3 years later...
The door opened and the person behind it, stepped in to take a peek.
'Can I come in?'. He asked the owner of the room.
'I am very sure, you don't need my permission, Dawin'. Came the unanswered reply of the person.
The boy, Dawin smiled and walked to the bedside, his eyes not leaving the girl that had called him in.
Across, the room at the far end of the bed sat a young girl with brown hair combed in a beach wave and left to fall just below her shoulders. Her body bent to one side and her elbow which was seen seemed to be bent downwards like she was busy with her shoes.
After what seemed like minutes, she got up and picked up her jacket, and flung it around her shoulders. Picking her backpack she came to stand in front of Dawin who stood, looking unwaveringly at her. 'What did she say?'.She asked him, staring back at him into his brown eyes. Upon hearing her question, his smile broadened like he had been expecting it.
He sighted a lone strand of hair that had fallen to the side of her face and tucked it behind her ear. 'Nothing to fear. It seems like you've caught someone's attention He smirked after his words and patted her head. The brown-haired girl narrowed her eyes causing the boy to let out a light chuckle. 'You look cute when you do like that. No, let's start going. You probably will not want the others suspecting anything, will you?. He asked as he stroked her right cheek with his forefinger, a gesture to calm her nervousness and release her fears.
The brown-haired girl opened her lips and as quickly as she did, she shut them back, swallowing the words that were forming in her mouth. Biting her lips, she took three steps back from where he stood. 'Mind if I take a glimpse of your outing?'. She offered as she places her right leg behind and brought her left foot to rest on the heel in the front. With hands opened wide, she adopted the posture of a seamstress who just made her customer wears the clothes while she stands afront to view her piece of work and check out for mistakes.
Dawin rolled his eyes and twirled to grant her a better view. Her eyes took in his full length and then a smile etched on her cheeks.
Dressed in a white inner shirt, he had worn a beige green camo hoodie and let the shirt lie on top of black skinny denim jean which was ripped at the knees. A black motor lace leather boots on his feet and a gold watch on a wrist crowned the dressing. Not to forget his long black hair which normally cascaded down his shoulders has now been tied into a very hipster man-bun. Admiration filled her eyes as she took in every detail of his dressing.
'Love your dress sense. You appear to be more enthusiastic about the journey. Or am I missing anything?'. She complimented as she got out from her position, noting his eyebrow which was arched soft, his eyes which were wide defined, his nose, Grecian downturned. His lips, medium heart, and his face sculptured male generically.
A smile appeared on his face as he too took turns in browsing her. ' You don't look bad yourself'. Came his words of compliment, imprinting her outfit on his mind.
Well, a pink blush cotton full sleeve cropped tulle sweater on a grey-black cotton wide-legged shorts with a black leather knee-high go-go boots rounding up with a pink blush backpack, isn't bad. Is it?.
Covering the distance between them, he took her hands in his. If he says he has not noticed the improvement in her appearance and the liveliness, then he would be ranting lies. Though it was little he was contented with it. At least he was not going to lose her to uncertainties.
Looking straight into her hazel eyes, he continued. ' Diva, I don't know how to say this, but I am....'
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and they both turned to look at the door.
'You may come in. Diva instructed and the next moment, the knob turned and the door opened. A man emerged from behind it.
Noticing how close Diva and Dawin were, the man awkwardly bowed his head. 'Princess Sophia, your father calls for your presence'.
'I will be there in a few minutes'. The man took it like her reply and made his way to the door.
'Not everyone has gotten used to it yet'. Dawin put in as the man left the room.
Removing her hands from his, she arranged her hair and took the lead out of the room. Dawin followed suit, and soon the room turned silent with only their colognes lingering in the air.
The corridor lightened with the chandeliers on the ceiling reflecting their lights which cast an image of glittering jewels on the flooring beneath them, bringing out the beauty and elegance in the room. The side lambs hanging on either wall of the corridor also added to the lighting system of the corridor.
As they ambled through the corridor with every forward step silencing the ones left behind, Diva seemed to be lost in her thoughts.
Dawin took cognition of the fact, that once in a while, she would heave a sigh, shake her head and keep walking like nothing was happening. He rose his hand to tap her, to get her out and make her find her way back to reality. But then the next second, he dropped it by his side. Maybe letting her think through things, will probably reduce any mental stress in the future.
They arrived at two heavy doors at the end of the corridor. As if sensing their presence, the guards behind the door opened them and the duo entered a large room.
The decor in this room was on a whole different level compared to Diva's room. Well, this wasn't a bedroom like Diva's, but the throne room.
The wall paint here was white holding a hint of purity and peace but the swords of the armored soldiers on each side of the walls contrasted the essence. The chandeliers still held a place in the ceiling. The furniture consisting of sidelines and wooden tables unroll from the door to the other end of the room where the soldiers seemed to have missed.
In the middle of the throne room was another table, larger than the others, and chairs curved round like in a meeting setting. Her dad had been in a meeting before now.
Raising her eyes to the throne, they settled on a glass box that held an amethyst gem and sat at the foot of the stairs that ran up to the seat of royalty.
Her heart tightened and a line of tears escaped her lids which were caught right in time by Dawin's thumb and then her eyes meet his.
'He is doing this for your sake. Don't make him regret and feel like you are not appreciating his effort'. He advised and wiped the lone tear off her cheek. She offered a smile and relaxed her shoulders. Something that Dawin thought to be a habit.
'Sophia, my dear!. Come join me here'. Her father's voice echoed in the room and that was enough to pull both participants out of their conversation.
She turned her eyes to the throne and gave a nod before striding to the stairs and up to the throne. On her arrival, she curtsied and then sat down by her father, while Dawin took the nearest seat in the meeting arrangement as her father seemed to have taken no notice of him. Something he was used to, thought him as he sat down and watched them.
'Your dressing...'. Diva's dad, the king, started on his address and Diva had to roll her eyes. Best way to start a conversation. '.... it looks weird. But if that's how you want to mask your identity. I am okay with it'. He added and patted her head. Seriously, why was everyone patting her head today?
She gave an appreciative look. ' It's mommy's hometown we are heading to if I may be correct'. She questioned him and at her question, her father slightly frowned. And as quick as mist, he wore a smile.
'Yes, you are correct dear. But I don't want you to overthink. I just want to get you out of this cage. Want you to leave everything and when the time is right, I want you to come and b; entered the room.
'The ride is ready, My king'. He announced and after receiving the permission to leave, he left the room.
'Have you picked a name for the hiding?'. asked her father as they walk through another corridor different from the one Dawin and her had used before.
'Diva. Mommy used to call me that'.
****
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