"Ouch!"
A shout came to me when I opened my eyes.
"Wait! What's that?"
"Man, slow down to brake!"
I heard loud complaints from various people around. Just a few moments later, I also complained because of the sudden bump on the seat in front of me. The right hand that supported my forehead was withdrawn so I was stunned completely.
I slowly lifted my head to see what was happening.
I still held my forehead bumped as I rolled my eyes all around.
My eyes widened when I saw where I was.
I'm on the bus!
Am I in the modern world now?
I saw our Class Mayor Shane in the middle and checked one by one with my classmates to see if anyone had bumped badly. Isagn and Kaleela, on the other hand, remained standing and seemed to be catching gossip about what happened to the bus we were riding. I want to approach them and hug them because I miss them so much. But even if I wanted to do that, I couldn't get close to my friends because all the students were standing there so that they could occupy the space I was going to pass.
What’s important now, I’m back! I am so happy because finally, I am in the modern world. My former lifestyle is coming back again now.
In a few moments, my classmates became even louder because the bus stopped.
This was the last scene before I went to the Kingdom of Norland. If so, I'm definitely back!
I couldn't help but smile because of what was happening.
I succeeded in my mission in Norland!
"Are you crazy? You're smiling alone, that's dangerous." I heard him chuckled.
I turned to him. I have a neighbor. He was not looking at me but in the book he was reading his attention. So, he’s staring at me silently?
I knew he was also the owner of the hand that landed on my forehead. He would have been nice, just for a moment because he just overdo it so I still stumbled.
"I'm not crazy, for your information! I'm just happy because I'm back," I replied.
I really want to pinch to make sure I’m not dreaming.
He closed the book he was holding and looked at me seriously.
Those looks of his, familiar!
"Why? Where are you from?" he asked, still not taking his gaze away from me.
My heartbeat quickened as I stared at him. I couldn’t help but examine his familiar face. Every detail of his face was very similar to the man I have in mind right now.
His thick eyebrows that he often greeted when I first saw him in their world, his puffy eyes that I wanted to stare at, his sharp nose, and his lips that I still feel soft because of the last kiss. which he gave before I disappeared into that world.
I still don’t answer him. I was still busy confirming if I was right about him when the wind picked up because a classmate of mine who was holding a portable fan in the back accidentally focused on us. The hair of the person next to me was bruised causing me to see her blue hair again which was covered by more of her black hair that was on top.
"Come on, sorry." The sight of the person next to me turned to the female owner of the portable fan.
"It's okay," he said sparingly.
I noticed that the woman was still trembling because this transferee who was my classmate in History noticed her. I know he just meant it to get attention. I glanced at it secretly and returned my gaze to the one next to me.
I can't go wrong! He looks very much like one of the Princes.
"Miss? I can't dissolve if you keep staring at me?"
My trance returned. "It's you, isn't it? You're the Prince--"
I couldn't continue what I was about to say because our History instructor suddenly spoke using a megaphone lapel amplifier so his voice prevailed inside the bus.
"Class, I have an announcement. Please, listen." Everyone fell silent to listen to what our instructor had to say. "You need to transfer to another bus because this bus is damaged. Don't worry, you'll only have to wait a few minutes because our other school bus is on the way. But for now, you need to pick up your belongings and go down for an outside wait. Go, get all your things already."
When Ma'am said that, my classmates immediately shot her with her. Even the one next to me followed.
He was carrying only a black travel bag so when he got it, he immediately stood up.
He can't go out first. I still have a question for him and he has not answered it yet. I want to confirm my hunch.
"Hey, wait!" I chased after him but he didn't seem to hear me because my other classmates were leaving one after another. Many stepped in between the two of us.
I quickly picked up my belongings and lined up to get out completely. I had to chase him to ask him if he and Prince Arsh were one.
Yes, the irregular Architecture student is what I am referring to. My first impression was that it was familiar to me and I confirmed it even more earlier, when I landed in the Kingdom of Norland and came back here again in the modern world.
I can see the persona of Prince Arsh in him. Could it be that like me, Klein is also one of the modern personages of the Prince in this world? Is he the reincarnation of Prince Arsh?
"Oh, Zariya? Are you in a hurry? Are you chasing something?" My friend Kaith entered the queue.
When I saw Kaith, I wanted to hug her so tightly because I missed hrt! But I can’t because it’s just a wonder. I have to act normal.
"Huh? Ah, nothing!" I lied.
I can't say that I'm chasing my classmate's transferee because maybe that's what she thinks. Also, it wouldn't believe me if I told the story of my journey to the strange world of Norland. Who would have believed that I also spent almost a year there in the Kingdom when in fact, only minutes passed when I woke up and I was back here in the modern world. Time passed so quickly that it was impossible for them to believe me.
"In that case, let's go together."
I have never rejected him yet. Kaith and I got off the bus together. When we were outside, I looked around to look for him but I could not see his shadow.
Where is he now?
