all good things.

“ a FLUFFY one. god no. “ so she she would have to keep a lint roller on her during every passing second ? no way. she owned too many black clothes. “ i want one to take on runs. maybe we can go to the shelter here and pick one out. complete our GOOD DEED of the week, maybe month. “

xiuyin could have told him that she wanted a hairless dog – if those even existed! –and he would’ve been just as excited. “oooh, good idea. i know a shelter nearby – can we do it now? today? ah, this is so great! do you want a big one? big dogs love going outside and running around.”

so he was a chinese royal after all, even under all the soft guise of shyness – pride was seeped through his bones. unfortunately for him, sabrina and dianna was born of similar stock. “well if you think so little of her then why are you even trying? your marriage would probably wait until your older siblings have all been paired off… and who knows, maybe our governments wont even think the match to be too terribly important and break it off.” – unlikely, when considering her parents’ absolute determination for an in with the chinese royals – she shrugged, inhaling from her cigarette with practiced ease. “i’m telling you how to be in a conversation with sab here, you don’t need to believe me if you don’t want to do it at all.” 

he had hoped he’d chosen his words more carefully this time, but that didn’t seem as if it was the case. she and sabrina were the same, choosing to twist his words in the worst way they could be, and the look she gave him made him shrink a little underneath it. “i – i do. sorry...” had he taken it too personally? surely, they were just misunderstanding each other. he fought the urge to apologise again and nodded. “i don’t think little of her at all. and i think i must’ve... misunderstood... but i do believe you. i think she’s just got a strong personality and i... don’t? i’m scared of making a mistake and making her dislike me more than she does already, y’know?”

sabrina had taken her time getting ready, most of it being spent laying on her phone and ignoring every text coming her way. she sat in front of the mirror, applying light make up and a red lip. it’s not that she was dreading tonight, she just could think of a hundred other things she’d rather do than spend time with zhaohui. 

she glanced at her phone buzzing, briefly reading through the unsaved number’s message. sabrina slightly picked up the pace, not wanting him to wait for that much longer. she made her way down to the car, opening the door and sliding in. “hey.” she greeted, ignoring the need for an apology for making him wait for so long. “what’re we doing tonight?”

he’d been dozing off when the door opened abruptly, causing him to startle awake and sit up straight in panic. “oh-h– hi,” he mumbled, clearing his throat and giving the driver a nod to go. they were already a few minutes behind schedule, and the thought of there being a schedule stressed him out more than anything else. sabrina actually being in the same space made it worse. “dinner,” he answered as the car sped along, checking his watch and trying to pull a smile. “and, i guess, whatever you want after that. i...didn’t know what kind of food you like so... uhm... you know – i picked a place that seems to serve really fancy stuff? though there is this family-owned restaurant near it – just a quick walk – they serve really good stuff! but... uh... i don’t think it’s quite your style, so... is it okay if i assume that? i don’t mean to overstep...”

“oh i’m not giving you a shortcut.” she looked at him with narrowed eyes, feeling like he should know better than expecting some sort of special treatment from the family’s biggest disappointment. the very least dianna could do was to make sure that her parents’ masterplan didn’t work as smoothly as they wanted. “finding things in common is juvenile – alright, the best chance you have is to come up to her level… stop being so fucking-” she paused, waving around her hand as if it’ll help her find the word she had in mind. “-soft, i suppose, at least then she’ll stop bullying you and consider you an equal.”

“i- i’m not asking for a shortcut...” he mumbled, feeling as if he would simply wither, especially with her tone. it reminded him too much of his siblings, but without the consideration for blood, and all of the disappointment. “i... don’t mean to be rude, but... she’s not ‘higher’ than me in any way. simply because she’s inconsiderate of my feelings doesn’t make her better.” and that was already too much to say, thumbs fiddling with each other as he spoke, one over the other. “a-at least, i think... that’s the case. though you’re probably right...”

