The Royalties

Dei remained silent, not even a word was uttered on their way home. Richard respected that. He knows, he has many explaining to do about his revelation earlier.

*** Blast from the Past ***

Richard was standing in front of a house near their subdivision. He has been there for almost 15 minutes but still hesitant to press the doorbell. Until he saw the gate opened and a car went out of the mansion. The helper saw him and asked if he was looking for someone.

"Miss, I am looking for Dwayne, is he here?" He asked the helper.

"What do you need from him?" The helper asked in return.

"My name is Richard Reyes, please tell him I want to see him, there is an important thing I want to tell him."

"Wait here, I'll check if he is already awake." The helper said and went of inside the house. After a while he saw Dwayne approaching. "Richard, the maid, said you want to see me, what can I do for you?" Dwayne asked.

"Can I have a word with you? This is very important." Richard asked.

"Okay, come in." Dwayne said then opened the small gate for him. Richard went in, and Dwayne leads him to the garden.

"I heard you did not enroll for this semester." Richard started. "I was looking for you in the campus."

"Yes, my parents thought it would be a waste of time and money if I enroll this semester. Anytime this week my family is flying to California." Dwayne replied.

"How about Dei?" He asked looking straight to his eyes.

"What about her? We already talked about our set-up. What's the problem then?" Dwayne asked.

"Have you talked to her recently?" Richard asked.

"Not yet, according to her, she is very busy these days for her school works. I am actually upset because I might fly to California without seeing her." Dwayne said. "Have you talked to her?" He asked.

"I did not see her after my graduation celebration, until last night. Yes, we were together last night." Richard replied.

"Wow that's amazing, my girlfriend forbids me to see her, while she prefers seeing her best friend last night. Tell me the truth Richard, what's going on with you and my girlfriend Nicomaine?" Dwayne asked.

"We were together last night because I went to school to see her. You said you are her boyfriend. How come you did you not exert some effort to see her? Tell me Dwayne, when was the last time that you visited Dei?" Richard asked.

To save himself from embarrassment, Dwayne straightly asked Richard "What do you really want, why did you come here? To tell me that I am taking Nicomaine for granted? She is the one who refuse to see me because she said she is busy. I don't want to meddle in her studies."

"I was with her last night because she needs someone to talk to." Richard said, "And before you nag, you have to hear what I am about to tell you. Let's see how thick skin you are after I tell you what's happening."

"Stop going around the bush Reyes spit it out. Go straight to the point." Dwayne said.

"Dei is pregnant, jerk!" Richard exclaimed. Dwayne got stunned in Richard's revelation.

"Dei did not know I told you about her pregnancy, so I would appreciate if you keep this between the two of us. She did not intend keeping this from you. But she does not want to burden you about her situation. Therefore, she decided to tell you about her pregnancy once you get settled in California. And I find it unfair. I do not want her to shoulder this alone. Both of you did this, so it is just fair you share the burden with her. And don't just stare at me Dwayne. Tell me what's your plan? You have to do something about this." Richard questioned Dwayne

"I don't know, I could not think what to do." Dwayne softly said which made Richard too pissed off.

"Listen to me, stupid jerk! And you have to listen well. If you choose to leave without doing anything about Dei's pregnancy, do not expect I will give her back to you, mark my word, Dwayne. I will make sure you can never have her back." Richard threatens and leaves.

///

As they reach home, Dei immediately gets off the car without waiting for Richard to open the door for her. She runs to their room, and Richard immediately followed her. When both of them are in their room, Richard grabs Dei's arm but to his surprise, a hard slap fell on his cheeks.

"Alright, I think I deserve that." He said to Dei who was looking at him fuming mad.

"How dare you keep that from me for seventeen years?" She exclaimed. "You told me we would no longer keep secrets from each other." Dei said while tears streaming down to her cheeks.

"I did not tell you, because I don't think it's necessary. You were so in love with Dwayne, I don't want you to upset you." Richard explained.

"Do you know why I pushed through with the divorce? Because I felt I was cheating on you. I felt so bad because I always think about my guilt for Dwayne while we are still together. I always think that maybe if I only waited for the chance to tell Dwayne about my situation perhaps you will not endure being with me. You could have chosen the right girl you want to be with. I got eaten by my guilt feelings for Dwayne and for you. You have no idea how hard it was for me." Dei exclaimed in more tears.

"Before those incidents happened, you already knew how much I am in love with you." Richard said. "I don't want any other girl but you. I was able to choose the right girl I want to be with because I choose you Dei. Earlier, you were too mad because you believe Dwayne belittled the love you had for him. Should I be mad as well? After everything I have done, you never believe I did it because I love you too much." Richard said.

"I still deserve knowing the truth, at least I could have loved you wholly and without any uncertainties." Dei said.

"You know I always settle on what you could give me. The important thing for me is your happiness." Richard said smiling.

Dei hugs Richard "I'm sorry." She said.

"I'm sorry too, no more secrets. I promise." He replied.

"You have to keep your word, your highness because if you do that again, I don't know what to do anymore." Dei threatens.

"Ouch." Richard kidded. "But seriously now, your highness, Are you alright?" He asked.

"With a hug like this, yes, I am definitely fine." Dei replied, and Richard hugs her even tighter.

///

It was passing midnight when Richard woke up without Dei by his side. He waited for a couple of minutes for her to come back to bed, but she did not. He checked on the bathroom first and he did not found her there. He decided to leave the room to check where she could be. Then he found her in their mini-office tapping on her laptop.

"It is pass midnight, your highness, what are you doing here?" He asked. Dei just looked at him and continues with what she is doing. "What is it that cannot wait for later?" He asked again.

Dei shows him the resignation letter she was composing, "Are you sure about that?" Richard asked once more.

"Yes I am." Dei replied smiling. "Tell me now, Mr. President, what is the best job in your company that you could offer me?" she asked.

"What position would you prefer?" Richard asked in return.

"Your secretary, so I would know your schedule." Dei said.

"I have a very efficient secretary, leave that job to her. She is very good at that. Also, you talk as if you don't ask her about my whereabouts. You know how efficient she is, though I have to accept, she is always on the queen's side." Richard said.

"Oh my God, did she tell you?" Dei exclaimed. "Nope, I just found out. She does not want to admit at first, but I threatened to fire her if she will not tell the truth." Richard revealed, "Executive Assistant is the best job for you. With that, my secretary does not have to report to the queen about the king's activities." He further said.

"I know nothing about being an executive assistant. Besides I am just kidding about that secretary job. I don't want to hear you say every day about Charmaine making good coffee than I do." Dei said.

Both of them remained mum when Dei mentioned the name of Charmaine for they both know there is something they need to do.

"When shall we tell her?" Richard probed. "I still don't know, but our secret is no longer safe. We do not know what Dwayne will do next after I hit him hard earlier." Dei replied.

"I know and think we have to tell her the truth. Let's just decide when to tell Charmaine about her biological father." Richard said. "In the meantime, can you just to that later and let's go to sleep now. Today is such a long day for both of us."

"Noted my king, I'll just finish this in the office." Dei said, and they went back to their room holding hands.