"I'm sorry I didn't catch you on the bus earlier," Kaith began, causing me to stop looking. "Because my cousin, he just got on our bus because the Engineering department bus was full. By the way, I told him about you and he wants to meet you."
I became interested in his cousin. He has been telling me this story for a long time but not once, I have not talked to him in person even though we only attend the same University. Their building is also far from our College of Accountancy and Business Administration building.
"Where's your cousin?"
Kaith's attention turned to the man approaching. "Oh, there he is."
I followed the direction it was looking.
"I am mad at Miss Castro, I was told to dye my hair black again. Duh, it's not in the University's policy that it's forbidden to dye my hair!" He was frustrated to meet us.
My eyes landed on his hair, it was red.
Prince Nesh.
"Zariya?" There was a smile on his lips when he mentioned my name.
I smiled back. "You know me? You know me?"
I came to life because he didn’t seem to have forgotten me. I’m glad because in this world, he’s so alive! My suspicion grew that it might be true that they were also reincarnations. From what has happened and what I have experienced, I can say nothing is impossible.
"Of course, you're Zariya, my cousin's friend. She often tells me about you. By the way, I'm Leslie."
My earlier smile was replaced by frustration. I still thought he knew me. I just returned him a forced smile.
I'm sure my suspicion is correct, it's just that maybe he just didn't know me.
"Kaith, Zariya!" Kaith and I looked at each other when Isagn shouted, Kaleela and I were approaching. Even though they are far away, its voice is very loud. Even in the distance she could still be heard. She wasn't even embarrassed that she got the attention of some of our students because of her shouting.
Kaith's cousin took the opportunity to say goodbye to us because he said he would only talk for a while. It's a pity because I can't ask him if he's the only one with Prince Nesh. I might just be mistaken for this inventor of the story if I mention the Kingdom of Norland.
If I were able to reincarnate Princess Amity, it wouldn’t be impossible for that to happen to other people as well. So I hold on to my beliefs.
I strongly suspect he is the reincarnation of Prince Nesh.
"What's up?" Kaith greeted our two friends. One of them is a smiling dog. She seemed to be trying to hide the thrill but no matter what she did, she still couldn't hide it.
Isagn's smile reached to her ears. "Okay. It is because we met someone earlier after getting off the bus, the handsome one! I feel like he's the one."
I don’t know how many times he has mentioned that he has already found the one. After all, every time she meets someone, she immediately says that this is her future husband even though they don't have a connection yet.
"You're really annoying! You don't even know me personally." Kaleela glanced softly at Isagn. This is always their scene whenever Isagn introduces us. We are also fed up with the men she introduces.
"Hey, I know his name! I'm just waiting for the two of us to talk." Isagn took something from her sling bag, her cellphone. She showed us a man’s FB account.
I just saw his profile picture for the first time, and I recognized him immediately.
Prince Dern.
"Oh, there! Clarence Gomez is the name of my future wife," Isagn said proudly.
As Kaleela scrolled down her timeline, she stopped at the friend list. "You see, FB friends are all women, obviously women. It's a headache when you marry that, sis!"
This is also the man I met yesterday in the hallway and dropped the book I was carrying. I was annoyed with him because I was the one who humbled myself and apologized, he had not yet accepted. What he wanted in return was to date me.
He was Prince Dern, the Prince who was thorny to the woman.
His temperament is similar to the temperament of the third Prince. Why do I now see people who resemble the Princes of the Kingdom of Norland? This is no longer a coincidence. My guess is true!
"Hey, Isagn!" The three of us turned our attention to Kaith. "Don't flirt with that because the man already has a girlfriend."
I wondered. How does she know? Did she know Clarence? She never mentioned it to me.
"Who is his girlfriend?" Isagn asked.
Kaith couldn't answer because we stopped talking when a bus stopped in front of us. This is probably the replacement for the bus we rode earlier that was damaged.
Many students approached the bus but did not enter yet because they were waiting for an announcement from Ma’am.
"Okay, class. Line up so you can board." We immediately obeyed Ma'am and formed an orderly queue. But while in line, I couldn't help but look around. I still can't find him until now. We only have one bus so he's just here.
"Zariya, I'm not going to ignore you again. You know, I'm going to sit beside my cousin Leslie."
I nodded. "It's okay, Kaith," I said.
I hope that the person next to me on the previous bus will still be next to this bus, especially since I want to ask him something.
We got on the bus. Kaith and his cousin stood in front and Isagn and Kaleela opposite them. Very few were able to enter and still no one was looking for me inside. Maybe it’s still out there and lined up. I want to keep waiting for him. I don't know where I'm going to sit now.
"Zariya?"
I turned to call me, a man with ash gray hair color.
His sharp eyes.
"Prince C-Cozen?" I said softly.
"No, I'm Warren. The one who picked up your ID earlier, remember?"
Ah, yes! He was also that person. I remember the last thing he said earlier after he returned my ID.
