Roberto Part 4
It's been a week since the kid's and I were invited to stay at the kingdom of Altaria by the Prince himself, Roberto. The kids are having blast here, playing outside, adventuring am over the large mansion that somehow the servants are able to navigate without haste. Things are pretty good. However, it's not all that fun for me.
Ever since that outing newspaper ordeal it's like we're not the same. When he talk it's like he's somewhere else far away from here. He looks like he's fine but I can tell that he is not. I have done that look my entire life. Swallowing up and just trying to get through is what I've done that since the death of my mother and I only had one person who listened to me when I was like this but he's gone, too. But lately I've been on edge to speak up.
I screwed up with Haruka's problem with Freddy who bullied her. I didn't know it was going on nor did she even talk to me about. Even though those two have fixed and created a friendship together I still hesitated. What if he shuts me out? Rejects me? Says that everything is fine? I've missed the signs with Haruka and I've become afraid to even show a little backbone to help a friend.
What should I do, Oscar?
…
Another week passed and Roberto is still the same. I've decided to stand up ask him so I marched to his office to only find it empty. I squatted in shame and then went in to wait for him. I sat on his nice, large, red velvet couch in the middle of his office and absorbed the interior.
It was an office for a king no doubt. Large dark wooden desk at the large window with red curtains. Bookshelves filled with books about government and the economy with a side of royal family knowledge. Some old decorations like a globe on his desk, some sort of snowglobe, some plants, and lovely painted pictures of landscape. But something caught my eye. On the far left side near his desk was a neck statue with a blue necklace gently hanging like someone was wearing it. I took closer look and spotted a picture next to it There was a picture of a woman who looked almost like Roberto. Then the door opened a Roberto stood there with such a surprised look like I was an intruder. He released a deep breath and returned to his famous smile.
"What are you doing in here?" he said, a little forced.
"I...wanted to talk but you weren't here so I decided to wait for you."
"Oh well I'm here now!" he laughed. "What did you want to talk about?" he sat on the couch looking at me. He seemed very bothered with me being near this area so I sat on the opposite couch twin couch.
"You know, Roberto, if something is bothering you, you...you can tell me right?" I said. He seemed fazed but quickly gained composure.
"Why do you think something is bothering me?" he said with a fake smile.
"Well that's for one. You're not smiling."
"I am smiling."
"No, you're not."
"Oh, please!" he brushes me off over and over again. I gave him a yeah-right look and rolled my eyes. I'm not getting anywhere like this.
"Well, if you ever want to talk I'm right here." I gave a half smile. "I'm your friend and friends are suppose to help each other. If you need anything, I'm here." I said getting up and about to leave the room.
"Wait, Marika!" he calls me out. My heart raced and I turned to face him trying to cover my happy expression to look serious.
"Yes." I said calmly.
"There's a ball tomorrow night...would you and your children like to come with me?" he asked. I felt a little down hearing that but a ball sounds nice for the kids.
"Sure. I would love to." I said with a quick smile and left.
….
"This tux itches." Naru complained scratching his body. His suit was gray with a little black tie that hung from his little neck.
"Don't do that, you'll ruin the suit." I said fixing his outfit.
"I can't help it! Why do we even have to go?"
"Because it his nice to get out sometimes. You can't live behind these large doors forever." I said tightening his tie.
"I think it will be fun, Naru. So don't be such a grump!" Haru smiled. Her cream colored dress swayed as she pratice dancing with someone.
"Aunty!"
"Listen to your sister, Naru. Nobody likes a grump." I fixed his hair. "Now, you will make all the girls trip over their heels just to see you!" I smiled proudly at him as he blushed at my remark.
"Is everyone ready?" Roberto appeared in front of us in his red royal uniform, holding Kai in his arms. "Sorry if I was a little late, Kai here was having shoe problems. Don't worry, I taught him how to tie the shoelaces!" he smiled from ear to ear like usual. I stood up slowly and gave him a sarcastic curtsy.
"Why, thank you kind sir." I chuckled. As I was about to take Kai into my arms I caught Roberto staring at me with an expression I have never seen him do. "Everything alright, Roberto?" I asked getting Kai.
"I-I-I" he stammered as he looked at me.
