I think everyone at that school knew Prince.
I heard his name all the time. In the cafeteria, in the hallways, in the bathrooms, in the locker room, even inside the classroom. There were so many rumors about him. And of course, they were all the good kind. The kind filled with praise.
"Prince got a perfect score on the math exam again."
"Did you see him during yesterday's English debate? He was so fluent!"
"The school basketball team's MVP is seriously amazing!"
"I saw Prince helping an old lady cross the street yesterday!"
"And his voice is so beautiful. Remember last year's school performance, when Prince sang on stage? I almost cried listening to him."
Prince was popular.
Prince was talented.
Prince was smart.
Prince was kind.
Prince this. Prince that. Prince this. Prince that. Prince, Prince, Prince, Prince.
Every single day, there was always a new story about him. From the dramatic ones to the most trivial ones, Prince always managed to become the center of conversation.
At first, I didn't really believe those rumors.
They must be exaggerated, I thought. A perfect, ideal boy like that only exists in fiction. There was no way Prince could be that perfect.
But I was wrong, Inspector.
When I looked deeper into his dark eyes.
When I caught the scent of his body, reminding me of autumn air.
When my chest started pounding, heating up, just because he was standing in front of me, holding out his hand, offering me a small pack of tissues.
"Thank you," I whispered. That was all I could say.
I took the tissues and wiped away the tears that had already fallen down my cheeks, and the ones still lingering in my eyes. I blinked a few times, making sure there were no tears left. He was still there, as if waiting for me to stand up and return his smile.
In the library. Behind the encyclopedia shelves. While the sun outside was blazing hot.
I never thought there would be a boy kind enough to do that for me. Especially when that boy was Prince. The Prince everyone adored.
"The library isn't a place for crying, you know."
His deep voice sounded strangely calming.
"I'm sorry," I murmured.
"Why?"
"Because you said the library isn't a place to cry. And I...."
Prince shook his head, his gaze filled with sympathy as he looked at me. "I meant, why are you crying?" He lowered himself and sat beside me, like a friend ready to listen to anything.
After taking a deep breath, I started telling him about Alice and Fairy. About what they did that day. Scribbling all over my books. Throwing paper balls at me during class. And worst of all, tripping me in the cafeteria until I fell and spilled all my food, turning me into a joke everyone laughed at.
"That's already bullying," Prince said. "You should report them."
"I know. But…" I couldn't. I was too scared to tell the teachers. I wasn't sure. What if I ended up being labeled a snitch and got bullied even more?
"How about I talk to them?" He glanced at me, smiling reassuringly. "What were their names again? Alice and Fairy, right? I'll talk to them."
He brushed off his knees, about to stand up. But I grabbed his arm first.
"No! " I accidentaly raised my voice. "No, no, no. You don't need to do that."
"Are you sure?" he asked, lifting one eyebrow.
"It's fine," I said. "They were just annoyed. That's all." Then I tried to change the subject. "By the way, why are you here?"
Prince tilted his head. "I came to the library… well, I was planning to read." His smile looked awkward. He scratched the back of his head, then turned and walked toward the history shelves.
I never thought someone as popular as Prince could look shy like that.
"Do you come here often?" I asked.
"Not really." While picking books from the upper shelf, he glanced at me. "Only when I'm bored. Or when the weather's too hot, like today."
I nodded, understanding.
He smiled again. With his tall figure, he could easily grab a book from the highest shelf without even tiptoeing.
"Do you like history?" I asked, glancing at the thick World History book he had just taken.
"Not really," he replied. He flipped through the pages, examining the cover and the long synopsis on the back. "Playing basketball or music is way more fun. Reading about other people's lives is boring."
"You think so?"
Prince nodded confidently.
"Then maybe you've never read about the Trojan War, the Hundred Years' War, the love story of Antony and Cleopatra, or the story of the pirate Mary Read...."
"You like history?" Prince suddenly asked. He looked at me with a different smile than before. Suddenly, I felt my cheeks and face heating up.
"I just like reading stories."
And for some reason, Prince laughed. Not the mocking laughter Alice and Fairy often showed me. His laughter felt… familiar. Warm. It made me want to keep talking to him. To be closer.
I think that was what falling in love felt like, Inspector.
I couldn't get him out of my head. His voice kept echoing. His scent felt like it was everywhere. And that smile… whenever I closed my eyes to sleep, I always remembered that warm smile he gave me. It felt like Prince was always right beside me.
Did he feel the same way I did? I wondered silently.
"I think it's almost impossible for Prince to like a girl like you," Drizella said when I asked her opinion. "He's popular and close to a lot of girls. You'd better stay away from that guy"
Even though I didn't fully agree with her, she wasn't entirely wrong.
From the rumors I heard, many girls had tried to win Prince's heart. Girls far prettier than me. And they all failed. Rejected without hesitation. Meanwhile, aside from being good academically, I had nothing to be proud of. I wasn't talented. I couldn't play any instruments. I was slow and easily exhausted during sports. I wasn't even good at makeup. Could Prince really like me?
I doubted it. But deep down, I always hoped.
Since that day, I started visiting the library more often. I wanted to meet him there, just like the first time we met. I wanted to see his smile again. Hear his calming voice.
Every lunch break and after school, I waited for him.
"Did he come?" you asked?
Of course he did. Not every day. Sometimes only for a short while. But Prince always came.
On the long bench near the fan, we always sat there. Me, and Prince sitting across from me. We talked about many things. Discussed, debated, and commented on recent events. We studied together too. He taught me some math and physics formulas. And I told him fairy tales and historical stories.
Do you know, Inspector? Prince always smiled when he listened to my stories. Can you imagine that?
Why do you think Prince did all that, Inspector?
Why did he keep accompanying me in the library?
I'm sure you already know the answer.
Of course, because Prince liked me too. Because we felt the same way. Because Prince wanted to see my smile, just like I wanted to see his.
"Because I fell in love with you, Anastasia."
Can you imagine it, Inspector? In a silent room, filled with the scent of old books, Prince said something that sweet to me in his gentle voice.
It really felt unbelievable, didn't it? But you should know this. Prince was serious when he confessed his love to me.
It truly felt like a dream come true.
It should have been… like that.
Unfortunately, our relationship didn't last long.
Even a perfect boy like Prince could do something stupid. Really, really stupid. I never expected it myself.
How could a smart guy like Prince believe the lies that came so easily from Ella's mouth?
***