The General's Son w***e

XIX

“Catch him! Don’t let him escape. Don’t you dare come back without bringing the Prince with you,” The King’s voice echoed in exasperation as he forcefully threw the cup he’s holding then annoyingly seated on his throne.

“What am I supposed to do now? I’ve run out of ideas… every punishment that I knew has been given to you but you keep on disobeying me anyway. Do you loathe me that much, my dear prince?” his eyes were sharp, but he can’t deny the weakness in his voice. He then let out a deep sigh as he closes his eyes and rests on his throne.

He knew that he needed to think of the best plan to make his son sensible. He can’t possibly let his countrymen meet his son, who’s going to be the next king of Hanyang, at his playful state right now. What are they going to tell me when they knew about his behavior?

“My dear King, do you want me to call Baek?” asked Prime Minister Jang who bows down at me to show his respect. I stared at him for a while and thought of his plan, if this is the only way to make the prince get back to his senses, then so be it.

“Call him, then. We really have to make some concrete plans to discipline the prince. Bring him to my room and we will talk there.” He stated as he stood up and walked towards his room.

“Okay, then, your highness.” The prime minister bowed down once again. When the King got out of his sight, he asked a soldier to go find him a horse for he will be the one to go in the City of Casib to look for the fortune teller.

“Come on, chase me! You’re too slow.” Minseo playfully shouted, the next King in line. He smiled wryly when he saw that he’s being attacked with a freezing kunai, but he was still able to dodge it. They really have the guts to hurt me, huh? The prince thought to himself. What if it grazed a part of my cheek? My poor handsome face… He worriedly thought again.

He shook his head as he controls the surroundings. He made the time stopped on its track, as well as the air, the movements of the soldiers chasing him. He literally made Earth stopped from rotating in its axis. He was panting hard as he rested on the nearby tree, buying time to regenerate the lost energy. He laughed out loud as he looks at the soldiers.

He hates being chased the most, and he’s been declining the King’s offer to be the next King in line, but the King is persistent. Being Minseo, the playful Prince, he won’t do the things that he doesn’t like. He won’t do the things that won’t make him happy and satisfied.

He laughed hard as he remembered the epic face his Father had when he escaped a while ago. They were eating when the King started talking about passing his throne to him and he doesn’t want to listen to such nonsense so he ran away.

Jun, my brother, could be the next King. Why would he force me to take the responsibility? Sitting on the throne is tiresome. All you do is to command and wait, but the whole country is at your stake, and I don’t like that. He thought to himself.

“The future is bound to happen.” He was shocked to look at his side. It was a girl who’s wearing a black dress and half of her face is covered. “On the next cry of the rooster, the sacred door would open towards the present and you can’t do anything to escape that.”

He annoyingly scowled ah her, “What nonsense are you spouting? And who are you to talk to me that way?” He stood up and went near her, smirking as he noticed that she’s avoiding me to see her face.

“For your information, a mighty and handsome prince like me doesn’t like a mysterious and weak-willed girl like you. If I were you I will now remove that scarf covering your face so I would clearly see your face.” He stated playfully and he earned a sharp look from her in return. What a feisty woman.

“For your information, I am way older than you, my dear prince.”

He got affected knowing that someone knows he’s a prince. Father would surely punish me big time! He tried to recall if he met the mysterious girl before because his fashion style is surely different from the normal girls in Hanyang. They would usually look decent and being rich is evident the way they dress.

“Where city do you live? I have wandered around this country several times but I haven’t met someone like you. And why are covering your face? Is it because of your wrinkled face or is it because you only have three teeth left?” he teased.

“The beauty of an immortal person with royal blood doesn’t wither. The only thing that I could advise you now is to follow the King’s orders. Do not try to change your fate and the things that are bound to happen because you will surely regret it.” And she started walking away.

“And who are you to tell me what to do and what not to? You’re a disrespectful blasphemy!” he shouted and tried to attack her, but she disappeared just like that.

He tried to take her words off his mind but it kept on lingering through his thoughts. What does she mean by her words? I didn’t even know there’s a present world, or was she just bluffing?

“Just make sure that no one would know I’m the prince, or else…” He started looking at the place where she suddenly disappeared.

He smiled wryly and got out of that place. He then brought the time back when he got far from the place where he left the soldiers.

