Chapter 15

KAI FLINCHED matapos maramdaman ang malamig na hangin na bumalot sa kanyang katawan. He rolled over the bed and pulled his blanket when he noticed something.

He abruptly got himself up from the bed but the sharp pain on his arm made him winced. Kai noticed that his wounds were cleaned and the bandage has been changed. Kunot-noong tiningnan niya ang kanyang braso.

Obviously someone tended his wound. Muli niyang naramdaman ang lamig kung kaya't dali-dali siyang naglakad patungong closet saka doon kumuha ng damit. He was left half naked sleeping on his bed para masigurong hindi masangga ng damit ang kanyang sugat.

He looked over through the balcony, it was still early in the morning and the weather was cold. Winter season is coming and so, he felt chilly. He suddenly remembered his dad. He sighed. Kai wondered how he was doing but Sebastian assured him that his father was doing fine. Even though he was wondering how Sebastian came up with such assurance, he couldn't help but trust his deep and firm voice, enough to reassure him.

Kai went out from his room saka nilakad ang mataas na pasilya. He was taking his time nang biglang bumukas ang isa sa mga pintuan niyon, it was Kaycee's room. Kai cursed himself for stoping near the woman's room when his eyes landed to the man who just went out from that room.

“Sebastian wait—!”

He looked at Kaycee then his eyes landed on the woman's hand na ngayon ay nakahawak na sa braso ng prinsipe. Both their gaze met saka matamang ngumisi sa kanya ang babae.

“Oh. If it isn't our Kai.” Panimula nito sa nakakairitang tono.

Seeing them both inside one room is normal but Kaycee clinging on the prince in a very unpleasant manner... somebody will definitely think of something different.

“How's your wound?” Bigla ay sambit ng prinsipe.

So, he knew. Kai thought that maybe it was the prince who tended his wounds... or maybe not. It was wrong for him to assume such thing. Maybe it was one of the servants.

“Fine.”

Tumango-tango si Sebastian saka dumapo ang paningin nito sa kanyang suot. He removed Kaycee's hands that was wrapped around his arms saka hinubad ang suot niyang jacket. Nilapitan niya ang binata saka isinuot dito ang hinubad niyang jacket. 

“It's cold. Wear this, it can warm you up.”

Hinawakan ni Kai ang jacket saka tiningnan ang binata.

“Thanks.” Aniya saka walang sabi-sabing nilisan ang lugar na iyon at agad na nagtungo kung saan siya dalhin ng kanyang mga paa.

“TSK. It is quite obvious that you are so into him, Sebastian.” 

Nandun pa rin ang paningin ng prinsipe sa pasilyang kanina'y dinaanan ni Kai.

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Kaycee folded his arms then leaned on the wall habang nakatingin pa rin sa prinsipe. “Be careful, my dear cousin. He might take advantage of you and that hopeless heart of yours.”

Sebastian sighed saka tiningnan ang babaeng pinsan. “He won't. You're overthinking, Kaycee.”

Tumaas ang kilay nito, “And how sure are you?”

Sebastian shrugged. “I just know. And you,” He looked at her seriously, “Stop bullying him. You already hurt him, Kaycee. I already warned you. The next time you'll hurt him again, I'll make sure that you will receive triple amount of pain you inflicted.”

Agad na umalis ang prinsipe saka tinahak ang pasilyong dinaanan ni Kai kanina. Kaycee shook his head, seeing at his cousin crazily falling for someone. 

”How cringe...”

Her cousin likes Kai but she's not even sure if he felt the same way towards her cousin.

“Tsk. Tsk. Well then, I'll have to make sure that my dear cousin wouldn't end up having a one sided love.” Kaycee flipped her hair saka muling pumasok sa kanyang silid, “Man, you are so lucky to have an amazing cousin like me.”

Kanina pa ikot ng ikot si Sebastian sa loob ng palasyo pero hindi niya mahanap ang binata. Akmang babalik na sana siya sa pasilyong dinaanan nang biglang nahagip ng kanyang paningin ang lalaking kakapasok pa lamang.

“Hey, Kai!”

Agad na lumingon si Kai sa taong tumawag sa kanya. Nanatili lamang siyang nakatayo roon habang hinihintay ang prinsipe na lumapit sa kanya.

What does he wants from him? He already have a bride, Kaycee. A woman who can bear his child and a woman who can give him a normal life and will rule with him as he become the king. So, what the hell is he still doing in this palace? The king already saw him and after that he cause trouble to the prince at nasaktan pa ito, sure as hell, the king was mad. Maybe they found someone new na magiging asawa ng prinsipe and that is Kaycee. Besides, hindi naman siya mananatili sa palasyo that is why, maybe they decided to prepare another bride for the prince once he'll leave this world. 

Right. That could be it.

“Did you go out? It's cold. You should've stayed inside and warm yourself.”

