The Fallen Prince

⋇- 35: Date -⋇

"My princess," called a gentle voice. "My princess, are you there?"

Arisa blinked two times as a wrinkled hand snapped its fingers in front of her. Arisa then gazed by her right and saw her grandmother's coffee eyes gazing back at her with wonder.

"Grandma," said Arisa, her voice quiet. "What is it?"

"You're picking the wrong plants," said her grandmother, pointing at Arisa's hand. "Those are only grass; we won't need them."

Arisa raised her brows as she examined what she was holding. Around her sand-covered fingers, she saw several green thin leaves of various sizes.

"Oh my goodness." She dropped the grass back to the brown and green soil. "How did this happen?"

Her grandmother covered her mouth as she chuckled. "I don't know. But you've been collecting grass in the last few minutes."

Arisa blinked repeatedly. She then examined the round straw basket by her side. It was filled with several colorful plants and herbs Arisa recognized. Her brows touched when she spotted a bunch of grass and sand in it.

"I can't believe I put grass in here," she said, removing the thin green leaves from the basket.

Her grandmother laughed quickly. "You must be overwhelmed with what happened yesterday and now you're more distracted than ever. It happens when we're in love."

Arisa smiled as her grandmother caressed Arisa's dark head, remembering her grandmother's reaction when she told her grandparents everything. 

After dining and chatting with her friends, Arisa noticed that her grandparents and Elise hadn't shown up for dinner. Caris told her that the three of them had already eaten and excused themselves short minutes before Arisa and Zen appeared.

When Arisa met her grandparents and Elise in the house, she noticed that her grandfather looked at her with eyes that expressed disappointment and coldness. When she had the opportunity to talk to them privately, she only received disapproval from her grandfather despite his wife telling him that maybe this time things would be different.

The last thing Arisa remembered her grandfather telling her was that he thought she would be different and would listen to him. He hadn't approached her since then, only greeting her when they crossed paths. Even though she was happy to have a relationship that was more than friendship with Zen, it hurt seeing her grandfather giving her the cold shoulder.

"You're still thinking about Jin?" Her grandmother's voice pulled her away from her thoughts.

Arisa nodded slowly, remembering her grandfather's cold eyes. Even though she knew he sometimes could be strict, he always ended up doing something nice to make her smile again. Yet they were in the middle of the afternoon and he didn't show any sign of wanting to make up.

"Don't worry about him," said her grandmother. "I'm sure this time he won't make the same mistake of cutting communication with his loved one again. He'll accept your relationship with Zen, even if it takes a while. Your grandfather loves you and if being together with that boy makes you happy, he'll be fine with it. He only needs time to accept this new reality."

Hope lit in Arisa's eyes. "You think so?"

"Yes." Her grandmother nodded. "It might take long, but he'll accept in the end. Before that happens, I'm sure he'll be back talking to you again soon."

Arisa exhaled, hoping that her grandmother was right. Even if her grandfather didn't accept her relationship with Zen, as long as he spoke to her again, she would be fine.

"Thank you Grandma for always supporting me," said Arisa, examining the plants in front of her. "I was surprised to see you were fine with my relationship with Zen."