"He's saying that you're beautiful, Aunty." Haru giggled. She lifted the light red fabric and looked up at me. "He thinks you are a princess!" I looked down at my tube dress and played with light red fabric that covered the bright red.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Yoshihara, the maid forgot to put this in your hair." Alberto appeared around the corner with a red rose clip in his hand. "I'll put it on right away!"
"No it fine, Alberto. I can do it." I said taking the clip from his hand.
"Oh no, let me." he said taking it back and reached for my nicely put up hair.
"Wait, I'll do it." Roberto suddenly spoke up and rudely takes the clip. He gets close to me and gets on his toes to reach my gun. His breath tickled my left ear as he puts the clip in. I felt his gaze on me time to time but I tried to ignore it since it will lead to total embarrassment on both sides. "There, that should do." he said gently touch in my hair. His touch was like he was taking care of glass that could break any moment. "Alright! Let's go!" he went back to use usual self and cheered. He left the room quickly like he was running away. I shrugged and told the kids to get in the car. The kids talked about how they imagined the ball as Alberto drove us.
….
"Wow this is…" Haru said gasping at the scenery in front of her. "Like we've imagined it." she said going from amazed into a deadpan expression in an instant.
"Yeah…" Naru agreed and Kai nodded. "They could have gotten like a fountain that instead of water it was soda or something."
"Don't be ridiculous, Naru." I said crossing my arms. "Soda is bad for you. It should be juice instead of soda."
"Aunty, has a point." Haru said thinking it over. "Some juices are good for you since they have vitamins to help our systems."
"When did you get smart, Haru?" Naru kidded gaining a playful shove from Haru. Then Kai pulled Naru's sleeve and pointed at the buffet on the other side of the room.
"You better feed him, Naru. Kai can get cranky if he doesn't get his stomach filled." I said gently patting their backs to go. I watched the boys leave but I noticed Haru not going with them.
"Aren't you going with them?" I asked.
"I'm worried again, Aunty." she shook her head. "I feel off like something bad is about happen or something. I am getting really worried." she said looking down in the dumps. "But don't worry about me! Go hang out with Roberto!" she said faking a smile.
"Easier said than done." I smiled shrugging. Right after we went in he immediately disappeared. Now, I see him surrounded by a bunch of beautiful aristocrat girls. It made my heart sank but I denied and ignored my thoughts and feelings. He's only a friend.
"Wow, who brought her here?" I heard a girl whisper.
"Apparently Robby did." the other whispered back.
"Why, she's a street rat." one of them chuckled as they look over continuing to talk about me like I'm not even here.
"I heard she has three kids."
"What, no way!"
"Yes, way. I also heard that she's a golddigger trying to score." as I heard the gossips I rolled my eyes and continued to watch the people dance around with their ball gowns that look better on them than on me.
"You don't have to take that, Aunty." I heard Haru speak up noticing the glances and gossips that were spreading like wildfire. "You can stand up for yourself like you always do."
"Not in this case, Haru. I might get sued if I even touch them or an inch near them maybe." I said touching her head. "Don't worry about little old me. I can handle it. Now, go to your brothers, who knows what Naru would say to others while dragging Kai down with him when he hears the gossip." She nodded hesitantly and ran off to the buffet. I grabbed a drink from a try and gulped it down in one go. 'This is sooo fun.' I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes. I don't know anyone here except Roberto but he's off avoiding me and the kids are running around enjoying their time outside the mansion.
"Hello, there beautiful." someone said next to me. I glanced to the side and see a handsome man looking at me with a cute smile. "What's a beautiful woman doing by herself? So you need some company?" he gave a sly smile. 'Is he serious? Is that how guys like him pick up girls? Gross.' I thought getting irritated. For some reason Roberto comes into my mind. 'Roberto probably does this with all the ladies, huh.' My heart squeezed again thinking about what Roberto does to get woman. I quickly got rid of the idea and faced that man next to me.
"Is that how you get a girl's attention? How classy." I said getting another glass.
"Excuse me, but you should be flattered by a man like me giving you a time of day." he said trying to keep his smile but it was wavering. I felt someone watching but I ignored it and kept playing with the guy.
"Yay." I said monotonously. "Oh my god, some guy is talking to me. Is this a dream?" the man was getting angry as his eyebrows twitched. "I can't believe it." I took a sip and left the guy. 'Ugh, I hope that doesn't happen again. I hope the kids are alright.' As I got lost in my thoughts I heard someone yelling.
