THE RIDE TO HENRY'S HOUSE was hot.
Not in the sexy hot but hot as in heat. The air conditioning was already on but Anthony still felt hot. Anthony looked at Henry. He looks fine, not like he was suffering from the heat.
Anthony began using his shirt to give air to his face. He didn't care if Henry thought it was weird because he was suffering.
"We can open the window if you want" Henry released his hands from the steering wheel and pushed the buttons for the window. Fresh air came in the car as the window beside Anthony went down. He immediately felt cold. He placed his other hand on Henry's hand.
He felt warm and pleasant. Anthony sneezed. He wiped his nose with his sleeve. He began to sneeze continuously and let Henry's hand go.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think I was sick" Anthony leaned his head towards Henry and closed his eyes.
…
Henry was concerned about Anthony.
He swiftly took a jacket at the back seat and covered Anthony's body with it. Instead of holding his hand again, he placed his hand on the jacket preventing it from falling and keeping Anthony warm. He thought about taking a detour to the clinic but he remembered their Royal Physician was just 10 minutes away from where he was staying, so he hurried.
In just 7 minutes, he was able to arrive home and call for the physician.
"It's probably just a cold. It's getting chilly at night these days" Elijah suggested.
"Yeah, it could be that Brother" Athena added.
When Henry arrived home carrying Anthony, who was sleeping, the two were very concerned. They called the doctor right away. The Wares Family weren't that affected with any illnesses, they kept up-to-date with their vaccines. But even though they weren't usually ill, they still acquired a physician just in case.
"I know that, but I'm still worried"
"It's just a cold, no need to be frantic," The physician said. "Just let him take this medicine I prescribed" He handed out Henry a paper with the medicine prescribed. Henry gave the physician his thanks and he left afterward.
Athena kept examining Anthony. Elijah joined in. They both kept nodding, as if in agreement. They then turned to me and Athena spoke, "He's good". Elijah backed-up Athena with a nod and a thumbs up.
"Good for what?"
"To be your partner of course" Elijah grinned. Athena whispered something in Elijah's ear, making him react loudly. He then agreed to whatever Athena talked about.
"What is it? I'm bothered" Henry sat beside Anthony who was sleeping soundly with Henry's jacket still covering him. He caressed his hair and played with it. Athena took a video of his brother's surprising actions before getting caught.
Henry had carried Anthony to his room, leaving Elijah and his sister's glaring eyes. He placed Anthony carefully on his bed and wrapped him in his blanket. He sat beside him and continued to play with Anthony's hair.
It was soft. Did he use the conditioner a lot? It was abnormally soft. Henry had thought how Anthony's hair would feel but he didn't expect it to be so soft.
His caressing hands slowly traveled from Anthony's hair to his face. He gently squeezed Anthony's cheeks making Anthony wake. Anthony groaned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up.
"Where am I?"
"You closed your eyes when we were on the way here and I got anxious so I called in our physician to perform a check-up on you."
Anthony nodded. "What did they say?"
"You just have a cold and told me to tell you to take this medicine" Henry gave the prescription that the physician gave him. Anthony looked at it for a while before thanking Henry. Apparently, Anthony was feeling sick since yesterday so he slept the whole day.
A knock alerted us.
Anthony covered half his face when he saw Elijah and Athena appear.
"Are you feeling fine Anthony?" Athena made her way beside Anthony and held her hand up to his forehead. "I'm sorry we forced Henry to let you come here." Her silver hair looked perfect as usual.
"It was mostly Athena's fault, she wanted to meet the person who changed her brother." Elijah teased.
"You were also excited to see him again, Elijah" Athena pouted.
Henry coughed.
"Please introduce yourself, what a horrible example for royals" Athena stood up and patted her clothes. She was wearing a plain blue dress with a tie belt, a color similar to her white flat sandals. She wore a ring on her left middle finger and nothing else.
"I am the princess of Wares, Athena Wares." She curtsied. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Anthony"
"I am Prince Henry's advisor---" Henry interrupted. "The son of an important person in our family". Elijah continued, "Prince Elijah Win of Tamarine".
Anthony stood up from the bed despite Henry's scoldings. He introduced himself, "I am the owner of the cafe "The Split Bean", Anthony Tuffin" He bowed.
The next few minutes, they all talked about Henry. That was what they were similar to. After a couple more hours of talking, Athena and Anthony became friends. It was like girls' talk whenever they sat beside each other. They would whisper and giggle. Anthony, at one point, gasped loudly, everyone laughed.
Elijah and I prepared some night snacks.
"Will he spend the night here?" Elijah asked. He was making some fried bananas.
"I'm not sure" Henry wonders when this unknown relationship of theirs will be the same or change. He took a glance at Anthony who was staring at him. They both looked away and continued what they were doing.
…
"So, are you my brother's boyfriend?" Athena boldly asks.
Anthony was sure his face was blushing because Athena was laughing. "I'm not sure what our relationship is called. I mean he's royal and I'm a commoner, doesn't that look weird?"
"I'm not sure what your definition of weird is, but if loving someone despite what others say is not weird at all." Athena took a sip of the juice she was holding and sighed.
"Do you have someone like that?" Anthony quickly apologized for the sudden question, but Athena answered him.
"I do" Athena smiled and a tear ran down her cheeks. Anthony became frantic. He was surprised and clueless.
