"I never stopped loving you!"

Her sobs

"I have always loved you!"

Her cries

"And I probably always will."

Her declarations

I never thought I would be so lucky as to hear her words. Those words. I have never thought that my dreams would someday be realized; me being the recipient of her love.

*****

It all started when I accepted the fact that her change in behavior was due to her betraying me. After finding out how she would voluntarily use herself to distract me, I resolved to play games with her. I accepted her offer to go to France after a few moments to myself, letting her think over what she said.

"I'm sorry," I started. "It doesn't matter. I don't care about the people anymore. As long as you're with me nothing else matters."

She smiled at that. The kind of smile that reach her ears and gives a spark to her eyes, making them look brighter than a still ocean reflecting the sun.

I suppose this is the part where I should be telling how much I love seeing her smile. But not this time. Not this time.

She crossed the threshold to embrace me. I return her embrace and let myself enjoy her warmth for a few moments. When she pulled away, she gave me a kiss which would almost my recently stone-cold heart. Almost.

"I haven't finished unpacking my things so I guess I will just have to put my things back in my bag, and then we could go on our way."

I hate it when she catches me off guard. I should have seen this coming. She has always been catching me off guard. Ever since we were little. I should have thought that this is no exception.

"That was fast?" That is the only response I could think of as of this moment.

She smiled again. And this time her eyes shows mischief. It is something that I am familiar with. "I am offended. You've known me since I was a girl―"

"Correction. We have known each other since we were children," I intercepted.

"Yet you still haven't figured out my actions," she said indignantly. "I have already bought the tickets before I even asked you."

I rolled my eyes at this. It surprises me how much our conversation turns from angry shouts to calm and teasing words. How much we automatically revert back to how our past selves talk to each other.

"And how sure are you that I will accept those tickets and just fly out of here?"

"I didn't. I just know that you will never fail me. That despite my actions, you'll always forgive me and you'll always do the things that will make me happy."

I will always put you first

Suddenly, the words I told her when we were young rang in my ears.

I will always forgive you, no matter what

"You always have me wrapped around your pretty little finger," I said.

"I know."

And yes, she believed my words.

"I'll let you hold these, and let you pack your things," she said looking around the room, "because you seriously have your clothes placed in the cabinets already."

I nodded before she let herself out of the door.

Actually, she didn't see any clothes strewn on the floor because I didn't bother getting them all out. I know we are not meant to stay in New Orleans for long, but damn, this way earlier than I thought.

I stayed in the room for about fifteen minutes before heading out.

Once at the bottom of the staircase, I found her sitting happily on one of the couches.

"Finally!"

"Sorry, I know there are maids in here, but I just made sure―"

"That everything was the way it had been before I occupied the room," she mocked in a very unflattering way of trying to sound like me.

She shortened the distance between us and stepped on her tiptoes and placing a small kiss on my lips which by the way never failed to send sparks and tingles down my spine. Her hands snaked around my neck as she tries to seek my eyes.

I cleared my throat and showed her the tickets she bought. She looked at me then at the tickets before turning back again from me. I playfully placed the tickets on her face before informing her of the time our flight.

She sprang from her place before forcefully tugging at my arms (more like dragging) to hurry up.

We arrived in France after hours of being in the airplane. I would have otherwise enjoyed the peacefulness because of how I enjoyed solitude. But not this time. Alexandra is with me. But instead of joining me, she decided to get some sleep.

I was not able to make a plan for those whole hours because I can't seem to contact any of the people I want to contact.

I still need to prove to my father that I am capable of overthrowing him without using his money. I want to prove to everyone around me that I plan my life.

Despite Alexandra no longer part of the future I want to achieve. I need something from both the princess and her friend in order to execute my plan. In my book, I have already declared war against two girls. Considering the fact that wars have sides, Alexandra chose to side with those two girls, leaving me no choice but to remove her to my future.

The moment we stepped on the lands of France, Alexandra started bouncing in happiness. On the way to the hotel we'll be staying, she launched her series of stories. The beauty of the country, the tourist, the people, the food, and many more.

I have been to France many times before. But I only stayed for as long as I am needed in the business.

Instead of a hotel, I found the car stopping in front of a mansion.

Contrast to the black color of the car, the mansion was white and seemed to give off a different vibe. It's as if I am walking to my trap. My doom.

One woman came out of the house and then followed by another.

They stopped at the back of the rental car, and then started pulling out their luggage.

I was about to follow when I felt Alexandra's grip tightened on my arm, I look at her, about to protest when she beat me to it.

"Don't worry. They are instructed not to remove things from your luggage and just set the bags in the room."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Now, come along. We have things we have to do and places to visit."

*****

Spending time with Alexandra in Paris is the best experience I could have in my life. Despite what happened the day before, I can see that she was genuinely happy. Her smiles are that of a child that lights up whenever something interests her.

The fine dining in the restaurant we chose proved that dinners here are never second best. The lights and the places we visited were no slouch either.

I let myself enjoy this moment with her. Because I know that after this, her heart, and possibly mine, will break.

We were exhausted by the time she finished showing me to the places she has always loved in France.

When we got back, I found myself alone in my room, trying to contact the person that could help me achieve my plan.

I was in the middle of my confident speech on how I will need to own fifty percent of the company in exchange for the location of a certain princess when she barged in.

Her eyes wide, and I noticed that her tears are bout to fall from her eyes at the discovery of what I was really thinking the whole time.

I have nothing else to do but to cut the phone call short.

"It was all a lie?" she asked, trembling.

"I did what I have to do."

After that, insults were thrown at each other. Hurtful words were thrown at me, making wince multiple times as I seemed to have physically being hurt. My emotions are overwhelming. If we can turn from savage lions to gentle lambs, that also means we can turn back into being savage lions.

By the time I mouth off my final insult, her knees gave out. I had this huge urge to come to her but the other part of me shut off that feeling and forced myself to stay on the rooted on the ground.

She looked up, and that helpless look almost unmanned me.

"Who are you?"

After uttering those three words, she pulled herself together and ran out of the room.

By the time I listened to my heart, she has already closed herself off in her room. Her words and sobs can be heard through her door so I leaned in and strained to make out her words.

"I never stopped loving you!"

Her sobs

"I have always loved you!"

Her cries

"And I probably always will."

Her declarations

I never thought I would be so lucky as to hear her words. Those words. I have never thought that my dreams would someday be realized; me being the recipient of her love.