"Your royal highness, I just received an email from Mary that you've been invited to a school convocation and you are the guest of honor," the General said.
"What school is that?" He asked, glancing at him through the rear view mirror from the back seat.
"Northgate international school" he responded.
"I'm not...." He was about to decline but just then remembered what that middle aged woman told him the other day. "She moved out to the States with her two children". Maybe this was the universe giving him a second chance to rectify his wrongs. But wasn't he thinking too much? He can't be sure that her kids are also attending the same school he's been invited to.
"Your royal highness?" General asked,
"What day is it?" He asked instead. General furrowed his brow, what was his highness thinking this time?
"Tomorrow your royal highness" he answered
"Okay we will be there" and after that, no one said a single word till they arrived at their destination.
"Take the room downstairs" Abdullah simply uttered.
"But your royal highness, I can stay in one of your hotels I don't want to..." he started to object.
"That's an order Mustapha" Abdullah gave him a dry nasty look before heading upstairs to his master bedroom. As Mustapha watched his retreating form disappear in front of him, he kept on wondering what was going on in the prince's mind. If it were the Abdullah he knew before, he wouldn't think twice before he declined the offer, making up an excuse that doesn't even make sense to begin with. But now, he instantly said he was attending? Is he thinking what he was thinking? Is the crowned prince thinking Kulthum's children are at Northgate international school? That school is for the elite so there's no way she would be able to afford that kind of money only if she's already...?! At the thought of that, he gasped immediately shaking his head to wake himself from his nasty imagination.
"No," he chuckled slightly, going to his room to have a nap.
~~~~~~~
"Mummy!" Kulthum sighed for the umpteenth time this morning, apparently she was trying to ready her kids especially Jenna for their school convocation and hell it was as tiring as she expected it to be. Jenna being the choosy and mischievous one while Hudayfah being the nonchalant one.
"Anisah!" Kulthum yelled from downstairs, they were really running late and she was the second guest of honor but she wasn't ready yet. Wow great,
"Coming" came her voice from upstairs. She was getting Hudayfah's stuff ready for him and the little guy was just being.... Mean. Not that she wasn't used to It by now, but each time he speaks to her, she see's no one but the crowned prince so she becomes a little hesitant to discipline him.
"Aunt Anisah?" Hudayfah called slowly,
"Yes?" She answered, smiling at him like she used to.
"Why do you always overlook my rudeness to you?" She instantly stopped what she was doing and carefully turned to face him.
"Hud," she started, grabbing his hands gently. "You are not being rude or arrogant, you are just acting your age and no matter how much you try to push me away, I will still be here for you. No matter what. So why don't we dress you up and go downstairs? Your mom is waiting for us, we don't want to get her angry now, do we?" She smiled. He shook his head cheekily smiling at her for the first time that day, she knew that was the last time she was going to see him smile for the day. He only smiles once a day. Just like his father.
"We are here," Anisah said jovially. "Aunt Kulthum, we are really running late, why don't I finish up with Jenny baby while you tidy yourself up?" Anisah offered
"You are the best Anisah, thank you so much" Kulthum said, rushing up to her room to ready herself. Thirty minutes later, they pulled up in front of her kids school and thankfully, they were right on time. They all climbed down from the car Kulthum holding Hudayfah's hand while Anisah held Jenna's not after pacifying her that after the event, her mother will hold her hand and also give her some sweets.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen" a voice echoed throughout the hall vibrating through the walls and into the human body. As the master of ceremony welcomed the guest and it was time for her to be introduced to the audience, she received a call from the hospital. She was needed immediately so she had no option but to apologize and leave.
"Mummy, where are you going?" Jenna asked, looking at her innocently. Kulthum kissed her cheeks and promised to be back before the end of the event and left.
"Jenna, where are you going?" Anisah asked
"Am going over there to meet some of my friends, do you want to come and say hello?" She asked cutely. Anisah smiled looking at the direction Jenna was pointing at and after having a clear view of her friend's seating position, she let her go.
"Take your time okay? If you need anything just tell me mm?" Anisah said. Jenna nodded eagerly; she just wanted to be in her friend's company but clearly Anisah couldn't see her eagerness and pressed on on her rant.