He went to the city of Joseon where he had a lot of flings. A handsome face like mine should be put to use. And they do not even know that I am a prince, and I won’t let them know that because death would probably be my punishment. He thought.

He’s the next king in line and no one knows that except the King, the Queen, Jun, Prime Minister Jang, and the loyal people in the palace. He went to a place in the City of Joseon where parties are held every Friday and people were also having fun when he got there.

His smile was gone in an instant when people started to stare at him and started whispering with each other. He heaved a sigh. Do I really look that handsome to be stared this way? He asked himself and didn’t mind the attention he was getting.

He went to the usual place where he hangs out with Wikyung, Huyan and Kwanghee but he couldn’t find them. Where are my play dolls? He thought because this is the first time they didn’t attend the event.

“Maybe this isn’t my lucky day…” He whispered to himself and slightly shook his head.

He right away left the place but was caught off guard when he saw the guards that were chasing him so he hid and tried to camouflage himself with the normal people. He was fine at first, but he realized he hasn’t changed his clothes causing him to almost curse himself. That’s probably the reason why people were whispering about him a while ago. Of course, my shining armor and decent clothes would gain so much attention, especially because this was made by some important people in Hanyang.

He shook his head; I still do not want to go home. I’m sure a lot of soldiers would guard me and at this time, a lot of them are looking for me. He thought and decided to just rent a room in the nearby, even if I do not have money here with me.

“Do you have money to pay?” asked the old owner and he just nodded, not wanting to make the conversation go on.

“Of course, I also plan to eat my dinner here, so if you please, just bring it in my room.” He tried to façade a serious face to hide the mischievousness in his thoughts.

“I think so… and you also look like someone who could afford the services. Come and follow me.” As to which he nodded.

“What do you want to eat and how long do you plan to stay here?” asked the old lady as we walk by. Strictness is visible in her voice and he shook his head. Is she still going to treat me this way once she knew that I am a prince?

“Anything you could offer right now would be good enough.” He answered.

She stopped into a room and handed me a key, “This is going to be your room. When the time reaches nine p.m. everyone should be staying in their room already. I don’t want nosy people staying here.”

He nodded in respect and entered the room. It looks plain… not so cozy but is decent enough, “This would be good. Thanks!”

“Then I’ll go ahead.” She started walking away but stopped and uttered something, “You’re a handsome kid but I still wouldn’t tolerate your noise. I’ll just ask someone to bring your food up here.” And she left.

He closed the door and rely on it while caressing his face, “You’re so attractive, Minseo! You’re too good-looking.”

Happiness and conceitedness are evident in his face. He went to open the window and stared at the night sky, the sky full of stars and a moon. But the wind blew hard as if telling him to close the window, and so he did.

A lot of questions are still lingering around his mind, and his chest is contracting as if he’s in pain. People who are below them are living their lives happily, but why can’t he? When would I be truly happy? One of the reasons why he declined to be a King is because he yearns for freedom, of becoming free and showing that he really is. Unlike now that he needs to escape or run away to be in the places he wanted to go. But nonetheless, deep inside, he still knows that he needs to face and accept his fate, and the responsibility bestowed upon him in this dynasty… in no time.

A lot maybe wants to be in his position but here he is, trying to avoid it. Why do they want it? Is it because of power? Is this because they wanted to control people?

But would they really be happy doing that? You have to say goodbye to your freedom and every action you do must be calculated… there’s no room for mistakes.

On the next cry of the rooster, the sacred door would open towards the present and you can’t do anything to escape that. He remembered her words again. Is there really a present place? If so… am I a part of the future or in the past? The world I’m living right now has a king, queen, princes, princesses, soldiers… A lot dies and a lot are misjudged for the things they didn’t do. I wonder what place does the present have. Do they have their freedom? If so… they must be lucky.

He is known as someone mischievous and playful in their palace, but he knows that deep within lies a kid so broke, trying to escape the horror of the things his Father wants, that he won’t ever do.

“Have you seen the Prince?”

“Not yet…”

“Wander around the city of Joseon, as well as the city of Gwangha… no one will go back to the palace without the prince.” He heard the guards talking.

“We need to catch the prince without getting the attention of a lot of people…”

He peeped at the hole where only his eye would fit and was surprised when he saw the guard talking with the old lady. He tried to run away… but it was too late. He’s now being surrounded by a lot of soldiers and guards. Holy Cow!

