The Princess Outside A Fairytale Story

Ryuu Wilson

Ryuu Wilson, feeling the familiar ache on her shoulders, groaned and moved her shoulders in circles. There’s no day that these shoulders of her didn’t hurt. Weekdays mean stiff shoulders for her and that’s because she was sitting for almost the whole day in front of her computer. Ryuu Wilson massaged her aching shoulders as she continued walking at the cold and dark streets of Crozo, a city in the country of Viridis. It was really the worst day for her. Here she is, walking back to catch a cab so she can finally go home to her own apartment. She dropped her friend Jamie because she was too drunk to go back on her own. Their company had a dinner and even if she doesn’t want to go she ended up coming because their team leader insisted.

Ryuu Wilson hates company dinners. Just one company dinner is what only needed to destroy her relationship with her wife Laura. Ryuu can barely remember what happened that night because she was too drunk to the point of needing someone to help her go home. Ryuu can clearly remember her wife’s reaction when she went home and saw Ryuu sleeping on the bed with one of her colleagues, fully naked. Though Ryuu’s memory is blurry, she was pretty sure nothing happened that night. She was still fully dressed and she still have her shoes on, but that colleague of hers had to lie and said that something happened between them. That same person that she thought was her friend is the one who destroyed her relationship with her wife. Later on, that person confessed to her but she of course rejected her. Then that colleague of hers spread lies into their office. It’s a relief that that girl is no longer in their office ‘cause if she is, Ryuu doesn’t know what she can do if she saw her again.

Ryuu fished out her phone to check if she have any messages or calls that she missed but none. Her wife still hasn’t replied to any of her messages since that night. Ryuu tried to call her and even went to Laura’s family but she never saw Laura again. It’s been 3 months already since that hell happened to her and it sure became the hardest days for her. She missed her wife a lot already and she will do everything just to fix her relationship with Laura.

Ryuu heaved a long sigh on the scarf wrapped on her neck and put her hands back on her winter coat's pockets to protect her hands from the cold night. Ryuu yawned. It’s already past 12:00 in the morning and she really is begging to get home already. She’s so exhausted and so sleepy already but she’s still far from her apartment. She still needs to hail a cab and it will still take at least 10 minutes for her to reach her apartment. And after that, she will still remove her makeup and clean herself so she’s assuming that she will only get to sleep at 1 o’clock in the morning.

Ryuu groaned once more, still not seeing any cab coming on her way. Ryuu get back on her feet and dusted off herself from sitting on the ground crossed-legged. The ground is so cold but her aching limbs are begging her to take a seat so she ignored the cold and dusty ground.

Ryuu started walking, hoping that she will get a cab on other streets. A yawn again left her eyes, making her close her eyes for a moment and when she opened her eyes, it was already too late for her to avoid the woman running in her direction. She fell on the cold and hard ground with the girl above her and her butt hitting the ground first. Ryuu winced at the pain while still have her eyes closed. Great now, her shoulders are not the only ones who are aching but her whole body.

Ryuu opened her eyes and was about to yell at the woman who bumped into her when a liquid fell on her face. She opened her eyes wide and stared at the girl in shock when she realized what is that liquid.

“Help me please. Help me.”

The girl begged while still shedding tears that are falling directly to Ryuu’s face. Ryuu didn’t understand the situation. Why is this girl crying? What help does she need? What can she do to help? What’s happening?

The confused Ryuu was taken from her thoughts when she heard the voices of at least 2 men near them. They sounded like they were searching for someone. Ryuu felt the girl that was sitting on her lap with her hands covering her face, trembled when she heard the men’s voices. Ryuu no longer needed another minute to fully process what’s happening. She immediately gets the girl out of her lap and despite her whole body aching, Ryuu tried her best to stand up and immediately snatched the girl’s hand to pull her to the opposite direction where she heard the voices of the men.

Ryuu looked back and saw the girl still crying and just letting Ryuu dragged her. She can’t see the men chasing the stranger but she can tell that they’re close to them because she can hear their voices. Ryuu just ran and dragged the stranger and when she saw a dark corner which they can use to hide, she pulled the girl as they crouched and hide behind a big rectangular trash bin.

It was suffocating there. The smell of the pile of garbage beside them is violently getting into their nostrils. It was suffocating. The smell of it is almost enough for them to puke. It’s a mixture of different biodegradable wastes, spoiled foods, and what is it? Poop?

Ryuu cursed internally as she averted her eyes from the trash bin and looked back at the girl instead while covering her nose with her index finger. The girl is still silently crying while looking down at the ground, looking like the foul smell isn’t bothering her for at least a bit. 

Ryuu has a lot of questions in her mind but she believes that that can wait for later.

The trembling of the girl came back when the guy chasing them stopped near them, thanks to the trash bin, they weren’t visible in their field of sight. Suddenly the sobs of the girl are getting louder. Ryuu panicked so she lowered her hand that was previously holding the girl’s forearm, and intertwined their fingers. The girl’s sobs stopped as she looked up at Ryuu.

