Chapter 10

KANINA pa hindi mapakali si Sebastian kakahintay sa tawag ni North. Gumagabi na at nasa may ilog pa rin sila.

“What the hell happened?” Sebastian muttered, still checking at his phone.

“Why don't you try calling him instead?” Kai suggested. 

Madilim na kung kaya't mas kinakailangan na nilang makauwi dahil masyado itong mapanganib para sa kanila lalo pa't isang prinsipe ang kasama ni Kai.

Just as when Sebastian was about to call North, his phone rang and it was North calling him. 

“Yes? Any news, North?”

Mabilis nitong ini-loud speaker ang tawag para marinig nilang dalawa ni Kai ang sasabihin ni North.

“I'm sorry, Your Highness.”

Sebastian's forehead creased, “Why? What happened?”

“It looks like you'll have to stay in there tonight. We tracked the driver's location, seems like he met an accident.”

“What? How was he?”

“Sa ngayon ay sinubukan siyang sunduin ng ibang sundalo.”

“Then why don't you just pick us up?” Kai inserted.

Tumikhim si North, “I would since I could, but I don't think it's safe, Kai. As far as I'm concerned, mukhang planado ang aksidenteng nangyari sa driver. Besides, gabi na, mas mabuting diyan na lang muna kayo magpalipas ng gabi, I'll find a hotel for the both of you.”

“I understand,” Sebastian said, “We'll stay in a hotel tonight then.”

Nagtagpo ang paningin nila ni Kai and Sebastian was smirking devilishly at him. Kai just glared at him and raised his middle finger.

“Yes, Your Highness. I'll book a room for the both of you. I will send you the location after.”

Sebastian nodded, “Okay. Thank you, North.”

“No problem, Your Highness.”

“Tommorrow, I want you to report to me the detailed information about the accident.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“That is all. Have a good night, North.”

“You too, Prince Sebastian.” 

Sebastian nodded then ended the call. He glanced at Kai na ngayon ay nakatingin din sa kanya.

“Tara? Let's get out of here,” sambit nito kay Kai.

Kai nodded saka naunang naglakad. Nakangiting sinundan siya ni Sebastian hanggang sa makahabol siya rito.

“Where are we heading?” Kai asked.

Sebastian glanced at his phone.

“Classiò Hotel. Nice. Okay, we'll head there!” 

“Well then, care to lead the way, Prince Sebastian?” Kai sneered at him.

Sebastian winked at him and did a princely bow.

“Gladly,” anito ng nakangisi, “follow me, my dear bride.”

“Me? Your bride? Dream on.” Kai scoffed at him saka nagpasiunang maglakad.

Instead of taking it seriously, Sebastian laughed at him then preceded Kai.

Nang maunahan sa paglalakad, walang nagawa si Kai kung hindi ang bumuntong-hininga sabay irap habang nakatingin sa likod ng prinsipe.

NANG makarating sa hotel ay agad na nagtungo si Sebastian sa front desk ng hotel. Mabilis na nagsiyukuan naman ang naroroon saka automatikong inalalayan ang prinsipe.

“Please, no need to be so formal. We just want to rest,” aniya while pointing out Sebastian, “North already booked a room, right?”

Mabilis na tumango ang kausap na agent saka ibinigay ang card key ng hotel room nila. Sabay na naglakad ang dalawa patungong elevator hanggang sa makapasok sila sa kanilang room.

Kai's brow instantly furrowed after seeing only one king sized bedroom. 

“What the hell is that?” Aniya habang nakaturo sa malaking kama.

Sebastian who was confused, raised one of his eye eyebrows, “A bed?”

“I know.”

“Then what's with the question?”

“I meant how the hell are we gonna sleep in a one f*cking bed?” Kai scowled at him.

Sebastian shrugged.

“Don't worry, hindi naman ako malikot matulog.”

“That is not what I mean!”

“It's a king sized bed, Kai. Kasya tayo riyan.”

Kai rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

“I don't like sleeping in one bed with you, Sebastian. So you better sleep on the couch,” aniya saka naglakad patungo sa kama at mabilis na humiga roon.

“I hate sleeping on couches. It's uncomfortable.” Sebastian said.

Kai rolled his eyes once again saka bumangon at umupo sa kama.

“I'll sleep on the couch then.”

“No.” Sebastian stubbornly said. “No one's sleeping on the couch, Kai. We will both sleep on the bed.”

“I don't want to.”

“We have to.”

Kai sighed in surrender, “Suit your self,” aniya saka tinungo ang bathroom ng silid.

Napailing na lamang si Sebastian. 

“What's wrong with him?” Sebastian whispered to himself.

Kai was drying his hair when he noticed that Sebastian was no longer in the room. Nagpatuloy lamang siya sa pagpapatuyo sa kanyang buhok.

Sebastian entered the room only to see Kai who was lying on the bed. Tahimik siyang naglakad palapit dito. Nang makaupo sa kama ay wala sa sariling napatitig siya sa nakapikit na mata ng lalaki.

