Part 7

Since we left the village, I had been peering out the window, watching every building the car would pass by. This is the only way I can keep my tears from falling. The car kept moving until I saw a familiar face, someone we hadn't seen in a long time. "Kuya Samuel?" I mumbled. "Pull over!"

"But, Miss Gemma..."

"Please, Mr. Osiris, I will not break my agreement with the king. I-I found the one I had been seeking for a long time. Let me just talk with him." I begged.

Mr. Osiris nodded. The driver slows down and pulls over to the side of the road. When the car screeched to a halt, I went to where I had seen Kuya Samuel and followed him into the coffee shop.

"Welcome, sir."

"Two café Americanos and one strong coffee."

"Right away, sir."

"Kuya Samuel!" As I called him out, my eyes welled up with tears.

He hears me and turns to face me, astonished, as if he hadn't expected to see me. "Gemma?" he said, cautiously approaching me, but instead of hugging me, he chased me out of the coffee shop. "What the heck, Gemma?"

"Why? Aren't you glad to see me, kuya?" I asked.

"You shouldn't have seen me," he said, his expression devoid of any enthusiasm.

"What exactly do you mean? I've been waiting for you, and if Allerick and Blythe see you, they'll surely jump in..."

"GEMMA!" he exclaimed. "Go away and pretend you don't see me!" He looks at me like he's no longer my older brother as if he has changed.

"Kuya? What are you saying? You sound as though you're not pleased to see me." I forced myself to laugh. "Do you respond like that when you're excited?"

"I'm not kidding. Do you understand? I didn't show up because I don't want to see you, so don't be stubborn, just leave."

I couldn't stop myself from expressing my rage. After Kuya Samuel had been gone for a few years, that is all he had to say. "How can you say that?! Don't you realize what we're dealing with right now?" I couldn't stop yelling at him in a rage. "Didn't you feel sorry for Papa?!?"

"NO," he said emphatically. "I'm no longer involved in your problem. I'm not a member of the family, Gemma."

I was shocked and said, "You ... dumb selfish after leaving us, that's what you'd say?" I felt furious and couldn't believe what he said.

"What do you think caused me to leave the house? Huh? Because I'm embarrassed..." he exhales shakily. "I'm gay, Gemma, and that's the real reason."

I was surprised by what he said, but that was still not enough reason for him to leave. "So what? Rather than leaving the house, you could have at least told us!"

"Easy for you to say," he said, pointing at me.

"Why didn't you give it a shot? You have no idea how frightened they were when you disappeared; they even blamed themselves, especially papa, Samuel! Each day, he searched for you..." Memory in my mind rushes back to when Papa returned home drenched in the rain, only to find Kuya Samuel, which explains why my tears continued flowing. "Papa often returns home late at night, his body drenched in the rain, to see you. It's hard for you, but don't you know it's much worse for them." I burst into tears.

Kuya Samuel lowered his gaze. "I'm okay with my life, Gemma; I don't have to lie anymore, so don't bother me," 

I let out a shaky sigh. "Okay." After I gave him a piece of paper, I faked a tiny grin. "Blythe and Allerick are expecting you." I turned around. "Please, go home and do not ditch them as I do."

My vision was blurry as I walked back to the car. It was difficult for me to see the street clearly. When I spotted the car, I stopped weeping and wiped my tears away with my hands. "Let's go," Mr. Osiris said.

I couldn't take my thoughts away from what my Kuya Samuel had said, and I had no idea he was going through something. I feel bad for him; he took the problem to himself and carried it on his chest for a long time. Kuya Samuel can say anything, so why did kuya choose to flee rather than reveal his true identity? But I hoped he wouldn't run this time. I'm hoping he'll come to the address I gave him.

They carried my baggage to my room, and I headed to King Lucien's office. "Your Majesty," Mr. Osiris, and I bowed as we entered the King's office.

"Oh, I'm relieved you didn't change your mind, Gemma," King Lucien said with a smile. "Please take a seat." King Lucien pointed to the chair in front of him.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty."

"You seem displeased," he immediately noticed through my face that I was not okay.

"Um, there's a slight misunderstanding between mama and me," I replied.

"Just as I thought," he smiled, as though something had come to his mind. "Anyway, because it's your first day, I've had a lot of things for you, and they're all in your room."

"You don't have to give me a gift, your majesty." I refused.

"You're going to need it for your new school, Gemma."

"Oh, okay," I said, nodding. "By the way, Your Majesty, are you sure Borstal is the school I'll be attending?" 

"Yes, Gemma, Mr. Osiris has sorted through all of your papers and records. All you have to do is get ready."

"But, your majesty, Borstal International School is solely for boys," I added.

Borstal International School, as mentioned earlier, is only for males. Borstal provides a full scholarship. Therefore, half of the students are scholars. Besides the hard admission exam, Borstal is a school that is too difficult to enter. The wealthy elites are the only people who can enter this institution without using their intellect. Some are the heirs of large corporations, while others are industry veterans and different types of wealthy individuals. My desire is for Allerick to enter Borstal when he enters high school because, aside from being a good school, students also have a good chance of getting into colleges overseas, such as Oxford, NYU, and so on, so I want Allerick to enroll here, but it's interesting since I was the first to attend Borstal.

"Don't fret about that; I informed Borstal about you. And you'll have your own bathroom with everything you need," the king replied. "You and Augustus have the same schedule so that you can keep an eye on him."

I gave a nod.

"And Gemma reports everything to me,"

"Yes, your majesty."

After discussing it with King Lucien, he ordered one of his maids to escort me to my room. "This is your room," the maid said.

"Thank you." I cracked a grin.

As I opened the door, I was stunned by how stunning the room they had given me was. A peach hue is all around me. They did an excellent job of preparing this room for me. Everything in the bedroom is peach, and the color works well in the room, even if it isn't my favorite. I walked to the dressing room to see what it looked like, and wouldn't you believe it, the dressing room was filled with clothes and shoes, and none of them came from me. Is this the gift that King Lucien is referring to? I then went into the bathroom. The bathtub has a capacity of 10 persons with a chandelier in the center. My reaction is amusing since it appears to be the first time, I've seen any of this. Of course, unlike the palace, we live in a modest home.

When I finished packing my stuff from the baggage, I collapsed on the bed, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep. A knock on the door jolts me out of my nap. I yank the blankets off, rubbing my eyes. Another knock came, and I rubbed my face, getting up to open the door only to see one maid.

"Why aren't you dressed yet, Ms. Gemma?" the maid asked.

"Huh?" I let out a yawn. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Prince Augustus is waiting downstairs; you'll be late for class,"

"Oh!"

When I glanced at the time, it was 12:01 p.m. I quickly bathed and dressed; then I rushed downstairs. But I was lost and couldn't remember where to go because of the vastness of the palace.

"Please forgive me, Prince Augustus," I begged, gasping for air. I looked at the prince, who was enraged with me. "Forgive me." I bowed repeatedly.

"You piece of shit!" the prince said, pointing directly at me. He was about to shove me again when Mr. Osiris blocked him. "DUMB!" he shouted.

"Please accept my apologies." I lowered my head.

"Don't worry, Prince Augustus; we'll still be able to go to your class." Mr. Osiris convinced the prince to make him calm.

Prince Augustus was the first to get inside the car.

"This will be the last time you are late, Ms. Gemma."

"Yes, Mr. Osiris, I apologize once again." I expressed my regret.