SIX. TEENAGE QUEENDOM

+JISOO

"What is it?" I leaned in closer to Eunwoo since he was about to whisper something after he dragged me away from the princess of Monaco.

"So I kind of accidentally invited Chaeyoung on our helicopter ride later. And she's bringing your ex. Would that be too awkward for you?" He said in a cautious low tone.

I sort of huffed a smirk when I heard who was joining, "No, let them join. I always wanted to push Lisa from a helicopter."

"Not if I push you first." Lisa suddenly appeared from behind, I fiddled in surprise. She was apparently accompanied by Chaeyoung who was holding her arm on the other side. "Are you eavesdropping?!" I exclaimed.

"It's not like you were really whispering." She rolled her eyes. The audacity.

"I can't believe you two dated and just went back to being bickering best friends." Chaeyoung commented. I gave a pressed smile. "Huh. If you only knew."

With that the bell echoed the place which indicated that it was time for class, "Come on, Chaeyoung. We have first period together." Eunwoo prompted. We then regrouped.

"See you later you two best friends!" Chaeyoung cheerful bidded farewell
as they both vanished from the hallways which meant I was stuck with this menace of an apprentice again. I can't help but sigh.

"Are you dating Chaeyoung?" I asked out of curiosity since they were inseparable already.

Lisa shrugged and pouted at the same time, "I don't know. She flirts and sticks around me all the time but I don't know if she likes girls that way."

"So she's straight?" I had to confirm.

Lisa shrugged again in response, "Maybe. I'll find out later on the helicopter ride."

"Just don't try to mess everything up." I was eager to dismiss the topic since I didn't want to be disappointed by whatever plan she was going to do.

We were about to find our classroom for the first period but something caught our attention. Lisa and I were at a far corner when we noticed a small crowd at the hallway. 

Lo and behold, it was the moment I waited for long. "She's here." I muttered as my heart raced. We were unexpectedly witnessing the unraveling of Jennie's haunting past. Krystal Jung. The only royal she would bow down to.

"Who's that new kid over there with Jennie?" Lisa asked.

"It's the princess of Belgium. Krystal." I revealed, still curious of what those two princess talking to each other.

"Oh. Is she a threat?"

I took a second to think and said, "Perhaps to Jennie. She's her ex."

I heard Lisa choke from the back, "Y-you're saying she had a girl for a boyfriend?!"

"Your dumbness is exquisitely disappointing, Lisa. She was her girlfriend. First love. But no one knows that except for them two."

"Why is she here then?"

"Uhm. I kind of did something." I bit my lower lip.

"So this was the solution you're talking about?! Getting her ex-girlfriend to her up again?" The accomplice shrieked maybe taken aback.

"Well you said I needed to make her a love story! There it is. She is so far the only candidate that we have a chance with. Just trust me." I said in defense.

"I really don't know why you don't consider yourself as a candidate."

"She's my human." I declared.

"Duh? Chaeyoung's my human too but what happened? She's flirting with me now. It was hard imagining that before but yeah I feel good right now." 

"Well that's just because you're a natural flirt." I intended to mock.

"Nah. I'd say I have the greatest charms." Lisa was even proud to boast. "Anyways, what's your plan?"

"I signed up Krystal as an exchange student for this year. I found out that Jennie has been blocking her from entering Monaco ever since they broke up. But I managed to make some calls. Now, Krystal's going to let my human fall in love with her again."

"And tell me again why would that be a fail-safe plan?"

"Because it's practical. They have established an old connection already and all I have to do is to rekindle the flame. Besides, Krystal is the only human Jennie ever loved."

And if this works. I'll get my wings back sooner than expected. And maybe I'll get the answers I've been wanting to know.
...

Classes were boringly fleeting. Since I begged to not be a part of such human mediocrity, I intended to sit there without getting everyone's attention. Luckily I did. Yet that changed when lunch time came, everyone was prompted to proceed to the probably most fanciest school dining hall in the world.

It was mandatory to have the first school meal of the year together. The full-service bar that displayed varieties of wine and alcohol were lighted up by yellow bright lights. At the right end corner stood the long exuberant food bar that were stashed in customized french delicacies cooked by multinational chefs that were specifically hired for the school. The tables and chairs were of luxury and comfort blending in white, red and gold. There you'll find customized wine glasses and seven different utensils along with a candelabrum that oozes the aroma of the fleur de lys. The area was placed in a wine velvet carpet that made the ambience more spacious, grandious, and fit for the wavelengths of the rich.

We agreed to sit on the same table with Lisa, Chaeyoung and Eunwoo. They'd be helping us to familiarize the place and of course establish our social affairs in the academy. Associating with the right people will get you to certain degrees of reputation that you didn't expect you'd ever have. And apparently that's what I need to achieve if I need to be around with the princess of Monaco's social circle.

"Have you heard?" An appalled Chaeyoung opened the first conversation around the table we were sitting in. Everyone paid attention. "What?" Eunwoo asked as he was sitting beside me.

"Krystal just came back from Belgium." With that revelation I saw the Prince of Leischenstien gasp in bewilderment while Lisa was seamlessly looking at me chewing my food.

"I never thought she could step foot at this school again, especially with what she did to Jennie." The Prince scowled.

"Why? What happened to them two? Are they rivals of some sort?" Lisa started to interrogate.

