Roberto Part 3
"Hey, that's not fair you cheater!" Naru yelled at Roberto as the kids and him played ball in the royal courtyard. "It is all because you're taller!"
"Giant!" Haru joined her brother and Kai nods his head in agreement.
"How...how hurtful…" Roberto fake cries at their rude words and then puts himself in the corner.
"Hey, kids…" I spoke up looking up from my book. Roberto looks at me like he wants me on his side. I looked back and forth between the kids and him quietly, thinking about what I should do. 'His side...or their side...well did drag us here without even asking me.' My bored looking face became a mischievous one and I looked at Roberto. "Kick his butt!" I yelled and the kids tackled him to the ground.
"Hey it's not fair!" he cried as the kids got on top of him.
"It's called payback!" I shouted looking back at my book. I can't even get paid because of him. I was planning a beach day with tons of ice cream this summer with hard earned cash I got from my jobs. Now, one boss is furious at me and the other two...well...they don't really care as long as I came back.
"I've brought snacks." Alberto came with a tray filled with different types of drinks and sandwiches. The kids stared in awe and quickly devoured the food. When Roberto reached for a sandwich his hand was swatted away. "Not for you, Your Highness. You skipped out on work all morning." the butler quickly grabbed his wrist and dragged him away while Roberto struggled to get free from his grasp.
"Help me! Please!" he called out for help.
"You shouldn't be irresponsible, Your Highness." Naru said between his bites.
"You have a country to run. Work first, play second." said Haru.
"Word hard to play hard."
"The faster you get done, the more time we get to play." the twins lectured the Prince while Kai waved goodbye. My kids are way harsher than I am.
I'm so proud!
"What are you reading, aunty?" Haru asked.
"Just a little fun read while in the sun." I said flipping the page. I've been here four days already width is the third book I've read. Time flies when you're having fun I guess. "What are you guys going to do now? Play more?"
"Kai is sleepy so I don't think so." Haru says watching Kai wipe his eyes.
"You know...I'm tired too! Kai, let's take a nap together!" I said lifting him up into my arms. "Do you two want to join?"
"I'm going to go explore!" said Naru.
"Me too! This place is huge so it might be a burden to get lost in it all the time for the people who work here." Haru smiled. The twins held each other's hands and quickly left the yard into the large mansion.
….
"Oscar! Oscar! Look!" I yelled at a tall young man that was sitting on the ugly green couch. He had light brown hair with dark brown eyes and wore blue plaid and jeans. He looks at me with sparkling eyes and puts me on his lap.
"What is it, Marika? What are you trying to show me?" he said but I didn't understand. Catching my confusion, he quickly points at the drawing I made and speaks slowly with simpler words. "What is this?" he smiled gently.
"You." I pointed at a tall figure in the picture I drew. "Me." I pointed to the little figure I made next to the other. "Together." I said but my accent made it sound awful. I looked down sadden by how I couldn't even say what I want in their language. Noticing this, he takes the picture and carries me to his room. His room was always trashed and messy beyond repair but he quickly takes of one of his favorite posters and hangs my drawing.
"You and me." he said using his hands for me to understand. "Together!" he smiled and I smiled along with him.
….
When I woke up I saw someone who looked like Oscar in front of me sleeping. I reached out and touched his head and gently pat the person.
"Oscar…" I said rubbing my eyes. When I opened them again 99th person stared right back at me.
"You shouldn't call out another man's name." the person spoke. On no...this is…
"ROBERTO, GET OUT!" I screamed and then kicked him out of my room. I felt someone tug my shirt so I looked and saw Kai with a worried look. He pointed at my cheek questionably. When I touched it, it was wet like I've been crying. 'It must have been that dream I had.' I thought. That memory was when I was a kid.
It was after nine months after coming to this country when it happened. I still didn't completely understand the language in Charles so I didn't say much. But I loved Oscar and I tried my hardest to even have a small conversation with him but it just wasn't clicking. I smiled at that memory of Oscar who tried so hard from trying not to make me feel like a total outsider and tried to help me anyway he can. I felt a small hand wipe my cheek and then small arms wrap around me. Kai snuggled against me to make me feel better.
"Thank you…" I whispered to him and hugged him back unaware of Roberto's expression.
…..
"We are going out?" I said raising my eyebrows suspiciously when Roberto announced that only us two are going into town. "Does Alberto know?" I crossed my arms. "Did you even finish your work?"
"Of course I have!" Roberto smiled and grabbed my hands. "I brought you here and haven't taken you out on a date!" he started to drag me and soon enough we were in town.
"Did we really have to take the back way?" I asked getting suspicious. I don't think he finished his work at all.
"Don't worry so much! Come on, let's go have some fun!" he said and pulls me around town. He pulls me to all kinds of places that he calls a "must". We went to it's famous ice cream shop, then took a walk around the large park, and saw the art from Altaria's famous artist. It was actually fun! We had actual conversations. No nonsense flirting or cheesy pickup lines he uses 90% of the time, no weird remarks or anything. Under all that he is really smart and can be funny when not being an idiot. He is also kind of a sweetheart. He's not so bad.
"You must try Altarian fashion!" he said smiling like a child. He pulls me to a store close by to try some clothes. We took turns doing other fashion shows. Strutting, whistling or booing, applauding each other as we dressed from the most fashionable to the weirdest taste. I laughed so much I was crying! I have had this much fun in ages. I feel like a kid again. We left arm in arm walking through town like good friends. For some reason my heart started to flutter like never before.
