"BACK FROM YOUR DATE already?" Elijah welcomed me.
"It wasn't a date, is there something wrong?"
"I just thought you weren't coming home." Elijah sat back on the couch.
"It was not like that." Henry felt heat rushing to his face. "He was just a friend."
"Friend, yeah right." Elijah scoffed. "I've never seen you so happy talking to a friend." Henry glared at Elijah. "Not like you have any."
Henry was used to the way Elijah treated him. He brushed Elijah and walked straight to his room. He wanted to shower. It had been a long day.
Something from earlier stayed on his mind. It was unforgettable. Anthony's eyes were reddish when he called out to him. Was he crying? The night wasn't too cold. He was crying.
Henry threw his towel on the bed and sat. He brushed his hand against the soft covers. He plopped on the bed and sniffed the remaining scent of Anthony.
"Isn't this weird?" Henry spoke to himself. "I just met him yesterday and now I'm thinking all about him." He grabbed a pillow and squeezed it.
No, this isn't love. I'm not one to fall in love at first sight. Henry thought to himself. His mind flashed Anthony's expressions. He had fun talking to Anthony. It felt like he was free of royalty.
I feel like something bad's about to happen.
Henry drifted off to sleep.
…
"You met up with the Prince?!" Alejandro screamed.
"Not so loud. My neighbors are sleeping." Anthony couldn't keep a secret that big from Alejandro. Eric as a plus-one.
Alejandro reminded him all about his belief on how people from royalty are usually dangerous. He told Alejandro everything and spared no detail.
"You like him." Alejandro continued. "You don't have good taste in people, equals to?"
"Heartbroken," Eric answered.
Anthony groaned at the thought of Alejandro's thoughts, but he was only looking after Anthony. He didn't mind it.
The night continued with Henry on topic.
"Can we go to sleep already?" Anthony whined.
"No way. This is what a sleepover is." Alejandro complained. "We got to continue this prince talk. What if he is great at se--"
"Okay, that's enough." Eric interrupted. "Turn off the lights and let's go to sleep." Anthony and Eric stood up. Anthony headed to his room while Eric went to the bathroom.
"This is so lame," Alejandro complained.
"Grow up already, we aren't kids anymore."
A few minutes later and Anthony's whole place was quiet. Although the night's breeze was chilly and Anthony was warm under his blanket. He couldn't sleep.
Henry kept his mind awake. A few minutes passed and he groaned. He shifted sideways to grab his phone and turned it on. There was a message from Henry.
11:46 PM
I had fun today.
He thought about how to respond.
Me too. When can
we hang out again?
No, this sounds like I'm desperate. Delete.
I had fun too.
Nope, it's too short. Delete.
Thank you for hanging out
with me today, hope to hang out again soon.
Perfect. And send.
Anthony finally yawned, his body signaling for some sleep ASAP and after just a few seconds, he fell asleep.
…
Father called me in again. It was all too sudden. Jim came barging in while I was in the shower. It seems like there was a mole. The royal family has always been keeping some information from the officials. And this information could bring one of our toughest opponents down.
"It seemed like the mole was bribed. And back-up arrived when there were fewer guards in the palace. They were able to sneak in dressed up as a guard." Father explained.
"So why did you call both of us here?" Elijah asked.
"Because both of you are in danger." Mother stated.
Athena still sat in her chair and weirdly she wasn't reading any book, she was just holding it. She looked happier now than when she was reading a book.
"Did you meet with the Prince of Amaris today, Athena?" Henry questioned her. Surprisingly, she turned red, opened her book, and hid behind it.
Father sighed. "Yes, they met and they invited us to a dinner at their palace."
"But we can't go." Mother continued. Athena shifted to Mother and the look in her eyes was confusion.
"But why mother?" Athena whined.
"We're in the middle of a crisis that could harm the entire royal family, and you want to go to some prince's dinner instead of keeping everyone here safe?" Father took it too far. Athena was angered. She stood up and walked away.
"Wait, dear where are you going?" Mother asked frantically.
"I'm going to my room because someone keeps talking about family when he never did spend time with his family!" Athena shouted. Everyone present in the room flinched at the volume of her voice.
"I'm just trying to protect you all! What right do you have to say to me what's good or bad for my family?!" Father stood in front of Athena. He towered over her.
"I am your daughter and you have been nothing but a bad fathe--" A loud smack sound filled the entire room. Father had hit Athena. Everyone around was bewildered at what happened. His father was appalled at what he did.
Henry, his Mother, Elijah, and the butlers around, ran towards Athena. She was unconscious. Henry was dismayed at the view. He turned to his Father, raised his fist before Elijah could do it.
"That's enough, we'll take her to our house," Elijah announced.
