Roberto Final
"Wow, summer vacation is almost over…" Haru sighed sadly, looking out the window of her room.
"Can I change schools? That school is way too unfair. I got expelled for helping." Naru grumbled.
"First of all, you were suspended and second, you beat up another student who is now a friend of you sister's." I corrected him as I read a mystery novel. I heard Naru huff at me response.
"Well I can't wait!" Kai said cheerfully. "Maybe I could make a friend or two this year!"
"I guess so…" said Naru.
"Don't worry, Kai! Big sister will play with you still!" Haru smiled. 'Goodness, it's too loud in here to read…' I sighed to myself. Suddenly the door opened and Al peaked through the door.
"I've brought snacks…" he said, carrying a tray of snacks and drinks.
"SNACKS!" the kids shouted and ran towards him. His face turned bright red and had an adoring smile on h face as he bent down, allowing the kids to grab some food.
"Marika, the Prince wants to see you in his office." he said as if he suddenly remembered. Probably the kids made him forget. I nodded and went to his office. When I got there, he was sleeping on his red couch.
"Roberto…" I called out to him. I poked his cheek but I didn't get a response. What was the point coming here then? When I was about to leave, he grabbed me and pulled me into the couch.
"Hmmm...Marika…" he said as he slept with a smile on his face, snuggling into my hair. I couldn't get out of his grip. I felt so much embarrassment and my heart threatening to pop at any moment. The smell of his cologne was soft smelling, reminded me of snickerdoodles that were freshly baked. The smell and the soft feeling of being in his arms made me drift into sleep.
….
I woke up to the feeling of someone playing with my hair. I fluttered my eyes open and looked up sleepily. Roberto had the most softest expression I have ever seen. My heart raced as I watched him play with my hair. It also made me feel so relaxed, like I was on a cloud.
"Good morning, princess." he whispered to me as he noticed me watching him. "Sorry, I don't mean to sleep. I've been busy but I wanted to see you at least once, but I guess I fell asleep." he chuckled.
"How long did we sleep?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"...about three hours…" he said ok he's as in a trance.
"What's wrong?" I asked as he kept watching me.
"The way you rub your eyes...is extremely cute." he takes my hand a kisses it hard. This time I didn't take my hand away from him. I didn't mind it. Then our eyes met when he was still kissing my hand. He leaned in and gently placed a kiss on my lips. He pulled away and then our eyes met again as well as our lips.
What's wrong with me?' I wondered to myself but I wasn't bothered how he was treating me. He probably did this with other women but...I don't know. I'm so confused. The only feeling I have is that I wanted to stay like this for a long time.
Maybe forever. When we stopped, he put his forehead on mine and our hands interlocked.
"I don't want you to leave…" he said as his nose gently touched mine.
"But I have too. I have to get back to my life in Charles." I said rubbing my nose against his.
"You can have a life here, with me. I can be there for your kids as well. We can be a family." he hugged me tightly in his arms.
"I can't. We are from different worlds, Roberto." I said, getting up. "You'll marry a girl from a rich, important family and become king of the country. I'm just a college dropout with kids to take care of. We cannot happen." I said, standing up to leave. "That reminds me, the kids and I have to go pack to return." When I was about to leave, he grasped my hand and held it tightly.
"Please, stay!" he cried out. "This feeling in my chest...I don't know host I explain it. When I don't see, hear, or talk to you, I feel so empty. I have never felt like this. When I hung out with other girls I always feel empty but when I'm with you, I don't feel that hole. It's like it disappears when you come through that door with that sweet smile on your face. And your kids are the most wonderful. They are so bright and lovable that I want them around all the time. It like they are my own." he hugs my arm. "Please, don't leave. You all can stay here. I can provide for you so you'll never have to lift finger."
Nobody has ever said that to me before. Not even my kids get any praise. It's just judgement and lowly criticism. Roberto makes me feel like I'm doing a great job. When I'm with him, I feel like me heart aches when I think or even see him."I'm sorry…" I said swallowing any words of wanting to stay or even revealing the similar feelings I have for him. "I have to go." I whispered and left room.
"Welcome back, Aunty. Where have you been? We were starting to get worried." Haru said, playing with Kai's hair.
"Hey, kids. I was just having a nice conversation with Roberto is all." I shoved the truth down my throat. "Where did Al go?"
"Something went wrong in the kitchen so he went to go fix that." Kai answered while looking in the mirror to see his hair that was covered in hairclips.
"Hey…" I started to speak hesitantly. "I think it's time to leave."
"WHAT!?" Haru and Kai shouted.
"Summer vacation doesn't end for another three weeks." Haru said with shock in her eyes.
