The Prince and I | BrightWin FanFic

Chapter 2: The Crown Prince

Bright Alexander Bonifacio is walking along the banks of the River Cam contemplating the events a few weeks ago.

The tall, handsome guy is nursing a broken heart during his last remaining months in Cambridge, taking History and Politics. He is about to leave the foreign country where he spent most of his young adult life, rejoining his family in the Philippines.

And his impending return to the Philippines would mean giving up his relatively carefree life in exchange for a heavily-guarded life and public scrutiny life in his motherland.

Bright is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of the Philippines. His father is the current sovereign, ceremonial monarch, and head of state of Asia's oldest constitutional monarch.

He was born with a title and a responsibility to serve his country. The title comes with public adulation, privilege, and a life of luxury. But it is also the same title that cost him the love of his life.

When he started at Cambridge, Bright only had two trusted friends with him. They were buddies since high school, being the only three Filipino students at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. Orfilio "Off" Sy and Taylor "Tay" Razon, his loyal buddies and close confidante, also went to Cambridge after being convinced by the Prince.

It was in sophomore year when Bright met the Thai student Kanawut "Gulf" Traipipattanapong. There was mutual attraction, and the two started dating.

The Crown Prince was head over heels of the handsome and always cheerful Thai scion of the Traipipattanapong Industries, southeast Asia's largest food and beverage manufacturer. The connection is palpable, not to mention that the Prince also speaks Thai, given his mom, the Queen, was a former princess of Thailand. Gulf's cheerfulness also complements the Prince's stiff and rigid personality.

Gulf is Bright's first-ever serious relationship, his first love, first kiss, first sexual adventure, first of everything. The first two years of their relationship have been rosy. They were happy, and everything seems perfect until last year when photos of them dating spread like wildfire in both mainstream and social media in the Philippines and Thailand.

When the news broke, the Philippine Royal Family issued a vague statement of support to the Prince's romantic choices. Bright expected this, as his father has been an icon of liberal values in Asia.

The Traipipattanapong family kept mum about it.

But the media and the paparazzi hounded Bright and Gulf everywhere. The privacy that Gulf once cherished while studying in England disappeared instantly. Bright's status as a royal became a burden, and a few weeks ago, Gulf snapped and called it quits.

"Let's break up, Bright," Gulf told the Prince with tears in his eyes. "This is too much. I can no longer go on with this relationship where I feel suffocated."

"Can you please hold on, babe? I love you, and I can't imagine a life without you." Bright said, face visibly shocked and voice begging. "I can't promise that everything will be back to normal, but one thing I can assure you is that you'll be the only one here," Bright continued with fingers pointing his heart.

"Bright..." Gulf stuttered, forcing himself to contain a sob. "I love my freedom. You know I want to do things, and with you being royal, I'm afraid it might stop me from pursuing my dreams. I am sorry. I love you, but I just can't let go of my dreams for you, Bright".

"Gulf.." Bright with begging eyes.

"I'm sorry Bright. I love you, but this is where we end." Gulf's voice laced with sadness as he turned his back to the shattered and dumbfounded Prince.

That night, Bright cried the loss of his love at his apartment with Off and Tay all ears. The two felt bad for Bright as they perfectly know how the Prince loves Gulf. They saw Bright's devotion to Gulf.

They saw the genuine happiness in Bright's eyes every time those orbs gaze on Gulf.

But it was also Gulf who broke Bright's heart into pieces.