"Why are you here?!" a man was yelling and was coming towards me. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him. I looked around to see who he was yelling at me but his eyes were dead set on me. I pointed at myself and the man became more aggressive.
"Are you pretending to be stupid!? I've been trying to contact you for almost two weeks!" he yelled at me spitting all over my face.
"Do I know you?" I asked rudely.
"Are you kidding me! You're the one who punched me on a school playground!"
"Sir, I punch a lot of people. Don't make yourself special because a pretty girl like me gave you some time of day to HIT on you." I said snorting at my pun.
"Oh, so you think you're so funny!"
"Well I do like my puns, old man."
"I'm not old! You know me! Don't you remember me! Your children lied about my son picking on your daughter!" he said his face turning a shade of angry red. I thought it over of what he said and I realized that he was THE guy I punched in school property.
Oh, crap.
"Oh, I remember you…" I cringed. "You were that rude man I had to deal with…" I have an awkward laugh and scratched my head.
"How dare you! You punched me, humiliating me in front of my wife, and now humiliating me in front of all my friends!"
"Well you're doing that yourself by yelling about it." I pointed it out. He became paralyzed by that statement. "So do you need something or you just to be rude so that you get another black eye." I noticed the thick layer of makeup on his left eye so I pointed at my own eye to show him that I know.
"No! Mr. Salkama!" the man yelled and instantly a man in a brown business appeared. He looked like a ghost by how pale he was and his dead eyes with bags under his eyes. He handed me a sheet of paper and then cough while fixing his tie.
"You have been served." he said with no emotion in his voice. I looked at the paper in confusion and then saw that it was something people avoid getting.
"I'm getting used?" I shouted with disbelief.
"You assaulted a defenseless man. You should be happy that he is not pressing charges but wants his medical bill paid off by the person who did this to him." the lawyer explained.
"Yeah, you tell her Salkama!" the man encourage the lawyer but the lawyer rolled his eyes, annoyed by him.
"This is stupid. He's just angry that his butt was beat by a girl." I said rubbing my temples.
"I am not! You punched me in public!"
"There was no one around except me, your wife, and my kid."
"In public!"
"You drunk or something?" I asked.
"You are going to pay for this!" he said laughing. "I am only accepting your money, not your rich lover's! See I know what you do. With just slip of your tongue everything will be handle by whoever you have around your finger!"
"Yeah, you are drunk."
"Am not!" he said taking a drink and gulped it down. 'Yeah, right.'
"Excuse me, sir, you should do this in private not here, ruining the fun for everyone." Roberto puts his hand on his shoulder, giving him that usual smile.
"No! She embarrassed me so I'm embarrassing her to show what it feels like!" the man spat. "What are you, her lover?" he said slapping the prince's hand away.
"Yes I am!" Roberto yelled back making the room silent. I was dumbfounded by this and didn't move a muscle.
"ROBBY!" the girls scream.
"When did this happen!?" one girl clung to his arm.
"Why here?" another cried.
"You said that we were going to be!?" a third screeched.
"It's your fault!" one girl came up to me. "You are blackmailing him, aren't you!"
"Yeah, he wouldn't go for some commoner like you!" a second one shoved me. Then many girls circled around me yelling into my ears.
"See I knew it!" the man pointed and laughed hysterically. I gained a headache by the racket.
"I do love her!" Roberto yelled at the girls but none of them would hear it. "I truly do!" he looked right at me. Our eyes met as the girls became more vicious.
"You said you loved me!" a girl tugged him.
"Me too! You said that we'll be together forever!" ' What is this? Why is he saying that he loves me when he doesn't?
"You must be so proud having kids from three different fathers!" one girl laughed.
"How disgusting! What trash!" another laughed. 'Yup, that's it.' I cracked and I went up to Roberto with a calm face and slapped him hard across the face. Everyone went silent and became mortified by what I have just done.
"Why would I ever love you?" I said with my voice sound so menacing Roberto scooted away from me with a fearful expression. My heart felt like it was about to pop talking to him in this way but I am so sick of being dragged around, pretending to be something that I'm not even the slightest. I am not his lover and I'll never be. But why does my heart feel this way? I've spoken like this before and I have never felt so disgusted with myself until now.