People have been eyeing him and whispering.

“He’s too handsome to be a criminal.”

“Why did he disrespect the King? Poor kid…”

He nearly laughed in his place. So they choose to make me a criminal than tell them I’m a prince, huh?

Tsk.

He’s now being surrounded and even though he wanted to use his peculiarity, he knows he couldn’t especially because common normies are watching.

“Did he really have the guts to go against the King? Is he even thinking properly?”

“What do you think is his sin?”

“For sure he disrespected the King… you know what happens to whoever disrespects the King.”

He couldn’t take the gossips anymore so he eyed them both, which made them stop, “I ‘am the pri---“

He wasn’t able to continue when a soldier covered my mouth and got me out of the place.

The soldiers started to fire their katana to the nearby trees with a yellow in it which is a sign that everyone must not go out of their house. In an instant, the people were gone.

He laughed out loud and bit the hand of the soldier covering his mouth. He spitted, “Do you have any idea on how salty your hands are? The next time you do it, I will kill you.” He bowed down as I eyed him sharply.

“Hey, you two, holding arms. It hurts. Do you want me to kill you?” they both shook their heads and loosen their grip on my arms. He smirked.

“Where would you take me?” I asked.

“We’ll take you to the sacred city, dear Prince.”

His forehead creased right away. “What am I going to do in Gyeongju?” Geongju is a holy and sacred place and he hasn’t go there yet.

“We also do not know, dear prince. That was the King’s command.”

He heaved a deep sigh and walked with them. He opened my eyes when he heard familiar voices. A lot of guards and soldiers are surrounding them and inside the house in the center of that place. He saw Mother, the Queen along with Jun and the King.

“What’s your plan now?” He asked the King, smirking.

“My dear son,” Mother butted in. I repeated my question but in a more subtle tone, “What’s the plan now, my dear King?”

“I want you to live in the present world for the meantime, as Jun would take your place as a Prince. I will ask you to come back when it’s time to sit on your throne.”

He looked at his brother who’s now looking down, “You can rely on me, Brother.”

“What present world are you talking about? He asked, irritated. He remembered the mysterious girl a while ago.

“Explain it, Baek.” The King stated and the man behind him took a step forward after he bowed down, showing respect.

“The present world can be found in another realm, dear Prince. You will be staying there for a while as compensation to all the troubles you have done, and you can only come back once you’re already dedicated in being the King of Hanyang.”

He smirked, knowing that he will never accept the throne. He couldn’t possibly.

“Is that so? How could I go to the present world?” He asked. Baek asked him to sit in a chair in the middle. The guards tied his hands using a black cloth and Baek went near him. He could see the King staring hard at him so he stared back.

“I beg you, dear prince. Be sensible and responsible enough so you’d be back in this realm.” The King stated. Baek was muttering unfamiliar words he’s reading from a book.

He smirked once more before closing his eyes as he felt something taking his body.

“See you soon, Dear Prince…”

“Ate Sid,” I annoyingly took down the book that I was reading; I placed it on the chair beside me, pushed the flush button and prepared myself to go out.

“What is it again, Daya?” I shouted back, still inside the comfort room. When I saw my poop still floating and haven’t flushed yet, I pushed the flush button once more and did some hand hygiene before going out.

“Hurry up, Ate! Kuya Grant’s show is about to start.” She shouted from the outside of my room. My eyes widened. I hurriedly opened my door and went down to the living room. Why did I forget that today is Sunday?

I sat beside Daya in the couch, “Mama, can you please get us two cans of coca cola and the leche flan in the ref?” I stated eyes still on the screen.

“Wow! What a great daughter? I am washing the dishes right now, come here wash the dishes and I’ll get you the leche flan that you want.” I rolled my eyes at Mama’s remarks. She never goes after my orders, what if I cast her away from this house? Just kidding!

I elbowed my sister and annoyed her to get my request. “Please, Daya… Get it for Ate. The two of us are going to eat it in the first place. If I get it by myself, I swear I won’t give you an ounce.” She smiled wryly at me.

“Tsk, all right, ate! Of course I’m accustomed to your orders, but just admit that you’re just lazy. You’re older than me yet you’re lazy as fu---“ I showed her my sharp eyes which made her stop from sprouting nonsense things.

