A DEAL

Adam Lauren's POV

Umupo ako sa sanga ng isang puno at pinagmasdan ang mga kasamahan ko sa grupo. Katulad ng grupo nina Clyde, labing isa rin ang miyembro ng pangkat namin. Sa amin ibinilang ang bagong estudyante na si Mavro. There really is a resemblance between him and that man, the man who stole my princess.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at pilit na inalis ang lahat ng mga alaala noong araw na 'yon.

"You love me, right?"

"I think so...but we will not work. I already am in a relationship," she said. Nothing's more painful than seeing the love of your life cheating on you with your own eyes.

"I knew it. In a relationship or not, what's important is our love for each other."

Naikuyom ko ng mga kamao ko dahil sa sinabi ni Damon. Damonyong 'to.

"Damon—" Lalong humigpit ang pagkakasara ng mga kamao ko nang makita ang paglapat ng labi ng lalaki kay Khione. This is bullshit.

A tear fell from my eye. It was followed by another and another, until I couldn't stop it from falling endlessly. This shit hurts more than being pricked by a thousand thorns. What did I do to deserve this? I only gave my trust to the lady I'm in love with. Is it wrong to trust someone wholeheartedly? Was it a sin to love someone unconditionally that I was punished like this?

"I love you."

The anger building up inside me heated. I cannot stand this. Unti-unti akong gumalaw at lumapit sa dalawang taong tila walang pakialam sa paligid. They're smiling with each other, their eyes twinkling with happiness.

How can love hurt this much? That moment when I was out of my hideout and ready to punch his life out of him, Khione spoke. "I love you too—"

How can they say that love is fair when it is not?

"Hey, are you alright?" narinig kong tanong ni Luna na nasa baba ng puno.

Naramdaman ko ang isang malamig na hangin na tumama sa aking balat. Luna is now beside me.

Huminga ako nang malalim at iminulat nang muli ang aking mata. "I'm fine. Just remembered something," nakangiting tugon ko. Ako lamang ang tanging may alam sa mga nangyari noong araw na 'yon. Hindi nila alam ang pagtataksil na ginawa sa akin ni Khione. I don't want them to think ill of her.

"Let's go."

Napalingon ako sa isang gawi nang maramdaman ko ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. I found Mavro looking at me but his eyes widened in surprise when I looked back at him and smiled. He smiled back shyly and turned around to face one of my groupmates. I was supposed to be angry at him but look at me, smiling at him. I just can't feel any hard feelings. It feels wrong to be mad at him. I noticed something strange. His smile is so pure and his eyes are very innocent. It's different from Damon's wicked smile and piercing gaze. Maybe he's not Damon. It's really hard to tell. The vibes with him and with Damon around is just really not the same. What if they're blood-related? Nonsense, Lauren. Nonsense.

Malapit nang magdilim at nag-aaya na silang kumain ng hapunan ngunit tinanggihan ko ito dahil wala pa akong ganang kumain. Lately, my appetite cannot be found anywhere and I don't know why.

Bumalik muna ako sa tent kung saan ako natutulog kasama si Mavro. The two of us are roommates or should I say, tent mates.

This tribe of our kingdom still uses tents as their home. They do not want to eradicate the tradition that their tribe has. The life here is so simple but the families living in this tribe always wear their bright smiles so I think it is not so simple for them. Napakabuti ng paninirahan nila rito dahil sa mapayapang paligid. Puro puno lamang ang makikita mo kahit saan ka tumingin. Sa bandang Silangan ay mayroon silang isang talon na napakalinis. Ang tubig nito ay banayad at malamig sa balat. I plan on taking a dive there later at midnight. I would just take a nap.

Hinubad ko ang cloak at tinanggal ang pantaas ko bago ibagsak ang katawan sa isang komportableng higaan. Just like that, I found myself falling in the beauty of a paradise called dreams. This place is my most treasured place since Khione fell into a coma. In this place, I can reminisce about our beautiful times together. I can see her sweet smiles and the love in her eyes over and over again. But I know I should move on. I need to choose myself now.

Nagmulat ako ng mga mata dahil biglang nakaramdam ng gutom ang aking tiyan. Nagtaka ako nang makita ang isang kumot na nakatakip sa katawan ko. Maybe Mavro put it on me when he came back here. Where is he anyway? I took a glance at my wristwatch. It's midnight already.

Kinuha ko ang damit na nasa gilid at isinuot ito. Pagkatapos ay tumayo na ako ngunit natigilan nang makita ang isang pinggan na may lamang pagkain sa ibabaw ng mesa. Mayroong isang note na nakalagay rito.

Luna asked me to give this food to you. Eat, Prince Ren.

