Wilfred Part 1
I looked over my shoulder and saw His Royal Highness Prince Wilfred bowing to me.
"May I have this dance?" he asked in a small voice. 'What should I do? I don't know how to dance. But if I say no to a Prince, it will probably be really bad!' I thought as I started to panic. 'I really have to huh.' I slowly took his hand and he gently took me to the dance floor.
"I don't know how to dance." I whispered to him so that no one can hear.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you. Follow my lead." he said and puts my hands on where they should be. His hands held me like in a waltz position, making me blush a bit. He slowly starts to dance, but as soon as he starts I started to struggle to follow.
"Don't look down please." he said quietly in my ear. "Just count with me 1 and 2 and 3..."
I counted the steps like he told me. Suddenly I could follow his moves perfectly. I smiled so wide and felt like I was a dancer. The music stopped playing and everyone started to applaud. Prince Wilfred let's go of me and we both joined the crowd in clapping for the orchestra.
"Prince Wilfred! Dance with me next!" a girl yelled and rushed up to him with five other girls, pushing me out of the way.
"No me! Dance with me Your Highness!" another yelled. I slowly backed away, trying to avoid the colossal amount of girls who all running towards him. 'It was fun while it lasted. I can't believe I danced with a Prince! Haru is so going to be jealous!' I smiled at the thought of my niece crying and begging me to introduce her to a real life Prince. At the thought of the kids, I suddenly felt panicked and enormous wave of worry as I remembered that I have left them alone for who knows how long. I quickly bowed to Prince Wilfred and rushed out of the dance room.
'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! I'm the worst guardian ever! What is wrong with me! I left three underage kids alone!" I thought as I ran towards the dressing room I was in. As I entered, I notice that my clothes were clean to perfection. No stains, no dirt of any kind.
I quickly put on my clean clothes and searched for my cell phone in my bag. Then I heard knocks on the door. I opened the door as I tried to call the home phone. Prince Edward was there looking worried.
"I saw you run out of the room. Is everything okay?" he asked.
"Everything is fine!" I tried to cover my frantic attitude. "I just think it's me to go home!" I said laughing awkwardly. 'I can't tell him that I have kids waiting for me at home. I don't want him to feel bad. It's my fault that I'm not responsible...'
"I'll set up a car for you. Thank you for coming with me to this party." his smile came back. I smiled back, showing him that I had a great time.
...
"Thank you for the ride!" I thanked the driver as he drops me off a few blocks away from the apartment. He tips his hat and drives away. I kept dialing the home but no one answers. I was getting really worried. As I looked up to the sky, I saw a large cloud of smoke coming from the direction of the apartment. My heart started to beat hair against my chest. On instinct, I ran like the wind to the apartment.
I got there and saw the apartment was on fire. My breathing stopped and my heart quickly beating against my rib cage.
"HARUKA! NARUKI! KAI!" I shouted on the top of my lungs, searching amongst the crowd. I kept calling and calling for them but to no avail.
"Aunt Marika!" Naruki's voice called out to me. I looked to my left and see the kids on the other side of the street, holding objects in their hands. I ran up to them and skidded across the street.
"Is it really you?" my voice went hoarse a felt Naru's face with both my hands. He nods, trying to keep his tears in. I looked in his arms and see him holding a framed folded Charlesian flag.
"That's..." my voice got caught in my throat as I looked at the flag. 'That's Oscar's flag...'
"We were able to get it when the fire started. We also got the photo and Frizzy." Haru said, holding up her stuffed rabbit. Kai raises a framed photo of all of us with my brother.
"So no one is hurt?" I asked with my voice cracking. They all shook their heads.
My tears slowly fell out of my eyes. I quickly pulled them close to me in a group hug.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." I cried. I wasn't there. They could have gotten hurt. What would happen if they got caught in the building? What if...
Then I felt a little hand on the top of my head.
"It's okay Aunty. We are all okay." Haru tried to sooth me. I hugged them tighter, feeling horrible and awful.
After the fire died down, I talked to the landlord about what is going to happen. Apparently it is going to take time for rebuild so we all have to find somewhere else to stay at.
The kids and I sat at a little outside table in front of a closed cafe. 'Where are we going to stay at? I don't have the money for all of us to stay in a hotel. I mostly lost all contact with my friends and I don't have any family.' I thought to myself, trying to find out what to do. I looked over the kids and see that Kai was falling asleep, Naru was laying his head on the table, and Haru was petting her doll. Then I remembered the old man from earlier who have given me his number.
'I do not want to impose on him but I guess I have to. For the kids.' I thought as dialed his number.
"Hello?" a familiar voice answered.
"Hey, it's um... Marika from earlier..." I said.
"Oh I was waiting for your call! You sound a bit off. Are you okay?" he asked. I told what has happened, trying not to cry again. He went silent when I finished my story.
"I'll make preparations. Where are you?" he asked. I told him and he asked me to wait there. I agreed and we both hanged up the phone. We waited until a car pulled up in front of us. The driver sticks out his head and asked for my name and I gave it to him. He gets out of the car and opens the door. The driver was very tall, had dark hair, and was in a her expensive suit. He looked like a butler.
"Aunt, who is that?" Naru asked, scrunching his face up.
"I called a friend and he gave us a place to stay so please get in the car." I said monotoneously. Hearing that, he obeyed with no more questions. He grabs Haru's hand and gently, by themselves , went into the car.
"Kai..." I said quietly. "Lets go." I said shaking him a bit. He grogly nods his head and drags himself to the car. I bowed my head and thanked the nice driver as got in myself.
