Chapter 3
Fine
"Check your pockets"
Hiro's Point of View
I walked by the empty hallway to reach my room. Why do I have a room when I'm just a mere knight, you ask? Well to be honest, I don't quite know either.
I entered my room and closed the door at the back of me and sighed. I twisted my arm because of exhaustion. I undressed my armor and tossed it to who knows where and went to take a quick shower.
The water was cold when it touched my skin. It's a good thing though, so I can forget the embarrassment I did.
I stepped out upon finishing and grabbed my clothes to put it back on.
Before I could put on a shirt, I noticed the scar on the side of my stomach. I traced it and felt the roughness of it. Memories that I'm not familiar with began flooding my mind as I looked at myself in the mirror and stared at it for a couple of minutes.
I sighed then went to my bed and stared at the ceiling. I noticed the light bulb and wondered how it got there.
My eyes wandered until it landed on my study table. My eyes caught the light from the bulb that was reflected by the picture frame on the table that made my eyes hurt.
I went over to flip the frame because the light was irritating my eyes but stopped to see the picture. It was a captured image of a woman holding me as a baby. The woman's image was a bit blurry so I couldn't see who she was. My dad said that it was my aunt from Creol.
"Sir?" someone said that was followed with a knock from the door.
"Coming," I replied and put the frame down to turn and open the door to see Xael's lady-in-waiting.
"S-sir. The general, your f-father wants t-to talk to you"
The girl didn't make eye contact with me and began fumbling with her fingers and looking at the ground. Well, that's weird.
"Is that so? I must be going then. Thank you for informing me" I said and locked the door behind me. I noticed that she was still in some sort of trance and kept staring into empty space but I decided to not be bothered by it.
I walked to see my father by the general's office.
My father was originally a war strategist. He told me that the king saw his potential so he made him a general.
I stopped halfway by the hallway and saw the huge family picture of the royal family. I stared at the queen's face and then to Xael. I wish I got to see my mom. Dad said that she died when I was young. Funny how I can't even remember her.
-•-
I opened the door and saw my Dad facing the big window.
"Hey, son. Nice to see you today," He said, still looking at the window.
"Dad. I'm right behind you. You can't see me."
He turned around and looked at me. He stared at me with bloodlust in his eyes. It was so amusing that I laughed so hard.
"Just kidding, Dad. So what do you want us to talk about?" I said, teary-eyed from laughing.
"It's about the coming event," he said and went over to take a seat so I followed him.
"So?"
"So, there will be beautiful girls out there," he said while looking at me intently. There he goes again.
"They'll be beautiful like your mom. Sweet like your mom. Beautiful like your mom. Did I say beautiful twice?" He said, with stars in his eyes as if daydreaming. I can't blame him, really. Well, practically he hasn't move on from Mom yet.
"You know I won't date girls. And for the record, I haven't got to see Mom, so..." I said in a matter of fact tone.
"Why? Because you're gay?" He looked at me seriously.
What the?
"No, Dad! I'm not gay!" I said, sounding offended
"Son, let me tell you this. There's nothing wrong with being gay. You're still my son--er daughter. Nothing changes in yourself. You're still you. You may fail me as my son, but who knows, maybe you'll do better as my daughter." He said, giving me thumbs up and winking as if he's encouraging me.
"What the hell, Dad?! I'm not gay for pete's sake," I said and experienced the same annoyance he had with me.
He was holding his laugh but failed to do so. He bursted up laughing loudly as if I'm a clown making him laugh. He even wiped his imaginary tears.
I waited until he calmed down and it took me over 10 minutes before he stopped laughing.
"If you're not gay, maybe it's because of her?" he said, going back to his serious self.
"Who?" I asked.
"Uhh? Xael? The princess?"
"What? No!" I aggressively objected, even slamming the table.
"Oh come on son, I saw you two a while ago hehe," he said with dreamy eyes.
He was practically jumping up and down, eyes shining. Why is this memory quite vague? Oh! I know. Geez, he acts like the older version of Kichi.
"Alright, Alright. Then is it her?"
"Uhhh who?"
"You know..." He trailed off
"...Her." He emphasized
"Dad can you cut the chase?" I said, looking annoyed.
He leaned over me and whisper-yelled, "Come closer."
I leaned in and placed my ear over his mouth.
"You know...HAHAHAHHAHA"
And then he started laughing. Loudly. I had to pull my head away 'cause I can almost feel myself going deaf.
"What the heck? Dad, can you be more mature?"
I exited the room and heard him say I love you. Tsk that old man. He could be mistaken as Kichi's Dad.
-•-
I sat down on my usual spot in the palace's cafeteria. Usually, servants would serve food without me ordering. They would serve me like I'm having a feast.
Hmm. So what's here? Salads. Fish. Pork. Ribs. Bread. So many choices.
I started eating bread since I don't eat a lot. I closed my eyes and started to feel the taste of the bread lingering in my mouth. I opened my eyes to take the cheese on the table but it was gone. I decided to eat meat since I remembered that I have training a little while after this so I picked up the plate of roasted beef. I wanted to have sauce in it so I went to where the sauce was placed.
Weird. Why isn't it here? I searched for it but my efforts were put to vain. No matter, I can just eat the beef without sauce.
I walked to my seat and noticed that the beef was also gone. Do we have a thief here? Including my plate and utensils are gone. I picked up the fried pork and asked the lady to give me another set of utensils and plates.