-Raven

See? How can you relate him to Damon? Should I just ask him? That might be too blunt, but I need assurance.

Mabilis kong kinain ang pagkain na nasa mesa at tinungo ang daan papunta sa talon. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin at payapa naman ang paligid. The trees are telling me that everything's fine also.

Nang marating ko ang talon ay ang likod ni Mavro ang una kong nakita. Is this destiny's way of telling me to talk to him?

"Hey," bati ko rito, dahilan para mapaharap siya sa gawi ko.

Yumuko siya at ngumiti. "Prince Lauren, you're awake?"

"I guess so. Nagutom ako e," kaswal na sabi ko.

"Iniwan ko po ang pagkain ninyo sa tent. Nakita niyo po ba?" magalang na tanong nito.

"Yes. Thank you for that."

Kumamot lamang ito sa batok at tila nahihiyang yumuko.

"You're going in for a dive too?"

"Hindi po. Masyado na pong malamig ang paligid. Malamig din po ang tubig."

"Please drop the formality," sabi ko bago tinanggal muli ang suot kong pang-itaas.

Nag-iwas naman ito ng tingin at ngayon ay nakaharap na siya sa talon. "Hey, Raven. Can I ask you something?"

"I'll be pleased to answer your questions, your highness." Sumagot ito ngunit hindi pa rin tumitingin sa akin.

"Are you Damon?" walang pag-aalinlangan kong tanong.

Natigilan ito ngunit halata ang pagtataka sa kanyang mga mata. Ngayon ay nakatingin na ito sa akin at sinalubong na ang aking mga mata. He blinked a few times, which I found somewhat cute.

"H-hindi po," kinakabahang sagot nito.

"Why are you stuttering? I'm just asking. I just saw a huge resemblance between you two."

Nang tila makabawi ito ay huminga ito nang malalim. "I'm not him, but I knew him."

Napatigil ako nang akmang tatalon na ako papunta sa tubig. Forget diving in, I will just talk to him. Isinuot kong muli ang shirt na hinubad ko at umupo sa isang malapad na bato. I patted the space beside me and he followed.

"He's my deceased brother," panimula niya. Kusang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig. Wasn't he from Liondale?

But what? "He's dead?"

"The news told me that my brother was stabbed to death by his men. I can't blame them. He's wicked."

"Since when?"

"Three years ago."

Tungkulin ko ba ang magulat at ngumanga ngayong gabi? Three years ago...the same time when Khione was found floating in Evanea. They're in a relationship at that time. The thought made me flinch.

"Wait. Where are you really from and who really is your brother?"

"You don't want to know. You might kill me after knowing," natatawang sambit nito.

"I swear, I won't."

"I am the second prince of Coler and the younger brother of the late king."

"What...the fuck?" 'di makapaniwalang sabi ko.

"Yes. What the fuck, indeed," pagsang-ayon nito.

"Life there is a huge mess. I do not like their rules, system, or government, and I don't want to fight good magic folks of Kosmos. That's why I left and went to Liondale. I'm so glad that the first family who found me is kind. That family even gave me a new name and even their surname," he stated casually like we're kind of friends, which I do not mind.

"Right. But what was your real name?"

"You want to know?"

"Well, I wouldn't be asking if I don't."

"Ezekiel Mavro."

"You have a really nice name. I prefer Ezekiel over Mavro or Raven," I replied. Ezekiel suits him better. "U-uh, thanks."

"You're next in line, but who is leading Coler now?"

He shrugged. "Probably the commander in chief. I don't know. I cut off my connection with that kingdom a long time ago and I do not plan on going back."

"Why?"

"As I have said, life there is a huge mess. My mind's also made up. I will fight together with you guys." His answer made me more relieved. I sensed no lies.

"That's good to hear. But now that we're talking, make a deal with me," panghahamon ko rito.

"Spill."

"Win the war with us and take back the throne of Coler."

"I said it already. I don't want their rules, governing—"

I stopped him. "You'll become king. You can change the way of ruling Coler and start a way to make it up to other kingdoms. You can change the way of living there and make a better future for the next generation. You know what it feels living in darkness, and I know you don't want the future generations to feel the same," I pointed out.

"I can't. I don't know how to lead."

"I know you can...because like blood, the ability to lead runs through the veins of royalties," I confidently said.

Tumingin ito sa akin na tila nag-aalangan pa.

"So?" Inilahad ko ang mga kamay ko at tinaasan siya ng isang kilay.

He took my hand and shook it. "Deal. Let's make Kosmos a better place for the magic folks to live." With his answer, a full genuine smile appeared on my lips.

"Let's make Kosmos a better place for magic folks to live in, Kiel."

♛