Chapter 629 - Six Hundred And Twenty-Nine: Sink This Ship Before It Sailed
The third point of view:
"I'm sorry for hurting you lady...?" Akim probed for her name, his brows arched questioningly at her.
"Anika," Was her reply, "Just call me Anika,"
"Sorry, lady Anika for the fact that I mistook you for a kidnapper. But if you don't mind me asking, what were you intending to do with my sister?" Akim interrogated, he was not a fool to lower his defenses that easily.
"What do you mean?" Anika sensed this wasn't an ordinary question.
"I met you dragging her that way which was further away from the square," He looked her in the eyes, "If you were truly looking for me in the square, why does it seem like you were pulling my sister far from it?"
She laughed to his surprise which made Akim's brows tightly knit together. Did he say something funny? Or was something on his face?
"For someone who just apologized, you still accuse me of the same crime?" she pointed out with mirth in her eyes.
"I'm sorry but I'm trying to protect my sister here," He said.
"Protect?" Her brows raised at that statement, "Why?" There was humor in her tone, "Are the both of you important personalities? Children of lords or even more, the prince and princess of this kingdom?" She hit close to home and Akim's features distorted at once.
He had thought that he'd be able to hide out here for a while but it seems he was wrong. Some people are still able to figure him out. Just as Akim was about to grab Jasmine's hands and move out of there, the girl burst into laughter.
"Sorry, but the look on your face is priceless!" She laughed, "And gosh! Why are you so serious?" she laughed harder, "Why would the over-pampered prince step into the square without his load of securities?" She pointed out.
"Maybe he has a good reason for always being with his load of securities?" Akim said through gritted teeth. He didn't even know why he was bothered that she thought of him that way - he always does wave it off as needless gossip. Until now.
"You seem so defensive of him?" Her brows narrowed at him, "Do you know the prince on a personal level?"
"You seem so nosy, yet you haven't answered my question," He reminded her with a biting tone.
"Oh, that," she pursed her lips, then pointed to a one-story building behind them, "You see that place? That's where you report missing persons. Every time this event is organized, there's always a case of missing kids. Hence when found, the good Samaritan reports the kid to the control room and the personnel in charge, informs the public through speakers placed at strategic points for all to hear.?And voila! The parents of the kids or relatives or neighbors upon hearing the announcement come to claim the kid. Problem solved. Any more suspicion?" she asked him confidently as if she had nothing to fear while her lips curled to the side in a smirk.
Akim's mouth twitched, he accused her falsely when she was only trying to help him out.
"I'm not trying to say you're a kidnapper or something, not that you look like a kidnapper - but then, faces can be deceiving - not your face though... you just look innocent..." Akim rambled on while the girl only gave him a blank stare.
He threw his hands up and gave up, what in the world was he even saying?
"I'm sorry for insinuating that you're an abductor," He finally apologized.
"No, it's alright," She told him, "I would have done the same thing if I had an adorable little sister like yours to protect," Anika glanced down at Jasmine who smiled at her, exposing the two dimples at the sides of her cheeks.
Anika added as well, "And I think you're rambling is cute by the way," She smirked at him and a blush crept up Akim's face while Jasmine giggled knowingly. She could feel the attraction between them.
"To think I don't know your name," Anika brought that up and the prince almost blew his cover.
"Ak-Ai,"
"What?" Anika was confused.
"Ai. My name is Ai,"
"Ai," She chuckled, "And here I thought my parents were bad at naming. Never knew I was better than someone," She eyed him, "Ai? Huh? Artificial intelligence? "
"Yeah," Akim laughed alongside her awkwardly, "Artificial intelligence, indeed," Of all names he could come up with, it was that one. Good work Akim. Real smooth. Your ancestors would be so proud of you (note the sarcasm)
"So you close to the crown prince?" Anika asked out of nowhere and the smile on his face died off immediately and even Jasmine noticed the change in his demeanor.
"Why? Are you one of the girls fantasizing about a happily ever after with the prince?" there was a faint hint of disdain in his tone. The crown on his head was both a blessing and a curse. He could get anything he wanted, but then, he does not know who's real with him.
Akim thought that he might have a few more conversations with the intriguing girl but it seems that Anika is no different from the others.
"Of course not," She shook her head, "I was just asking so I know someone doesn't report me since I'm not a huge fan of the crown prince. Moreover, he's not my type,"
A smile returned to his lips as he shrugged, "Well, it's good to know that some girls aren't obsessed with the crown prince. No offense though, why don't you like the prince? What's your type of guy?" Akim inquired, hopefully. What was he even hoping for anyway?
Anika looked at him and smirked, "A guy with a backbone, the crown prince doesn't have one. I'm a bit rebellious and I like someone who can keep up with my pace,"
Akim gulped, rebellion was the opposite of what he was taught. Not to mention the fact that his parents hated that word. Maybe, it was time to sink this ship before it sailed.
"Thanks for everything, Anika, but I think it's time we continued our cruise," Without you. His sentence said it all.
However, Jasmine had other plans, "That's true, come with us, Anika,"
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