“I am not lazy, you kid! I gave you an order because I am older than you. An older person knows best so just do what I ask you, all right? Before I kick you out of this couch,” I stated, she stared at me pouting before standing up and going to the kitchen.

I laughed by myself.

I screamed in excitement as the show started. Grant is the main cast in this show, and guess what? He’s my best friend! Yes, you read it right, but we seldom see each other because of his busy schedules. We’re still studying and we’re classmates but he seldom attends classes because of his fans.

That’s not the only thing I’m sad of, besides the fact that we only chat online to communicate, I can also feel that he doesn’t want the world to know that he has a friend like me. I understand him though, he’s reach quite some far and his future is already secured, but me? My grades are always on the line and I always catch myself into cat fights.

There’s only one thing I’m passionate about and that’s dancing. I would almost skip my classes to attend trainings and practices; one thing that Mama and I would always argue about because I couldn’t balance my time and my studies was always left behind.

Since a toddler, I have been dancing already and at the age of fourteen, I became a part of a dance crew at which I’m the youngest member. The second youngest in the group is Ate Wyna, she was a senior student at that time and I’m a junior.

Right now, I am still part of the group and we’re staying strong. We’ve joined a lot of competitions and someone we win, but sometimes we lose. But the reality of life is that I do not really care about any prize or trophy… maybe it’s a bonus but what’s important is that we’ve delivered our dance gracefully; and that’s the most satisfying thing of all.

As of my father, I do not have one. Mama and Papa divorced way back before I even had the chance to meet him. According to Mama, Daya was still in her womb when they separated so I barely had memories with him; I’m already happy to have Mama and Daya with me.

“There’s a lot of kissing scenes in Kuya Grant’s show, I wonder if their lips would get swelled.” Daya stated while watching in between the spaces of her fingers because apparently she’s not watching kissing scenes. I rolled my eyes unto her and continued watching the show with teary eyes. I am jealous, all right?

Truth be told, Grant is my childhood best friend. And apparently, yours truly fell in love with him. If you’re going to ask if he knows about my feelings, the answer would be no. I would never admit it because I knew he’d just get mad at me and he’d cut our ties as best friends.

That’s what I see at dramas, the reason why I kept these feelings all by myself. And one more thing, it’s enough that I get to talk to him and that I matter in his life. Though I would feel neglected at times, what’s important is that he’s still talking to me, right?

And if I confess my feelings, I bet it would spread like wildfire… because of his fangirls. In that case, his image as a model, actor, and singer would be at stake.

Aside from being talented, he’s also smart, but he’s the cold type of person in real life, but then again when it comes to his fangirls, the friendly side of him would be resurfaced. As if his lips are always ready to smile.

And that’s okay with me…

He kind of had thick and dark brows, his nose is pointy and his skin so soft and milky. His attractive and plump lip is his best asset. He looks downright like a Korean artist because he’s also good at his fashion sense.

He had it all in him,

Or maybe not.

He doesn’t know how to dance and he’s not that tall. He hates it when I call him a short-legged person. He’d roll his eyes and won’t talk to me. He’s not that small but he’s just in between being 5’4 or 5’5.

We would always argue about a video where he danced as a birthday gift to me, of course, Mama forced him. When Mama showed me the video, I was so happy and Grant wasn’t. He doesn’t know how to dance as if his body is a bamboo stick.

“I’d like to kill that girl; she’d always show up everywhere even though Grant doesn’t like her.” I was so frustrated while watching as Wendy showed up in front of Grant once again. Wendy is the girl in the show who like Grant’s role.

“Even though she showed up everywhere, Ate, you still couldn’t deny the fact that she’s so much more than you. You can’t stand a chance with her.”Daya contradicted me so I got a throw pillow and smashed it on her shoulder with too much force. She stood up and sat on an ottoman instead.

She really likes teasing me. Tsk. Mama loves me more than you!

I was about to kick her but she showed me my phone, “Kick me and I’ll drop your phone.” She stated. There was a text message from someone! So I acted properly and got my phone from her.

I hurriedly opened my phone and hoped that it would be Grant, but it was just a message from our dance crew group chat.