"What did you mean earlier? Hopefully for the second time, I'll choose you?"
Hopefully this time, at least one of them will meet me.
He smiled at me. "Is that it? I'll explain to you if you'll keep me here." He pointed to the vacant seat next to him.
Of the four reincarnated Princes I have met today, it is Prince Cozen or Warren who seems to know about our past. I no doubt complied. There are many questions I want to be answered. It seems that only he can answer it.
I lost track of the person I was looking for. I was about to sit down when someone stopped me because he grabbed my arm and took the bag I was carrying. He didn't say anything beyond my hand as a reason for me to follow him.
Prince Arsh.
We walked in the middle of the bus towards the back. When we were in front of a chair that was good for two people, he let go of my hand. He made me sit by the window.
"I've been looking for you for a while," I exclaimed as he sat down next to me.
Without emotion on his face he took his headphones and put them on his ears. "You're looking for me but you're going to stand next to that coward? Tsk!"
My forehead furrowed. Why does he seem annoyed? Eh, what's wrong if I ignore Prince Co-- I mean Warren? Looks like he's the only one who hasn't forgotten, eh. Of the reincarnates of the Princes, he was the only one who knew me.
"Because I want to ask something. You didn't let me finish earlier." When I looked at him again, he was already closed while wearing the headphones.
You see, they don't talk to me anymore.
It's rude to talk!
Just as Prince Arsh was once stuck in their world, he is twice as stuck now.
Little did I know that I was staring at him. Even in the modern world, he is still very handsome. The sweet look on his gentle face. It doesn’t look rude when he closes his eyes.
I was in the middle of staring at him when he suddenly opened his eyes. I was confused because he might have caught me looking at him. So I immediately adjusted my seat and took a sip. I looked out the window as if nothing had happened.
"If you have a crush on me, it is better to confess than staring at me silently."
My mouth dropped open as it turned. He was a bit thick in that part. "What crush are you on?" I saw him take off his headphones so I took advantage of that to ask him. "You're Prince Arsh, aren't you?" my direct question, I wasted no more time.
"Prince Arsh?" he laughed at the question. He pointed his index finger at my forehead and gently pushed it away. "My name is Klein, not Prince Arsh."
Is he just laughing at me? Doesn't he really remember me? He promised me that at any year, in any world, in any person, he would find me. I'm in front of him now, but why can't he remember me? Why am I the only one who remembers everything?
The necklace he gave me flashed through my mind. I immediately scratched my neck, wearing a necklace. When I bent down to look at the necklace, I was shocked to learn that it was the necklace he had given me. The pendant is dried red rose petals, that's it!
I mean, everything is true.
"This, look!" I showed him the necklace I was wearing. Maybe because of this, he will recognize me. "This is the necklace you gave me before I disappeared in Norland. You said, you will find me." My voice could tell that I was already crying. I was losing hope that he would still remember me. "You said, no matter what year, no matter where, and no matter what person, you will choose me over and over again, but why now that I'm in front of you don't you remember me? Prince Arsh, I know it's you, the man I loved in a strange world."
It just stared at me. "You know, you're just lacking in sleep."
That's all he said and put his headphones back on. He closed his eyes again.
I just felt tears dripping down my cheeks. The weight of feeling that no matter how hard I try to remind him, he still won't remember me.
"There's one last way for him to remember you." I turned to the person who spoke.
"Prince Ravi?" He was the man who got our ticket before boarding the bus earlier. He also told me that he hoped my trip would be fun. Did that have anything to do with me going to Norland?
He handed me the handkerchief. I forgot to wipe away my tears so I didn’t even hesitate to pick up her handkerchief.
"Raven," he corrects her name. "Think, Zariya, how you met then. How he met you and that's what you do so that he remembers you again."
He knows something about the past.
"Didn't you lose your memory?" ani ko. He still knew me and I knew he also knew the man next to me.
He just shrugged and turned his attention back to his cellphone.
I take seriously the advice of Prince Ravi or Raven in the new persona. I thought of the way he was referring to the way he recognized me next to me.
"Think, Zariya, how you met then. How he met you and that's what you do so that he remembers you again."
How did we meet?
At dawn. When I reported to Queen Emily. I never thought I would meet Prince Arsh in the dark hallway of the servants' room and accidentally kiss him.
My eyes widened.
"No way!" I shouted so loudly that other classmates looked at me. I felt ashamed, I just frowned and signed peace with them. Fortunately, the embarrassment was reduced because Prince Arsh, who is now in the person of Klein, kept his eyes closed.
Raven was right, because of that incident, Prince Arsh met me. Even though Haya Kaira pretended to be, he still recognized me because of that kiss.
I looked at him while closing my eyes. I became a coward in admitting how I felt about him then so I will not allow it to happen again now.
I took a deep breath to take courage. I removed his headphones and brought my face close to his. At the same time as his eyes awoke, I suppressed a kiss on his lips.
I don't know if you haven't recognize me yet, Prince Arsh.