"I know and I will be careful aunt Anisah" she said, practicing running away from her. Few minutes later, she felt pressed and decided to pay the washroom a kind visit but her movements were almost immediately halted when she bumped into something, or was it someone?
"Ouch!" She yelped gently, pressing the hurting part on her face.
"Are you alright little one?" She heard a man's voice ask, she moved backwards and pretended to be in pain making a weird sound that was supposed to be a groan.
'Amazing' the man thought with a small smile.
"Are you alright little one?" He asked again, aiming to hold her small shoulder.
"I am alright sir, I apologize for running into you without looking at my front" Jenna said innocently.
"It's alright little one, what is your name?" He asked, she gazed at him skeptically before she finally told him her name.
"My name is Jenna, Jenna Muhammad"
"Such a sweet name for a sweet little girl. Where's your mom? Are you together with her?" For some reason he wanted so sure about, he felt drawn to her. It was as if he had known her for a very long time, was it because of how respectful she was or was it because of her facial appearance?. She looked so much like someone he used to know six years ago, or was it just his imagination? Or anxiousness to find her that he even sees her in little girls now? He was overthinking and he needed to stop it.
"My mom had an appointment so she left but she will be back soon, she promised"
"Okay, where were you running too earlier?" He asked,
"Ahh I almost forgot!" She facepalmed herself dramatically. "I wanted to use the washroom. Wait here I will be back" and without waiting for his response she fled to the washroom.
~~~~~~
What just happened? A little girl backing orders at him? That wasn't what surprised him most. What actually shocked him was how he was willing to oblige to her demands without feeling anything. Like he was meant to follow her orders. He watched as she paced her way down the hall to the ladies room with confusion and nervousness. What was he so nervous about?
The girl did say her name was Jenna right?
"Jenna" He whispered the name almost inaudibly but Mustapha was quick enough to catch what he said. Abdullah remembered the conversation he once had with Kulthum about naming their kids and she chose Jenna while he chose Hudayfah. Could this mean that...? "Hah" he chuckled slightly at his crazy thought. Just because she bears the name doesn't necessarily mean that she is the one. Almost anyone could bear that name, so he was just over thinking about it.
"Your royal highness?" General Mustapha whispered in shock. He also thought the prince would just brush her off and go on his way because he was running a little late for his speech, but there he was obeying the orders of a little girl not more than five years old. Shocked? Yeah he is no doubt about that. He was about to question him again when she finally showed up skipping like the little girl she was.
"Hey handsome uncle!" She exclaimed happily. "I thought you left already? The ladies room was a little packed so I had to follow through the queue. You know ladies and their thing?!" She rolled her eyes. Abdullah didn't know when he let out a hearty laugh at the girl's words shaking his head.
"Are you a lady now?" He found himself having a light conversation with the girl. He was so drawn to her, just like someone he used to know. What the hell was wrong with him today? Why was he just comparing this little child to her? What was his problem? He really needs to wake himself up.
"Do you think your mom might be back by now?" He questioned instead. She pouted before she responded,
"Nah not really, she takes her time whenever she goes to the hospital. So I am sure she isn't back already. But I am with my aunt." she won't look for me until the program is over. I told her I will be with my friends" she gave him a tooth grin.
"Alright little one, why don't you stay with Mr Mustapha while I go up there and address the audience? It will be quick okay?" She gazed up at Mustapha and he flashed her a welcoming smile which she returned immediately and then turned to Abdullah then nodded.
"Alright handsome uncle, I will be waiting for you together with Uncle Mustapha" she corrected his sentence. Abdullah smiled at her then looked up to Mustapha before saying,
"Don't let her out of your sight, I want to know if anyone comes looking for her alright?"
"Yes your royal highness"
"Your royal highness?" Jenna asked, dazed. "Are you like the prince in the bedtime stories mummy reads to me every night?" her smile knew no bounds. At first Abdullah felt like strangling him but when he heard what the little girl said, it somehow quenched his anger into something he wasn't quite sure of.
"Yes little one, I am that prince. What was his name again?" he placed his index finger on his chin feigning to be in a deep thought.