"It was almost three years ago when the two were inseparable mates but rumors started spreading that Krystal slept with Mino, he was Jennie's boyfriend at that time. We think that's the reason why they screamed at each other on the hallways one time after lunch. Jennie was crying so much and Krystal just walked away and left her with bending knees. Ever since that day, we never saw the princess of Belgium again and no one dared to loudly speak of those memories." Chaeyoung revealed in fine detail.

What an excuse. I thought internally. They really pulled the I hate you because you ed my boyfriend rivalry well. Of course it was not the real reason why Jennie and Krystal screamed at each other on the hallway. It was the day the princess of Belgium decided to leave Monaco and along so the princess that she loved. But the latter wasn't ready to let her go at all. Why would she let go of the one good thing she had? It wasn't fair for her. That's why she cried in desperation, pleaded her lover to stay or she'll drown herself in poisonous pain again. But even if my human tried, she lost again. I remember the princess' knees trembling as her tears were seamlessly pouring out on the cold marbled floor. I did not know the reason why the Princess of Belgium left her, she just did. With no trace. With no memories of the love they had. I saw the kingdom that Jennie built inside of her crash. All of her borders were gone in a snap. Her own heathens made its entry making her vulnerable, weak, and powerless. It was the time I realized that underneath the royal facade Jennie tried to uphold for so long, she will always break. Always. For she is human, and that remains the same amidst one insists of change. 

"Well that's too tragic." I heard my accompliced said, perhaps forming all the puzzles pieces up. "I don't think Jennie will be happy with another princess in the school. This might not end well." Eunwoo forwarded his concern out of his ignorance of the real situation. 

"Maybe Krystal isn't as bad as we think she is. Perhaps we can befriend her?" I expressed a rather more cryptic suggestion. Everyone in the circle were dubious and hesitant. I can already see why. 

"It might be unpleasing for Jennie to know that we're associating with her. I don't want to be in trouble with the princess." Chaeyoung's worried eyes spoke more for her.

I nudged an elbow at Lisa to help me, it was part of the plan after all. "I mean, we can be friends with both princesses. It's not like they would let us pick a side now, right?" She instantly rebated.

"And she's a royal after all. It'll boost our social credibility as new students." I added my point.

"She's right. Besides, I can assure you that Krystal is a good friend. We actually hanged out a lot before. That Belgian princess surely is a catch." Finally the Prince found his enlightenment and agreed.

"And speaking of the princess, here she comes." Chaeyoung alerted us as we shifted our gazes at the same time. It was Krystal Jung. The condescending princess of Belgium. She had those feline eyes like Jennie and her aura exuded royalty. 

Without hesitation, Eunwoo raised his hand up and called out the attention of Krystal then he stood up and greeted her at a far corner. He was probably doing the catching up conversation before bringing her to our table of mostly strangers. It was embarrassing to watch but it was the only way to converse with the princess. 

I assumed it was successful when Krystal was approaching our table in a pleasant manner, "Hey, Chaeyoung! You're blonde now?" 

Chaeyoung giggled as she nodded and said, "It's been so long, Krystal. How have you been?" Then she went for the obligatory embrace and cheek kiss.

"I've been ecstatic ever since I got back. Monaco has improved a lot." The princess expressed with a smile. "Well the monarchy has expedited tourism so much. New foreign students have been coming in." The latter emanated. 

"Speaking of new, let me introduce you to Lisa and Jisoo. They're both from the elite society of the Parisians and just have settled in Monaco along with the establishment of their conglomerates." 

"Jisoo? Kim Jisoo?" Krystal tilted her head while being curious. "That's familiar."

"Aren't all names?" I tried to block her suspicion with a short laugh as I took out my hand, "It's a pleasure to meet another princess like you." She quickly acknowledged my handshake. "It's also my pleasure to meet new elites of the far out. I hope you just settled well with the great lifestyle of Monaco." She responded.

"I believe we're managing ourselves well, exuberance is not foreign to us after all." Lisa obliged, managing to be hostile but modest.

But before anyone else could response further, a clatter on the other side caught all of our attention. I was flustered myself. Our heads spun to the direction of the noise,

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS JENNIE!" As I scanned the scenario, it was perhaps that the Dubai Prince was currently being arrested by the Royal Security with a furious Jennie in the midst. "Attempting to murder a royalty is against the Monaco International Laws. Consider yourself lucky only to be expelled, when sentencing you to be beheaded should be the proper countermeasures."

"You're verbally accusing me! You have no evidence of such! This is a fraudulent act!" His voice was hysterical, fear was in his eyes but his will to defy Jennie's accusations was sweeping on the surface.

With a ferocious glare, the royal asked, "Are you questioning the ruling of this country's princess, Prince Amir?"

And with that question, the Dubai royalty knew he was screwed up. He was ing screwed up. You do not question any decisions of any royal member of the monarchy especially when you're just a foreign individual. You should recognize that you have no power over the royals' jurisdiction here or else you'll be banned, exiled, or jailed for a lifetime. He has to accept his charges from the princess or it'll get worse. Being expelled from the school is way better than those three punishments.

"Wait til my King hears about this!" He roared with strain on his voice.

"Oh, your Father has been informed already, Prince Amir. And he's not in delight with the news he received." The princess was ought to destroy the other royal, with no mercy running down . "Now, leave. A treacherous royal like you doesn't deserve to stay in this school."

"سوف تدفع ثمن هذا ، أنت غبي! (You shall pay for this, you imbecile!)" He still screeched his ego as he was taken away by the Royal security. I saw Jennie only huff in laughter of Amir's demise, "أراك يا أمير. (s