Chapter 1

"Who is ready for tomorrow?" Shane asked, our class mayor in the Philippine History subject. She was still giggling with excitement.

This is also the reason why there is even more noise inside our classroom. Since our Financial Management instructor did not show up, she had the courage to sit in the front and ask us about our field trip that would take place tomorrow. All my classmates are interested in what we are going to do tomorrow except me. I’m not interested in talking about that topic because I’m sleepy. I want them to be quiet so I can sleep.

Yes, I'm attitude. Who cares?

My other classmates in the front raised their hands and were accompanied by loud shouts from the men in the back. I could not sleep because of the noise that prevailed in the room. 

Can they respect their sleepy classmate?

"I'm really excited!" Kaleela shouted just in front of me.

"I'm more excited to meet the transferee later than the place where we're going tomorrow!" Isagn's voice was mixed with screams and trembling. I turned to my friend and looked at her badly. 

Seriously? 

"What? They said he's handsome! I just heard that he's an Architecture student," she defended.

I rolled my eyes to her.

When it comes to students that are handsome and attractive, she was one of the top of the line. I just ignored her. I just bent down again in the armchair and forced myself to sleep. I still couldn't close my eyes when someone shook my shoulder. I'm a little annoyed because someone has been blocking my sleep until now.

"Zariya, have a look at this; maybe you'd want to join us after the Casa Gorordo Historical Landmark?" says Kaith.

Please, just let me sleep. I'm sleepy! Despite my irritation, I continued to stare at the photo on my friend's phone.

I locked my gaze on it. Her picture was memorable. I have the feeling that I am familiar with the area and that I have spent much time there.

"You know, we're here in Cebu, so let's do it. I'm sure it has a lovely view, as you can see here in the photo. What do you think? Shall we go?" she asked, a touch of excitement in her voice.

Instead of answering her, I just stared at the picture even more. I try to remember how I got there. "Where is this?" I was interested to ask her.

I suddenly lost sleep when I saw the picture of this church with a palace-like design. Even with old age, I can't deny the fact that it is still very beautiful, too! The whole church was painted with white paint so it looked more like a modern castle. In front of the church there seems to be a garden and in the middle of it is a small lake which is especially attractive for tourists. The space in front of the church is also ample.

What a beautiful place!

"This is Simala Shrine, the Miraculous Castle Church in Cebu," Kaith replied.

"I've been there," I exclaimed. I still can’t take my gaze away from the picture.

Kaith raised an eyebrow. She looked at me, surprised. "I thought you were going to Cebu for the first time tomorrow, so how did you get there?"

I agreed, "Yeah, it's my first time traveling to Cebu tomorrow." "However, I have the feeling that I have visited that location."

I'm at a loss for words. I had the sense that I had already visited that Church. I just don't recall when or how.

I've never been to Cebu before, and I'll be going there for the first time tomorrow as part of our Philippine History field trip. We decided to travel to Casa Gorordo Historical Landmark, and our professor recommended that if there was still time, we could tour around the other historic places. We'll just be careful and return at the scheduled time.

"Maybe you just got too much sleep or maybe because you dreamed about the five Princes, you assumed it was their Kingdom!" Kaith scratched her head and grabbed her phone, which had fallen in front of me.

The Five Princes. The kingdom.

The dream I had often dreamed of came to my mind again. It started on the night of my seventeenth birthday and since then, there has never been a night that they didn't visit me in a dream.

Five Princes and a beautiful and immense kingdom.

Maybe because of that dream, I thought I had been to Simala Church even though I hadn't. But I really feel different. I seem pretty sure I've been to that place.

"Oh okay, don't even think about it. Let's go to the other room because it's already two o'clock." Kaith grabbed her bag and went out first.

My other classmates also stood up. I also stood up because I had no choice. We are only here until two o'clock and the next students will use this room. Philippine History is our last subject and our next room is in the other room. This is the subject that I always feel drowsy.

Imagine, Philippine History at 2:00 PM and 1 hour and 30 minutes? Add to that the softness and the gentle voice of our instructor, it really makes me sleepy!

I sat down next to Kaith and dropped the bag on the vacant seat to my right. I was lucky because we were in the back. Our professor can't see me sleeping and it's also an advantage to eat secretly during the discussion.

Ma'am isn't here yet so I decided to sleep first. I told Kaith and Isagn to wake me up when Ma'am came in but I was about to bend down when suddenly someone spoke from behind us. "Good Afternoon, class!"

I know the voice of our Philippine History instructor. That's Ma'am Allado.

Just a few seconds after Ma'am arrived in front, someone threw a bag right in front of me and fortunately I caught it right away otherwise, it hit my face. I looked at the idiot who did that to me.

I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, sorry," he said sarcastically. "It's an empty seat so, whether you like it or not, I will sit here beside you."

