Prologue

Dark. Heavy. Gloomy.

That is how a 10-year old boy had described the heaven that was hovering above him. He was staring at the sky for a while, and break his gaze when he felt small droplets starting to wet his small, pale face. Still planted on his sit, he took out and opened his small vinyl umbrella and protected himself from the falling rain, while looking around his surroundings.

The park was unusually empty today. It would always be fully packed with small children who just came from their classes, playing and goofing around before going back home, where their parents awaits them. But this day, they had probably gone home, sipping some tea or hot chocolate drink to warm the cold afternoon. It was a rainy day for Cheong Ju, and one little boy doesn’t seem to care about the weather. Plainly, he sat on a wide and cold swing, not paying attention to the terrible weather.

It was this kind of day that, for some uncertain reasons, he was engrossed in the rain. He had recalled one of his Science class before as he thought about how the rain is being produced. From evaporation to condensation, he recollected all those processes in his mind. It was very amusing for him, and he thanked God for it. He loved the rain, and the soft sounds of its falling that were music to his ears.

Unfortunately for the boy who seems to be engulfed in another world as he was absorbed by the sound of the droplets, his music was stained by a noise. His eyes traveled to where it originated and saw a little girl, stomping in her small pair of shoes, all damp from the rain. He stood up upon the entry of a person in his claimed park for the day. The girl doesn’t seem to mind him though, as she invited herself and sat on the swing where he had once occupied. The little boy sat down as well, and was glad that the swing was wide enough for two kids to occupy. Kindly, he held his umbrella a bit higher, covering the small body beside him, which was already soaked from the pouring rain.

The little girl was familiar. Wearing a uniform skirt that was of the same color and design as his shorts, it was pretty obvious that they came from the same school. She was one of his schoolmates. No. She was actually his classmate. One of the popular girls, he must say. He had never talked to her before, and in this awkward situation, he thought it would be rude of him to not say anything, so he initiated a conversation, even though the girl looks annoyed.

“Uhmm.. It’s raining. You can’t actually play here today... and.. uhmm...” He absent-mindedly said. He stopped when the girl looked at her, with a mix of confusion and annoyance in her eyes. “I’m not here to play. I just want to stay here” she said, her voice, as well as her face softened a bit.

“But, won’t your parents look for you? Since it’s raining... and you don’t seem to have an umbrella with you...”

The girl didn’t respond. Instead, she quietly sat and stared at the mud of pool under her shoes. It was one of the reasons why he never had any conversations with this girl, given the fact that they are in the same class. He was never a good talker especially in front of girls. And with a pretty and popular girl beside him now, he would always find himself stutter and blurt out irrelevant things instead. That is why he seldom socializes. Not that he was a loner. He had friends, but never had any girls as one of them.

He was now caught up in a very awkward situation wherein he could really have nothing to say or do. He just stayed still beside her, his arms starting to feel numb as he held up his umbrella to cover both of them. Suddenly, the girl gave a very weird suggestion.

“Hey, do you want to play a game?”

Who would want to play a game in this kind of weather? It was raining and soon enough, the rain will fall hard and they wouldn’t be able to stay in the park anymore. And it was pretty weird too. He thought girls don’t want to play with boys? That was what he observed when he sees the small groups of girls separated from groups of boys. They rarely play with each other. And besides, what kind of boy would want to play paper dolls with the girls?

“I’m sorry, but I have to go home.” He replied. He doesn’t want to be rude, nor did he dislike the idea of a game, but not at this state, especially now that he feels the worsening of the rain. And probably, his parents were worried for him as well. He was just waiting for the girl to rise up so that he could already go home.

“It’s just a simple game!” Her eyes shone brightly as she held onto the umbrella, tugging the boy down when he attempted to stand up.

“I am the princess, and you are my servant.”

“What??” He said in unbelief and surprise. He is a boy, and role playing is a girl thing. He couldn’t possibly join that kind of game, could he?

“I said, I am a princess, and you will be my servant. We came from a far-away country. We were living happily but then came some family trouble. We were being sought after, and because of that, we are now here, hiding in Cheong Ju and pretending to be elementary students. At school, we are plain classmates. Nothing more or less. But when we’re alone, we will return to being princess and servant. When we’re alone, you have to think of me as a princess, your princess.”

Later did the boy realize that he, too, was drowned in this story of fantasy that this little girl wants to make concrete. It wasn’t really a bad idea for him. Honestly speaking, he was feeling bored with playing robots or play station with his friends. This game doesn’t seem suitable for a boy like him, but it was worth trying. And besides, it was just a game.

Or what he seemed so.

“So, up to when will we play this game?” he asked.

“hmmm. Forever.”

“Forever???” The boy replied in shock. There was no way they could keep this game running until they are old. What in the world could she be thinking? Girls are really weird.

“Forever.” She said sternly. “This relationship will last forever, until someone discovers it. A princess’ order is absolute. Do you understand?”

She heard no response from him, probably because he was still thinking about accepting her game proposal. “Do you understand?”

The boy stood up and offered his hand to the little girl.

“Yes, my princess.”