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Inside a cruise not far away from the borders of Greece,  a tall young man with broad shoulders and icy blue eyes was sitting on his chair with stacks of pictures laid out infront of him.

"It has been confirmed, young master. She is in the Philippines and got admitted to Imperial Academy International. She also opened a cafe shop two and a half months ago called L Patisserie. The shop is managed by Igor Family's second young mistress."

The young man diverted his gaze to the man speaking. "Plant your men in her circle without her knowing. I don't care if you change Imperial's staff all in all. Make sure you got eyes on her 24/7. Let Franco make the arrangements."

The man replied with 'Understood' and bowed before silently walking away. He wanted to make his presence as little as possible because this is where the young master wants serenity the most.

"Homer." The young master called him before he could reach the door.

"Yes, young master?"

The young master picked a photograph and smiled dotingly. "Send her the lotus painting and the new ceramic collection I made for her. She can use those in her coffee shop."

Butler Homer's eyes grew wide at the young master's request..

His painting alone costs nowhere below $800000 and his ceramic collection will amount to $3 million. Why would you want it to be used for a coffee shop?

The butler could only nod and bow before going out of the room. He sighed inwardly seeing how the youngmaster is obssessing over the woman the clan elders chose him to marry.

When the youngmaster knew he was going to be tied in a fixed marriage, hell bore down on Earth as the youngmaster threw a fit and almost burned the mansion down.

Everyone knew the youngmaster was waiting for the right time to pursue a woman ever since he was a child. He's been passionate about music and arts because the girl he loved was too.

All the sports the girl learned, the youngmaster made sure he would too.  He knew the woman he wanted was a prodigy, someone who was peerless and a genius so he wanted to keep up and be on par with her.

'All because of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich the girl shared to the young master when they were in preschool.'

He's never seen the youngmaster so insecure and conscious about a girl not liking him back.

The elders knew about the youngmaster's actions and how he showed his response to the arranged marriage so the news caused the elders to rush back from Spain to New York.

When the elders arrived at the mansion, they almost couldn't recognize the house and had to hurry over to the youngmaster's location. They saw him painting in his art room, the only spot in the mansion that remained untouched because its where HER paintings were hanged. 

He was there when they had the conversation and how quick the youngmaster's temperament changed left a shock in his heart. 

When they walked in, they felt the room get colder because of his aura and his anger can be felt with that.

"Who's the girl?"

His calm voice send shivers down Butler Homer's spine and he never saw him like that.

The Elder walked beside his grandson and had a silly smile on his face as he tapped his shoulder.

"You're already infront of her."

The youngmaster dropped his brush and harshly looked at the elder.

"What?!"

"It's her." The elder confirmed and the youngmaster almost flew in happiness. He kept saying

"I'll give you lots of grandsons."

while jumping up and down and my brain sank so badly I felt like my EQ went 0.

I hope the young mistress wouldn't be too overwhelmed with our young master's affection.

I bet she'll drown.

Imperial Academy International

"Okay ka lang ba?" Malumanay na tanong ni Azranna sa kanyang katabi at nag aalalang tumingin sa paa nitong namamaga.

Nahihiyang ngumiti si Lai dito. "Okay lang ako. Binigyan na ako ng gamot nung nurse tsaka cold compress nalang daw to for 3 days."

"Aabsent ka?"

Tango lang ang sagot ni Lai. Nang titigan ito ng maigi ng dalaga ay kita nya ang panghihinayang at lungkot marahil dahil hindi siya makakapaasok ng ilang araw.

'Her major isn't easy. Baka mahirapan siyang mag catch up.'

"Do you have a car?" Azranna asked but Lai only shook her head.

"Maglalakad lang ako pauwi sa boarding house. Kaya ko naman." Ginalaw ni Lai ng konti ang kanyang paa at napakagat siya sa ibabang labi dahil sa sakit.

Hindi nakaligtas iyon kay Azranna at Lexine kaya't mataman siyang tiningnan ng dalawa.

Nakakausap niya si Azranna kaya't di siya masyadong naiilang di gaya ng pagtitig ni Lexine sa kanya.

