World of Crowns

05

NOTE: Please be aware of the chapters point of view.

“You’re growing well,”

I stare at the flowers in the garden of our hospital. Tall green plants and a peaceful atmosphere filled the whole area. It was never a bad idea to put on a garden in this place because it surely helps the patients to calm down more. It is just the perfect decoration because who wouldn’t love staring at this well planted plants and colorful flowers?

My eyes roam around to the patients and their guardians around the room. They seem to be enjoying this breathtaking view as well just like how I do. Their big smiles are like an achievement for me because I was the one who suggested creating this place. Though it was hard to make my parents agree with my idea, they still managed to build it after my sister made the suggestion. It’s just a little unfair.

“I… want the… flower,” A kid standing a meter away from me says while trying to reach for the lilac flower place a little higher from her height. A smile creeps my lips as she keeps trying to reach it.

It was fun and adorable watching her until my eyes went to her casted feet. The smile slowly faded from my lips as she struggled to keep her balance. She has crutches on her armpits and her left foot is casted which makes it hard for her to move properly. I watch her with pity in my eyes even though I don’t intend to. I know how most patients hate it when people pity them.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I slowly approached her. She felt my presence when I was just a few inches away. She stopped reaching for the flower and nervously looked at me. I put on a smile so she wouldn’t feel like I am about to scold her or what. When I saw her slowly feel less nervous, I approached more until I was standing in front of her already.

I kneeled down as she kept her innocent eyes on me. My eyes glanced to the flower she was trying to reach before it went back to her as I gave her a sweet smile.

“Do you like the flower?” She nodded adorably as another smile formed in my lips. “You like lilac the most?” I asked again as she nodded once again.

I assume she is around 7 to 8 years old because of her height. Her beautiful light brown eyes are sparkling as the sunlight rays enter the garden shed roof. She is a beautiful kid and looks kind as well.

“Why do you like lilac the most?” I asked her.

“Because my name is Lilac.” She innocently answered as a smile grew wider in my lips.

I glanced back to the blue lilac that she was trying to reach earlier. Blue lalics, happiness and tranquility. Her parents gave her such a beautiful name. It represents herself right away just by looking how calm she was while trying to reach for the flower despite her struggle. She looks like a happy kid who doesn’t deserve to be in this hospital as well.

“You have a beautiful name, Lilac.” I told her as a big grin formed in her lips, showing that she is happy and excited to hear my compliment. She approaches me and suddenly touches my brown braided hair. I just let her do it because she looks so amazed by it. “Do you still want the flower?” I asked.

She looked up to meet my eyes. The way her eyes blinked thrice and her lips purse made me feel so warm. How can a kid be this adorable? “Can I have it?” She shyly asked.

“You can… but do you want to know something?” I told her as she nodded immediately. “Do you know that you took the flower and cut it there, there is a high possibility that it will withered?”

“Withered?” She repeated as I nodded.

“The chances of them getting withered is higher than if you just let them bloom with the rest of the other flowers. And if you just let them stay in this garden, they will bloom longer and make this whole place a lot more beautiful.” I told her.

It is one of the differences with people. If a flower will bloom more if they remain at their usual place, a person won’t. For a flower to stay in the garden is like a person staying in her comfort zone. The more an individual keeps herself inside her comfort zone, the more it will prevent her to bloom more by herself because one does grow better if he went out in the world where the mixture of positivity, negativity, cruelty and everything is there. Every challenge he will face in the world out of her comfort zone will help her grow into a better and mature person in the future.

“Then I can’t have it?” She asked me to look down and avoided her question. It would hurt her more if I gave her an answer.

I stood up and stuck out my hand for her to hold. Her brows furrowed as she looked at me in confusion. “How about I’ll just buy you some snacks instead?” I suggested.

The sadness in her face immediately vanished as a big smile replaced it. She looks behind her where a woman who is around my older brother’s age is standing while looking at the two of us. She must be her mother. I asked for her permission in which she gladly agreed and she was even excited. I learned there that her daughter has been staying in the hospital for a week now and doesn’t have any visitors around her age because kids visitors are not allowed inside the hospital.

We went to the hospital canteen where only a few people are around. I told them to sit on one table while I purchased some snacks. It was hard for me to pick one because most of the snacks are not healthy. I couldn’t give her unhealthy food when she is still a patient! I decided to buy her a pack of banana cookies and a sandwich. I brought a sandwich as well for her mother and two bottles of water because she might not like soda.

“Ate, did you do your own hair?” Lilac asked me as my hands automatically went to my braided hair. She must have really liked it a lot.