Is he stupid? His face is as ugly as a dictionary! He is so arrogant!

"First, don't speak English to me! Second, you can hand to me my bag respect--"

"Mr. transferee, you're already here. Can you introduce yourself?" Ma'am Allado said, reason to interrupt what I was saying.

Everyone turned to him, and my female classmates began to murmur. All the attention went to him. Of course! Their jaws will drop because he's handsome!

He remained standing opposite the vacant seat next to me.

"Hi! I'm Klein, an irregular Architecture student." After he recited a few words used in the introduction, he sat down immediately.

Is that it? Is it his way of introducing himself?

I still have a bad feeling about him. 

His attention is focused on the instructor. She’s currently discussing today so I have the courage to stare at him.

He is handsome but shameless! He still looks arrogant. My eyes went to his hair. A few strands of his blue hair caught my attention. I was amazed because it looked real and it  wasn't just painted.

"Tell me, do you have a crush on me? That's why you keep on staring at me?" his question surprised me.

How did he know I was staring at him? Does he have three eyes, huh?

"You're not just arrogant, you're an assumer too!" I uttered. I felt embarrassed because he caught me so I had to pretend not to stare at him secretly.

"Crush your face."

I took my eyes off him and just turned it to Ma'am. She was already in the middle of a serious discussion. This is it! I can sleep now.

My head was resting on the armchair when I heard the whisper next to me again. "Sleeping while your teacher is busy discussing the topics? Until now, you have this kind of attitude. You're indeed a hard headed brat!" He smirked.

I don’t know who he was referring to or talking to. If he was referring to me, I still didn't care so I just let it go. The important thing is that I can sleep. So I will not let him interfere with me.

"Summon all Kharim because we are going to prepare a big feast!" authoritative command of the King.

The four soldiers immediately obeyed what their King had said. They bowed in respect before finally leaving.

"But what's the party for? Is there an occasion?" asked a man with a vague face. As with the King's garments, his garments are elegant. It is also a sign that he has a high position in the Kingdom. "There was no announcement last day that we need to prepare."

"We have an important guest coming tomorrow. We've been waiting for her for a long time and finally, she's coming back!"

"And who is this, Father?" asked a man who was also next to the King. He called Father the King so I realized they were the Princes.

"A young lady who will change the course of our destiny a second time. She is--"

"Zariya!" I was stunned by the strength of Kaith's shout. I yawned before lifting my head. I saw that my other classmates were gone and Kaith and I were left inside.

"Maybe if I don't wake you up, you'll still be asleep until all the students and faculty teachers here at the University go home and most likely, you'll be able to sleep here tonight," she whispered.

I did not speak. I just rolled my eyes and remembered my dream. 

Nothing new, it's about the Princes again. I got up and took my bag and then followed Kaith who was finally out of the room.

I stopped at the door when I saw the transferee standing next to me, as if he was waiting for someone else. He just looked at me. I shot him a bad look and raised an eyebrow before finally passing.

Kaith said that he would wait for his cousin, an Engineering student, so I would go home first. I rarely see her cousin and I haven't talked to him yet, but his face is very familiar.

I will go home first. I'm still sleepy. I'll just continue my sleep at home, there's no disturbance there.

I started to walk and I noticed that the arrogant man was also walking and I was just following him. I walked faster because I didn't want us to walk together.

But in a hurry, I accidentally bumped into something. The two Accounting books I was carrying fell apart. We bent down together to pick up the book I had dropped.

"See what you did? You're not looking where you're going!" he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"I'm sorry," I said as I picked up my two books. I stood up and faced him.

Infairness, the man in front of me now has good looks.

"I'm not accepting sorry, Miss."

I raised my right eyebrow. "So, what do you want?"

"Date with me and then, you'll be forgiven." He winked at me.

My two eyebrows met which in turn caused a smile to draw on his lips. Those smiles, familiar. It's like I've seen that!

"I'm just kidding." He chuckled. "I can't believe that you're still the girl I met before. The only girl who can resist my charm."

What is he saying? Is he crazy?

"You're crazy! We don't even know each other!" I sighed. I passed it and resumed walking.

Why does it seem so unlucky today? Two arrogant guy ruined my day. I really need to go home so that there are no more headaches.

Our house is just walking distance. It’s only about 10 minutes away from the University I attend so every day, I walk. It's a waste of money if I still ride. Ten minutes later, I was in front of the house. I found Mama in the kitchen busy preparing our dinner. I will eat early so I can wake up early because we have to be at the University at 6 o'clock in the morning tomorrow.

After eating, I packed my bag and stuff that I would take tomorrow and then went to bed. I still can't forget the picture that Kaith showed me earlier, the Simala Shrine. I feel like I’ve actually been there. Add to that the excitement I feel right now. I can't wait to go to that church.