"Let's go see her doctor first so that we can treat your foot tapos sama ka na din samin kumain."

Such jolly attitude from Azranna helped Lai calm down she wasn't fidgeting anymore.

'She's so kind at ang ganda-ganda niya pa.'

She wanted to say it loud pero naunahan siya ng hiya kaya't agaf siyang umiling.

"Hindi na kailangan. Okay na tong gamot tsaka ipapahinga ko lang to."

She was even waving her hands like she's so adamant to disagree but to her surprise, Azranna only gave her a playful smile as Lexine pressed something on her hand. It followed a car's unlock sound behind her that almost made her jump.

When she looked behind, she almost wanted to cry in happiness.

Holy shit! Maybach Exelero!

Napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig dahil akala niyay sa isip niya lang iyon sinabi ngunit malakas niya pala iyong naisambit.

"Oh you know cars?  Nice!" Azranna laughed at her cute reaction that earned her a flustered look from Lai.

She was having a good time with these two strangers that she didn't notice until now that people were staring at them.

Well not specifically at her but on Lexine and Azranna. 

'Who are those chicks?'

'Ngayon ko lang nakita ang mga yan dito.'

'Look at that limited edition Maybach dude. That car's worth more than my house.'

"Sa-sayo to?" Mahinang tanong niya at inosenteng tinuro ang sasakyang nakikita niya lamang sa mga magazines at sa TV.

Umiling ang dalaga at nginuso ang direksyon ni Lexine. Tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ng dalaga bago sumenyas na pumasok. Napatanga siya nang makitang nakabukas naa ang pinto sa likuran ay naiinip na nakasandal ang dalaga roon tila hinihintay siyang pumasok.

Nang tingnan niya si Azranna ay natatawa lamang itong inanyayahan siyang pumasok. Hinay-hinay siyang lumakad at nahihiyang pumasok.

"Salamat."

"Hmn." Sagot nito at nang nasiguradong nakapasok na siya, agad nitong sinara ang pinto. Mula sa loob ay pinagmasdan niya ang mga taong nakasunod ang tingin sa galaw ni Lexine at Azranna at kita niya ang pagkamangha miski mga babae sa dalawa.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakalabas na sila ng IAI at sa buong byahe, sila lamabg ni Azranna ang masayang nag uusap dahil sobrang tahimik ni Lexine habang nagmamaneho.

'Mukhang ilap talaga siya sa tao'

"We'll stop by Imperial. Mikael is there." Muntik nang mapatalon si Lai ng marinig itong magsalita.

'Kalmado pero may bigat ang bawat sinasabi niya. Hindi pa ako nakakakilala ng ganitong tao. And those amber eyes, nakakatulala.'

Sumagot si Azranna dito ngunit di na siya sinagot pa ng dalaga. Mabilis silang nakarating sa hospital at kahit na napakabilis nagpatakbo ni Lexine ay hindi siya nakaramdam ng kaba bagkus ay natuwa siya habang pinagmamasdan ito.

Nang huminto sila sa isang malaki at malawak na gusali ay agad siyang napamangha sa kanyabg nakita.

Imperial Chains of Hospital

Nang bumaba sila ay napansin niyang may tatlong doctorat apat na nurse ang naghihintay saa kanila. Ang isang nurse ay may hawak na wheelchair.

Magsasalita sana si Lai ngunit naumid na lamang ang kanyang dila ng makitang yumukod ang mga ito bilang respeto at maluwag na ngumiti sa kanyang mga kasama.

"She's the patient I was talking about. Check her joint, do an X-ray and give her prescriptions. Hindi lang namamaga yung paa niya. Do what you have to do. "

Yung doctor na babae sa gitna ang agad na sumenyas sa nurse kaya't lumapit ito upang paupo-in ako.

"I'll push the wheelchair. It's fine." Azranna volunteered. She might've sensed my uneasiness that's why she chose to do it.

The other doctors were about to object when Lexine spoke.

"Let her. She's too thrilled she found a new friend."

She walked ahead of us and the doctors followed her while Azranna and I took our time.

It didn't take too long for the laboratory tests to be done, and they treated my foot and put a cast on it. It was sprained and the impact of my fall did not help. I couldn' really retort because the doctors followed Lexine's orders and that was 'to do what they have to do'.