He stared at the prince. He wanted to ask him what his relationship with Kaycee. Yes, the woman already told him who she was but hearing it from the prince himself is different.

Kunot-noong tiningnan ni Sebastian si Kai na nanatiling nakayuko sa kanyang harapan. Sebastian looked at him confused, unconsciously, he raised his hands then gently placed it on Kai's cheeks saka maingat na iniharap niya ang mukha nito sa kanyang paningin. 

“Is something wrong? You can tell me, Kai.”

Kai averted his eyes from the man. The warmth from the prince's hand, it comforts him. It warms his cold body and the feeling of being caressed and held by him calms his whole system. 

“Hey, Kai. Is there anything wrong? Does your wound still hurt?”

And his voice, it's soothing. Everytime he hears the prince's voice, his heart would hammered inside him without any godd*mn reason. Maybe he's gone crazy.

“Tell me, Kai. You can tell me if anything or anyone is bothering you. I'll listen.”

Finally, he was able to meet the prince's gaze. Sebastian gently caressed his face at halos mapapikit na lamang siya sa malambot at mainit nitong kamay na humahaplos sa malamig niyang mukha.

“Actually, I—”

“Your highness, the minister just arrived. He wants to meet you.”

Sebastian continued caressing his face then stops and turned to see the royal servant.

“Can't he wait a little longer?” 

The royal servant shook his head, “But the minister was waiting long enough, Your Highness.”

Sebastian sighed. 

“You should go meet him now. It might be important.” Kai muttered saka mabilis na nagsimulang maglakad paalis ngunit agad nahawakan ng prinsipe ang kanyang braso.

Sebastian looked at him deeply.

“I... I'll hear it later. And you'll have to tell me what's bothering you, alright?”

“You can hear it some other time. Do not worry about me, Your Highness.”

Mabilis na tumango si Kai saka tinanggal ang kamay ng prinsipe sa kanyang braso at naglakad paalis.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ang prinsipe. Something must've been really bothering him. Muli niyang tiningnan ang dinaanan ni Kai saka ibinalik ang paningin sa tagapagsilbi.

“Tell the minister to meet me at the conference hall.” 

KAI ENTERED his room and was shocked when his eyes landed at the woman who was comfortably sitting on his bed.

“What the hell are you doing here, woman?”

It was none other than Kaycee.

Kaycee smiled at her.

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking to have a little chitchat with you.”

“I'm not interested.”

“Oh, come on. I know you are so gonna like this!”

Kai sighed. “This is my room. Will you please go out? I badly wanna rest.”

Tumaas ang kilay ng babae.

“You just woke up and now you wanna rest again?” She said, ignoring his request.

Hindi na lamang nagsalita ang lalaki.

“Anyways, I'm here to tell you that you should really start packing your things and leave the palace.”

Now, it was Kai's turn to raise his brows. “And what made you think that I'll follow you?”

Maarteng tumawa ang babae saka malanding tumingin sa kanya.

“That is.. because I'm gonna be this kingdom's queen, sooner or later. You'll be under my power and you'll end up following whatever I tell you.”

“But you aren't the queen yet so I could see no reason for me to follow whatever nonsense you're saying.”

Kaycee faked a laugh saka naiinis na tumingin sa lalaki, “I will become the queen, Kai. And you should really start following whatever I demand you to do before I punish you as soon as I gain my crown in this kingdom.”

Naglakad si Kai papalapit sa kanya, “And what made you think that you'll become queen?”

Kaycee smiled at him sweetly. “Simple. Because here,” Anito habang nakaturo sa sariling tiyan, “lies Sebastian's child.”

Agad na napahinto sa paglakad si Kai matapos marinig ang sinabi ng babae.

“We made love countless times already during my stay here, Kai. And that scene between me and him you saw kanina...Yes, we made love before he left my room. Aren't I great?” Anito habang tumatawa pa.

Kai was rooted to his place. He doesn't know how to react. Bumaba ang kanyang paningin sa tiyan ng babae. It couldn't be...

Despite being stunned, he managed to bring himself back saka tiningnan ang babae sa mata.

“And why the hell would I believe you?”

Napairap na lamang si Kaycee sa kanya saka walang sabi-sabing pinakita sa lalaki ang itaas na parte ng kanyang dibdib.

“Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?!”

Kaycee tsked and pointed her finger at the hickey near her chest.

“See that? Sebastian made that. Agh, that man! I told him to stop leaving hickeys behind during sex!”

Kai was left stupified.

“Anyways, I'm leaving na. Sorry for disturbing you, Kai. See 'ya~.”

Hindi mapigilan ni Kaycee ang matawa pagkaalis niya sa silid ng lalaki. His expression was epic. 

“I should've took a pic! Stupid girl.” She flipped her hair, “Oh well, maybe next time.”