"Well, we have to register you kids for the new school year. That takes time and I have to go back to work. We'll leave in four days from now, so pack." I ordered leaving the room.
I walked through the halls aimlessly, watching the birds fly by. I stopped in front of a window to watch squirrels play. I smiled and touched the window. 'Our lives will be normal again. When we leave, this will be like a dream.' I thought to myself.
"Aunty." I heard Naru call out.
"Hey Naru." I greeted him.
"Can we talk?" he asked. I nodded and we went to sit in the garden on the lovely chairs that were position nicely in the shade. "Why are we leaving? And tell me the truth this time. I can tell when you're lying."
"I'm….I'm in love." I answered with a heavy sigh. "Today I realized it. I accepted his advances and I just couldn't handle that. I can't be with him."
"Yeah, you can. It's not hard." I smiled at his remark thinking of how young he is and doesn't understand where I am coming from. "Aunty, why can't you be honest with yourself?"
"What do you mean?"
"Aunty, you always shove your desires down so that you can raise us. Haru, Kai, and me are fine now. As long as we have you in our life, that is all we want. We want you to be happy, so stop putting useless needs in front of us and just go to Roberto. Besides, I think he is good guy to become Uncle Roberto."
"Pfft." I chuckled. "I have never heard a phrase like that for a prince."
"So go. Go be with him." Naru looked away with his arms crossed. I smiled gently at him and then got up and ruffled his hair.
"Thank you." I said to him, kissing the top of his head. Then I went back to Roberto's office. When I got there, it was empty. My eyes caught sight of card on the coffee table with beautiful handwritten cursive handwriting. I picked it up and read it.
"Come to the dining room?" I read aloud. I wondered why and decided to head there.
"Hello? Roberto?" I called out as I walked in the dining room. There was a feast prepared on the large table covered with my favourites in top of an expensive looking, red velvet table cloth.
"Welcome!" Roberto suddenly appeared, greeting me. His voice sounded nervous when he greeted me. Then he escorted me to the table.
We ate in silence as we were also far apart from each other. Sometimes we would catch each other looking at each other, then looking away shyly like a bunch of shy teenagers. I blush brightly when we would accidentally meet eyes or try to talk but we would end up speaking at the same time. Suddenly, he slammed his hands on the table and got up and strode towards me. Then he took my hand and pulled me all the way back to his office.
"Hey, Roberto-" I was trying to at until he started to yell.
"This wasn't a good idea!" he yelled. "It wasn't romantic at all as planned! No!" he cried. I am at a lost.
"What do you mean?" I asked. He calms down and faced me with a deep red flush. He talks out the necklace that was on his shelf and holds it out to me.
"I love you, Marika Yoshihara." he said as the necklace started to quiver in his hands. "This whole summer with you has been like an adventure that never ends. You're brave, intelligent, funny, and a long person. I've fallen so hard for you that I can't get out of it. It think about you everyday, even when I was acting like a total jerk. I want you to be in my life always with your kids. Together, we can become a family!" he suddenly get closer and takes my hand. "My mother told me to give this necklace to someone that I truly love. Marika, I'm giving this to you." he gets down on one knees and looks me in the eyes. "Marika, will you marry me?"
My voice was stuck in my throat. I was speechless. My heart pound so hard that my ribcage hurt. Marriage? I took deep breaths and then kissed his cheek. I caressed his cheek and then started to talk slowly.
"I love you, Roberto." I said softly. His eyes went wide as I talked. "I never felt like this before. Nobody has ever accepted my kids and me before. You have made me feel so proud to be the guardian of three fantastic kids. I feel like I'm in the Sun when I'm with you. But…" I said, making him worried. "I'm not ready for marriage." I said, causing him to collapse on his knees. "Roberto, I want to get to know you more. Not as friends but as...your girlfriend…" I want deep red on that line that I couldn't look even look at him.
"Thank goodness!" he hugged tightly, bringing me to the ground. "I'm so happy!" I felt his tears on the crook of my neck. "I didn't know what I would do if you rejected me."
"I would never reject you." said hugging him back. Then I felt a cold object around my neck. It was the necklace that he proposed to me with. "But I didn't accept your proposal."
"You accepted my love. That is what really matters to me." he said, lightly brushing my lips.
"Yay!" multiple voices cheered as the door busted open. Al and the kids were cheering and clapping with happy faces.
"We can stay!" Kai cried and was swing around with Haru. Naru stood there smirking and Al was smiling from ear to ear.
"Yes, we can." I said, smiling at Roberto as he smiled at me.
Thank you everyone who read/followed/favorited/reviewed this story! I am so happy that you guys really enjoyed it! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!
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