He sighed, “Kai, I'm really sorry.”

Habang nakapikit ay hindi napigilan ni Kai ang pagkunot sa kanyang noo. 

“What the fuck are you sorry for?” Kai suddenly muttered habang nakapikit pa rin na siyang ikinagulat ni Sebastian.

“You're awake?”

Kai opened his eyes saka inirapan ang prinsipe. 

“Bakit ka ba nagso-sorry?” 

Sebastian stared at him for a second and then immediately looked away.

“About yesterday. How I acted so childish and—”

Natigilan si Sebastian sa pagsasalita matapos makita ang natatawang itsura ni Kai.

Mortified, Sebastian pursed his lips habang deretso ang paningin sa kausap. 

“You can laugh, you know,” he said sulking, “You look awful holding back your laugh Kai.”

Halata sa mukha ni Kai ang pagpipigil nito ng tawa kung kaya't ganoon na lamang ang hiyang naramdaman ni Sebastian.

Kai shook his head saka natatawa na namang tumingin sa kanya.

“Look,” anito habang pinipigilan pa rin ang tawa, “ilang beses ka ba magso-sorry ha?”

“Tsk. Nevermind,” ani Sebastian saka mabilis na humiga sa kama, kinumutan ang sarili saka tumalikod sa lalaki.

Hindi na talaga napigilan ni Kai ang sarili kung hindi ang matawa sa asta ng prinsipe.

“Fine. Fine,” aniya habang nakangisi pa, “your apology is accepted, Prince Sebastian.”

“Yeah right,” Sebastian scorned at him.

Natatawa man ay nagawa pa rin ni Kai na irapan ang likod ng prinsipe na nakaharap sa kanya.

“Arte. . .”

Mahina ang pagkakasabi ni Kai pero narinig iyon ni Sebastian. Nanatiling nakatalikod si Sebastian habang si Kai naman ay nakangisi pa rin. Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mata saka pinatay ang ilaw.

“Goodnight, Sebastian.” 

Ilang minuto pa ay naging tahimik na ang kanilang silid but Sebastian remained awake. 

“Hey, Kai.”

Minutes later, walang sumagot sa kanya.

“Asleep already?” Sebastian asked pero tahimik pa rin ang buong silid. He sighed. 

‘Maybe he's already asleep’

Sebastian turned around. Hindi gaanong madilim ang silid kung kaya't nakikita niya pa rin ang mukha ng lalaki.

Akmang ipipikit niya na sana ang kanyang mga mata nang biglang gumalaw si Kai, ini-angat nito ang sariling kamay saka iyong inilagay sa baywang ni Sebastian. Now Kai was asleep while hugging him.

Napapangiti namang tiningnan ni Sebastian ang mukha ni Kai. Mas naging malapit ang mukha nilang dalawa dahil sa biglang paggalaw na iyon ni Kai kung kaya't ganoon na lamang ang biglaang kilig na naramdaman ng prinsipe.

Sebastian caressed Kai's face saka hinalikan ang noo nito at niyakap din si Kai. He'll never forget this night. Sebastian went to sleep with a freaking smile on his face.

MORNING came and Sebastian woke up with Kai still hugging him and was sleeping peacefully. Sebastian tried his best not to move or anything, afraid that he might woke him up. 

Sebastian could never get enough of his face. He stared at him, memorizing every features of Kai's face.

Nang biglang maramdaman ang paggalaw ni Kai ay mabilis na ipinikit ni Sebastian ang mga mata.

Kai moved and slowly opened his eyes. Nang bumungad sa kanyang paningin ang mukha ng prinsipe and him hugging Sebastian ay dali-dali siyang napabangon sabay hampas sa lalaki.

“What the. . . Why are you hitting me?” Sebastian said na ngayon ay nakasalampak na sa sahig.

Naiinis na kinuha ni Kai ang unan saka hinampas iyon sa kanya at deretso itong tumama sa mukha ng prinsipe.

Sebastian was startled by the sudden hit, “What the f*ck was that for?!” 

Kai menacingly look at him. He was giving death stares and Sebastian was there frozen and gulping.

“W-What?” 

“Pervert,” Kai muttered saka mabilis na tumayo sa kama at nagtungo sa bathroom.

Sebastian was left stupefied. How the hell was he a pervert?

After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Kai went out of the bedroom. Nang makalabas ay tumambad sa kanya si North na prenteng nakaupo sa couch.

“North?” 

“You're finally awake.”

Agad na ngumiti sa kanya si North sabay tingin sa pintuang nilabasan nito.

“Where's the prince?”

“He's inside,” sagot niya saka umupo sa harapan nito, “Bakit ka nga pala nandito?”

“Ako na muna ang susundo sa inyo. Actually, kasama ko si Monroe, he's downstairs.”

Kai nodded, “I see.”

