miyu inside her.
"Your Highness…"
He continued. "I want to thank you, my lady. If not for you, I would never realize the true essence of finding someone to love. You see, the night at the ball, I never met you. It was my personal helper who assumed for me because I had to meet with the woman I wanted to be my bride, a pink-haired girl from another kingdom." He smiled as he watched his attentive listener.
"Since that night, he became disoriented, and careless. I figured out that he might be confused with his feelings for you."
'Feelings for me?'
"He is afraid to tell you that he is the man you danced with at the ball, and not the prince that you fantasizes him to be."
"But why? Why is he afraid to tell me the truth?"
"Because he is afraid of your rejection. He is afraid that you will feel betrayed. He doesn't want to hurt your feelings."
"My prince, I don't understand. Why will he fear of hurting me?"
"It's because he loves you."
The door suddenly opened in the same moment that the prince confessed, "Philip loves you."
The incomer halted as well as the two other people inside the room.
Philip stopped in his tracks hearing the statement that the prince uttered. Ella stared at Philip who stared back at her.
And hell froze over as they looked into each other's teary eyes with inexpressible blend of emotions in their hearts.
In shock and disbelief, Philip ran out of the room and took the hallway.
After paying a bow to the Prince, Ella followed her best friend.
Not a distance away, he saw him and shouted his name, "Philip!"
He stopped from running while Ella was walking near him.
"Why?" she started. "Why do I have to hear it from other person?"
He answered with his back facing her. "Why? Will you hear me when I say it to you?"
-- KxM
A/N: Okay, this is SOOOOO dramatic! Mygosh! I just wanted to update this story at this very moment although I have two following prelims tomorrow; it might make me feel better if I update this! I'm sorry with the sudden change of Eric's character. That's what you get when you're in love. You change not just a little, but a lot! And I wish people had changed a lot by sending me reviews for this crappy chappie. I was planning to finish this story with this last chapter, but I changed my mind. I still need to put some important scenes to complete this story. But please, review!! Mwah! –
--Dedicated to RJ Mln (although he would never be reading this, but anyway, thanks for giving me a broken heart today!) :D