"Mummy always mistakes his name for someone else. His name is Abdullah but she won't say it. Instead, she will say faruk or any other name and I always have to correct her" she pouted again suddenly feeling sad.
"Oh oh don't worry, am sure mummy has her reasons, don't feel bad okay" damn he was so bad at pacifying little children. Was it because he never had one? He wondered.
"You are very terrible at consoling ladies" Jenna said matter of fact. Mustapha didn't know when he laughed out loud. Making the crown prince glare at him. 'ladies?! This girl"
"I'm... I'm... sorry sir, it is just that she said the truth without even knowing who you really are '' he said in between laughs. Abdullah tried to hide his smile but couldn't and then decided to walk her to their reserved seats.
"Wait for me here, okay little one" he said and left. Hours later after the event ended, Kulthum and Anisah began searching for Jenna mindlessly.
"Where did she go?" Kulthum asked, she was already scared to her throat and any minute from now she could just break down in tears. Jenna, unlike her twin brother Hudayfah, couldn't stay put. The last time she went missing in a similar school event like this one, the police had to be included and they searched everywhere but couldn't find her. At last, she was found in the school garden playing hide and seek with her friends. That day, Kulthum was so pissed that she smacked her a few times and gave her an earful not to wander away like that. Since that day, Kulthum learned her lesson and hired a live-in bodyguard for her and her kids.
And today, she's repeating history. Jenna!! She mentally screamed.
While Abdullah and Mustapha were patiently waiting for Jenna's guardian to show up, he treated her to a fine snack not to keep her famished.
"Look in the washroom, I will go back to the auditorium and have a second look. Maybe she's back there," Kulthum said, clearly scared.
"Okay your highness" she nodded and they both went their separate ways. Once in the auditorium that was now empty only a few lights were left on, Kulthum walked deeper into the room and shouted Jenna's name.
"Jenna baby? Are you here?"
"Mummy" she heard Jenna's voice coming from her right side. She followed the voice and found her and for a moment she heaved a deep sigh of relief but what she didn't notice was the person holding her daughter's hands gently. Jenna freed her hand from him and ran to hug her mother
"Mummy! I've been waiting for you, this handsome uncle bought me some snacks. I was so hungry I couldn't say no" she lowered her voice at the last part.
"Are you alright Jenna baby?" Kulthum asked instead, she didn't care to look at the person her daughter was talking about, she just wanted to make sure she was alright first before she thanked the man. When she was done, she stood up to acknowledge the man and instantly froze her eyes, not leaving him. The shock she was undergoing right that moment was unimaginable. What is she seeing like this? Her eyes finally shifted from Abdullah's face to Mustapha gently.
"Mummy stop staring" Jenna poked her gently. She lowered her gaze clearing her throat before she said,
"Thank you for taking care of my daughter, and I apologize for any trouble she might have caused you. We will take your leave" she politely said, grabbed Jenna's hands and left the place. However, before she even took a step forward she him say,
"Your daughter is beautiful" she looked at him sharply and dragged Jenna out.
"Bye handsome uncle, see you next time" Jenna's voice echoed.
"That's....her your royal highness" Mustapha said dazed, Abdullah couldn't even make a full on sentence, he couldn't even move. He was too dazed to do so. He knew he was expecting to see her, but he wasn't prepared. It came as a shock to him that he will finally find her and to say he was happy would be an understatement. He was more than that. He was more than elated. But yet again, he was nervous and anxious. Now that she has seen him, he just hopes she won't run away from him again. No he won't let her, he came all the way to New York just to see her so he won't waste his effort for nothing. Come what may, this time around, he won't be reckless.
"Your royal highness!" Mustapha shouted. He had been talking to the prince for minutes now but he wasn't paying attention to him.
"Yeah?" He answered with a question.
"She will leave soon, won't you stop her?" Mustapha asked
"Let her be for now" he answered back.
"Let her be?" Mustapha asked inwardly. "So what was all that stress about? Keeping the child with them and all?" He thought. Not that he doesn't like the little girl or something, she is cute and so full with energy but he wasn't really good with kids around him. So what was the prince thinking?
'Is he thinking what he was also thinking?'