CHAPTER 10

Staring out from the bedroom window, Jeremy wondered whether Kate was already home. He assumed that she was. Two days had passed since their Boracay adventure. As he watched the lights of the skyscraper buildings that form different shapes and imagery, he questioned if he would be able to see her again before Christmas day. It's twenty-fourth of December. Perhaps not – he will be celebrating Christmas alone. Gabriella, accompanied by Spes, went back to Monaco while Tobby went home to his province.

He'd been awake for an hour but he wasn't ready to face the day. Christmas felt different this year. There is no Christmas tree to décor. There are no Christmas carols to play in the stereo. There are no mind-boggling questions on what to buy as gifts. Most of all, he would be celebrating Christmas alone, craving to be with someone who is not by his side.

Suddenly, he received a text message. It was from Kate. "Good morning. Sorry, I wasn't able to inform you last night that I had arrived in our house. My family has been bugging me all night. By the way, I told them about our adventure and they asked me to invite you since I also informed them that you would celebrate Christmas alone. Hoping you could come!"

Is this a dream? He asked himself. He is invited for Christmas. He read it twice to clarify. It's true. This is real. They are inviting him for Christmas. He is thrilled at the same time panicky. Finally, he would be able to see the place where Kate grew up. He would be able to know more about her. Yet, he's edgy since he would meet her parents. Would they accept him? He hoped that he would leave a good, if not better impression about him.

Jeremy stood up, opened his closet and bagged some of his clothes. He couldn't wait for the sun to smile. This is it. Time is out of the topic. He should pack everything and prepare himself. No need to make a list. He just has to prepare whatever he can think of. When everything was set, he thought of a problem. How can he go to Kate's house when he has no driver? Surely, he could drive but it has always been Tobby who drives him whenever it is an out- of- town event. He was not familiar to route to provinces. What to do? Even if he called up Tobby, it would take much for him just to go back to the city. Should he commute then? He can't. People would certainly recognize him.

Sitting on his bed, he browsed at his phone for contacts. Then, came the name of Sophie, the Consulate. It was still early but he has to call her. She is his only chance of reaching Kate's house. He then dialed the number. It rang for several seconds but no one was answering. Maybe she was still asleep since it was still dawn. He didn't hesitate to call again. It rang for three times and then someone answered.

"Hello." Jeremy said.

"Yes, Your Highness?" She looked at the watch near her bed. It was only four in the morning. It was unusual for Jeremy to call her so early. This should be an emergency, she thought. Maybe something has happened. She sensed jumpiness in his voice. Fear woke her blood. She hoped nothing bad had happened.

"I'm sorry to bother you so early but I need you to do something."

"What is it your Highness?"

"Can you send me a driver, I need to go somewhere today since Tobby went home for Christmas."

"Is that all your Highness?" She sighed. Fortunately, she was wrong. She tried to calm herself. She got up of the bed and walked to get a pen and paper from her desk.

Jeremy remembered that he could not just bunch in without something to give them especially it's Christmas. It's a time of gift -giving. He then added, "And also I want you to prepare some gifts."

"Oh! Is that the annual gift -giving, would you be attending the event your Highness?" Annually, the Monaco embassy is hosting an event where they select a hundred underprivileged families all over the metro and give them goods to celebrate their Christmas, toys and other gifts for children. They also give out household appliances as prizes for games and serve them simple lunch to end the event.

"No. No. This is to a particular family that I am closed with," he explained. What then should he give them? He did not know what they like. Should he just buy something that he can think of rather than what they would like to receive? He remembered a list of gifts that could solve his problem. He then enumerated to her the list. It was the same list that Kate narrated to him on their way back from Boracay. She wanted those gifts for her family. She searched for many places but could not find them. He knows it would be tough to find the things in the list but he believes that the embassy can find a way to acquire them. "By the way, the last one is a must." Jeremy stressed.

"Is that all your Highness?" She confirmed.

"Yes!"

"The driver then would be there within an hour. By the way, Your Highness, the Prince asked us last night to remind you that you should call them back." Sophie recalled.

"Did they say why?"

"No, Your Highness. They just instructed us to remind you and it seems that it's important." Sophie stressed.

"Okay! Okay! I will. Thank you again!"

After the call, Jeremy replied to the message of Kate informing her that it would be his pleasure to join them for Christmas. He then asked her address while waiting for the driver.