Chapter 7

HINDI pa rin makapaniwalang tumingin si North kay Kai na ngayon ay nasa prinsipe pa rin ang paningin habang inaalalayan ito ng mga tagapaggamot.

Wala sa sariling napailing nalamang siya. ‘I wonder how the prince will react.’

“North.”

Hindi pinansin ni North ang tumawag sa kanya at nagpatuloy lamang sa paglakad papalapit sa  walang malay na prinsipe.

“We need to go back to the palace, now. It'll be dangerous if we'll stay longer.” Tugon niya sa isa sa mga attendant.

“Yes, sir.”

“North! Hey, North!”

“Let's go. The prince isn't safe here.” Aniya at hindi pinansin ang sumisigaw.

“North—!”

Naiiritang nilingon niya ito, “Tumahimik ka nga! Why the fuck are you shouting?”

Monroe gave him a blank look. “You were pretending not to hear me, that's why.”

Inirapan lamang siya ni North.

“How was the prince?”

“What do you think?”

“Hey, I'm asking because—”

“You failed to protect the prince.” Bigla ay naging seryoso ang tono ni North sa kaharap. “And now you're asking me that?”

Bahagya namang natigilan si Monroe saka napayuko. “I'm sorry. I'll gladly accept my punishment.”

North tsked. “Punishment, my foot.” He said while glaring at him.

Napahinto lamang sila nang may magsalita.

“Commander, the King wants to see you.”

The King is back?

Bahagyang nag-angat ng tingin si Monroe at nagtama ang kanilang paningin. Nanatili namang walang ekspresyon ang mga mata ni North habang nakasalubong ang tingin sa kanya.

“Alright.” Ani Monroe saka muling tumingin kay North. 

“I'll head first. See you at the palace, North.” Anito saka lumisan kasabay ang iba pang mga kasamahan nito.

“Sir, we'll be heading back to the palace, now.”

Nilingon niya ang nagsalita. “Good, let's go. The King must've been worried.”

KAI stared at his bedroom's wall. Kanina pa niya kinikimkim ang kabang nararamdaman nang malaman niyang nais siyang kausapin ng hari, mag-isa.

Ganun na lamang ang pagkabog sa kanyang dibdib nang biglang may kumatok sa kanyang pintuan.

“Your Highness, the King wants to speak with you.”

Agad siyang tumayo saka binuksan ang pintuan. Kai followed the servant, taking him to the King's chamber.

The King isn't always around. He's always busy traveling from different countries and kingdom. Kaya ganun na lamang ang pagkagulat niya matapos malamang nakabalik na pala ang hari at alam na rin nito ang nangyari patungkol sa insidenteng nangyari at ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng prinsipe.

“The King's inside.”

Tumango lamang siya saka binuksan ang pintuan. The chamber was huge at halos nahihirapan siyang maglakad dahil na rin sa sugat niya sa paa pero kahit ganun ay pinilit niya pa ring makalapit.

There, finally, he saw the King sitting on his chair. This isn't the first time he saw the King yet he still had the mad nervousness inside him  whenever he sees him. Well, who wouldn't? He's the King after all.

“I heard what happened.”

Nakayukong tumango lamang si Kai. Unaware of what to do, nanatili na lamang tikom ang kanyang bibig.

“How are you?”

Kai tried to swallow his nervousness, “I am fine, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

“That's good.” Tumikhim ito, “I wasn't aware of what was happening not until North told me that the prince insisted to bring you back to your world. Was that true?”

Kai gulped and heave a deep breath, “I-It was my fault, Your Majesty. I told Sebastian to send me back to my place.”

“I see. Well, you weren't aware before this incident happened that you were in another world, were you?”

Kai shakes his head, “I was completely unaware, Your Majesty.”

“Well, now you're aware.”

Nanatiling nakayuko si Kai.

“The prince... He needs his bride to take over the kingdom.”

Wala sa sariling nag-angat ng tingin si Kai ngunit bago paman magtama ang paningin nila ng hari ay mabilis niyang naiyukong muli ang kanyang ulo.

“Without his bride, he'll fail to do his duty as the Kingdom's prince and as my son. I hope you understand that.”

Hindi umimik si Kai.

“Sebastian was fated to become the next in line king. Without the presence of any ruler, the Kingdom will be under a great danger. No matter how thick and large the walls are, without a King, the kingdom can easily collapse. Kaya ako agarang bumalik dito matapos marinig ang pangyayari, kasi marami ang posibleng mangyari sa kahariaan lalo pa't marami ang mapagsamantalang tao and given the fact that the prince is in danger, enemies could easily launch an attack against the Kingdom and we can't let that happen.”

“It's my fault, Your Majesty. I'm sorry.”

Narinig ni Kai ang malalim na paghinga ng hari, “This may be so selfish, but Sebastian really needs your presence Kai.”

Doon ay muli na namang siyang naguluhan. Hindi napigilan ni Kai ang magsalita.

“Why me?”

“Even I don't know. Ask my son, only he knows why.”

“I'll try, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. You may leave.” The king said before giving out a small smile.

Mabilis na tumango si Kai saka nilisan ang lugar na iyon. Nang makalabas ay hindi siya dumeretso sa kanyang silid bagkus ay naglakad siya papalabas malapit sa malaking fountain ng palasyo na nasa kaliwang parte lang din ng malaking hardin ng kaharian.

Doon ay sinandal niya ang sarili saka tumingin sa madilim na kalangitan. Maraming nagkalat na mga bituin ang makikita at napakalaki rin ng buwan sa gabing iyon.

Sebastian was no ordinary prince, infact, he's a crown prince! Hindi pa rin mapigilan ni Kai ang manlumo matapos marinig ang sinabi ng hari sa kanya.

“How are you?”

Napaigtad si Kai nang may magsalita sa kanyang gilid, si North.

Kai shrugged, “Fine, I guess.”

North stared at him. “With the bandages and all, yeah, you seemed fine. That's nice.” Anito.

Kai sigh. “How was he?”

“Who?”

Kai look at him flatly before speaking. “How was the prince?”

“He's in a critical condition.”

Mabilis na naalarna si Kai matapos marinig iyon. “What? Why—?”

“Just kidding. He's fine, don't worry.”

Kai glared at North na ngayon ay nagpipigil na ng tawa.

“Was the King mad?” North asked.

Kai looked away, “I guess? Or maybe not. I don't know.”

“He's mad.”

Kai once again sigh, “I know.”

“Just kidding." Ani North saka hindi na nito napigilan pang tumawa back nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita, “Huwag kang mag-alala bihira lang kung magalit ang hari. He was just worried.”

Tinapik ni North ang kanang balikat ni Kai. “Go to sleep, Your Highness. It's late.”

“Call me, Kai.”

Ngumisi lamang si North sa kanya, “Okay, Your Highness.” Anito saka siya iniwan.

Napailing na lamang si Kai. Nanatili pa siya roon ng ilang minuto saka nagdesisyong bumalik sa kanyang silid.