Chapter Eight: Call Me Baby
“Can I help you?” came a voice from beside the Selina, and the princess almost jumped in surprise. A woman was standing by the bookstore’s doorway, a foot away from her. She had silver hair that looked flat and thin, like an old woman’s, but her skin was free of wrinkles. She must be in her mid to late twenties, the princess assumed.
“Oh, no, I’m just looking while waiting for my fiancée,” Selina replied.
“Be careful with the book. It’s ancient.”
“Excuse me?”
The woman stared at her for a few more seconds before vanishing inside the store without a word.
“Rude,” the young princess muttered under her breath as she leafed through the book again before slamming it close. She was about to place it back on the shelf when she noticed she was holding an old leather-bound volume. The embossed golden letters on the cover read: Witches’ Bible. She let out a little shriek and dropped the item as if it burned her. “Ew, ew, ew!”
She wagged her hands in front of her as if getting rid of something revolting in her hands.
“Becca, my sanitizer,” she commanded without thinking, holding out her hand beside her.
“Who are you talking to?” asked another voice. This time it came from under her, and she jumped back in surprise. A guy was squatting in front of her. He was holding the bible in one hand.
“What is wrong with you people?” Selina lashed out in annoyance, but her comments went down the drain when the guy straightened up and she realized how tall he was. He must be at least 1. 78 meters. It must not be a lot for some people, but she was standing five feet two. A few inches of difference in height was a lot for her.
“Wait, is it hot in here…” he said, touching Selina’s chin and closing her mouth. “Or is it just ‘you’?”
The princess took another step back, blushing in embarrassment. She wanted to run a palm on her chin because she was sure she felt something when he touched her. It was like a bunch of pins pricked her. She put her hands on her hips instead, raised her eyebrows, and stuck her nose up in the air.
“D-does that ever work for you?” she asked. She stammered, but she schooled her expression in neutrality fairly quickly.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” the guy answered, placing the book on its shelf carefully before facing her again, crossing his arms on his broad chest and raking his eyes on the Rose Princess’ body. He didn’t even try to be subtle about it. He was cocky, and it was clear he liked what he was seeing.
Selina swallowed her discomfort and studied the guy as well. She realized he was actually attractive. Tan-skinned, with long, shiny raven hair with hints of dark brown highlights, ruffling freely by the breeze—uncommon for men in this country and hers; a pair of piercing, deep-set eyes, dark and bright at the same time; prominent cheekbones; aquiline nose and chiseled jaw. He was wearing a white shirt under a red-brown jacket, and ankle-high brown boots over a pair of dark denim jeans. The way he stood, brimming with confidence and commanding presence, made him look like he’s someone important, or does modeling for a living at the least.
Selina’s heart jumped to her mouth when the guy thrust his hand toward her. She stared at his palm, cringing at how rough it looked.
“Jasper,” he said in that rich baritone voice of his, and the princess realized he was introducing himself. “But you can call me… ‘baby’.”
Selina’s cheeks burned a deep crimson color. For once, she didn’t know what to say or feel. She wanted to chastise him for his arrogance, but she appreciated the attention and a boost to her confidence. It didn’t help that he was attractive... in an exotic sort of way. The honey-brown eyes were quite appealing!
“I know you haven’t told me your name yet, but do you want to go out on a date?”
His shit-eating grin, combined with his confidence, made her want to accept his invitation. She couldn’t, though, because she had been promised to another guy and swore her devotion to him.
“Jasper!” a girl’s voice called the guy’s name sharply from behind the princess, and both she and Jasper looked at the source. A girl no older than thirteen was charging toward them like a bull. She was tan and had long raven hair tied to a side braid. She had the same eyes and prominent cheekbones as Jasper’s, but a rounder, softer face structure. It’s clear they’re related.
“What are you doing?” the girl asked, stopping in front of Jasper, exasperated. “You’re supposed to help me with my things, not flirt with anyone with a skirt!” She looked at Selina like her very existence disgusted the girl. “No offense.”
Selina gasped at the audacity, but before she could answer, the girl was already pulling on Jasper’s arm.
“Come on!”
“Maybe next time.” Jasper winked at Selina before turning away and hissing at the little girl. “You are such a cock-block.”
“And you’re a real man-wh*re!” the girl shot back, firmly clutching the guy’s arm as they walked away.
“Where did you learn that word?”
“Internet, duh!”
“That’s it, no more cellphones AND Wi-Fi for you.”
“You can’t do that, you’re not mom or dad.”
Selina’s face felt hot, and she was still a little pink in the cheeks when Henry came back from the toilet.
“Hi, sorry,” he said while wiping his hands with his white hanky. “There was a line and… are you all right, Selina?”
“Uhm, yes,” the princess answered, blushing again, feeling guilty for no reason. “I’m a little hot—I mean thirsty. Can we buy something to drink first?”
“Sure, I know a place.”
***
“Selina, I’d like you to meet Jade, president of the student council.”
They arrived at the university and stopped by the enormous wooden doors, by the bulletin board where a young woman was waiting. Henry excitedly approached her, both of them smiling at each other before the king introduced the women.
The Rose Princess inspected the girl in front of her. She looked a little older and was about Henry’s height, skinny, with a tawny, yellowish-brown complexion, clear brown eyes, an aquiline nose, and pink, thin lips. Her jet-black hair was pulled in a ponytail, and she was dressed casually in a university sweatshirt and dark skinny jeans.
“Hi, nice to meet you, Princess Selina,” Jade said. She seemed friendly, but Selina could tell her smile was a little tight. “We’ll just wait for a few more people and we’ll start the tour.”
“What happened to Monty?” Henry asked, and Jade just shrugged.
“He said he was running late, something about his mother.”
“Again? Poor Monty.”
“I know, right? Sucks for me, now I’m stuck on tour duty.”
The conversation between the two was normal, even to her ears, but there was something in their inflection that did not sit right with the princess. She felt like a third wheel and she didn’t like it.
“I thought this was a private tour, darling?” Selina asked in a stage whisper and clutched Henry’s arm, asserting dominance. Showing the other girl what’s up.
“I thought it would be more fun if we joined other people.”
“How about...” the princess suggested as she ran her fingertips down her boyfriend’s arm. “Since some people can’t be bothered to be on time, you and I proceed to our private tour? After that, we can have tea in my rooms while I unpack.”
“Men aren’t allowed in the women’s dormitories,” Jade piped up. “Sorry.”
“What?”
“And vice versa, you can’t go to my room as well,” Henry admitted.
“Dormitories?” Selina gasped. “We’re not living together?”
“Uhm, I’ll just…” Jade stepped back, away from them. “I’ll just go there, yep. Someone’s calling me.”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Henry looked thoughtful for a moment. “Because I’m sure I did. We’re going to live in separate dormitories.”
“Why can’t we just rent a house like a normal couple?” The princess was growing exasperated by the second. This was not how she imagined things would turn out.
“Because living in the dorms is more logical and cost-effective. It allows you to be on time for class and cut out travel time. Plus, it will give you the opportunity to meet more people and be socially active.”
“I don’t want to meet other people. I want to spend time with you.”
“And you will. We will, it’s just that… legally, we can’t live in the same house…” Henry looked away, blushing, and then he waved to someone behind Selina. “Hi, guys!”
“Hi, sorry we’re late!” an oddly familiar voice said, making the princess whirl around to look. “My dear brother found another poor girl to toy with and…”
The young girl and the Rose Princess locked gazes, and as soon as the recognition dawned on them, their eyes grew big in surprise.
“You!”
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