Lumabas si Sebastian galing sa silid and he wasn't shock anymore matapos makita si North doon. Mabilis na tumayo si North sabay yuko sa prinsipe.

“It's okay, North.” 

Tumango naman si North bago muling umupo sa upuan.

“Any news?” Sebastian asked.

Akmang magsasalita na sana si North nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng hotel room na inuukupahan nila.

“Let's eat first, guys.”

It was Monroe, who was holding two bags of chickens at iwinawagayway pa nito iyon sa hangin with each bags on both hands.

Nang makalapit ay kinindatan niya si North na ikinataas pa ng kilay nito. Inilapag niya ang dalawang bag ng manok saka tumingin sa kanilang tatlo.

“And we'll talk about the incident yesterday at the palace, later. We don't know if this hotel room is bugged or whatever. It's safer to talk at the palace inside a private room,” anito saka tinuro ang dalawang bag na nasa mesa, “Now let's eat, shall we?”

Matapos kumain at linisin ang pinagkainan ay hindi na nag-aksaya pa ng oras ang apat at mabilis na nagtungo sa sasakayan upang makabalik na sila sa palasyo.

It was Monroe who was driving and beside him was North. Meanwhile, both Kai and Sebastian sat at the back of the car.

“So, how was your night together?” Monroe teasingly asked.

Kai knitted his brow at Monroe then glanced at Sebastian who was annoyingly smirking at him.

“Why the f*ck are you smirking?” Kai hissed at him.

Sebastian glanced at him then winked, “Nothing.”

Sebastian really does gets on his nerves. And seeing him smirking and winking at him is making Kai's blood to boil and finds it annoyingly disgusting.

“Stupid prick.” Kai muttered.

“Did something happened last night?” Bigla ay sambit ni North.

Tiningnan ni Kai si North. Seryoso ang mukha nito at nakaderetso lamang ang paningin sa daan.

Sebastian cleared his throat.

“Nothing happened, North.”

North nodded, “That's good. I thought the prince did something perverted to Kai. I was just worried about Kai.”

Natatawang napatingin sa kanya si Monroe. 

“Well, I hope so too. Knowing the prince who's —”

“Shut up, Monroe. I didn't do anything perverted last night, okay?” Sebastian said, defending himself. “And why the hell would I do that in the first place?”

Well, he did kissed Kai's forehead and caressed his face while he was asleep. Typically, not what a pervert person does. So, Sebastian knew that he's safe from being called perv—.

“Yeah. Your prince was a pervert.”

Ang katahimikan kanina ay biglang nawala at agad napalitan ng tawanan ni North at Monroe. 

“I knew it!” Monroe almost shouted, trying to catch his breath from laughing.

Now Sebastian was the one who's glaring at Kai and it was Kai's turn to smirk at him.

“I ain't a pervert.” Anito saka masamang tiningnan ang dalawang nasa harapan nila na siyang ikinatahimik ng mga ito.

“Anyways, how was your visit here, Kai?” Tanong ni North sa kanya.

Kai shrugged. “It was amazing, I guess?”

Tumango-tango namang lumingon si North sa kanya.

“But you do really have a huge town. And the stores were amazing too,” dagdag pa niya.

“Yeah. And how about the river? I heard from North na nagpunta raw kayo roon.” It was Monroe.

Kai nodded. “Mmm. The river was magnificent. I hope I can visit it again. Masyadong maganda ang lugar na iyon para hindi balikan.”

“You probably should.” North commented.

“We can all go back to that place anytime you want.” Sebastian spoke while looking at him.

“That's nice, then.”

Sebastian nodded, “But for now, we'll head back to the palace first.”

The three of them nodded. Kai rested his head on the car's window. Staring at the outside view was calming as he recalls what happened yesterday.

It was a memorable visit, Kai could never forget. He'll never forget the short happiness he felt that Sebastian gave him nang dalhin siya nito sa bayan at maging sa ilog. Because of him, he was able to shortly recollect and calm himself. 

For the first time in his life, kahit sa isang simpleng bagay lang, he somehow felt happy. Unconsciously, a soft and small smile escaped on Kai's lips. Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata. Even just for a short moment, he thanked God for letting him feel the happiness that he thought he didn't deserve.

Sebastian's gentle gaze at Kai were enough to tell how he felt about the man. Kai was leaning and closing his eyes and Sebastian was watching him like he was an exquisite gem. Delicate and rare.

Even if Kai forgot the past, the memory they made before will forever be burried deep in Sebastian's heart. Even if he doesn't remember him, he will still hold on to him even if it would cost him everything. Even if he doesn't remember him, even if he wouldn't like him, and even if he still chooses to go and leave him alone, Sebastian will still treasure him and their memory together, may it be on the past or in the present. He will forever hold on to the promise they made several years ago.

As Sebastian stared at the man, he promised himself that he will do anything to protect and take good care of the man. 

A promise that he will hold dearly, no matter what.