“My sister did it for me.” I answered with a calm and soft tone. Her eyes are still fixed to my hair as an idea pops up in my mind. It’s obvious she wants the same hairstyle as well. “Do you want me to style your hair the same way?”

Her face lights up as if a doctor told her that her feet are finally healed. She nodded excitedly before glancing at her mom for approval. Her mom nodded before she went to my side and sat next to me. I gave her mom a look to ask if it’s really okay but a single nod is enough for me before I touched her hair.

Lilac’s hair is soft and is in the middle length one. I don’t know if it’s natural but her hair has a shade of natural dark brown. I gathered her hair, leaving her front layers, and combed it using my comb for a while. I braided it to the side carefully. I did it just like how my sister taught me every time I asked her to braid my hair. When I looked at her mom, she was watching her daughter with eyes of admiration. I envy her for that. At least she has a mom who looks at her with so much admiration and looks like will support her with everything she wants to be.

“There! You are all done!” I exclaimed when I finished. I looked at her perfectly, braided her and smiled because I did it well.

“Thank you so much ate…” She hesitated.

A laugh escapes my lips when I realize her hesitation. Of course, she doesn’t know what to call me. I know her name already but she doesn’t know mine yet.

“My name is Zahra but you can call me ate Zee.” I introduces as she nodded.

“Thank you for braiding my hair ate Zee.” She says with an adorable smile as I gave her one as well. I wish her smile wouldn't disappear. It is so precious that I even wanted to protect it.

She ran back to her mother to show her newly braided hair. I smiled and felt bad for myself because how her mother adores her will never happen to me. I feel envy even though I don’t want to. It’s bad for me to feel envy towards anyone. I know to myself that I should just appreciate everything I receive now because at least, I am still standing here and getting so much privileges in life others cannot.

“Zee?” I heard the familiar voice of my sister. When I look at my back, she is looking at me before she glances to Lilac and her mother. She looks back to me before approaching to give Lilac’s mom a nod. I raised a brow and smiled a little when she looked at me again. “Dad is looking for you in his office.”

“Okay,” I answered before turning to Lilac. I showed her a small smile as she looked at me, pleading with her eyes. “Ate Zee needs to go now, okay? I hope you will feel much better soon.” I told her.

I stood up and gave her mom a nod. Before my sister and I can't even walk away further, I look back at them once again who are teasing each other at the table. They look really happy.

“Can we pass by the cashier counter?” I asked my sister.

Despite being suspicious and confused, we still passed by the office. They all greeted us formally before I went to look for the head cashier. I can feel my sister’s eyes watching me while I talk to her about settling a certain bill.

“Please do me a favor and don’t charge a patient named Lilac who is confined for a feet injury. I’ll settle her medical bills myself.” I told the head cashier. She looks shocked but cannot complain because I am higher than her.

“I will take care of everything Ms. Lim,” She said as I immediately thanked her.

I’m Zahra Rose Lim and this hospital… is owned by our family. Ever since I was born, I already lived my life with so much comfort. I didn’t experience any hardship while growing up because everything I need is already laid out in front of me. I lived in a big house where maids almost do everything for us. We have a big and successful family business that has been running for more than 2 decades now that helped us keep our high profile image going. I also attend a prestigious school where each student has one clear path ahead of them, taking over or involving themselves into their own family businesses.

Growing up while visiting our family hospital every time our parents called for us, I always encountered different types of patients. There are patients who are rather calm despite their illness. Patients who choose to keep fighting for their lives as they should be. But there are some… who just choose to wait because they are too weak physically and mentally already.

Whenever I come to the garden, I would always encounter a patient who is like that. While we just randomly talk, they would bring up about how sometimes life can never go easy on one person. They would say that there are a lot of lucky people in this world who are given so much privileges but they often choose to ruin their lives while people like them who are already lacking those privileges, have to suffer from another physical pain that they would just want to give up any time soon.

Hearing many patients talk that way makes me feel like I want to appreciate everything I have. It’s because of them I learned the art of appreciation may it be towards people, things and small or big actions. I never see those people who do not have the same privileges as I have as someone below me whenever I encounter one. It just saddens me sometimes because my good deeds are somehow a bad one to the ones I reached out to help. They would say that it’s because I am rich that I feel pity for those who are not like me. They would say that my life is so perfect so why is there a need for me to pretend that I can be a down to earth person but what they know is… my life was also not perfect… and easy.

“Have you visited Bryan’s angkong already, Zahra?” My father asked the moment my sister and I stood in front of him in his office. I looked up to him and nodded.

