HIS FUTURE QUEEN

KLAUDRIA MCLENNON

CHAPTER 1

KLAUD

A young gentleman entered the restaurant, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him as soon as he entered. He has a nice chest, and broad shoulders, and very tall. He was probably in his mid-twenties and wearing black pants, a white shirt, and a black overcoat.

I normally wouldn't spend time looking at men, but this one was different. I wondered what made my eyes practically glued to him as soon as he stepped inside the restaurant. The instant physical attraction never happened to me; personality was what I valued more in a man.

So physically, why was this one attractive?

Could it be his long legs? I shook my head repeatedly. No-- it wasn't his long legs because almost everyone here has long legs, although his pair were nicely formed in his tight-fitting pants.

Could it be his complexion? No–He didn’t have an Asian tone which I like in a man.

How about his face? Well–maybe yes, maybe no. He has a tamer appearance, sexy-gorgeous, not the overly-manly type.

It was hard to determine his nationality based on his looks—a bit of wavy chocolate brown hair, chiseled jaw, high forehead, and slightly thin lips. My eyes lingered on his pair of kissable lips. I giggled. As if I have kissed a man to know about kissable lips.

How about his eyes? I sighed. Nope, he was wearing thick eyeglasses. It was a complete turn-off. The eyeglasses ruined his appearance, and he looked like—well, a nerd. He could have done better and had chosen the correct type of eyeglasses for his face shape.

I almost gave up identifying his good and not-so-good qualities. The attraction was subjective--there was a broad spectrum that defined attraction.

Then I noticed how he carried himself, his posture, his bearing. Ah–um–that was it!– His aura, the strong energy surrounding him. He somehow has an aristocratic vibe. He looked regal even if he was only wearing a simple white polo shirt and black pants.

I sighed heavily. My interest in this man was really interesting.

The waiter escorted him to a table, and he sat facing me. Now, I have a clear view of his face...and wow! He was handsome as sin. If not for that grandfather’s eyeglasses, he could be my type. MY TYPE? Did I really have a type? I chuckled.

So--it was not his appearance that made him attractive to me. It was the invisible force surrounding him. Okay, point taken, but why was I still staring at him? He was like a magnet. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

When the door opened again, the two ladies stepped inside, and several heads turned in their direction. The two of them slowly and elegantly strode towards the table of the gorgeous-nerdy man.

And–oh, I gasped. Sorry for me, the twins gave him tight hugs and long kisses on his cheeks. I assumed the ladies were twins, the same height and complexion, although it was hard to tell the natural color of their hair--they seemed to be wearing wigs. They reminded me of my favorite doll when I was young, Barbie.

Was he dating those two ladies? I instantly erased the idea from my mind. It was bad to assume he was poly, although there was nothing wrong with being one. He just didn't strike me as one. He might be dating one of those ladies. I corrected myself.

Damn—the first time a nerdy man caught my attention, hell yeah…he must be taken by either of those Barbies. That was sad.

“Klaud, are you ready for tomorrow? We will fly early, make sure you pack everything tonight,” Peter said, and his bulky frame covered my view of the gorgeous nerd and the twins.

I swayed a little to the right and could see the man again.

I think that arch in his lips was worth a million dollars. My breath hitched with the sight of those lips arched that way. I like men with sweet smiles and sexy grins.

“Klaudria McLennon!” Peter barked at me. He pulled his chair closer to me, blocking my view of the breathtaking man again.

But since his voice was so loud, I returned to my senses.

“Peter! What’s wrong with you?” I asked and straightened my seat as I looked directly into his eyes, a bit annoyed. He just ruined my mood.

“I've been talking since I sat here, but—you are not paying attention to me,” he screeched.

“What do you want?” I asked, squinting my eyes.

“Your luggage. Are you packed?”

What am I, a child?

“Sure, dude!” I answered, just the same.

“I don’t want us running back to your home because you forgot something, again!” he tittered.

I rolled my eyes. He was a bit annoying, so bossy most of the time.

“You can’t forget that one time I forgot my passport, right?” I asked, curling my lips.

Peter was fond of reminding me of that incident two years ago. We had to return to my dormitory, where I had left my passport. I didn’t have any valid photo ID acceptable to the TSA. It was my first time flying, and I forgot to check the requirements; since California was still part of the USA, I thought a passport was unnecessary, but I was wrong. I learned my lesson the hard way. I promised it wouldn’t happen again.

