"How about you Helen aren't you participating?" Madel asked.
"Hmmm? No.. I would be wasting my time, there are lots of young miss who will participate. I'd rather stay home." Helen said non-chalantly.
"Hmmm. That's good little piglet that you know you place." Francis said in a mocking manner.
The two had bickered at one another again.
"After eating, I will show you in the further south of the garden, maybe you could pick some herbs to help your cultivation." Madel offered.
Setting aside their priorities for the afternoon, Henry and Helen immediately nodded but Cheska refused and said that she will stay and enjoy the place through a relaxing sleep.
As the four walked leisurely in the garden, Cheska lay down on her back and looked at the clear sky. Going into the palace gave her both joy and agony. Joy for seeing her parents, and agony for seeing the face of the man whom she loved in the past.
In her pervious life, she lived on earth and worked in a prestigious company, ZX company. She was a supervisor in the marketing department. Being in such a high position at such a young age of 22 she was an object of envy for many. She worked in the office with her team and assistant. Her soul and heart was pure and her eyes saw the needs of others. It was her stand that the measure of success is how a man remained pure at heart despite the hardships. She walked daily on those principles.
The main company assigned her into a branch company hoping for the sales to improve. However, the said branch company fell into a third-class province. With her adventurous and youthful spirit, she went on to a journey without any fear.
Her trip required an hour ride on the airplane, then four hours travel through the sea. Another 3 hours to the City.
Holding her luggage while facing the calm sea made her thrilled. It was her first time to ride a small wooden boat. The sea was flat without any waves, looking like the surface of cooking oil, the sunset reflected on it making the water appear red orange with a mixture of purple. As a roman catholic she deeply believed in God and felt like he was guiding her along the way.
The sun was already set when she arrived at the port. She hailed a taxi and went straight into the hotel and planned to look for a condo or apartment to rent after work the following day.
The next morning, she reported early at the office and saw a man sitting just in front of her desk. It was her assistant. After introducing himself to her politely, he sat quietly into the desk once more and finished what he was typing.
Naïve, innocent and kind. That was what she was back then. Her beautiful figure that was complimented well by the company's uniform added to her female charm.
Going into an unknown place, her only focus was to work. But, her goal was redirected when she gets to know Hanz. He was her assistant. He was short, dark and not so handsome. At first, the man simply appeared wherever she was. At the restaurant where she usually eats, at the mall, at the spa, at the park, or at the sea shore. It felt like he was following her around. She shrugged that thought thinking that it was all just a coincidence.
One day, she decided to buy some supplies for her condo when she saw Hanz entering the door just next to her. Since he was friendly to all of employees in ZX company, she greeted him with some formality. The man broke into a beautiful smile as he saw her.
She can still remember when the man offered to cook for her, to drink together, to have a joy ride at the city at night and other exciting things that she never considered doing. Thinking that it was simply a friendly request, she decided to tag along.
Hanz was spontaneous, witty, and adventurous. Being with him that time was one of the happiest days in Cheska's life.
Cheska woke up one day with Hanz beside her. She was on the other side of the bed while the other one was on another side. Nothing happened between them. He simply said that the aircon broke down in his room and he could not sleep without it. Hanz was soft and he seemed to be trust worthy so she offered her space.
"You sleep like a log" Hanz extended his arms and gave her a little push to wake her up.
Cheska turned her head towards him. That instant their eyes met. She felt nothing extraordinary and choose to close her eyes again.
"It's too early." She said as she hugged her pillow.
Then putting her pillow aside, she wrapped Hanz with the thick comforter and hugged him.
"A bigger pillow" she said with a smile. "No physical contact Hanz" she added with a warning tone.
That time she only meant to sleep a little more and prevent him from complaining. But, she did not realize how hard it was to fathom a man's heart.
Cheska gave a deep sigh. Going into the palace for the selection of wife for the crown prince meant seeing the face of the man that she once loved back on earth.
"hmhhhhhhh" she sighed deeply again. If she was not tricked into performing in the palace she would not want to waste her time there. She looked at the flowers beside her and decided not to ruminate further. She was blessed with another life and she should be thankful for it.
The cool breeze and sweet scent in the meadow lulled her to sleep.