“I passed by his room before I went to the garden, dad.” I answered politely. He glances at me before returning back his attention to the papers on his table.

My father is the current Chairman and CEO of our hospital while my older brother, the eldest among the three of us, is still finishing residency up to his fellowship before he can take over with the CEO role. He is already in his 3rd year of residency so he only needs to finish two more before attending his fellowship. Both of them graduated with a medical degree and are licensed doctors now. My father is a licensed Orthopedic Surgeon while my brother is currently pursuing his speciality to be a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. With that, all of us are destined to pursue the same path.

My brother is 9 years older than me while my sister is 4 years older. My brother’s name is Axel while my sister’s is Jasmine. Ate Jasmine is currently in her 3rd year college where she is taking a medicine degree. Coming from a family of doctors and owning a hospital, it is expected that the three of us will be taking a medical degree. It is what my siblings want... but not me. If possible I wanted to become a Botanist because of my interest with plants but I know it will never be possible so I just accept what I am given and appreciate it.

“Are you and Bryan’s hanging out a lot lately?” He asked again that made me gulp nervously.

“I was busy with school work dad that I haven’t been able to hang out with him the past few weeks.” I reasoned out but it’s not the truth.

His eyes went up to look at me. He observes me as my fingers fidget on my back. I tried my best to appear calm but he knows how to corner me sometimes. “You better make sure that is the reason.” He says.

The attention diverted to my sister after that. I am lucky because it ended there. Although I am grateful and really appreciate everything my parents gave me, I just couldn’t feel bad for myself and feel pity for myself because I never really get their support. I always have to follow whatever they want me to do, especially my father’s, without even asking for my opinion. Although they are strict to my siblings, they seemed to be stricter to me. I am not sure if it’s because I am the youngest or it’s because of another reason.

The door suddenly opened revealing the guy who I somehow expect to come here. He walked towards my father as he gave him a slight nod before greeting him. I already know why he is here.

“Bryan, is it okay for you to drive my daughter home? The car needs to remain here since I need to talk to Jasmine longer.” Dad told him. I suddenly felt embarrassed because of this. I know why he is doing it though.

I felt Bryan’s eyes on me before it returned to my father. “Sure, uncle. I’ll drive her home.” He answered.

We both left his office in silence. Bryan is half Chinese and half Filipino just like me. With both of our fathers being full blooded Chinese, it is normal for them to keep the strict tradition to have their child paired up with the same blood. It’s either a full blooded Chinese or a half Chinese as well but they mostly preferred the fully blooded one. With Bryan’s family being a renowned one as well, he is typically excused from it.

The two of us first met when I was 15 and he was 16 which was 2 years ago. We already know the first time we met why we were both introduced to one another… it is to keep that silly tradition going. We couldn’t complain since we are both the youngest child in each family. Our voices are hardly to be heard as well anyway so it’s no use to vocalize our opinion anymore.

“Did your dad ask you if we met up the past few weeks?” He asked while keeping his eyes on the road.

“Your dad asked you as well?” I questioned back as he nodded. A heavy sigh escaped my lips when he answered. It has always been like that anyway.

Despite being obviously arranged to one another, the two of us maintain a friendly close relationship. It was just that and nothing else. Though we know that our fate cannot be changed anymore, the two of us already talked that if we are not really lucky and we had to forcely obey our parents in the future, we will be good to each other and will cherish one another like the other couples. We are on good terms but not just in the type of terms our parents want us to be.

They thought that the two of us are forming this beautiful relationship that they expect from us but in reality… we are already bonded to another person. He is with someone who is just at the same level as him but not a Chinese or partly while I am with someone who is an average guy. He is just a simple guy that I find attracted to because of his kind and approachable personality.

“Thank you for driving her here, Bryan.” Spencer says while giving Bryan a nod.

“Anytime bro,” He answered. I peeked through the car window and gave him a smile in which he returned the same one. “I’ll come and pick you up at 7pm so your father won’t be suspicious.” He says.

“Thank you Bry,” I told him in which he nodded at.

Spencer and I watched as his car drove away. The two of us went inside his condo building hand in hand just like we always do. This is how my life usually goes. Most of the time when Bryan and I are forcely to meet each other due to our parents' demand, it’s either we would spend some time together to create a small bond or he will drop me here in Spencer’s unit while he goes and drives to his girlfriend’s unit. In short, the two of us are each other’s partners in crime because we don’t have anyone to help us in this setting except us.

