The Lost Princess (The Prince and The Prophecy Book II)

“Are you really sure about this?” Granny asked. She’s on the verge of crying. Tears are already forming in her eyes. “Granny, please stop worrying.” I sighed. “I’m doing this for us. I hope you understand.” We have already talked several times about this, but she was still trying to convince me to stay there with them. But I can’t... I have a lot of dreams for us and I won’t be able to accomplish any of those if I stay here. “You can’t just tell me not to worry about you. You have been with us your whole life. I have taken care of you since you were a little baby and now you just want to be away from us,” she said while sniffing. I stopped packing my bags and went to hug her. To be honest, I was also terrified about the idea that I would leave my only family behind, but I have to stand by my decision. This has been my life-long dream. Now that it’s almost within my grasp, there’s no way I’ll let it pass. “You know that’s not true, Granny. I don’t have much of a choice.” I seriously said while looking intently at her eyes, but she just cried even more. “Besides, I’m a baby no more. I can take care of myself now. You’ve taught me well.” I hugged her tighter while chuckling. She wailed. I chuckled. “Granny, I will just be somewhere three hours away from here so please stop crying like that! I’m not yet dying!” I complained but she just started hitting me with her slippers. “Granny stop!” I screamed while trying to get away from her, laughing. “That’s not funny you insolent child!” she decided to just throw her slippers at me when she can’t catch me. “What? With the way that you’re bawling your eyes out, it seems like I’m not coming back. I will visit often, that’s a promise!” I said after dodging her slippers that were about to land on my face. “Helena, enough of your drama. This is for Rieka’s future.” It was my grandfather; he had just got home from his little farm. “You’re really the best gramps!” and I went to give him a bear hug too. “I will miss you,” I whispered while my face was buried in his chest. I love how he always smells of fresh grass mixed with the earth’s musky scent. “Just promise to take care of yourself, okay?” and he crumpled my hair while laughing. That night, I slept peacefully between them. I want to make the most of our time until tomorrow. The next day, I woke up early to begin a new chapter in my life. “Take care of yourself, Rei. Always eat on time and don’t forget to pray.” My grandma’s advice and reminders are endless. “Yes, I know. I will call often, so we can still talk. And, of course, I will visit you as much as I can.” I tried to pacify her. “Don’t get fooled by guys, Rei, avoid them at all cost.” Gramps suddenly said. He was quiet until now. “Noted Gramps. I’ll get going now before the roads get flooded with Granny’s tears.” I chuckled and hugged them again for the last time before going. “You seem to be happy now that you’re leaving!” Granny suddenly accused. “What? No! I’m not happy that I will leave you. I’m happy that I will be one step closer to my dreams! And it’s not just for me, this is for you too. I want to give you both a better life,” I sincerely uttered. “We’re too old for things like that! I’m content with what we have,” she ranted. “Helena, stop it, will you? You’re just goin’ round in circles. Rieka's already late because of your endless nagging.” He stopped grandma before turning to me. “You can go now sweetie, I'll take care of your grandmother.” “Okay, Gramps.” I sighed before finally starting to walk away. I can feel my heart being broken into pieces with every step that I take. A strong force seemed to be pulling me back, but I had to move forward. Our home is in the middle of the woods so I have to walk my way out. We live very simply, mainly because we don’t have much. I grew up with my grandparents. They said their daughter, my mom, died after giving birth to me and my grandparents had no idea who my father was. They had no choice but to raise me on their own. I never looked for my parents’ love though, because they gave me enough. I never felt that something was missing in my life. Or perhaps that’s because I never really knew my parents. My earliest memories were already with my grandparents. Even though we were poor, they still made sure that I got all the affection and care that I could get. I couldn’t ask for more. But now, I have to go to college and they don’t have enough money to send me there. We only depended on my Gramps’ small farm for income and it was barely enough to make ends meet. I worked hard to get a scholarship, but unfortunately, the university that accepted me is a two-hour bus ride from the city plus almost an hour's walk to get out of the woods. I had no choice but to live near the school. As much as I want to bring them with me, they don’t want to leave our home. I also couldn't afford a bigger apartment for the three of us. There's no choice now but to endure. I know that all of these hardships are just temporary... After the three-hour trip, I’m now staring at the façade of my new home, the dormitory. I walked in and went straight to my room. This isn’t my first time here. I’ve already