What a night it was...

Five days have passed, yet our night in Lake Tekapo is still fresh in mind, as if it happened only a few hours ago.

We danced.

We sang.

We kissed.

And above all, I got to live my dream.

Every day with him seemed to be an adventure. After that night, we did nothing but explore the beautiful country of New Zealand.

I got the chance to climb mountains. I drank in the beautiful sunrise and sunset. And I did all of those wonderful things with him.

I let go the worries of tomorrow... of what would or might happen tomorrow

I tried to live in the present.

I tried to live in the now and here.

In this moment.

And I am doing it.

Somehow, I managed to succeed in forgetting on the consequences of today.

For the first time in my life, I'm not a princess. Or at least I don't feel like one.

I'm just a stranger to everyone here. I'm just an explorer discovering new things—amazing things.

I'm just an ordinary girl trying to experience what life has to offer.

And I love it. Every second of it.

The air of freedom I'm breathing in is beyond my imagination.

I smiled. I couldn't help it.

"What?"

His question dragged me out of my thoughts.

We flew from Lake Tekapo to Auckland. And we are currently in his convertible car. The wind is kissing our faces as we drive along the road to our destination.

I don't know exactly where we are right now. And honestly, I don't really care. All I know is that I am basking in this moment with Nate.

"Nothing," I said, giving him a smile. "I'm just glad that you're dragging me along wherever you go."

We stared at each other for more than a couple of minutes before I conceded the staring contest turned away first.

"Eyes on the road pal!" I said, trying to hide my blush.

I heard him chuckle and felt his gaze shifting from me to the road ahead of us. Looking out, I finally noticed a trail of what seemed to be long lines of...

"That's our vineyard," he said, completing my thoughts. "Well, sort of."

"What do you mean sort of?" I asked.

"My grandparents own that vineyard."

"So you're...?"

"No. Both of them are Americans. They just bought that land after their first visit. After buying that land, they kind of struggled with their lives. That's why dad went back to New York alone."

While driving, Nate's eyes turned dreamy. I didn't dare interrupt his story.

"Well, not exactly, but I think that's one of the reasons. Dad went back to New York alone because he couldn't live without mom."

When he smiled, I smiled too. His memory of his dad must have been really great to have that longing look in his face. He stared at me for a moment; I gestured for him to go on before he continued with his story.

"You know, my dad used to tell me all the time that his parents were the reason why they got broke. Because of the land they bought here, he became broke," he said with a sigh. "My dad said that he's discouraging his parents to continue their plan on making the vineyard, but he failed. Honestly, I think dad was just trying to convince my grandparents to take the money back and go back to New York, so he could be with my mom."

I laughed. I think I know where this story is going.

"Let me guess, your dad thought that your mom will leave him because he's broke?"

"Exactly," he laughed richly, "but he was so wrong about that. When mom found out about what dad thought, she slapped him across the face."

My eyes widen at this. And I laughed. That sounds really familiar somehow.

"Yeah, dad thought that mom was just with him because of his money. But of course she proved him wrong," he looked at me. "Do you want to know how?"

"Hmmm..." I placed my fingers on my chin. And then I looked him straight in the eye after he stopped at the iron gates. "When your dad told your mom that he became broke, she stayed with him. Even though she was angry with him for doubting her love, she still stayed by his side until he became successful. She slapped him because of what he thought of her and not because of he can no longer provide her the material things she may want."

The iron gates opened, giving us permission to enter.

We broke eye contact as he drove.

"Dad loved mom so much, and mom loved him too, just as much," he said without looking at me. "When I was a kid, my mom said I have a very heartwarming definition of love."

You? I stared at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I was a kid so just give me some slack," he said, probably feeling my questioning look towards him. "Besides, I could be romantic if I want to."

He wiggled his eyebrows at me, causing me to laugh out loud.

"Anyway, she said that our teacher asked us the meaning of love, and you know what I said?"

I thought for a moment. "Uh... that love is how you look hungrily at the beautifully made dessert in front of you?" I suggested, remembering Jessica saying that to me once.

"I have no idea where you got that from but no," he said as we stopped in front of a white mansion. He locked his eyes with mine. "When I was a kid, I said that love is when a person stays by another no matter how tough life hits them. That whatever happens, they would face their problems together."

*****

Even after entering the house, I mean, mansion of Nate's grandparents, I still can't get over what he just said. How could a kid like that be so deep?

"Nate?"

I heard a soft voice of a woman called.

When we turned to that direction, we were met by a woman dressed in a delicate white dress.

"Grandma Amy!" Nate called her excitedly and went to give her a big hug.

I just stood there frozen. What can I do? I'm a sucker for a grand reunion between kids and grandparents. And besides, watching them hug each other like that did a little something in my heart.

"Nate?" I heard another voice called, but this time in a gruff manner. A man in his late 60's appeared.

"Grandfather."

The man Nate called grandfather appeared to be tough when he walked towards his grandson, but I didn't miss the moist in his eyes as he looked at Nate.

It was a beautiful reunion. I don't know how long they last saw each other, but based on the reaction of Nate's grandparents, it must have been really long.

I somehow missed my grandparents. Mom's parents are now simply enjoying each other's company.

They really did take the royalty very seriously. They didn't want my mother to be worried about them. They want her to focus on her duty as the queen and help me focus on becoming like her someday.

I remember when I was a kid, I always see them together, grandpa and grandma. The only thing they were attached to was each other. They love each other, I saw that, and I know that.

I used to think that my mom's parents don't love her much because they seldom visited. But mom said that they just don't want to interfere with me. Since she married into the Winzenried and became the queen, her parents wanted her to get used to not seeing them. She said that they wanted her to have the love her parents have.

I sighed. And then I tried to remember my grandparents on my father's side.

To be honest, I never knew them. They were dead even before I was born. I never knew the reason because my father wouldn't tell me. He would always dismiss me whenever I ask him about them.

So I just let it go. Just like that.

Now, seeing Nate and his grandparents like this made me want to have a reunion with my two remaining grandparents.

I must have stood there for longer than expected, too absorbed in admiring their reunion to notice that they were already looking at me.

"Nate? Who is this fine young woman?" His grandmother asked.

Immediately, he stood beside me. "This is Vanessa Carter," he announced. I smiled and offered them my hand. Instead of taking my hand, Nate's grandmother gave me a hug—a warm welcoming hug.

I hugged her back. She feels so warm.

"You have chosen a fine woman as your bride, my boy. She's beautiful and looks intelligent as well. Seeing as your grandmother already accepted her, I wouldn't disagree."

Wait, bride?

I let go of Nate's grandmother and looked at the two men in front of me. I zeroed in my gaze on Nate. Questioning him with my eyes.

"Bride?"