“I didn’t know you two would meet today,” He said when we entered his unit. He went straight to his small kitchen and prepared some snacks there while I took a seat on the couch.

“I think dad called him to ask him to drive me home. Both of us are pretty unaware as well.” I told him.

I didn’t lie when I told my father that Bryan and I haven’t met for around 2 weeks up until now because we are both busy with studies. Despite studying at the same school but different levels, we hardly see each other considering how big our school is. Even in our extra classes, we have different schedules so it’s not really easy to meet up. My schedule is not the same with his. Today really is the first time we saw each other again.

“The two of you,” He started. I looked at him and waited for him to continue. I couldn’t really know what his face was like because he was facing me. But I could tell through his voice that he is hesitating. “Is it really still because of your parents or…”

A sigh escapes my lips when I realize what he was trying to say now. Here we go again. It’s just like an unending cycle between the three of us. Although he is grateful for Bryan for driving me here every single time, the thought of maybe the things between me and Bryan are starting to get serious because our parents' persistence has always bothered him. I think it’s the same with Bryan’s girlfriend. We have been stuck in this cycle for two years now because I don’t have the courage to step in and told my father that I am already in a relationship with someone.

I stood up from the couch and slowly approached him. I slip my hands in between his waist and arms to wrap my arm on his waist tightly. My head leaned on his lean back as I felt him relax with my action.

“If I had to assure you every single time that Bryan and I are really just friends, I will. But I really hope you will keep trusting me with this.” I told him as I heard his sigh before he faced me.

He wrapped his arms on me as I comfortably leaned my head on his chest now. I can feel his heart beating which always makes me feel at peace. “I trust you… but it’s your parents I don’t trust.” He confessed.

I let out a small chuckle before pushing myself away from him. A grin is plastered on my lips as I remember the first time I heard him say those words. It will always be funny for me.

“Don’t be like that. They are still my parents,” I whined, teasing him which only made him scoff in disbelief.

The two of us stayed in each other’s arms the whole time. He cooked for me just like he always does as we watch a movie or a series we like. We mostly spend our time here in his unit instead in the mall because someone who is close to my family might see us. He prefers it here as well because we get our privacy and he gets more rest with me since he is already in his 1st year college, taking engineering. I want him to rest as much as possible too.

Bryan picked me up in the condo lobby as usual 10 minutes before 7pm. We usually stick with the given time so no one will get suspicious. After all, we will still have a next time anyway. The two of us went out to eat dinner just so there is something that really happened that we can tell our parents once we arrive home since they tend to ask what we do. It’s like 10% are true and the rest are just made up. We are just lucky because we haven’t been getting caught up until now.

I entered this prestigious school dressed up in a proper uniform except that I am wearing ankle socks and a pair of ankle boots instead. Everyone, the juniors and seniors, typically has their own fashion in this school because we are allowed to dress up differently from our proper uniform as long as we still keep a piece of clothing from the uniform. May it be changing the blazer as long as you are wearing the polo blouse and skirt or just simply not wearing any blazer and change the top into a sweater or anything as long as it’s not a simple shirt. The only thing that we cannot miss on is the silver crown brooch pin. That pin is like the representation that you are an Elite High student.

While fixing my things inside the locker, students from the inside suddenly close their lockers and run behind me. They are blabbering things at the same time which makes it hard for me to understand what they are talking about. All I heard is that there is a new student.

I followed where they are all going until I saw the guy they are crowding at in front of the school building. He looks confused and clueless of what is going on. I narrowed my eyes more as I just couldn’t make up on why he looks so familiar to me.

When my eyes roamed around and saw Asher with Liam next to him, I walked towards him. Before I can ever reach their area, Liam suddenly passes by me with his usual cold aura that I’m already used to. Shortly, William also passed by but he didn’t forget to greet me. What is going on?

“Is it just me,” I said to catch Asher’s attention when I stood next to him. My eyes remained to the guy in the middle of the crowd as I felt Asher’s eyes on me, waiting for my next words. “Or he actually looks like Liam?”

His small laugh makes me look at him suspiciously and weirdly. But his next word is enough to fill in my curiosity.

“That’s because he is Liam’s long lost brother.” He said.

“What?” I said, raising my voice a little. He immediately covered my mouth so the students wouldn’t feel suspicious as well.

I looked at him with wide eyes and lips parted. My eyes went to the guy in the middle of the crowd again as the image of Liam’s face appeared in my mind. One by one, the piece is coming together and I can now understand why he looks somehow familiar.

It’s all because both of them are almost twins… because this guy is the one and only brother of the cold Liam Thompson!