The next morning, at exactly six o'clock, I was at the gate of the University. I immediately went next to Kaith, Isagn and Kaleela. We are waiting for the next bus where we will board. It doesn't matter that there are five school buses that will be used. Not only the Accountancy department will be included, but also other departments with a Philippine History subject.

Moments later, the bus stopped in front of us. The other students boarded. They also took Kaith and I would have been next in case I stopped when someone shouted my name.

"Miss Cortez!" I turned to him. A male student wearing a department shirt like the one I was wearing. Is this my classmate? His face was familiar to me.

"Your ID fell. Here," He handed me an ID. I checked my ID first to make sure it was mine. I only have ID lace and it looks like I dropped my own ID. I took it and thanked him.

"I'm glad you'll come back again. Hopefully for the second time, I'll be the one you choose," he said before turning his back on me. 

I would have chased him to ask what he meant, but the bus might miss me so I chose to just ride.

Then I'll just ask him when we meet again. I can easily find him because we are in the same department.

Before boarding, a student council officer picks up a ticket at the bus door. I gave him my ticket as soon as I was in front of him.

"May your journey be a happy one, young lady," he said with a smile.

Huh? Is that what they seem to quote to the students who will ride? Weird.

When I got on board, I saw Isagn and Kaleela sitting in front. I looked for Kaith so that she would be next to me but she's together with her cousin. She apologized but I said, it's okay because I'll just look for another seat. Her cousin smiled at me before I passed them. I don't know, we weren't that close then, but when we met, he smiled at me. Maybe Kaith's cousin is really friendly.

Just a few moments of searching for an empty seat, I finally found someone where I could sit. It's in the back and if I'm lucky, that empty seat is next to the window. I immediately walked over there.

"Excuse me," I told the man currently reading the book. I couldn't pass because his leg was blocking the space.

At the same time as he looked up, my eyes widened as well. "You again?"

"So? If you don't want me next to you, find another seat." He reluctantly looked back at the book he was holding.

I looked around but could not find any empty seats. No choice. I will just ignore this arrogant transferee! I guess his name is Klein if I'm not mistaken what I heard yesterday.

"As if I have a choice!"

He gave me space to sit next to him. It's okay, and at least I'm near the window. When the bus started, I leaned my head against the window to sleep. I'll just sleep the whole trip instead of being irritated to him. I still can’t forget what he did to me yesterday. He almost hit my face!

In less than ten minutes, the driver braked too hard. Someone seemed to push behind me so hard that my face almost hit the seat in front of me. To my surprise, I felt someone hold my left hand and instead of a hard object landing on my forehead, it seemed like someone had caught a palm to protect it.

Though drowsy and dizzy, I forced myself to open my eyes to find out what was going on.

"What are you doing?" I snatched my hand from him. After all, he seems to be planning to kiss my hand.

"Why, young lady? I thought you were looking at me so up here, in the chariot I was riding in, you followed me."

The smile could not be erased from his lips.

Red lips, attractive smile, sharp nose, puffy eyes, thick eyebrows and wait, what?

Orange hair?

"I know I've been blessed with an angelic face but young lady, I might be dissolved by that, with your excessive stare."

I looked at him as if disgusted. Yes, he's cute but he's too windy so he's still a jerk!

"Your face! But w-wait, who are you?"

I turned around. I am no longer on the bus. Where am I now?

I don’t know where I am. I quickly jumped from the chariot. I also pinched and slapped my cheek a few times because I might be dreaming again but I just felt pain.

"Miss, wait!" The man with orange hair shouted. I looked at him, I was amazed at what he was wearing. He was wearing an elegant dress like a Prince in my dream.

He was about to get off the chariot, so I immediately ran. I don't know what else he would do to me.

"Zariya, what? Wake up! You're dreaming again," I said to myself as I ran.

I stopped when I felt tired. I rolled my eyes around again. I look up and down because people are not equal. There are giants and there are also non -giants, even smaller than me. I stepped aside from a tree because the giants might step on me. The people I see today are weird. They are very different from normal people like me.

"Welcome back, Princess Amity!"

I flinched when I saw a strange bird on the branch. I'm not sure if it's an owl or a tarsier because the top looks like an owl while the bottom looks like a tarsier. It has wings and still speaks! What kind of animal is this?

Even though I was scared, I still tried to ask. "Where is this place?"

"You are in the Kingdom of Norland. The Kingdom that you're always been dreaming of."

Kingdom of Norland?

"What are you talking about? And how did you find out about my dream?"

It flew to another branch closer to me. "Because I'm one of the reasons you're here today."

I was even more confused. What's going on with me? I was just on the bus before and then suddenly I'm here? And worst, I'm in the Kingdom of Norland?

The Kingdom I have always dreamed of!