Vince was shocked. He was frozen in his seat for a while, hearing those words.
"You lost your entire memory?" The elder looked at him with full concern.
"That youngest prince of Dahatan tribe was betrothed to the youngest princess of the Samohok tribe. A few days before their wedding, you and the prince eloped. This enraged not only the Dahatan king but especially the Samohok king too. King Anok was extremely furious from shame and insult. He ordered many soldiers to capture you. My people told me that there are many soldiers from the two leading tribes roaming around the entire island. It was the reason why I hired more people to find you."
"We eloped? He likes me too?" Vince uttered these words with disbelief.
"Silly child, it's not just an ordinary like, but he truly loves you. Choosing you not only means losing his family and status but also becoming an enemy of the largest and strongest tribe. It also means multiple hardships too. He is a prince who is used to a fine and comfortable life, with many servants at home but still chooses to run away with you, with dangers and uncertainty ahead. If this is not love, then what is it?" The elder said.
Vince felt something was choking him and couldn't utter a word, he's very emotionally affected that he wanted to scream out loud. He was overwhelmed knowing the truth about him and the prince. Although he is not Dari, this body is his now. He looks exactly like Dari and he loves the prince too. So whether he is Vince or Dari, it doesn't matter. All that matters to him now is the prince.
"Elder, what should I do now?" The helpless Vince asked. His thoughts were chaotic and cannot think clearly.
"Be brave and follow your hearts. You are both young and strong, you can fight to protect each other. You both decided to run away, so I didn't doubt your feelings for each other. All you have to do is to stand by each other whatever hardships you may encounter. I will help you find a perfect place on a faraway island to live a peaceful life" The elder offered.
"Elder... I don't know how to repay your kindness."
"Don't think about it. You make me feel alive again. I am very happy to see you safe, and I promise to help you as much as I can. So rest assured, because someone is there willing to help you anytime." The old man said. Vince was moved by his sincerity.
Vince continued chatting with the elder for another hour. He's feeling secure now knowing that someone is willing to help them.
It was past midnight when he came back to the hut. He went inside, the fire was dying out, so he put more firewood. As the flame brightened the hut, he found that the prince didn't return yet, he felt restless again. He walked out and lay under the tree where Red and Gorgeous rested, watching the glowing fireflies to entertain himself while waiting.
Almost an hour passed when he heard faint footsteps coming. Vince was lying still, waiting for the person to come close. In the dim moonlight, he saw the prince's silhouette coming closer. He felt a huge relief and slowly got up. The silhouette stepped inside the hut, he followed.
"I was too worried..." Vince said.
The prince who was standing at the entrance of the bedroom didn't answer.
Vince stepped closer. "Can we talk first... Prince Aiji, please...talk to me. I want to clear things out." He asked, but the prince entered the bedroom and then pulled the red cloth to close the bedroom's entrance.
Vince quickly pulled the cloth back. He saw Prince Aiji's surprised, red face just a few inches away.
"Prince Aiji... please talk to me..." Vince begged while looking straight into the prince's beautiful eyes.
"We have nothing to talk about!" The stunned prince finally responded, with a redder face now.
"We have! We have many things to talk about..."
"Like what? You didn't remember me, you didn't remember..."
"Remember what, the truth behind our escape?" Vince tried to complete his words. Prince Aiji's eyes widened, but he just looked down and didn't respond.
"Prince Aiji... I want to hear the truth from you, so please, tell me the truth now...." Vince whispered.
"What's the use of knowing the truth when you don't even remember a single thing we used to do!" The timid prince, who probably drank the strong wine earlier gathered enough courage to express his sorrows. His tears were slowly falling from his red cheeks.
"What's the point of knowing the truth, when you can't even remember the first time we met...how we grew up together...how we took our first dangerous adventure together...how we protected each other... and how we...and how we..." His tears were racing down now and he wasn't able to speak the remaining words.
Vince, seeing Prince Aiji's crying face, felt his heart was pierced, squeezed, and twisted. He stepped forward, gently wiped those falling tears, and pressed his lips to Prince Aiji's thin red lips.