THE CHAOS EARLIER had stopped, and peace and quiet had dominated the crowd. Each of them has found their own spot on the deck. Some were sitting, or lying on the cold wood, probably sleeping (if they are able to sleep). But Faye remained standing. She was leaning slightly over the railings, trying to see through the thick clouds. She has no luck.
The wind is passing by her ear like a sharp blade, cutting through her thoughts. She closes her eyes and remembers how, when she was stressed out or felt anxious, she would just go out to have the moon and air as her perfect company. Her only best friends. For a second, she wasn't on the ship with some craziness tied around her but she's back in her room, on her balcony, talking to the moon, listening as the heavy wind replies.
Unbidden, her heart takes her back to the days when…
"2nd?" A seven year old Faye feels so small under her mother's scorching gaze and ice cold voice. "You practice almost everyday, we even hired a trainer for you. And this… This is what you'll take home? Second place?"
"I'm sorry." The sound of her voice was enough to break anyone's heart but for some reason it doesn't seem to appease her mother's. "I will do better next time."
"You have no other choice but to do better." From the corner of her eye, Faye sees her father smoking and reading a newspaper, seemingly unbothered. "And next time? You are lucky enough to have a second chance next year, but what if there's no next time? What if you just run out of time, huh? Where would that take you?"
Faye bites her lips, hard enough to draw blood. Her tears came unbidden then. Hot as the anger and pain she feels inside her. If only pain can fall too just like her tears, she thinks she can build a pool out of it. "I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."
"It better won't be." Her mother straightens up. "You disappoint me this time, I don't want a repeat performance."
Ever since then, Faye has always strived harder, making sure that she was always number one. But of course, that doesn't always happen. There are times when she scored second again. Or someone is tied with her position. Hence, the words of her mother kept on repeating each time she failed to make them proud. And each time, she beats herself up for not doing the best. Her eyes were opened at a very young age that she cannot and will never be able to please her mother for as long as she's not the best among the rest.
"It's not crazy, huh?" A voice sounded from beside her, surprising her. Her eyes snapped open and she turned to face that person. She was greeted by a complete stranger. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Faye didn't know how to respond. Not because she was enthralled by the ethereal look this guy has–not that she's not affected, in fact, she is, very–but because she just doesn't know what to reply. She knows she has to say something but her eyes were too preoccupied checking the guy out.
Long lashes every girl would fight for, perfect chiseled jawline every guy wants, defined brown hair that shines under the moonlight and eyes that talk sweetly. The guy clears his throat, clearly feeling uncomfortable under her scrutinizing eyes.
"Uhm," the guy muttered. She blushes at being caught out. The guy laughs under his breath which makes her tomato colored face turn into blood tinted cheeks. "I never expected 'Faye' to be a shy kid."
Her eyebrows raised automatically at that. "I don't think we have met before, sir."
"Ouch." He places one hand on his heart, faking being wounded. But Faye was unfazed by it. "You wounded me. We pass by each other every day. I didn't know that I'm such an unnoticeable guy."
Faye furrowed her brows. "You sounded so serious earlier when you were starting to make a conversation that I thought I've finally found a sane person to talk to. How convincing your act was to make me believe that."
The guy sighed heavily, finally getting the message that she's not there to talk nonsense. "Okay, fine. I'll quit playing." His voice turns serious and he stands up straighter. "Truth is, I know who you are. That's why I approached you. Who wouldn't know? You are Faye, the eldest child and heiress to the empire of the Camarro's."
For some reason, Faye felt a little bit hurt at the mention of her title. She had forgotten that that's all she will ever be. "The eldest child and heiress to the empire of the Camarro's." At least, that's the only thing people know about her. The heiress to one of the oldest and richest empires in the world.
"Here, all of you are equal…"
She suddenly remembers what the professor had told them earlier. That's right, for as long as she's here she has no title. She is just like everybody else. She's their equal. She's not above nor below anyone. Her mother's not also here to tell her otherwise. These thoughts make her throat close up and she can suddenly feel the dryness of her mouth as she gulps.
"I'm not," she says quietly though she knows he hears her.
"Huh?" The guy looks at her dumbfoundedly. "You can't possibly believe that you can deceive me, right? Everyone here knows who you are. They are just probably too afraid to approach the 'perfect daughter'."
"Don't call me that." Her voice came out clipper than she intended but the guy didn't look upset or offended. In fact, he looks amused. "Yes, I am Faye Camarro. However, I am not the 'Faye Camarro'. Just like what the professor said before, here, we're all equal. No status, whatsoever. So please, just refer to me as Faye. I think I'd appreciate that."
"Okay." The gentleness in his voice surprised Faye. Making her look up to him.
"Okay," she says, biting her lips. She didn't know that finally letting go of that title could be so relieving until she did it. "What's your name?"
"Mine?" There was an odd pause, like he's really contemplating on telling the truth. "Giovanni."
"Oh." Then Faye's eyes went as wide as saucers. "G-giovanni? As in, Giovanni Jesse Hemmingway?"
"Yes." She gasps and puts a hand over her mouth. Now that she has finally paid attention to it, she can finally see the Hemmingway in him. No wonder his eyes were the brightest blue she has ever seen, it's their trademark. Gosh, how could she be so… blind and stupid?
"You talked to me as if you were some lowly person. You are Giovanni Jesse Hemmingway, the 'prince of elites and heir to, probably, half the world's empire if not the whole'." He raises an eyebrow at her and smirks a little.
"And here I was thinking the same thing applies to me." Giovanni leaned on the railings.
"What?"
"You said we have no title or whatsoever while we're here." He shrugs. "We're just normal kids dreaming normal dreams."
"B-but that was before–"
"Before you knew who I was." He nods as if he already foresaw this but there's a hint of pain in his voice though he doesn't sound offended in the least. Faye understands that underlying pain more than anyone.
Giovanni Jesse Hemmingway is labeled as the 'prince of elites' for multiple reasons. One, the most obvious one probably, is that he is the heir to the throne of his country. Yes, he is a prince. A real prince. Hence, the title. He is the first son of King Jaxon Hemmingway and Queen Liza of the North. He has a brother though no one knows who he was. These two brothers are also called the 'shadow princes'. As they do not make any appearance to the public, Prince Giovanni rarely goes out, only when there's an important event which is why there is a mysterious air going on around him.
Two, the second reason, in addition to him being a prince, he is also a self made businessman. It was said to be against the rules of royals for one of them to work aside from their designated job but he made it happen. He was also the first of the line to do so. Three, well, he has the looks. Every girl who looks at him will probably fall in love at first sight.
"I'm sorry your Majesty, I spoke to you so informally earlier." Faye averts her eyes in shame.
"Please, I approached you earlier because you're alone and you look the calmest among the others. Not because I was hoping that you would recognize me and will treat me as a Prince. Like you said, here, we are all equal." He looks at her from where he was gazing at the clouds. "So, you can drop the formalities now and just address me as Gio. At least, while we're here."
"Is this even real?" She asks under her breath.
"Well, I guess that could answer your question."
Faye lifts her head. For a second she sees nothing but clouds. Then, it starts to clear up. Among the things that she has seen for the evening, this one looks the most real.