The last person I met was a very handsome doctor who was wearing only a shirt beneath his robe, his hair was charcoal black that complimented his eye color and he had very graceful movements that only the nobles have.

When he saw us approaching, his still and indifferent gaze turned warm and soft.

"You wouldn't stop worrying me until I die, will you, brat?" I think he was trying to scold her but it came out like a mumble.

Lexine did not respond that's why the handsome doctor could only sigh.

"You brought a patient. New friend?"

He stepped closer to me and extended his hand which I gladly took with my shaking hands.

"I'm Professor Mikael Valdez. I believe you're Ms. Ancajas?"

I thought I was about to go mum but good thing 'Yes' came out of my mouth.

"I have here the results. Normally 3 days namin to nirerelease but someone wanted to rush it."

Lexine and Dr. Mikael looked at the person behind Lai like she was the guilty one. Azranna only shrugged.

It took 10 minutes to discuss the results and good thing she only had a sprain. She was given medicine for it and she felt really thankful because if she spent a part of her allowance for medicine, she might be short of budget for the whole month.

Dr. Mikael walked us out of the hospital until we reached Lexine's car. They provided me with a crotch to support my weight for two days and I don't know what to say anymore.

'We're complete strangers but they helped me out so much more than my own family did.'

"Are you not going to invite me to join you for lunch?" Dr. Mikael was having  a complicated expression on his face while sounding upset at Lexine.

"You don't like Korean cuisine."

Dr. Mikael snorted. "I haven't tried it yet so how am I going to know if I like it or not?"

"You hate kimchi."

"Are you telling me Koreans got nothing but kimchi? I heard their Jjampong is really good."

"You don't like spicy------"

"Ahh whatever. You obviously don't want me to come."

"It's good you know."

Lexine left him with an upset face and all Azranna could do was pat him on the back.

"Don't tell me hindi ka pa sanay." They both looked at each other like it was a matter of fact.

"I'll send you two boxes of Sweet Nothings. How bout that as compensation for hurting your feelings?" She pat him on the back again.  She looked at me and smiled sweetly.

"I'll help you walk."

I stood up and held her hand but before I started to walk. I made a bow to Dr. Mikael as thanks for treating me.

"It's no big deal. I don't mind helping my friends' friend even though my friends are bunch of brats."

  He gave a slight bow before taking the cart with him and walking away. 

The ride to the restaurant was light and Azranna, this time, sat beside me so that we could talk conveniently.

When we arrived at the restaurant, it's full packed with customers but little did I know that Lexine is not only impatient, but she likes to eat in private too.

When the Manager greeted us, he led us straight to their VIP rooms and both of them made their orders. I was not only surprised by the price of these food but I could not understand anything.

The menu was in Korean! 

As I looked at both of them who seemed to know what was what, I just placed my menu and observed the two of them.

Azranna is the jolly, happy and positive woman who loves to have fun and make other people laugh. Her brown eyes are light in shade and it glows everytime she smiles.  She's simple yet elegant and her aura in itself says something about her identity and background.

Lexine, on the other hand, isn't just an air of mystery but she's unpredictable. You would never know what runs through her mind because her eyes seem like a blank cover. As mysterious as she is, her aura and the way she walks with head held high reminds me of Professor Mikael.

They both have that noble air around them that is very rare, cannot be practiced nor taught, but you're born with it.

As the food arrived and we started eating, one thing I noticed about Lexine is she's very detailed with the ingredients and the flavor. She would stop everytime she grabs a bite and it looks to me like she's analyzing the flavours nit by bit.

I was so engrossed to watching her I didn't notice Azranna looking at me.

"She has a very sharp palate. She knows food more than michelin chefs do. She's not just a pro in art, but food is also her adventure."

I smiled as I understood that I'm infront of someone who's way out of my league but they're eating comfortably with a stranger like me.

What does that say about them?

Compared to other rich brats, these two are very humble and simple.

As I thought about how things turned out today, I earned a friend and someone who might not think of me as her friend but I hope I would deserve to be called Lexine's friend someday.