Ryuu gave her a friendly smile and using her other hand, wipe the tears on the girl’s face.

Finally, the men chasing them left and run away but they didn’t get out yet and waited for a whole minute first before standing up and looking around.

Ryuu started walking, still have her fingers intertwined with the girl’s. Just when they stepped out of the corner, a cab suddenly appeared and Ryuu no longer wasted her chance and make the cab stop. When the cab finally stop, Ryuu led the girl inside while still looking around.

Ryuu heaved a long sigh when the cab finally started moving. She can’t help but wonder what can possibly happen with this girl if she didn’t happen to see her. This country really is the worst. Though what happened really scared the s**t out of her, she was really happy that she ended up helping someone.

“Where would I take the both of you?”

The driver asked, looking at them in the rearview mirror. The question made Ryuu looked back at the girl to ask her and that’s when she also realized that their fingers are still intertwined. She wanted to pull her hand already but the girl is holding her hand so tight and it will be awkward and rude if she pulled it forcefully, so she just let the girl hold her hand more.

“Where do you live?”

Ryuu asked in a soft voice while staring at the girl’s face.

The girl looked down on her lap with a flustered face and finally set Ryuu’s hand free. She fidgeted at her long fingernails and didn’t bother to raise her head to answer Ryuu’s question.

‘I-I don’t have. I can’t find a hotel to check-in.”

Ryuu nodded her head even though the girl can’t see her then put one of her hands on the girl’s shoulder in an attempt to make the girl feel comfortable around her.

“Then do you want to stay at my house for a moment then you can just look for a hotel tomorrow when it’s safer?”

The stranger raised her head and stared at Ryuu, didn’t expect the sudden invitation. The stranger girl was silent for a minute so Ryuu suddenly feel awkward and embarrassed for her to offer her place even though she’s a stranger to the girl. Ryuu was about to say something again, to suggest helping the girl to find a hotel when the girl smiled at her for the very first time.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ryuu was lost in the girl’s smile. Despite having slightly messy hair, tears all over her face, and a red tip of her nose, the girl is really cute. She has a deep dimple on her right cheek that took Ryuu’s breath away. Her face looks very soft without any pimple marks or any unnecessary things on her face. The girl is so beautiful. Ryuu was caught off guard because she had never seen a girl as beautiful as her wife.

Remembering her wife, Ryuu was back into her senses as she averted her eyes from the stranger and cleared her throat. She saw the driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror and then she remembered that the driver is waiting for them to say their destination. After clearing her throat once again, she finally said the address and feel the driver sped up the cab.

During the whole ride, no one is speaking. The girl is busy glancing outside the windows while Ryuu is busy checking the girl’s side profile and the view outside the window too, she guessed. After a few minutes, they finally arrived at her apartment building. Ryuu is the one who paid the driver even though the girl insisted to let her pay at least her part but Ryuu didn’t let her.

The two walked side by side towards the building still not saying a word to each other.

I guess taking a stranger to your home is really awkward.

Ryuu pushed for the arrow directed upwards, requesting an elevator. They didn’t need to wait for a long time because one immediately arrived. Again, the ride towards the fifth floor, where Ryuu’s apartment is located is again enveloped by a deafening silence. No one dared to break the silence, feeling so awkward towards each other.

Ryuu’s apartment isn’t that fancy. It’s just a normal apartment for a normal citizen in their country. A not so wide flat-screen TV in the middle of the living room, a cyan-colored sofa, and a wooden coffee table in the center. Luckily, her apartment has two rooms, so she’s that generous to offer her apartment.

“Feel free to use this room. If you want spare clothes or toiletries, just inform me. Also, there's a bathroom in the kitchen, just follow this hallway.”

Ryuu said smiling at the stranger and opened the door of one of the rooms in her apartment. Ryuu also pointed her index finger in the direction of the kitchen.

The stranger suddenly bowed down before Ryuu, startling her since the citizens of Viridis aren't fans of bows.

“Thank you so much for helping me even if you didn’t know me. You even offered your place for me. Thank you very much for everything.”

Ryuu can’t help but smile hearing those words, she can’t remember the last time she had to help someone and be this thankful to her.

Ryuu tapped the stranger’s shoulder, asking her to straighten already.

“No worries. Just rest for now and save the talking for tomorrow.”

The stranger shyly smiled at Ryuu and Ryuu gladly reciprocated it. Ryuu was about to leave the girl alone so they both can finally rest when she tugged on Ryuu’s shirt.

“What’s the matter?”

Ryuu asked politely asking after a yawn.

“Ahm. What’s your name?”

Ryuu froze for a moment, then gave the girl again a friendly smile.

“Ryuu. How about you?’

“Syr.”