"Did he do something wrong?" Anthony held her free hand and squeezed it. "I will help you with him. I promise." Athena chuckled and placed her drink on the table, holding Anthony's hand.
"Please take care of my brother. Promise me you wouldn't leave him. Promise me you will believe him. Promise me you won't break his heart." Athena pleaded silently, not letting her brother and Elijah hear their conversation. Anthony nodded.
"Well then, because you promised I will tell you about the person I like." Athena let Anthony's hand go and she sat properly. She started.
"He is the Prince of Amaris. We met four days ago. Despite our first meeting, we had a connection. Maybe it's too early to think like that but I love him."
"Then what's the problem with that person?" Anthony took a sip of his drink and grabbed chips from the table.
"Until then, I didn't know what it was to love someone or to be with someone. And there is a possibility that he is previously engaged with the Princess of the neighboring country. Princess Liz." She continued.
"She is someone who I admire. She is a perfect princess and a great person, I can't top that. I'm just someone who reads books and who's good at fighting, I'm not exactly the type to ask for protection. And I'm trying to be more feminine."
"Because that is what he likes?" Anthony asked.
"Yes," Athena hung her head low.
"Princess Athena, you are the best princess I've met so far."
"Because I'm the first?" Athena laughed.
"Well, of course, but also because you are confident and I'm sure you are flexible, tenacious, and optimistic. I just met you today and you gave me a reason to think that not all royals are bad."
"That's nice to hear. Enough of this man's talk, can you tell me more about yourself?" Athena pleaded. Anthony hesitated but thinking that it was just Athena, maybe it's fine.
"I'm an adopted child and I was abused." Athena stayed quiet. "I was in a hate-hate relationship with my foster family and I had my first boyfriend that time. He was my safe place until it went downhill."
"When I turned 18, I ran away and went to college to learn about business. At 20 I met my good friends Alejandro and Eric, his childhood friend. I always wanted to have a cafe, so I worked hard and got it."
"That's nice." Athena praised. "You have good friends. I have them too."
Anthony sat cozily, listening to what Athena had to say. "They are the greatest people I've met, and they are not from the royal family so I'm scared if they ever leave me because they might be bullied by other princesses."
"I'm sure they won't do that as long as you are sure they are good people then that's fine."
"Yeah, it is." Anthony thought of Henry when he talked to Athena. The silver hair and black eyes that looked of anxiousness. The conversation ended with a silence which Elijah stopped when he asked Anthony about Henry. They all had a great time.
Anthony checked his phone. The screen was filled with notifications from Alejandro and Eric. It was mostly about where I am and when I was coming home. He opened the chat and replied,
I'm at Henry's house.
A reply appeared as soon Anthony hit send.
Where? Send me the address.
I still have to tell Henry.
Anthony told Henry about it. He opened his phone and sent something. Anthony asked about it and Henry replied with a smile. A few minutes later, a large knocking sound came from the door. Athena hid behind Elijah who didn't look bothered.
Henry stood up and went to the door. We all heard the door opening, the rumbling sounds of footsteps got closer and revealed the person. It was Alejandro with Eric behind him.
Alejandro's short hair was frizzy, while Eric was neat as always despite being tensed up. Alejandro walked towards Anthony and paused before shouting,
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'VE WORRIED ME? AND YOU" He turned to Henry, "IF YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE HIM TO YOUR HOUSE TELL ME BEFOREHAND OR I WOULD CALL THE POLICE."
Elijah burst out laughing. We slowly laughed together with Alejandro still angry. Henry filled both of them with what had happened. Eric calmed down but Alejandro was still angry.
Athena introduced herself and like Anthony, they quickly became friends. It was a nice feeling. We spent another 2 hours just playing and enjoying before it was time to go home and sleep. Elijah suggested that they sleep in their house since it was late and dangerous.
Everyone agreed and went their separate ways. Alejandro was sleeping in Elijah's room, Eric in Athena's. Despite being completely opposite, they both enjoyed each other's company. As friends of course.
I was left in the living room together with Henry. I heaved a sigh and spoke to him,
"Then I'll be sleeping on the sofa, can I borrow a pillow and blanket?" Anthony kept thinking about how he would sleep on the sofa. Though it was big, it was little for him.
"You can sleep with me" Henry looked away in embarrassment, if it was embarrassment. "You slept in my room before so it's fine."
We met silence. Henry walked towards his room after signaling Anthony to follow him. It wasn't Anthony's first time sleeping in his bed but the thought of it still makes him shy. On the way to his room, Alejandro peeked his head out to meet us.
"Don't act shy when you guys kissed and went emo after it happened."
"Come on Alejandro, they're so pure it's adorable." Elijah joined Alejandro in the doorway before the both of them started to argue. It was the first time Anthony saw Alejandro enjoying someone else's company besides him and Eric.
We finally arrived in Henry's room despite Anthony's wishes to sleep in the living room. Everyone had complained about Anthony for being too conscious and made their points like it's very cold at midnight, ghosts and such, so he had no chance of avoiding them sleeping together.
Henry fell down on the bed. Anthony ran towards him before hearing him snore and sleep. He sighed and positioned Henry on the bed properly before laying down on the other side of the bed.
He pulled the blanket up but interrupted by Henry snuggling on him. Anthony gave up from moving his position and succumbed to snuggling Henry back, and easily slept.
It was comfortable and felt safe.