CHAPTER 3

"What do they want now?" Jeremy smirked as he was stepping out of the car.

"I don't know," Tobby answered, "they just told me to bring you here and… looking around, I think they're already here." Jeremy and Tobby saw the six bodyguards standing near the door. As they entered the café, Jeremy noticed a group of ladies sitting next to the window and recognized one of the voices. He knew he'd heard it before. His eyes glanced towards their table and he was right.

"There they are," Tobby interjected while pointing at the far end table.

Instead of approaching the far end table, Jeremy walked toward the ladies. He knew his instinct was correct. How could he be mistaken? It was the voice that he wanted to hear for a week but couldn't. He has to talk with that person again. This is a chance that he should never miss. His meeting partners could wait a little longer. This is more important, he thought.

"Kate?" Jeremy asked.

Kate and her friends looked at Jeremy. Her friends were in astonishment since they know that the man standing in front of their table is a celebrity. Questions began to circulate within themselves "Is this a dream? Is he really standing in front of us? Am I the only one seeing him?"

"Hey...!" Kate said, as she stood up. She was also surprised. She thought that she would never see him again. She asked herself. Is this fate or just purely coincidence? What is he doing here?

"I'm right, it's you. How are you? I was waiting for your message."

She couldn't respond immediately. She was out of focus. She doesn't know what to say. All that she heard was message. Then she apologized, "I'm sorry. We have been doing lots of paper works at school," her glance turned from Jeremy to the girls who were signaling and itching to be introduced, "By the way, these are my friends: this is May, Abby and… Grace," while pointing at them one by one, "and this is Jeremy."

"Hello! Nice to meet you!" Jeremy greeted as he glanced at them for a while and back immediately with Kate. He missed her. Since the day they arrived from Seoul, her face was stuck in his mind. There was an urge of wanting to see and talk with her again.

For few more seconds, they were in admiration as they continued to stare at him. They still couldn't believe that a star is literally in front of them. Then, Grace pleaded, "Can we take a picture?"

"Huh? Now?"

"Please! Please!" They pleaded all the more.

"Okay," Jeremy granted.

Kate meanwhile volunteered to be the one to take the picture. She was not a fanatic. Although she thought that it would be nice to have a picture with him alone but with the situation they are in, she thought it would be impossible.

Her friends immediately positioned themselves near Jeremy. One of them hugged him while the others kept themselves close. Jeremy kept his cool like always whenever a fan asked for a picture taken with him. Yet, the difference this time is that he could not take his eyes off Kate who was taking the picture.

After the picture taking, Tobby approached him and whispered, "We need to go. They're already waiting." His meeting partners were already waiting at the far end table.

"I have to go," Jeremy excused himself.

"Thank you!" they said.

"It's my pleasure to meet all of you," Jeremy said, "Send me a message, okay?" Looking at Kate and pointing at her phone, he has to remind her that his number was with her. He really wanted to talk with her alone but he still doesn't have her number. There were moments, he glanced at his phone, hoping that it was her who sent a message or who was calling.

Kate smiled and said, "Okay!"

As Jeremy and Tobby walked towards the far end table, Kate's friends stared at her and began to question her. "Are you close with him? You didn't tell us that you were friends with him. Is there something you are hiding from us?"

"Not really. Why?"

"My God! Do you know who he is?"

Kate was at a loss. She doesn't know him personally. She just met him during her trip to Seoul. He is just a stranger whom she had talked with during the flight. She asked, "Why? What's wrong?"

"Hello Kate! Calling Kate from another planet. He's a famous singer! He's known by the name, 'JM,'" one of them said.

Jeremy is a star. He is known not only by the teenager but all ages of life, from children to teenager and even the older ones. His talent as a performer and as a singer has amazed all people.

"Huh?"

"Have you noticed the billboards along EDSA? His face is in most of them."

"Huh? I just met him in the plane while traveling back from Seoul. And… you know… I don't look at billboards when I am driving."

"By the way, can you share his number? He said that you should send him a message. If you don't want, I would be more willing to talk with him," another kidded with a devious smile.

"Of course, you can't!"

"Then send him a message!" another pointed.

"I will when we get home tonight."

"Now!" They said in unison.

"Okay! Okay! But… what will I say?" Kate pondered while holding her phone.

"Ask him… to be your date for the university night," Grace dictated.

"Huh? No!"

"Why not?" Grace asked.

"Are you still waiting for Francis? It's been a year. Look, he will be with Shaine that time. Kate, move on!" Abby said.

"I know. And… I have moved on."

"Sure?" Abby asked.

"Uh-huh!"

"Then invite him then, if not, I will," May said.

"Okay! Okay!"

Meanwhile at the far end table, "May I present to you, Consulate General Sophie Ledesma," Spes, who is the Lord Steward introduced, "His Serene Highness Jeremy Francesco Honoré Rainier Grimaldi, Prince Héréditaire of the Principality of Monaco."

"Just call me Jeremy," Jeremy suggested while extending his hand for a handshake. However, he pulled it back when Sophie did a small curtsy. He doesn't want to be called prince. He wanted to be an ordinary person not royalty. He wanted to live in peace in the country where he grew up. But his destiny to be a prince could never be taken away from him especially now he is the next in line.

Jeremy is the Hereditary Prince of Monaco. This has happened since his father was supposed to be the Hereditary Prince. Unfortunately, he died together with his mother in an accident several months ago, which made him grieve for a long time. His father wished him to live a normal life that is why he allowed Jeremy and his mother to live as ordinary citizens in the Philippines. But due to what happened, he had no choice but to return to the Kingdom and be the Hereditary Prince. Before he would return, Jeremy requested the Prince, his grandfather that he would be given 10 more months of his ordinary life to prepare himself.

"Your Royal Highness, the King gave us directive to answer all your needs as you prepare for your return to the Kingdom. He has also instructed us that for your security we will be assigning two guards." The Kingdom has been very cautious especially after what happened to his father. Although, it was an accident, they do not want that the line of succession would be disrupted since Jeremy is the last male in line. Security has been a priority of the Prince for his successor.

"Wait! Guards? I was clear when I said that it would be ten more months of my ORDINARY LIFE." Jeremy has made an agreement with the Prince, his grandfather. He agreed that he would succeed the throne but they must give him ten more months to grieve and at the same time enjoy his ordinary life.

"Yes, sir! But for your protection…" The consulate was hesitant of the rejection of Jeremy since every word of the Prince is a decree to be followed. It was even emphasized by the Prince that no matter what, they must be vigilant that nothing bad would happen to Jeremy.

"Tobby would be enough for my protection!" Jeremy insisted.

Looking at Spes, "As you wish your Highness. However, if ever you need anything please call us," Sophie agreed while giving her call card.

"I think I need you to do something now." Jeremy drawled while looking at the message Kate sent asking him if he could be her date during their university night.

"Anything your Highness. Whatever you wish!"

Jeremy was smiling as he replied to the message of Kate.