Gakupo's Perspective

I slide out of my seat, gesturing for Gumi to follow me. She stands, almost losing her balance, and I catch her, hugging her around the waist. She looks up at me, her spring green eyes sparkling. I place her on her feet and let go, immediately missing the heat of her body next to mine. I look over at her and detect a hint of, sadness?

"Now we just need to figure out how to get out to the garden without being noticed," she says, laughter dotting her words, turning her voice into the sound of chimes. Her laughter is like spring finally waking up. The babbling of a brook, the chirping of the birds, and the cracking of ice as the sun melts it.

She goes up to the door, and slowly opens it. Peeking outside, she overdramatically looks both ways, and signals for me to come with her into the hall. She walks, on her tiptoes, out into the hallway. I walk behind her, walking as I always do, and she slaps me in the arm.

"What was that for?" I ask indignantly, and she just shushes me.

"We're trying to be sneaky, remember?" she whispers, and continues to walk like that. Holding back a laugh, I walk down the hallway as I was, trying to not draw attention to myself.

Thankfully, we finally reach the gate to the garden. Gumi walks up to the black, rusted, wrought-iron gate, and tries to open it. She tries for about a minute, putting all her weight against the rarely used gate, to no avail. I walk up behind her, reaching my arms around her body, and, with our combined strength, we are able to open the gate.

Even after the gate was open, though, I didn't let go of her hands. I was leaning against her, and we were very, very, close. She turns her head to look up at me, our lips a stretch away. Her eyes are sparkling like exotic emeralds, and it takes all of my willpower to pull away. Again, I think I see a flicker of disappointment on her face.

"Well, shall we?" I say, and she takes my hand and guides me through the garden

Gumi's Perspective

Strolling along down the cobblestone path that winds its way around the garden, I can't help to smile at the flowers trying their hardest to bloom.

"What are you smiling at?" Gakupo asks me, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh, nothing," I say, and earn an incredulous look from him, "Okay, it's just the flowers. The effort they put into trying to bloom in the middle of autumn. They're trying to make the world pretty for us, even though they know that the harsh winter will be coming up to swipe them down."

A light blush covers my face, because I am embarrassed by how much I told him. I look over at him, and see that he is smiling. "What? Did you really think it with that funny, the way I feel about the blossoms?" I ask him, annoyed, tears threatening to spill over. Stupid, I was seriously sharing how I felt. I start to turn away, intending to go back inside when he grabs my wrist. I turn my head, back towards him, and realize that he is only a foot away from me now.

"That wasn't why I was smiling at all, Gumi," he says, and I can't help but blush when he says my name. "I thought it was sweet they way you viewed the flowers."

"Really?" I manage to whisper back at him.

"Really," he says.

We continue to walk along, never letting go of each other's hands, and we end up reaching a stone bench. It's in front of a beautiful rose garden covered in all sorts of colors. Sitting down on the bench, he sits down on the soft grass, so similar to my hair, and is about the same height as me for once.

"I really wasn't trying to make you upset back there, Gumi," he says, leaning his head up to stare me in the eyes.

"I know, I just overreacted, I guess," I say, making eye contact with him. I realize how close we are, and start to lean into him, or maybe he was leaning into me? Our lips are just moments away from each other.

"GUMI! Oh Gumi!"

Leaning up, I see that the owner of that voice was none other than my most trusted handmaiden, Luka. To me, she isn't even a servant as much as a best friend.

She finally reaches us, and says, out of breath, "I've been looking for you all morning. Is this where you've been hiding? Did someone skip her lessons?"

I nod my head, surprised at how fast my loyal friend can speak. She gestures for me to come with her. Following her out of the rose garden, I wave goodbye to Gakupo. He timidly waves back, and then stares off at the roses.

Barely able to contain herself, my friend finally bursts as soon as we are out of his earshot. "Oh my god! You skipped class with him! Did anything happen?" she blurts out, much too loudly for my preference, and I shush her.

Something might've happened if you didn't interrupt me!" I say, faking anger.

She slaps me on the arm, and claims, "How was I supposed to know? We laugh, and then a look of complete seriousness comes over here face.

"You have a meeting with your mom. She wants to talk to you about him," Luka says, and my heart beat out of fear. "He was here, you know, this morning. That's why I was looking for you; to make sure he didn't find you first. I think he is still here." My breath catches, and I feel faint.

"Why can't mother just give it up? She knows that I will never care for him. But I must marry into royalty, not poverty. No matter how much I might love said poverty," I say sighing

"I will never tell Mother about Gakupo, or else he will be fired, and he wouldn't be able to live without the income he gets from this job. Please, promise me that you'll never tell her," I say, tears pricking at my eyes.

"I'm almost ashamed that you would ask me that, Gum, of course I will never tell," she says.

We finally reach my mother's private wing of the castle, and I am saddened to leave Luka so soon. Before leaving, though, she grabs my hand and gives it a comforting squeeze.

"I'll always be with you, princess," she says, and walks away.

So, what did you guys think? Remember, reviews make the world go 'round~~~. So, any guesses to who this mysterious him is? (If you couldn't follow that part, he is someone her mom wants her to marry. It'll be explained more next chapter.) Oh, and how many of you guessed that Gumi, this girl living in a palace, was a princess? (sorry for not mentioning it sooner, by the way. It's not something you can just casually slip into a conversation). If you just assumed, you deserve a virtual cookie. Smarty pants. And, virtual cookies if you can guess the mysterious him...

P.S. Feel free to message me with suggestions for one-shots or more. Or if you just want to talk to me. And, I repeat, reviews make the world go 'round~~~