"Roberto?" someone called out to him. When we turned around and saw a girl around our age with short reddish brownish hair holding bags of fabric.
"Cynthia!" Roberto smiled and got closer to her. "How are you?"
"Just doing errands. I got to keep my internship you know!" the girl Cynthia laughed. Then our eyes meet across and instantly she was close and looking from my head to my toes. "Who is this? A new girlfriend?" she asked.
"Oh no, we're just friends!" he said waving his hand. My heart suddenly felt tight after he said that. I quickly ignored and put on a nice smile.
"I'm Marika." I said holding out my hand. She takes it gladly and shakes it.
"Cynthia! Wow, you are really pretty!"
Oh no, you're more prettier than me!" I said. Wow! That's so nice of her to say! Am I really that pretty?
"Ladies, you both are lovely!" Roberto stepped in between us and kissed both the backs of our hands. At the same time we took our hands and flicked him in the head.
"Idiot." we both said. "Jinx!" we said it again. "Double jinx!" we both laughed.
"I like you already, Marika! Sorry I I mistaken you as another girlfriend. He's always with girls. If he's your friend then I'm your friend!" she smiled.
"How do you two know each other anyway?" I asked.
"We're childhood friends so if you want to know anything just ask." she giggled. "Well I have to go before I get threatened to be fired again. See you guys later!" she waved goodbye.
"Wow she's cheerful!" I smiled.
"She's always been like that." said Roberto. We linked arms again as he talked about the adventures he had with Cynthia when they were little. Suddenly Alberto was in front of us with a very angry expression.
"Your Highness...You left a ton a work on your desk unfinished." he said grimacing.
"So...you lied." I said changing my tone from happy to deadpan.
"No, no, no, I didn't technically lie…" he said scratching his cheek with a fake smile. "I did do some work."
"But not all of it." I got to the point. I rolled my eyes and unlinked my arm with his. "I'm tired. Let's go home." I said. Alberto nods and leads us to the car. I didn't look at Roberto the entire time. He led me on thinking that it was alright just to abandoned his duty. He's a prince for goodness sake! I know it must be a demanding job but he has to take care of all these people in this country. Lying doesn't make it go away or any better.
We got back with Roberto still apologizing again and again. Finally I smacked his head.
"If you get your work done then I might forgive you." I said.
"Got it! If it gets you to forgive me then I am on it!" he said saluting me. In a flash he ran away. Alberto bows and says thanks before chasing after him.
I went back to my room and see Haru sitting on the bed with a worried expression.
"What's wrong, Haru?" I asked sitting next to her.
"I'm worried, aunty." she said looking up from her brown bangs. I touched her bobbed hair and kissed her forehead as "I'm back" kind of thing.
"What's got you so worried?" I asked.
"I just feel worried is all. It's like a feeling you know? That something is going to happen." she said holding her rabbit Frizzy tightly.
"You're...you're not going psychic on me, are you?" I said raising an eyebrow. I don't believe in that mumbo jumbo and I'm not starting now.
"No. I just feel heavy with worry for some reason. I'm a little scared." Haru said going into a ball.
"Nothing is going to happen, Haru. What you're feeling has happened to everyone at one point," I think. "But nothing happens so there's nothing to fear."
"Yup, so relax alright?" I said bringing her closer and rubbing her shoulder. "If you still feel like that then come to me. I'll do something about to make you feel better! I'll do anything for you, kid."
"Thanks." she gave a small smile and left the room. 'Was that good advice? I don't know what to do about that? It might be nothing or...something bigger...no, no, no, don't over think it Mari! You know she'll come back if she feels like that again.' I overplayed what I said in my head and completely get frustrated over it. I need to have faith in Haru. She'll come back to talk to me. Will she?
I need to concentrate on something else. I noticed a newspaper so I decided to read it. I sat on a nice cometh red chair near the balcony and opened it up. 'Altarian Prince's Rendezvous with Mystery Girl?!' I opened the paper instantly to page six and saw a picture with Roberto with his arm around another girl standing in front of the ice cream shop that we went to today. 'So I'm not the only "friend" huh...what am I thinking...I know that I'm not special so why do I feel like my heart's is sinking...is he just using me?' So many thoughts ran through my head. I'm not his girlfriend so why do I feel so bothered by it. I'm only a friend. That's right, a friend! Nothing more...nothing less.
"You shouldn't read stuff like that!" the paper suddenly ripped out of my grasp. It was Roberto and he quickly crumpled it and threw it into the trash.
"I was reading that!" I shouted.
"Gossip is bad for the brain!" he yelled at me.
"But I like gossip. It makes me feel laugh when people are being stupid." I said smirking. "I was getting to the good part of the article too." I pouted. To be honest I am taking it but I don't want him to know that it bothers me.
"You can be cruel, Mari…" he said looking a bit scared and I laughed. "I finished all of my work! Do you forgive me now?"
"Hmmm….I don't know…" I said playing around with him.
"No, you said you'll forgive me when I did all of my work!" he pouts.
"I said might. I never said I will." I smirked. We playfully argued for a while but for some reason I could see that his eyes were somewhere else. That worried me.