I didn't know where we were going but it took a long time to get their. I didn't pay attention to where we were. I was worried for the kids. When we stopped, the driver opened the car door for us. Naru and Haru went first. I climbed over Kai to get out. I picked him up in my arms as he was asleep. He wrapped his small arms around me as he slept. I felt the twins grabbing my shirt and stayed close to me.
"This way please." the butler said and motioned us to follow him. We slowly followed him inside a large building. After a little walking in the long wide halls, he stops at a door.
"Here is your room. We only had one room ready for that we apologize. We did not know there were children with you." he said bowing.
"It's my fault that I didn't say that. I'm sorry." I said, wiping my face with my free hand. He opens the door and I gently told the kids to go take a quick shower and go to bed.
When I finished my shower, I noticed the kids were still awake and sitting on the large bed. Haru pats the middle of the bed, motioning me to go there. I didn't object and climbed into the bed. As I lay in the middle of the bed, their kids curled up on each side of me with Haru on my right, Naru on my left, and Kai on top of me. I pulled them close to me, put the blanket on top of us and hummed them to sleep.
...
I woke up to the smell of a flowery aroma. I opened my eyes and observed where we were. The bed was comfy and looked really expensive. I looked over to my left and see the butler from last night, putting down a set of tea.
"Good morning ma'am." he said politely as he made tea. I rosed a bit and carefully sat up in bed without waking up the kids.
"You didn't need to do that sir." I said.
"It's my job, don't worry about it so much." he said finishing up.
"Thank you sir." I said with a little smile.
"Please call me Claude." he said bowing. "Please wake the little ones, breakfast is almost ready. Please get ready. There are some clothes in the closet for all of you that we prepared while you were sleeping." he said leaving the room. I gently shook the kids up and got them ready for breakfast.
There were some many dresses in the closet. I wore a yellow sun dress with low heeled yellow ballet shoes. I dressed Kai in shorts and a white polo shirt. Haru dressed in a cute pink dress with light blue ribbons and pink sandals. Naru picked out shorts and a dark navy blue polo shirt. Claude waited for us at the front of the door as we got ready. Then we followed him to a dining room and saw the king, queen, and Prince Wilfred waiting at a large table filled with food.
I gaps at the sight of the Philip royalty sitting at the table. The kids gasped in awe as they noticed them there.
"What kind of friends do you have?" Naru said a bit loud. I pinched his arm a little sit hat no one notices. He shuts he mouth and crosses his arms.
Haru stared her eyes wide open. She loved the princes so seeing them is like a dream to her. She tried to calm herself by holding in her breathe. Kai on the other hand was a shy kid. He immediately hides behind me. The queens chucked a bit at the sight of my kids' reactions.
"Sit with us Mrs. Yoshihara." the queen motions us over. We went over to the table and grabbed a seat. "It is so nice to meet you Mrs. Yoshihara. Your children are quiet cute. What are their names?" she asked smiling. I looked over and see Wilfred watching me. I quickly kept my composure and pointed to the kids.
"The oldest is Naruki," I said motioning my hand, trying to be elegant, to Naru who is at in front of me. "His twin sister Haruka and this is the youngest Kai." I said. "What do you say kids?"
"H-hi!" Haru stuttered. Naru huffs and looks over to the side crossing in his arms again and Kai tried to sit all the way back of the chair trying to avoid being seen. Oh dear.
The queen laughed heartily at the kids. "Your husband must be so proud to have such cute kids." she continued. I didn't say anything about the husband thing. I couldn't say anything to be honest. It's better if they didn't find out about me being single that has three kids at the age of 24. It wouldn't hurt so much then.
I smiled awkwardly at her remark. The kids' faces became white and they looked away awkwardly. Naru gives me a look to say something but I shook my head a little, telling him not say anything.
"Well your husband must be a lucky man!" the king said cheery. As if Naru couldn't hold back any longer he opened his mouth.
"We don't have a father Your Highness." he said with no emotion. The whole went quiet at what he said.
"So you're a single mother then?" the queen asked with a little shock in her voice.
"She's our aunt Your Highness!" Haru joined in. I looked at both kids as they tried to clear the misunderstanding. I looked over at the royal family and see they have stopped eating completely.
"Where are their parents then?" the king asked, sounding a bit skeptical, looking at me.
"...I don't know." I answered looking down at my lap. Their mom left them after Kai was born. She ran with her boss from her work place and we never saw her again. My brother is dead but I really am not ready to talk about it. The kings huffs at my response and gets up from his seat.
"I'm done, please excuse me." he said and left the room with the queen following him. I covered my face with my hands in total frustration.
"You can't let people think that forever Aunt Marika." Naru huffs. "If they think you are a single mom at the age you're in, they will think very badly of you. Don't hold things in." he said and left the room. I abruptly got up and chased after him without a moment hesitation.
"Naruki!" I call after him. He turns towards me and I hit him upside the head.
"What was that for!?" he asked, rubbing his head.
"I'm not just doing this for me, Naruki." I said in a stern voice. He stiffened at the sound of my tone and looks away the right. "You have to understand that I do this because I'm protecting all three of you!" my voice raised a bit. "Think before you speak Naruki." I said crossing my arms, looking down at him. He looks down at his feet, his brown hair covering his face. Then he ran down the hall at top speed. "Naruki!" I called him but ignores me and continues to run off.
"Aunty, is everything okay?" Haru asked behind me, holding Kai's hand.
"I'm great, super, terrific." I said sarcastically and leaned against the wall and slumped down to the cold marble floor. I buried my face in my hands and moved my hair back in frustration. The kids looked at me at a loss of what to do. "I'm such a bad guardian..." I whispered to myself and I curled up against the wall.
