How To Court A King

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

"If I hadn't been so clumsy and didn't fell on that day, do you think the universe will ever make another to let us meet?"

Miguel smiles and then chuckles as if remembering something 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 area, you know?"

"Migs!"

"Hahaha! I'm being honest and I just answered your question. Imagine, who falls every day in the library ladder and be lucky enough to have someone 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 with himself, he thought of the same thing. If they hadn't met through that library accident, he might have met Miguel in an equally awkward and clumsy situation. Everything has a reason, right? He's sure there's a great reason on why they met and he believes the universe would always find another way to make that happen.

"Aren't you ashamed to be friends with me?"

Miguel's smile is intoxicating and 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, and a huge plus was that the librarian has a crush on him. Luis is sometimes scared of how smooth Miguel's charms works every single time.

Facing each other, Luis had to slightly look 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.

Luis, on the other hand, is internally panicking because whatever is in Miguel's mind right now is 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 Luis. Does that mean be confident on 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.

"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 times 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, and his eyes are already hiding from laughter. He can never imagine this to be any less bright than sun.

"Be confident and never let what other's think about you question all the good things that's happening to you. Show them that that's what you got for being Luis Manalo. Be confident like you own the world-like you own me."

- - - - - - - - - -

"What I need you to be is confident."

Luis almost slipped on the tall stool that he's sitting on. He swallowed hard and even had to look away because even though it wasn't for him-that sentiment alone was 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.

"You're modelling 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 to what's happening but betrays himself when he just gives up and looks up again. He's not sure if he should regret that decision almost immediately.

Gone was the boy he knew that could bright 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 thought he can never even imagine happening is what exactly happening right now-Miguel is colder than ice.

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.

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.

"Show me that 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 didn't understand the next words Miguel has told the model but when this man looks at him straight into the eyes...

"Be confident. Embody the clothes you're wearing. Be confident like you own the world-like you own even me."

Luis knows what he said when he claimed 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?