23 Chapter 22 - Escape
"What do you see in him? He is just a guy, a worthless one" Dayo said annoyed.
The fact that Funmi loved this guy so much was the worst feeling he has ever had to deal with. He sighed.
"Sit down" Dayo ordered.
Funmi looked at the ground. She could spot that a cloth was spread, with snacks and food beside it. It looked like they were going to have a picnic.
She sat down reluctantly. She had no choice but to obey. Dayo joined her on the floor after a deep sigh. He served both of them. Funmi felt a little weird with the way the Prince was behaving, as if he was a good person. She was only here because of circumstance.
"So,...tell me about yourself, what you like and don't like" Dayo asked, hoping to start a lively conversation.
"I don't like being forced" Funmi said confidently. Somewhere in her, she had the assurance that the prince could nothing to her but... what about Haggi?
"Anything but that" Dayo replied smilingly
"I don't like being close to a royal" Funmi said confidently. She didn't know where this confidence was coming from. Shouldn't she be scared for Haggi? Funny enough, she wasn't because the Prince should be aware that if anything happens to Haggi, he would lose her completely.
"Anything but that" Dayo replied again smilingly.
"Please eat" he said after noticing that she refused to touch her food.
"Thank you. I don't also like eating with a Royal especially when its forced"
Dayo laughed.
"You're quite funny you know. Don't make me love you more" he smiled cutely at Funmi, making her gulp.
Was she really making him love her more with the hurtful things she believed she was saying? She then moved to ask her own question.
"How did you love me?" she asked.
Dayo chuckled a little "I don't know. I just did. I was even a little annoyed because I am not supposed to fall in love, but it happened and I am happy. And when you love me too, my life will be complete"
"How sure are you that I will love you?" Funmi asked, annoyed.
"Because I am handsome" Dayo chuckled as he took a bite from the fish snacks in the bowl; a very expensive snack in Osu. Because of how hard it is to prepare, only the elites and royals get access to it.
Funmi looked at it and started eating it. She had been dying to eat it ever since she saw it. Dayo smiled at this. Seems she liked it.
After that, Funmi didn't say much. She sat quietly eating to her fill. She had to admit, everything was good.
"I am glad you like it all" Dayo smiled.
"Yes, thank you" Funmi appreciated.
Even though she had been compelled to eat, she couldn't deny the joy she got from eating it.
"Let me take you home. Its getting dark" Dayo said after they had exchanged a few words. He understood that he was forcing her, but he could feel her succumbing a little.
It was a good thing that she had a flair for expensive lifestyle, even if she tried to deny it. He escorted her back home. He didn't bother to step in.
"I will come see you later. I love you" was all he said, before taking his leave.
The "I love you" part made Funmi's heart skip a beat. Meanwhile, Ayo was watching them from a distance. She was just coming back from the farm ALONE!!! Funmi was supposed to be with her, but of course we know where she had been....Her face was red!
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"Yes, the prince is interested in me, but I don't love him. I don't know what to do. I am confused" Funmi blurted out to her sister, Ayo.
"But you love Haggi... right?" Ayo asked, a little doubtful.
"Of course, but I don't know what to do...the Prince is really serious about this" Funmi replied.
Ayo sighed as she smirked. Why is it that her sisters were catching the eye of royals while she got no one? What was wrong? No, she had to get the prince to leave her sister.
What if the prince marries her? Then Funmi will live a Royal life while she... No, it wasn't fair! She had to do something about it. She had to admit, she was shocked how uninterested Funmi was towards a royal. Imagine, fighting to leave the crown prince's brother for a lowly person. She would never do such. She thought Funmi was like her who wanted an expensive life, but Funmi probably preferred love more.
"Don't worry, I will help you" Ayo said, assured
"How?" Funmi asked, being skeptical.
"Don't worry, you will see. Just pretend like you agree with what he is doing. Don't push him away"
"You want me to pretend to like the prince" Funmi asked, confused with her sister's plan.
"Just for now, so that he won't doubt you and notice what you are doing" Ayo explained.
"And what am I doing?" Funmi asked.
"Don't worry, you will know....now, you are to see him tomorrow right?"
Funmi nodded.
"Good....just do as he says, smile and laugh with him. Let him think you are listening to him"
Funmi didn't understand what her sister was planning, but she decided to trust her. Her sister would definitely only want good for her. She thought.
"OK" Funmi said, making Ayo smile with a pinch of smirk added to it.
Funmi did as her sister advised. She pretended to enjoy everything that the prince was doing to her. And she could confess it was working. He stopped monitoring her, as he was gaining confidence in her.
It continued like that for a week, until one day, Ayo took Funmi to a place she had never been to.
It was the night and everywhere was eerie "Where are you taking me to?" Funmi asked.
"Just keep quiet. You will see when we get there" Ayo replied, annoyed and frustrated.
"But father might be worried?"
Ayo stopped and looked at Funmi "Do you want to be free from the prince?"
"Y..es..yes, of course, but how does coming out in the night help me out?"
"Just keep quiet. Now, let's go!" Ayo shouted.
They got to a place filled with leaves. It was a wall but leaves to represent it.
"Go into the leaves" Ayo pointed
"What?" Funmi asked, a little scared.
"Trust me, you will happy to see who is there" Ayo assured.
"I hope nothing bad is there" Funmi asked
"Are you indirectly saying I am a bad person?"
"You know that's not what I mean"
"Then go in"
"Funmi took a deep sigh before going through. She was shocked to find....
"HAGGI?!" she shouted
"Yes" he replied.
"What are you doing here? The prince will.."
"I want us to escape and go start our lives somewhere else" he cut her off
"Escape?"
"Yes...I have been thinking about it. I can't live without you so I will risk my life. Let's go to another land and live our lives"
"But..."
"But what? Don't you love me?" he asked
"Of course I do" she replied
"Then escape with me"
Now Funmi was confused. Of course, she loved Haggi but escaping? She didn't think it was the right thing to do. What about her father? And Mayowa? She hasn't been found yet. Didn't Ayo think about that , before setting this up?
"So what it is then? Escape with me or lose me" Haggi asked.
Funmi gulped even though there was nothing to gulp. She had never been in a situation like this. What was she going to do?
