Coding Decoding | on going

f o u r

[ l o c a t i o n : L e h a n ]

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Luke kept an eye on the black car.

He could hear his father's footsteps from the downstairs as it slowly emerged towards his room. Lukas was well aware to what his father was on.

It was very simple.

He insisted Lukas to marry Sofia Vergara, daughter of Herald Vergara, his age old friend from Chillary. Lukas was forced to spend all his childhood and some portion of his adolescence with Sofia, who wouldn't stop talking about her faulty makeup artist.

He didn't find it weird at first, but, just as soon as the proposal of marriage was brought up, he knew he fucked up. It was really weird, looking at Sofia, who would go on and on about how they would look good together as couples. Something about the world "couples" and "we" in the same sentence, made his insides churn.

But, much to his relief, he was sent to California for his highschool, far far away from Lehan and even far far far away from Sofia. He was almost relieved that he never had to meet with Sofia ever again, but, much to his dismay, his father buzzed on him a little too quick.

The door slid opened. "Son?"

Few streaks of white on his raven hair was the first thing that caught Lukas' attention. "Father."

Lukas' father heaved a sigh, something which looked of exhaustion or maybe even disappointment. His navy blue blazer stood out so contrasting to the rather pale walls in Lukas' room.

"We need to talk."

Anticipation bubbled up inside Luke. He very well knew what his father was on. He will tell him - no, beg of him - again to marry Sofia. Lukas grunted under his breath.

"We indeed do, father."

His father heaved another audible sigh. "I am tired of this, Lukas. I am honestly so done with this. We are on this everyday but you? You just don't bother to listen to me, boy."

"I cannot marry her, father. I apologise for my imprudence but I will have to stand my ground." He said in one breath, revised. Too revised.

"But why, Lukas," his father exhaled a sigh of frustration. Lukas could feel the rage building up, "All I am asking is, why? Why is it so hard to marry a lady? She is kind, beautiful and quite able to run this country. And not only that, it could eventually end the enemity between the two states. Why can't you marry her?!"

"Because I do not love her," Lukas breathed, "Because I am not in love with her. And even if i end up marrying her - if, Father, if - I will never see or accept her as my wife. Because, even if marriage is a buisness to you, it is a concept of love and is a lot delicate and precious to me. And, I cannot go against my morals."

"Morals?" He stepped forward, "Morals, you say? Don't be ridiculous! How is that a moral? How is not marrying someone you love a moral, Lukas?"

"Not being able to respect or accept a woman as my wife, even though, i had married her, is, with all due seriousness, a disrespect to her," Lukas calmly said, "And I cannot disrespect any woman. Forgive me, Father."

His father dramatically threw his hands in the air. "You've gone mad. You've lost it all, Lukas!"

Lukas involuntarily stepped back. He has never seen his father so livid. For the first time, he is frightened.

"Lucas, no one cares about love or respect! You have looks, wealth, status, education! You're the future President of Lehan! Any girl would die to marry you!"

He stayed calm for a moment, counting his breaths. He need to stay calm. This trick was first taught by his best friend Jack at back California. Lukas closed his eyes for a while.

"What about me, Father?"

He saw something flashed through the eyes of his father, as he watched him slowly take a step back.

"There is another girl."

"What?"

"There is another girl, isn't it?"

Lukas closed his eyes for a moment again, trying to calm down.

"There is, father."