been here a couple of times while I was processing my scholarship and looking for a part-time job. I slumped in bed before getting my phone to make a quick phone call to my grandparents. I just wanted them to know that I arrived safely here to stop them from worrying. “Hello, Rei!” I heard Gramps’ excited voice. In the background, I can also hear Granny trying to snatch the phone away from Gramps, but he must be too tall for her to do it. “Gramps! I just got here in the dorm.” I said excitedly. “It’s good that you called, your Granny here has been so restless since you left,” he replied. “Please tell her that I’m fine here,” I sighed while trying to keep my tears at bay. “Wait, I will give her the phone so you two can talk.” He said. “Rieka! I was so worried. I regret that we didn’t send you there.” I heard granny talking even before the phone’s speaker got near her. She can be loud sometimes. “Granny, you know that’s not possible. Travelling is tiresome for you. I can manage alone. Don’t worry too much about me.” I tried to reassure her. “I can’t do that, sweetie, I was used to having you beside me.” She said with a sniff. Great! Now she’s crying again. “Granny, that’s enough. I won’t call you anymore if you just cry every time.” I tried to blackmail her even though I was almost sure that it wouldn't work. “Don’t you dare! Or else I will drag your insolent ass back home!” she threatened with her scratchy voice. “I’m just kidding! But bye now Granny, I’ll call again tomorrow.” After that, I started unpacking my things and decided to take a nap when I finished because I felt so exhausted. Which is uncanny. I am so used to helping with the chores on the farm, but I barely get tired. How come I got drained just by sitting on a bus for hours? Maybe because I’m not used to it? My thoughts were soon drowned with slumber. I didn’t know how long I had slept but I was suddenly woken up by a sharp pain. “Ahh!” I tried my best to suppress my scream. I curled my body into a ball and clasped my arms on my stomach as the pain seemed to be coming from the pit of it. Cold sweat started to trickle down my forehead from the immense pain that paralyzes my whole body. What’s happening? “Hmph…” I bit my lower lip to stop myself from making any noise when another wave of pain shocked me. Only this time, it’s more intensified. I can now feel it from head to toe! Tears fell from the corners of my eyes. A sob escaped my lips and my body began to tremble. The pain was so great that I didn’t even know where it was coming from. It seems like all the bones in my body are screaming in pain! Or breaking even! I pressed my face into a pillow, my hands fisted tightly. I could feel my nails digging into my palms but I didn’t care about it because it was just a speck compared to what I am feeling right now. I howled out in pain with my face still pushed into the pillow to muffle the sound. “Granny!” I cried out in agony. I wrapped my arms around my torso tighter, hoping that it would somehow ease the pain, but it was only getting worse with each passing second. What is happening to me? Am I dying? Because it feels much like it! I suddenly remembered what I told my grandmother about her crying like I was already dying. Was that a premonition? Do I have a terminal disease? My trail of thoughts stopped when it hit me again. “Aahh!” I swear I feel like all my bones are breaking. This is pure torture! I wanted to call for help but I couldn’t even open my mouth. I wanted to scream but only a small grunt came out. I rolled over and fell to the floor with a loud thud. My breaths were shallow and my vision was starting to blur. I don’t understand what’s happening. This has never happened to me before, but at least I wasn’t around my grandparents. I’m sure it will hurt them more to see me suffering like this. That's the only consolation I have now. I closed my eyes and tried to picture our wooden house inside my mind, trying to distract myself from the pain. Every detail looks so vivid in my imagination that I feel like I am dreaming. “Granny… Gramps…” I whispered while I visualized their smiling faces in my head. “Do you think Rei’s okay?” my grandma’s voice sounded so real. It’s as if she’s just here beside me! I think I’m already delusional. This must be the end of me. The ordeal went on for almost the whole night but it eventually faded. I wasn’t sure whether I fell asleep or fainted. I just woke up to an unfamiliar voice calling out my name. “Rieka!” My eyes fluttered open and, with a blurry vision, I scanned the whole room but saw no one. My brows furrowed. I’m certain that I heard someone calling me. Did my roommate come earlier than expected? How did she know my name though? I groaned upon remembering what happened last night. Was that a dream? A nightmare? It feels like that, but the soreness that I feel all over my body tells otherwise. I uttered a small prayer of gratitude, thanking the gods above that I am still awake and breathing. I tried to sit up from the floor slowly. I’m still trying to sense if the pain will go back. “Rieka!” But I almost jumped up when I heard it again. I heard it... Yes! I really heard it! A voice is screaming inside my head!