“I’m sure too.” A white lie, one she delivered flatly. But the fact that she wasn’t that around Zhaohui wasn’t an excellent sign. Her brows formed a delicate frown as she thought about ways to fix the situation. Chemistry could not be faked but she was unsure how Zhaohui could ever learn to like the princess when she seemed to have none of the traits he did. “It could also be that she doesn’t care how you feel. I would make her out to be something she isn’t — you’ll end up putting up with behaviour that is not acceptable. Everyone deserves a bit of respect and it sounds like she has none for you. I think you should be more upfront. If she makes you feel bad, ask her politely apologize, if she doesn’t you just walk away.”

she was too perceptive. maybe he shouldn’t have asked. he was sure that sabrina didn’t care for how he felt, but putting up with it was another matter entirely. but xue was a master at dealing with people like that, so zhaohui figured that he might as well take her words to heart, even a little bit. it was sound advice, after all. “oh... okay. ... do i have to walk away? that seems a bit rude...” and thus, came the crux of the matter, and something he had plenty of trouble letting go of: “i don’t want to hurt her feelings, even if we don’t get along too well.”

[ sms: DON’T TEXT THIS NUMBER ] hi, i’m outside! 😊 [ sms: DON’T TEXT THIS NUMBER ] sorry, this is zhaohui, i don’t know if you have my contact details [ sms: DON’T TEXT THIS NUMBER ] sorry if i’m too early, i can wait, no pressure! 😊

She had been under the impression that the youngest South Korean princess had a strong personality — something she hadn’t been able to confirm during their brief conversation. But since Zhaohui chose to use the word ‘mean’, Xue knew the girl had to be a challenging person. “Tips…” She held a thoughtful pause. “I rarely need to force a friendship.” If a friendship didn’t happen, it didn’t — and business was business, it worked even without personal relationships. “The less you try, the more likely you are to succeed, I think. All relationships evolve at their own pace. What exactly do you mean by ‘mean?”

of course xue didn’t need need to try – his sister was charismatic and just plain cool, so zhaohui wasn’t surprised that people gravitated towards her. he feared that those were just business people and not friends she could actually talk about her problems with. but who was he to ask about her meaning of friendship? she knew more, and so he nodded and tried to take the words to heart. “right...” he mumbled, rubbing his chin a little, before looking up – “ah... well, maybe... mean is the wrong word... she’s not, like, a bad person, i don’t think. i’m sure she can be super funny and friendly towards other people! just... not to me. she... kinda has a tendency to talk over me, but it’s okay, sis! don’t worry about it, really. maybe she just has a lot to say...?”

Aisling eagerly shook Zhao’s hand. ❝ It’s cool to know you’re a man of your words. ❞ The Irish was not old fashioned but she did wish that people’s word and promise still had a meaning.  ❝ What is scary is poachers and also wandering tourists not paying attention. ❞ The later unintentionally would do damages to the nests while the first would try to capture the eggs or babies to sell them on the black market.  ❝ And then there are predators. ❞ There were so many threats to the turtles that it seemed miraculous that the specie was not extinct yet.  ❝ But you, the volunteers and me are going to go full bodyguards on those nests. ❞ That should be enough for the babies to reach the ocean. Her companion was right about them not being to help the animals past that point. 

what she said made his expression fall slightly, uttering a small, disappointed, “wow...”, at this new knowledge of how human activity on the beaches endangered these cute turtles even more. why did poachers feel the need to hurt baby turtles? – it didn’t make sense! weren’t there enough eggs from all the birds on earth? – so he nodded enthusiastically and smiled. “zhaohui, reporting for duty!” he said, excited in the sincere way. “all that sucks, but i promise i’ll keep my eyes open for any danger! where do i start? how do i start? teach me everything.”

               𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐃  they had been rid of their control and were now spiraling, at least to her. she was so far from the crown that, at best, she had hung to every inch of the possibility of marrying who she wanted. but oh how they mighty had fallen. now she was sitting besides someone she knew like the back of her hand and yet… he felt so far away. two strangers deemed so by their own blood. sabina nods slowly at his words to reflect her agreement but she remains silent as he speaks up again. there’s that horrid twist in her stomach, the tug at her heart and the undeniable falter in her breath. like we used to. every atom in her had grown impulsive when it came to him. thus, she’s unable to stop herself. ❝ nothing is how it used to be. WE aren’t like we used to be. ❞ the polish princess snaps, shaky breath following her whispered apology for her tone. her hands move to hug herself lightly as she glances away from him and back to the fire. ❝ i can’t be friends your friend… i just - i can’t. ❞ there’s defeat in her tone. God knows she tried so badly to be his friend for the simple fact that she was too selfish to let him go. sabina falls silent for a moment, gaze stuck on the flames, unable to bring herself to look at him. ❝ i can’t even look at you without… without - wishing i was someone else. ❞ her bottom lip trembles and so she brings it between her teeth, biting on it lightly.

he shouldn’t have expected much, of course. in fact, it only served to remind him that he shouldn’t have expected anything at all. it was erroneous and unfair for him to, since he was the one who let go first, who ended things without considering the aftermath. he’d been as optimistic as ever, even in the darkest moment of it, and he thought that maybe, if he waited, things would get better. he nodded when she spoke, and let her say her piece. the selfishness pooling at the back of his throat tasted like bile, or the slightest hint of tobacco from a stress-driven smoke. they must have lost their tenderness in promises that weren’t theirs to make. he ached to tell her this, and all of it, and how he hated every single bit of it, but could only make out an, “ah... you’re right,” already defeated before any fight began. “i’m...sorry. but you shouldn’t...wish to be someone else,” he continued, adamant in this, and this alone. “you’re amazing, and funny, and smart, and – and so insightful, and understanding, and cool and –,” as if on command, he stopped as his fists clenched: no more of this. he kept his gaze to the ground. “...sorry. but... it’s just – i think... even under the circumstances, sabina – even if you begin to hate me or regret all of it – i think... as you are... rowen would be an idiot not to love you so much you’d never even think of being someone else.”

                     it’s childish, asking god for a sign that this whole mess would prove worthwhile, but coco can’t help herself. not that she can remember the last time she went to mass excluding christmas and easter. or, forbid, the last time she went to confession of her own volition. but after another day of wanting to chew through her own hand in frustration, she has decided that perhaps it is worth a try. most likely, it will only serve to confirm her suspicions: she’ll gain nothing from being here. but there is some vague solace in sharing her grief, even if the existence of her audience could be called into question.

                     what she isn’t anticipating, is for the sign to be physical. what people usually mean when they ask for a sign, she does not know. a feeling ? a dream ? a voice to spell out the answer for you ? whatever it was, a photograph descending from the sky was far down the list. and yet, down it comes, like a leaf on a cold october morning. “ huh ? ”  she looks up, hand brought across her brow to shield her eyes from the sun.  “ oh, sure, yeah, i can do that. no trouble. ”

                        once he’s down, she hands it over, blank side facing up. “ you really shouldn’t be on balconies like that. if you’re not careful you’ll end up sharing fates with this photograph. ” a pause. “ mind if i ask what it’s of ? ”

there was nothing prince-like in the way that his brother ever was before he became emperor – nothing staunch or poised, like his few staff members hoped he’d grow to be – in the way he clambered over the railing and onto solid ground. each step navigated the new terrain, though his feet were used to following the map of a traveller’s heart. or someone who simply refused to stay and address the parts of himself he did not want to acknowledge. either/or.

there was no reason to dwell on those dark parts when the day was so bright and warm and full of possibility. zhaohui all but hopped through the entrance and flashed a smile at the security stationed there before going over to meet the new girl beyond the wall. there was definitely nothing royal about the way he presented himself, shirt and shorts and flip-flops and all.

“balconies aren’t that dangerous. not from that height,” he pointed out, optimistic about it, and his smile kept him from daring to look at the photograph again. he pulled out his wallet and absentmindedly tucked the photo in as he spoke, “oh, not at all! it’s of someone else.” wallet in his pocket – and hopefully not about to fall out – he held out his hand with a grin. “hi. i’m zhaohui. are you taking a walk around the block or something? i don’t think i’ve seen you around before!”