I sliced the pork in half but the other half fell to the floor. I was going to pick it up when a hand reached down from below and stole MY pork.
I reached to raise the tablecloth. Aha! The thief. The thief was eating my food and guess who it is? Kichi.
"What are you doing here?"
He stood up and cleaned up his clothes from dust
"Nothing?"
He picked up a piece of bread and tried to eat it but I pulled it away from him.
"Tell me. Now."
"Fine. Fine. But give me first that scrumptious garlic bread. Lucky for you, it's garlic bread. And I love me some garlic bread."
"Amawa. Ay came her tho thell yu thap Faer waf uncomsus yefferbay. (Anyway, I came here to tell you that Xael was unconscious yesterday"
"Why? What happened to her?" I said, concerned.
"Ohhhhh. Look who's being concerned," he said and went closer to poke my face multiple times.
"Okay, stop poking me," I spoke in a low voice. He did stop but he climbed up on my body and wanted a piggy back ride.
"She's still resting in her room," he said while on my back.
"Can you pass me the fries please?" he added, pointing on where the fries was.
"Get off of me, Kichi. I need to be somewhere else."
I turned harshly and that made him fall, butt first.
"Owww. Where?"
"None of your business. Finish the food, Kichi"
I put my hands in my pockets and walked away. I heard him say something before I left.
"Gwadwy Fer! (Gladly Sir!)"
-•-
I was walking on hallway that was heading towards Xael's room when a certain someone blocked my way.
"Boo!" Kichi said while carrying a flashlight. It's not even dark and I can practically see him in broad daylight.
I walked past over him because I felt like I don't want to deal with him.
"Onii-chan. Where are you going?" he said and ran to my side.
"Please don't call me Onii-chan"
"Okay, Hiro Takishima."
I turned to him.
"Don't call me onii-chan nor by my full name. Hiro will do. Just Hiro."
"Okay, Just Hiro. Wanna go to Xael's room?" he said, reaching for his pockets to get something.
I didnt answer him because he kept mocking my name.
"I brought her this chocolate pudding to make her feel better."
"Where's the pudding?" I asked.
"Uhmm in my belly?" He said, looking confused.
"I originally wanted to give her chicken soup. But I got hungry cooking it so I ate with that tempting smell and all. Then I saw this chocolate pudding but while I was walking to her room, I got hungry again and ate them all," he said without breathing.
"Hiro. Can you carry this flashlight? It has candies in it and I dont want to accidentally eat them all."
I grabbed the flashlight from him and he grabbed my arm and dashed to who knows where which made my arm hurt from the pulling. I felt him place his hand on my hand as we were running.
"Wait. Wait. You passed her room," I said, stopping him.
"Oh. Sorry."
We went to where her room was when a thought suddenly came on Kichi.
"Wait. How do you even know her room? Do you often go here? Wait, don't tell me your peeping on the princess," he said and covered his mouth due to shock.
I ignored him and knocked on the door. Kichi calmed down and placed his ears on the door.
"Sis, it's me."
We didn't hear a respond. Instead, we heard a humming sound.
We opened the door and saw her sitting by the window. Why are people so fond of sitting by the windows?
"Xael, are you awake?" Kichi asked. What the hell, is he high?
I heard Xael laugh from her brother's joke...or stupidity.
"No Kichi. I'm sleeping"
She turned her head to us and she immediately bursted up laughing. Is something in my face?
"Why are you laughing?" I asked and raised my eyebrows.
"It's nothing pfft. By the way, what are you doing here?" She said trying to refrain from laughing.
"He..."
I pointed Kichi.
"...dragged me"
"Oh. By the way, Good morning, Xael." I said with a smile and bowed a little bit.
"It's afternoon," Kichi said out of nowhere and was eating pudding again. Why do I keep on embarrassing myself?
She laughed at Kichi's remark.
"Why are you eating pudding again?" I said to divert the attention and glared at him.
"What? Onii-chan, I was hungry" He said and picked up another cup of pudding.
I heard her laugh again.
"What's funny, Xael?"
"Oh nothing. It's just, you two look like couples," she said and snickered. I was going to say something when I heard a knock from the door.
"Hime. Are you awake? The queen needs your presence at the moment," someone said and opened the door only to see her lady-in-waiting.
"I'll be there in a moment," Xael said. The servant didn't respond and just continued to stare at me like last time.
"Uhm Bree? Why are you staring at Hiro?" Xael asked.
"U-uhmm nothing, Hime. I'-Ill be on my way." She said and took one last glance at me and closed the door.
"Boys, can you go out? I'm gonna change," Xael suddenly requested.
"Sure sis. Well, if it's alright with onii-chan here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him and furrowed my eyebrows. If looks could kill, I would be laughing at his dead body by now. He exited the room laughing and I followed after him until we reached the hallway.
"Here," Kichi said mischievously grinning. He handed me a mirror and ran away as far as possible. I was completely confused at the mirror he gave me and took a quick peek.
Flashback:
(I felt him place his hand on my hand as we were running.)
(She turned her head to us and she immediately bursted up laughing. Is something in my face?
"Why are you laughing?" I asked and raised my eyebrows.
"It's nothing pfft. By the way, what are you doing here?" She said trying to refrain from laughing.
"KICHIIIIIIIIII!!" I yelled.
That kid! He placed a pink bow on my head. So that's why Xael was weirdly looking at me.
I'll get to you when I get the chance, Kichi. Just watch.