“We ain’t going to get that chance tomorrow, and we have an early flight. Either you carry everything you need, or you ain’t make it to Giorginia. Don’t forget. You need this interview to cut down three years of medical studies." Peter refreshed my memory with a little sarcasm.

Yeah–How could I forget that? If I study here in the US, I must complete a four-year medical course and another year of residency before graduating and taking a medical licensure exam. In comparison, the Kingdom of Giorginia has a medical curriculum that could be completed in just two years. First, I must pass this student evaluation and interview in person to get that scholarship.

Peter was right. I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity. Peter and I and twenty more medical students have booked to visit Giorginia tomorrow. All the twenty-two students would compete in only twelve slots for the scholarship, and ten would return to New York with tears in their eyes. I didn’t want to be one of those ten. I must pass this scholarship by hook or by crook.

“Hey, guys!” Mia, also a friend, was our own Barbie. Slim figure, long blonde hair, and so fond of wearing bright colors. This time, she was likened to a ripe mango, covered in a yellow outfit, and even her shoes and handbag were of the same color.

We, three, had stuck with each other since our freshman days. Four years later, we were still together, completing our pre-medical degree together. Peter was 23, Mia 22, and me, the youngest at 21-the most playful, stubborn, and misbehaved among us. I know it didn’t sound like a character of a future doctor, but so what? I am young and carefree, and I love my life.

It was expected that medical practitioners would conduct themselves under acceptable norms, but there was nothing wrong with having fun. Whoever told them that we couldn’t smile, laugh, giggle, tease and play around? We were not concrete statues.

My parents, both bakers, owned a small patisserie. My dad– a French man, and my mother– an American, met and settled in New York before they had me. They worked hard just so I could finish a medical course, my dream.

It wasn’t cheap to study medicine; therefore, I took a chance at the scholarships offered in Giorginia. Their medical scholarship was something I couldn’t let pass, and it was the best offering in the world. I had already passed the initial round and needed to impress the screening committee in the final round. The same goes for Peter and Mia.

I hoped the three of us could pass the final round and study there for two years. The scholarship covered the tuition, all school expenses, accommodation, and food, and they would even grant us allowances while we performed hospital duty. It was one hell of an opportunity, and I was dead set on getting it.

“It’s raining cats and dogs,” Mia muttered while she looked sadly at the view outside the window. It was raining hard, and I doubt we could get out of the place sooner.

“Yeah–” I agreed.

We were in the final days of March, not even April, but the rain had been pouring every mid-afternoon for the last two weeks. The weather was getting crazier every year. They might be right when they say that the earth has tilted on its axis. It was starting to affect the seasons.

The people entering the restaurant were drenched. Umbrellas and their wet shoes and clothes were dripping water on the floor. The good old waiter was busy mopping it since the rain started pouring.

“I want to use the restroom first. Go ahead and order food. I don’t think we can get out of the restaurant soon,” I advised. I got my phone, stood up, and hurried towards the restroom, completely forgetting that the floor was freshly mopped.

Therefore, I kind of skate, trying to balance my steps and weight simultaneously, but to NO avail. I closed my eyes resignedly. I knew I would hit something in a while and conditioned myself that my butt would hurt so much upon its impact on the floor.

But instead of my butt hitting the floor, my head hit first a solid wall, or rather the solid back of a man, and I lost my balance.

“Ouch.” I fell flat on the floor. I couldn’t move right away due to slight pain, but I was glad I didn’t hit my head.

Sadly, the nerdy man’s back was where I crushed my head a while ago. However, instead of helping me out, the man stood in his place emotionlessly...as in-- he simply stared at me and said nothing.

Damn! What an unkind man?!

Instead of him, two gentlemen moved to my side and helped me.

Where did these two men come from?

“Here, miss.” One man extended his hand, helped me sit down, my back against the wall, and checked on me. “Are you hurt? Would you like us to send you to the hospital?”

“Oh no–no need. The only one hurting is my pride,” and my butt, I hissed silently.

The younger man chuckled at my response and then extended a hand to help me stand.

I stood on my two feet in a bit of pain, but nothing serious. Except for the slight pain in the bruised flesh of my bumps, nothing else was hurting. When I get home, a cold compress would undoubtedly alleviate the discomfort. I wouldn't be an A-grade medical student if I couldn't handle this minor pain.

If anything, I was annoyed with the nerdy man because he didn’t offer help. I wouldn't end up on the floor if he had helped me.

He simply stood there like a statue and did nothing.

I glared at him angrily when I saw him still staring at me.