"You, go get some clothes and books from her room and deliver them to the car." Mother ordered a maid who came in. "I'll calm him down."
Minutes later, Henry and Elijah made their way to the car and drove off. They went to the hospital for a check-up and went straight home. Henry was exhausted. Elijah had made some pancakes for when Athena woke up. He took out his phone and saw a message notification. It was Anthony. He opened it.
He read his message and smiled unknowingly. Elijah snapped a photo. Henry, still oblivious, was deciding whether to call or text him to meet up but he was tired and wanted to look after Athena.
"If you want to go to that guy, go ahead. I'll watch over Athena until she comes around." Henry could have never been thankful.
He quickly texted Anthony where and when to meet up. He ran to the bathroom and washed his hair. He changed into a white shirt, denim jacket, black pants, and white shoes.
"Please take care of her and text me when she's awake, I'll come back right away."
"Yes sir." Elijah turned on the television and watched a series.
...
Anthony was nervous. Again. He was never this nervous when meeting up with a guy. Henry told him to meet him up in my cafe. I told him I was on break.
"Is he coming here?" Eric asked.
"Who?"
"The prince."
"Yes, he is. Anthony finally took a break in years." Alejandro interrupted.
"Oh shut it." The sound of the windchime caught my attention on the door. It was Henry.
"Oh, lala~." Eric gave Alejandro an eye and turned away.
"Wait, Eric, it's not like that. You are so much hotter." Alejandro's whining tuned out of Anthony's ear when Henry greeted him.
"Hi." Henry was still catching his breath.
"Why did you run?" Anthony asked.
"I wanted to see you." Henry's voice echoed in Anthony's head. His heart wanted to leap out of his chest and offer it to this gorgeous man in front of him, but he held it.
"Can we talk?" Henry looked side to side. "You're on a break right?"
"Uh yeah for the first time," Alejandro spoke from behind Anthony. "He has never taken a break for anyone, you're the first."
Anthony could feel Henry's stare at him. Their eyes met and both looked away. Alejandro was amused with how awkward they both were.
"So you" Alejandro pointed at Henry, "and you" he pointed at Anthony, "both wanted to meet up so bad that one of you took a break and one was running? Oh god, This is why I am called the cupid." Alejandro sighed.
"Eric and I will take over your shift for the whole day so go on with mister Prince Charming here."
…
What an awkward situation.
Because of Anthony's co-worker, I'm in Anthony's house. It has a calm atmosphere. The decor was not too much and not too less. Henry made himself at home and turned on the television.
Henry went to the kitchen where Anthony was. He was loving the view. A fit apron for this sexy man. Wait, that's wrong. Sexy? If he knew, he'd be furious. Wouldn't he?
"I'll make something for lunch, do you want any?" Anthony called out from the kitchen.
"Yes, thank you very much." He went back to the couch but was still watching Anthony cook. He looked happy cooking. His thoughts from earlier clouded his mind and he couldn't hold it anymore.
"Anthony"
"Yeah? What's wrong?"
"You look sexy in that apron."
Henry was worried when he heard a clanging sound in the kitchen, he hurried. He looked at Anthony. He was on his knees and the spatula on the floor.
"Is everything okay? What happened? Why did you drop it?" Henry crowded Anthony with questions.
"Enough." Anthony raised his voice and then slowly turned sweet. "Why would you say something like that?" He was blushing intensely. It reached his ears.
Henry was dumbfounded. Anthony looked absolutely adorable. Not that Henry would admit it.
…
Anthony ran towards his room, clearly embarrassed for showing Henry that state of his. He closed his door too strongly emitting a loud sound that spread within the whole place.
He buried himself within his sheets. He winced at the burn on his hand. He closed his eyes and cried. Henry was going to leave now. Thinking that he was weird. Even though he was looking forward to spending time together with him.
A knock resounded against the door.
"I'm sorry you can go home if you want, I'm probably making you feel weird." The door opened.
Henry's footsteps walked towards Anthony's bed and he sat beside him. Anthony was paranoid of what he was going to do.
Suddenly he was reminded of his past.
"No… Don't touch me…" Anthony cried.
…
Henry was confused but he never thought that Anthony was ever weird. He opened his arms and hugged Anthony. He felt him flinch at his hug but calmed down. And he let go.
Anthony peeked outside the sheets and rested it on his shoulders. He still felt Anthony panic a bit so he hugged him once again. This time, Anthony reciprocated the hug.
Henry's jaw was on Anthony's shoulders. He moved forward and they both ended up hugging while laying down. Henry could feel Anthony's breathing on his chest which made him conscious.
He was embarrassed. He didn't want Anthony to hear his heartbeat. It was beating a fast pace. He stood up, wanted to let go when Anthony grabbed him back, and said, "Let's stay like this for a while."