I was never a person, who could handle much alcohol and as a princess, I was to drink only moderately; that was also on special occasions. Part of my brain was telling me that today was indeed a very special occasion. The other less significant part was telling that if I went overboard, I would be suffering big time.
It was after all my final prom before graduation. "What harm could possibly be done with a little bit too much alcohol in my bloodstream? It's going to be only for this one night anyway?" With that thought in mind, I downed the entire flute of champagne in one go. I had lost count of the amount of alcohol I have consumed already. Putting down the empty flute, I staggered towards the dance floor.
But before I could make it to the dance floor, my path was obstructed by someone. I have only taken a mere few steps away from the champagne stand by then. My vision was somewhat blurred already and I was a bit tipsy.
"Can you please move a bit? I need to go there." I managed to utter, pointing towards the dance area.
"You think I can let such a pretty young lady go to the dance floor alone?" A deep male voice replied.
My heart skipped a beat and I instantly looked up to see the person's face. Despite being drunk, I could clearly recognize that voice. My body was already responding to him. Even before our eyes met, my breathing became shallow and I was having goosebumps all over my arms and legs. It was not that I was scared. My drunk self was enjoying the fact that he called me pretty and I was sure a light blush was creeping up my cheeks.
"So what do you want me to do, Calvin?" I crossed my arms and asked in a much bolder tone than which I have ever used in front of him.
Without replying to my question immediately, he just tipped my chin up so that I was looking into his eyes. I noticed how tall he was and I felt butterflies in my stomach. I must have imagined something wild, but I really had no time to dwell on that thought. He smiled slightly in the most appealing way, making me forget everything else, apart from the fact that he was right in front of me, holding my face in his hands.
His intent gaze was on me as he asked, "Shall we dance, princess?"
I contemplated for a moment, but my fuzzy brain did not allow me to think rationally. Calvin calling me 'princess' has always been a sure sign that he was up to no good. However, this time I could not care less. Like that, when he offered me his hand, I took it without a moment's thought and we walked up to the dance floor. I was all too flustered to notice the smug look on his face.
Within seconds all eyes were upon us and I could feel myself glowing. At the dance floor, Calvin shouted for the DJ artist to change to another track and once the song started playing, he took my hand in his and guided me to dance. We rocked to the music, much to my friends' surprise. I noticed Melissa giving me a disapproving look, but when I smiled back at her, she tried to look happy for me. Calvin's gang was whistling and saying vulgar stuff on top of their lungs. Unlike the other days, I did not feel uncomfortable by those comments; I just felt more confident in myself.
Every now and then, Calvin whispered things into my ear, which would earn a blush and a giggle from me. I was sure that I was not myself. I might blush all the time, but I was never a person to giggle. However, none of that mattered to me at that moment.
We were dancing to the third song, which was a slow-paced, much more romantic one when he tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, brushing his hand ever so slightly against my cheek. I felt the goosebumps again and I fought to stifle a silly giggle. He cupped my face in his big hand while keeping his other hand on my waist. I felt so shy, but I managed to look into his eyes. The look he gave me was so soft and warm and hungry all at the same time. I could not help but look at his lips, and he too momentarily shifted his gaze to my lips. I instinctively bit into my lips suggestively. I could never comprehend from where I got the courage to do so.
At that Calvin gave a lopsided smile and lowered his lips to meet mine, or so I thought. I noticed the crowd's eyes all on us. My eyes fluttered shut and I was waiting for his lips to meet mine anytime soon. I was so excited and overjoyed. But when the kiss never came, I realized that something was not right. I felt his hot breath on my ear as he whispered malicious words to me. Even though his words were harsh, his close presence made me let out a low moan. "Want to kiss me, princess? Think you are good enough for me? Oh, you've got it all wrong. I... despise... you." He sneered the last part to me word by word as if I was a toddler.
I opened my eyes immediately and noticed again that all eyes were on me; only this time their faces showed sympathy. His friends, however, looked smug as if they have achieved something big. I felt so humiliated as if I was walking down the street with an important piece of garment missing. Melissa and a few of my other girlfriends tried to push through the crowd towards me. But I shook my head slightly at them to stop and they gave me a sympathetic nod back at me. I felt my eyes stinging with tears and before I knew it I was running away from the dance floor, and out of the conference hall. I wanted to cry my eyes out in peace. I wanted to lock myself up in the ladies' washroom to avoid bumping into anyone while I looked a complete mess.
Unfortunately, I could not make it that far. My heel broke in my haste and I stumbled, spraining my ankle. The pain had cleared my head a little. I was so angry and sad, and I fell to the floor, kicking my shoes off. Tears were flowing down my cheeks and fell onto my lap as I rummaged in my clutch for my phone. Right now, I needed someone; someone, who understood me and knew not to pry stuff from me, and who was better at that than my half-sister, Dabria, who would instantly be there to pick me up from this mess.
...
I slammed shut the diary, angry with myself for stopping at that page, which held the memories of the most embarrassing day of my 22 years of life. I was at my desk, getting ready to finish the last task of the day before bed. I should have been writing in it now to keep note of the days' events, not sulking on the past. But now I was no longer in the mood for such practices.
It has been four years since I last saw Calvin. After graduating high school, we took different paths and though I felt some heartache back then, I am more than happy about it now. While I chose to study further within the country, he flew abroad to follow his passion in whatever field he was interested in. Despite being in a gang and the long list of things that has to do with his ugly side, he was a brilliant student and was always competing with me for the first place. I would never believe he put any effort into competing, but he was always naturally the best at everything -academic and non-academic.
Also, he had other talents that I could give anything to forget. He was very much fluent in bringing the worst out of me. I acted less and less like a princess when it came to things, which involved him. Even when he trampled on my pride, I could not fight back. That much of an effect he had upon my life. Even now, the mere mention of his name would make me act rashly, or like now make me somewhat gloomy.
I decided to call Melissa to forget about everything. We had had not hung out in a while and I missed our girl-to-girl time. Besides, tomorrow was the last day before the Final Level Administrative lessons started at the Royal Preparatory School. Of course, I did not have to go anywhere far from home for that, as the Prep School was inside the palace premises. But Final Level lessons meant a lot of time-consuming hard work and I needed a bit of energy booster before that, which was why I was planning an outing for the next day.
As I dialed Melissa's number, I realized that the day after tomorrow was only the beginning of a hectic set of years to come. After the six months' prep course, my parents would be calling in suitors for me. Then for several months, the palace would be swarmed by suitors, going in and out, busy like bees just to court me.
I heaved a sigh. "And then it would be my wedding, which will be followed by my coronation and an entire life of shouldering a huge responsibility." I just wished that like every other time I was in trouble that Dabria could come for my rescue and take my place as the heiress instead. She was so appropriate for the role. A small part of my mind always reminded me that she was even better than me. I always tried to ignore that voice, because worrying and pitying myself would not help. Our culture, which respected legitimacy above all, would never allow my elder sister to be the queen as she was born out of wedlock to some women I did not know, whom my father had loved before he had my mother.