Chapter 32 : The Plan
"HAVE you decided?" Reina asked as she sat down beside me and put down the tray on the table. I glanced at her lazily and turned back to the book I'm holding, keeping flipping the pages but I'm not reading it. I heaved a deep sigh and closed to book.
"I don't know. And even if I want to, I have no money. Plane tickets were so expensive, and I can't afford it."
Reina laughed at me as she sipped in her fruit drink. "Geez, I told you, I'm willing to help. And we're going to find cheap plane tickets. There are some airlines who offered cheap ones."
I shook my head. "Even if I go there, how can I find him?"
Reina tapped the table. "What the… are you nuts? What happened to the genius Becca I used to know? Look," she lifts my chin up, "Linus is a prince. And where do prince live?" she asked.
"Palace."
"Exactly. Geez, Becca. Of course, you can find him there. And there's only one palace in Denmark. It's not that hard to find it. just tell ta cab driver—"
I cut in, "I know, Rey. I know. But how can I enter the palace? Look at me? I'm just nobody. I don't have the power. I don't have anything. Do you understand me?" I asked, hopelessly.
"There's no hope in planning this, Reina," I added and get back on the book, I flip the pages again.
"Oh. My. Gosh! I didn't know that you're going to give up that easy. The Becca I know used to overcome her difficulties head high. This is the only beginning of your relationship. When you love—and even not, you will still face struggles… difficulties. I'm cheering you up, I'm helping you out, Becca. If you love Linus, you will do everything just to go after him—"
"How about him? then if he truly loves me, he must do everything just to get back here and tell me his reasons."
Reina shook her head. "Men doesn't always do the sacrificing, Becca. If it comes to love, all are fair. It's up to you on how you exert efforts just to build your relationship stronger. Let me put you in one scenario, like for example, you have a seed and you planted it, will that seed grow if you will not pour water in it? Would it grow if you will not help and take an effort by growing it? No. Because you just let it be stock on the ground and never give attention. So as to love, Becca. If he's the only one giving effort with it, I will assure you, your relationship will shrink. Look, Linus agreed when you said to keep your relationship privately. For a man, you know how egoistic they were that they love to flaunt their relationship, especially when they truly love that person, but you took that away from him. I know, I may hate him too, because he lied to you, to us, but I can see through his eyes that he loves you, Becca. And he has a reason why he left. You know royalties have duties and thus, he may be broke some rules and wanted to escape, and it happens that he found this place, then he found you."
A tear fell from my eye. Am I being selfish?
"I know you love him too, Becca. So, please think. And you know that there's no harm in trying. I know that you can make things possible when you love them. Think of a better way to get him. If evading the palace just so you get closer to him, then be it. Do it. Take the risk when you love."
It's hurt that what Reina said was all right.
And I'm a useless girlfriend who just relies on him.
We're still new in this relationship and I'm about to give up. Stupid me.
"How much is the plane ticket?"
Reina laughed. "I'm not selling one, but we can find one."
I shook my head and wiped the tears flowing to my cheeks.
THE NEXT day Reina found a cheaper ticket online. I jump out of joy but frowned when I realize that I still don't have enough money. At that moment, Ms. Dory, put two cups of coffee in front of us.
"Any problem, girls?" she asked as she pulls a chair beside Reina.
Reina heaved a deep sigh. "Becca's," she replied.
Ms. Dory looked at me. "Why Becca? Do you need anything?"
I shook my head. "Just a—"
"It's a love problem, Ms. Dory," said Reina.
An O formed on Mrs. Dory's mouth. "Care to share it with me? I might help you. Besides," she glanced at her wristwatch, "it's almost six in the evening," she said.
Well, I just finished my part-time job and decided to stay at the café for a while.
I heaved a deep sigh and put my palms at the side of the cup, feeling the hotness of the coffee, its aroma as I inhaled kept me calm for a bit.
Coffee makes me insane.
"It's about Linus, ma'am," I started. "He left."
"Yes. And about that, I didn't know that he is a prince. And Denmark's monarchy is one hell of a kind. And I even raised an eyebrow with him when he's seeking a part-time job. And if the royal guards see it, I might be in jail by now," she said and laughed.
Reina laughed along. "Same. Same, ma'am. I even talked to him harshly. Gosh, but who would've known, right? He seems like just an ordinary elite student, like those typical rich boys who have everything. And being Linus being a prince never crossed my mind. He acts differently. And he's good in hiding," Reina said.
"I agree with that. Imagine, a prince working as a waiter in my restaurant? How do people suppose to think about it? Geez, it gives me goosebumps," said Ms. Dory. "So, what about him? How does his name concern the problem of yours?" she asked as she looked towards me.
I sipped on my cup of coffee.
"He's Becca's boyfriend," Reina replied.
"Are you Becca?" Ms. Dory looked at her. "I'm not talking to you, Reina, okay?"
I let out a soft chuckle and shook my head. "Reina was right, ma'am."
"Oh… then?"
"Becca wants to purchase a plane ticket bound to Denmark, ma'am."
Ms. Dory closes her eyes, "Reina…" she looked at Reina again, "I'm not talking to you, honey," Ms. Dory said.
I laughed again. "Oh. Ms. Dory, you made my day."
"Back to you, Becca. What do you need? Do you need some money?"
"Yes—"
"Hep, I'm not talking to you, Reina." It's Ms. Dory.
I just shook my head.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm planning to go to Denmark to talk to him."
"Wow. I like your determination, and I admire your love for him. With that, I can help you, honey," said Ms. Dory.
I shook my hand, "no ma'am. We don't want to bother you—"
Ms. Dory raised her hand. "Hep. I insist. Besides, I'm going to Denmark too."
Our jaws dropped. "Pardon?"
Ms. Dory smiled. "I'm going to visit my grandma there. The former lady Royal, Agatha."
"Lady royal as in lady-in-waiting?" asked Reina, exasperatingly.
Ms. Dory nodded, "she's a former court lady of the former Queen—Linus grandmother. And I can help you not just with the money but also entering the Denmark Palace," she said.
My mind wants to pop out of my head as I can't take that information in me.
"God, I dreamed to be a Lady Royal too, but sad to say, I can only accompany my momma," said Reina.
"You really interested in the Royalties, huh?" I asked.
"Yes. But it turned out that you caught the big fish and I'm out of it. And when you marry Linus, I can already enter the palace, and it's fine with me."
"What are you saying?" I asked as she talked about marriage.
"That's what you call advance thinking," she replied and winked at me. Ms. Dory just shook her head.