Why?
"Marika…" Roberto whispered but I just glared at him.
"You're a waste of time." I said and left him on the floor and went towards the other guy. The man feel on the floor in fear. He shivered and watched me come over to him.
"Don't hit me!" he said covering his face.
"You're an eyesore." I said darkly. "I feel sorry for your wife who has to deal with a boy like you." I said and left the room.
"Aunty!"
"Aunty Mari!" I heard the kids call. I turned around see them running at top speed.
"We saw what happened!" Haruka said slowly coming to a stop with her brothers.
"What's going to happen now?" Naruki asked.
"I'm going to take care of it." I ruffled their hair and kissed all three of them on their foreheads. I turned around and left the area. I got into the car we went in and knock on the window. It rolled down and Alberto was there with a worried expression.
"Miss Yoshihara? What are you doing here? The party isn't over yet." Alberto then checked his phone. "Doesn't look like Prince Roberto snuck away. Why are you here?"
"Take me to the mansion, please." I said and without any other questions he took me back. 'I'm sorry kids. It looks like I have to break my promise.'
…
When I got to my room I quickly changed into something easier to walk in and pack my stuff. When I grabbed my phone I noticed a shrine of my brother in the corner of the room. The shrine contained a family photo with the two is with the kids. Their mother was way gone before the picture was even taken. Next to it was a folded flag of the Charlesian flag.
"I'm sorry, Oscar. I'm the worst guardian in history." I started to talk to the the shrine. I haven't done this in a while, but it feels like a little weight as lifted off my shoulders. "I got sued! Are you surprised!? No? Alright. At least I wasn't arrested for assault, ha." I gave a little awkward laugh. I relieved a heavy sigh and then looked directly at the picture. "I'm going to fix this. Right now I want you to watch the kids while I am gone. I'll be back soon so, please, do this one thing." I couldn't hold back my tears as they already were traveling down my cheek. I wiped them off, grabbed my bags, and left the room.
"Miss Yoshihara, where are you going!?" Alberto asked, shocked as I come down the staircase with bags in hand.
"Don't worry, just take me to by the train station. I already bought my ticket on the way here so it's set in stone. Now, please, take me." I said brushing past him.
"What about your children!?"
"It's their vacation. Roberto invited us to come here and they are more into it than I am. So, I'm asking you last favor. A favor that I will be in your debt forever." I said looking directly into his eyes. "Watch them for me." my voice was wavering, threatening to become hoarse. I didn't look away though. I kept my ground and waited for his answer. He looked down, a bit confused and distraught, but then he calmly looks back at me and gives me a firm nod.
…
I stood on the platform in the cold. If I knew Altaria is cold at night I would have brought a jacket. I shivered, but I didn't move from my spot. 'I have to alert my jobs, my landlord, I have to really cut down my expenses big time. If I'm going to pay off this lawsuit then I have to work hard. More hours at my jobs is necessary as well. I won't rely on others because this all my fault. Crap!" I cursed at myself for not holding back at that time. I should have just bit my tongue and just accepted it. Instead I made life difficult and I have to leave my kids behind.
"Miss Yoshihara?" Alberto touched my shoulder bringing me out of my funk. "Can you at least tell me what is happening? You're leaving without your children? Did something happen?"
"Just watch them, please!" I shouted at him. Crap, I'm breaking down. "It's all I'm asking. When I come back I'll do whatever you want to repay you so please just watch them for the time being!" I bowed deeply at him. "Thank you, for everything." I said, tears rolling down my face. Alberto had a melancholy look as he watched me slowly break apart.
"STOP!" we both heard someone shout. We both turned around and see Roberto running towards us. When he got close to us and jumps and keeps me in the tightest hug. "Don't go!" he pleaded.
"I have to." I said, my voice straining from his strong grip.
"You're just going to up and abandon your children!"
"I have to! I need to pay off that lawsuit! I already humiliate them and you so I need to go!"
"I can pay for you! Those guys will never have to find out! I can pay it off slowly so they won't know it was me! Just please, stay with me…"
"What do you mean stay with you?" I asked. "Me? Why did he use me instead of the kids or just all of us in general?"
"I need to talk to you about something." he said. He motions Alberto to leave and as soon as he does he grabs both my hands and makes me sit on the bench.