FG DANCE CREW

@greatleader: let’s meet each other later at 6 pm, don’t be late. The last one to get there would run the plaza for ten times.

I replied a yes, Kuya with pouting lips and turned it off right away. I was disappointed that it wasn’t Grant. I should be accustomed to it since he never texted me first.

“Who texted you, Ate? Let me guess, it wasn’t Kuya Grant?” asked my sister. I widened my eyes and gave her a sharp look. I signaled her to shut her mouth because Mama might hear her. It was only her who knows about my feelings.

“Stop talking to me, Daya. You’ve been teasing me since this show started.” I annoyingly stated and focused on watching the show.

“I’m not teasing you… you were just butt hurt.” I got the remote control and was about to throw it to her when she hid herself behind Mama’s back.

“Stop it Daya, you’re too old and yet you still act like a kid. What have you been arguing about this time? Come back to your seat.” But she stayed at Mama’s back. What a coward.

“Mama, sister is about to throw the remote at me.” I rolled my eyes at her and placed the remote control at the center table.

“Could you stop it, Sid? Why would you throw the remote? It’s not that I’m taking sides but I am more concerned with the remote. What if you got it destroyed. Do you have money to replace it?” I got more irritated as Daya stocked her tongue out at me. I swear I’d cut that tongue.

Mama sat beside me and got a bit from the Leche flan, “Your Leche flan tastes so sweet.”

“Ma, don’t eat it if you’re just going to complain every time. If you don’t want it, then I’ll eat it.” I answered back which earned me a pinch in the inner thigh. Ouch!

“Anyway, Mama, I need to go out later at 6 pm, we have dance practice.” Her eyes stayed on the TV not minding what I said.

“All right, but promise we you won’t be absent for the rest of the week, because if not, I’ll be the one to personally talk to your leader to kick you out of the group.” Mama stated and I just nodded. Maybe I needed to find a way to ditch my classes without Mama finding out.

“You’d really believe ate, Ma? She’s just taking your words out of her other ear.” I shook my head in disbelief, such an antagonist. Tsk.

“And you know what, Daya? It’s bad to interfere with the conversation of the elders.” I answered her.

“Could you guys stop arguing already?” I just rolled my eyes unto it.

It was still 5 o’clock when I decided to prep myself. I wore black short shorts and an oversized black shirt paired with sneakers. I tied my hair in a bun and that’s it. Maybe you’re wondering but I do not wear makeups. It’s not that I’m against them, but I just do not feel it.

I ate dinner earlier the usual and wet out of the house. When I reached the plaza, I went to the space shuttle where we’d always meet and practice. I saw that only Sauron and Jeff are there.

“Hello, Sid!” They both waved at me and I nodded in response. I seated beside them.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked and they just waved their phones off my face.

“That was too new you dimwitted guys!” I rolled my eyes that made them laugh. I got Jeff’s phone and watched our last competition at Balungao where we won.

“What’s up guys!” we looked at John who just arrived… and soon each one of us arrived already.

“Who arrived at lastly?” Asked Kuya Zhed. He’s our leader. All of us were pointing towards Qin and he raised his arm slowly.

“Qin, you’re late again. What have you done this time?” Kuya Zhed asked, scratching his cheek while talking.

“Work, Kuya.”

Kuya nodded and didn’t punish him anymore.

“Who among you here have the time to practice? Here in the same venue and same time because this would be our last competition. After this, we’d split ways for a while and I’ll just message you guys if there’s another competition ahead.”

“Jasmine, please list the names of the people who’d join. You should make sure to be on time for the practice. I don’t want someone who’d be there in the start and eventually won’t end it.” He stated. “Raise the hands of people who are sure to join.”

I raised my hand in an instant. If I was able to do it before, then I would this time. I’m sure Mama won’t catch me.

The meeting ended right away and we stood up forming two lines by the partner and started to run the entire plaza ten times.

We’ve been doing it since then so we’ve been accustomed to it. I was easily exhausted before but not anymore. I also became more flexible because of our training. After that, we jog around the basketball court and ran towards the stairs ten times.

When the training ended, we were also exasperating and all were down in the grass resting. “That would be all for tonight. Let’s just see each other next time. I’ll be messaging you guys on our group chat. I’ll head out now.” Kuya Zhed stated and dismissed us.

“Take care, Kuys!”