How to Court a King

Chapter 0

PROLOGUE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

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Ten years ago...

“If I hadn’t been so clumsy and didn’t fell on that day, do you think the universe would ever make another way to let us meet?

Miguel smiles and then chuckles as if remembering something funny. Well, if he was thinking about what happened to him, it is really funny. “I think so, but it would be as epic as the first time we met. I think it would still have something to do with your clumsiness or your awkwardness. You’re special in those areas, you know?

“Migs!

“Hahaha! I’m being honest here and I just answered your question. Imagine, who falls every day in the library ladder and be lucky enough to have someone to catch him or her? Only a Luis Manalo would be that lucky, and oh—that’s you.

Luis rolls his eyes and adjusts his eyeglasses. To be honest, he has thought of the same thing. If they hadn’t met through that library accident, he might have met Miguel in another equally awkward and clumsy situation. Everything happens for a reason, right? He’s sure there’s a great reason why they meet and he believes the universe would always find another way to make that happen. He can feel that that's their case.

Changing the topic, he asks the thing that has been on his mind for a couple of nights now. “Aren’t you ashamed to be friends with me?

Miguel’s lips curve into his playful smile that even his eyes are smiling. “Why would I be? Wait. You know what? Come on, let’s stand up.

Before Luis could even protest, Miguel has already pulled him up—disadvantages of being too small-framed.

They are here in their usual spot in the library rooftop. There’s no way of accessing this part of the library building but Miguel always makes things happen whenever he wants it as long as he uses his charms. Like for example, he can just smile at the librarian and poof! They can be here whenever they want to. But he still suspects that the librarian just has a huge crush on him. Luis is almost scared of how smooth Miguel’s charms work every single time.

Now, facing each other, Luis has to slightly look up, or better say chin-up, because Miguel is taller than him and much bigger, too. “What is it?

“What I need you to be is confident.” Miguel is now grinning like he has the evilest plan in the world.

He, on the other hand, is internally panicking because whatever is in Miguel’s mind right now, he is sure that it's already scarier with his boyish grin. If this man asks him to jump off the building? He knows he would do it because of this man’s undeniable persuasive powers.

“B-Be confident?

“Be confident. Be Luis. Be you.

Now, that makes it more complicated for him. Does that mean to be confident in being awkward and clumsy? He doesn’t really know how he would associate the word “confident” with his name and it will never fit in his vocabulary.

“How? I mean… How does that even answer if you’re ashamed of being friends with me or not?

Miguel laughs and Luis swears it’s the laugh that makes everyone fall of this guy. Damn. If someone is really counting on how many charming points this guy has? He bids that person good luck because it would really be an endless list. He can be the one to prove it.

“Migs!

“Sorry.” This guy even wipes his imaginary tears of joy. “You’re really cute when you look so damn clueless like this.” Miguel suddenly holds both of his shoulders. “That’s what I’ve been telling you. Be confident. You’re always thinking about what others think of you and that makes you question the people around you if they’re sincere or not.

“E-Eh?

“To answer your question, no. No, I’m not ashamed that you’re my friend because why would I be? You’re Luis Manalo! Awkward and clumsy most of the time but you’re an actual intellectual person and your sense of humor is something I really like about you. But you should really start eating more because you’re too thin.

Luis knows Miguel was going to tease him more so he lightly punches him to stop. Miguel laughs again, even throwing his head back this time, and his eyes are already hiding from laughter. He can never imagine this to be any less bright than the sun.

“Be confident and never let what others think about your question all the good things that are happening to you. Show them that that’s what you get for being Luis Manalo. Be confident like you own the world—as you own me.

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Present...

“What I need you to be is confident.

Luis almost slips on the tall stool that he’s sitting on. He swallows hard and even has to look away because even though it isn’t for him—that sentiment alone is enough to make him weak on the knees. It’s unfair that only he remembers these things. He just focuses himself on the camera he’s holding and tries his best to ignore his heart that is so close to breaking his chest bones.

“You’re modeling a clothing line that screams power, fame, and even sex. Let that sink in. If these clothes aren’t enough to make you feel those three things, then is it even the clothes’ fault or you really are not the model for this line?

“S-Sir…”

Luis fights the urge to look up to what’s happening but betrays himself when he just gives up and really looks up again. He regrets that almost immediately.

Gone is the boy he knows that can brighten up any place with just a single smile. That boy is really gone and he still couldn’t believe he’s seeing it with his own eyes. After all those years… the thing that he thinks he can never even imagine happening is what exactly happening right now—Miguel is colder than ice. His heart suddenly aches for that it.

This man now is Juan Miguel King—the man everyone wants to have a piece of and the main reason why he is here. Whether part of his past or not, and even if it’s still slowly sinking into him—he needs to focus on why he is here. Focus on the real reason why he is here and never on his personal issues with this cold man.

Give everyone what they want. Expose every little detail of what makes this man a king of his own. Give everyone the raw and bare Juan Miguel King. He needs to keep repeating that mantra from now on.

“Show me what you’re made for this. Show me what this clothing line wants to embody. Forget the norms, forget what you were used to. Be confident…”

Luis doesn’t understand the next words Miguel has told the model but when this man looks at him straight into the eyes…

“Be confident and embody the clothes you’re wearing. Be confident like you own the world—like you own even me.

Luis knows what he has said when he claimes he’ll give everyone the raw and bare Juan Miguel King, but now? This man is the one looking at him as if he can see his soul. He’s the one who’s feeling raw and bare right now.

How will he finish this challenge again?

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