Love Is Second Best — Chapter 15: THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER

Carmella's POV

"Oh my, I never thought I would be a super chaperone today." Kara sounded annoyed while both of us chuckled.

I glanced at Adrian and I caught him stealing a glance at me too. I smiled and I could feel the warmth of my cheek. I hope he didn't see me blushing or something.

"We never require you to do so." Adrian replied, grinning. He looked at the other way around when I caught him looking at me. I wonder what he's thinking right now.

"See, I told you Carmella is a great friend."

"Yeah, I strongly agree, Kara. Thank you for introducing me to her." I smiled as an answer. We stood up and we all decided to part our ways in going home.

Kara walked past us and Adrian walked slowly beside me as well.

"You looked like Princess Diana from her younger years." He commented and it made me blush.

"Whoah, she's a royalty, I am a nobody." I said between chuckles. He seemed to be amused with my reaction as well.

"Yeah, but I am being honest. You're like her, simple yet beautiful." He said while his facial reaction is quite serious this time.

I felt like my whole world stopped as my heart raced fast. He's too frank I can't seem to process what he's telling me right now. I never see it coming. I am becoming too overwhelmed all of a sudden.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I said as I gasped. I awkwardly smiled when I realized that he's still looking at me.

"Am I having dirt on my face or something?"

"Nope. I find it amusing to look at you." He said as he suddenly pinched my cheek for a second. He let go of it and walked past me quickly. I laughed as I ran after him. He really loves to tease and yet I am wondering why I am loving it.

----

"Gosh girl, I told you, right?" Kara almost shrieked on the other line as I answered my phone. I can't help but to laugh at how she did it.

"You know what, Kara? You're really silly I wanna punch you hard."

"You can't do that to me, honey. I made you happy today."

"You're too much, you know." As soon as she heard it, she giggled too much as if loving the whole thing.

"I really like you for my cousin, Carmella. You're a great friend and I am sure, being a part of our family will keep us best friends for life!"

"Oh my goodness! Do you not consider me as your best friend for life right now?"

"Of course yes, Carm. I just want it to be official. Maybe someday, you will discover you're both meant for each other, thanks to me." She said sounding really confident on the other line.

"I don't think of having a boyfriend right now. You know my mom very well."

"Of course. I always bear that in mind. Your mom is a monster if she'll be angry at you. I always know that."

It made me silent for a while. I can hear that Kara cleared her throat.

"Anyways, I just want you to be friends with my cousin. He's really nice and sweet, and smart, too! I know you can relate to each other so well."

"Thank you Kara. I am happy to meet Adrian. You're right about him. There's nothing in him that you will not like."

I smiled as I listened to Kara's voice on the other line. I can't help but to feel happy because Kara has been very supportive of me ever since.

"There's something that I want you to know more."

"What is it?" I can't help but to be curious about what she said just now.

"Well, Adrian might transfer to our school next year."

"What?" The best line formed through my lips. I think that it is the best news that I've ever heard of after a long while.

"Yes, girl. He's going to transfer to our school from A.G University."

And it was confirmed. He's the one who sat next to me on that bus when I went to school very early last week.

"A. G University is already a top-calibre school for Junior High students. Why is he transferring schools when he's in his last year of school before we'll be going to college?"

"Family problems, dear. It is too complicated to explain to you because it's their own conflict. One thing that's clear to me is, it is already set. Uncle said that Adrian will really transfer from A.G University to our school."

"I hope he's doing well and he's not really having a hard time relating to this matter."

"Yeah. We have to help him, too. This is one of the reasons why I also introduced him to you."

"Thanks Kara. I am happy to be a part of it. I promise to be his good friend to let him know more about our school."

"I trust you a lot, Carmella. Thank you so much."

I ended the call with a smile. I can't help but to put my palms on my chest as I feel my heartbeat. Anticipating what Kara told me excites me to the core. I am distracted when someone sends me a message because it was included in my facebook message request. When I opened it, my eyes widened.

Ian Peep

This is the name that registered from the message request.

Hello Princess D!

It followed by a smiling emoji that made me giggle as I lay on my bed. I rubbed both of my eyes to see if I was only fooled by my own sight, but I was not.

I am looking at his message and I am thinking of what to reply that I get to close my eyes while smiling from ear to ear.

I woke up because of the rays of the sun that touched my cheek through the glass window from my room.

"Oh my gosh!" As soon as I remembered Adrian, I suddenly got up to find where my phone was. I found it under my pillow and, as nervous as I am, I closed my eyes as I opened my phone through my fingertips.

I realized I never replied to his message, although he might see that I've already seen his message. Oh my goodness what have I done?

I got off from bed and prepared for school earlier than usual. I have to be inside the library at exactly 6:00 A.M as they open. I left home at exactly 5:30 in the morning.

When I got on the bus, I sat beside the window and closed my eyes to nap for minutes. It is a twenty-minute ride from home to our school.

I felt that someone sat beside me but I never bothered opening my eyes because I am a bit drowsy. When I started to smell a familiar scent, I froze all of a sudden.

"Hello, Princess D." I opened my eyes and smiled at him.

"You know what? You're silly. I am not Princess Diana." I said between chuckles. He smiled when he saw me giggling.

"Yeah, I know. Why didn't you reply to my message last night? Am I being mean or something?"

"Oh, no, no, no! Sorry for letting you feel this way. I was really sleepy last night. I missed replying to your message."

"Oh, I see." He nodded and looked at me straight into my eyes.

"It's more of a compliment you know," I looked at him as if my gaze is glued to the way he will look at me.

"What?" I awkwardly smiled as I asked him.

"Because you really looked like Princess Diana. I love watching her and the way she smiles."

"Oh, I see. Thank you then." I can feel my cheeks getting warm. I shifted my gaze on the window as if pretending that something got my attention outside the bus.

Gosh, why is he being like this? Is he a natural flirt or something? As he smiled back at me, it's as if everything around me is moving slowly. It's only his face who is now focused on me. His scent is also addictive. It's the kind of smell that I only wanted to smell all day long.

"Sorry, I got to go now. See you when I can." He said that brought me back to my senses.

"I-I see. Take care." I smiled as I nodded. The bus stopped in front of A.G University where he's attending right now. Well, not next year anymore. The thought of him transferring to our school is already making my day. I can't help but to day-dream. I never noticed how I even got off the bus and walked on the hallway going to our classroom.

"Wow, you looked so happy today." Hope greeted me as soon as I sat beside her. Every Thursday, we are seatmates to our first subject which is English.

"I am happy as always."

"But it looked different compared to yesterday." She smiled at me.

"I think the reason why I am all smiles today is that I slept early and woke up early that's why. Also, I studied for two hours."

"I see. I think if that happens to me, I will be happy myself, too."

Our conversation was cut off because our teacher suddenly entered the room and started the class on time. Telling him about Adrian may be impossible this time. I guess I need to be selfish this time. Noticing Adrian’s attention to me might lead to something even deeper than friendship. I can't afford to share it with Hope. I just can't.