astray

chapter 10

the next day, although yedam insisted on going with him more than the previous days, haruto could not agree to that. he did not want his dreamy boy, the prince meet jaehyuk and find out the truth.

after today, he will tell him everything, so that he can slowly and harmlessly recall all the memories erased in a questionable way from his head. the sudden amnesia, could it be similar to a defense mechanism, haruto thought, for a deity that accidentally crossed the border of two worlds?

it was his third time directing his feet towards the tombstone, serving as his landmark. he knew that from there, the shack where jaehyuk lived was only a few meters, it must have been noticeable from that width.

as he was getting closer, the white head bobbed out in a contrast to all of the yellow heads below.

"I have been waiting for you to come back."

jaehyuk turned his body towards him, and at this moment as if reflecting himself, his arm propping his waist in the most courteous manner, he bowed his head.

"your highness."

haruto's brows twitched, wondering why he would call him such, when right then some commotion arouse from behind. in a nick of time, another figure stood by his side.

"my dreamy boy..." bewildered, he looked at him. "why did you come after me?"

"I could not stand yet another day in solitude. I did not want to be alone any longer."

haruto's gaze filled with anxious feelings and thoughts of everything that might happen right now, mellowed. they stared at each other for a while, which haruto wished could turn into eternity, and as jaehyuk invited them to his abode, they went in, holding hands.

even when listening to jaehyuk, revealing all the truth to him, his hand never let go of the hold. haruto could sense the tempest that arouse inside him with every twitch of his muscles, every squeeze or quaver, as they remained connected the whole time.

"there is little time left, dear prince." the white hair boy stated solemnly, his tone undisturbed. "it is said that king yoshinori along with the army plans to descend to earth the day after tomorrow, once the morning dew spread across all the green, breathing leaves. I can offer you a safe escort to the golden palace, you just have to agree."

haruto watched as his dreamy boy, the prince, maintained his composure this whole time. suddenly, all the tiny details of his behavior, how whenever he was sat he kept his back perfectly straightened, his fingers, so delicate, could travel on his skin so graciously, how he never allowed himself to conduct more as a simple human – it all made sense. he was taught such things since the day he was born, as a prince, an indispensable part of the royal family, a disciple to the best lecturers, a boy to be waited upon by servants, protected by guards, a born brother of the king himself.

"I..." words seemed stuck in his throat, every letter injuring his larynx with its sharp edges. "I want to go home."

haruto's heart sank, his hands tightened their grip on the other's palms. jaehyuk heaved a louder sigh, neither of relief nor grief, ascending from his spot, preparatorily to become a guide to the prince.

yet at that moment, yedam turned his head to the boy holding his hands so affectionately, and beseeched again. "take me home, haruto."

jaehyuk halted in his motions, the blood started circling in haruto's veins once again, enlivening him.

the host could not influence the member of the royal family, did not dare to contradict his decision, his rank among the ethereal creatures being too low. with a foreboding much strengthened inside him, he watched from behind as two figures moved further and further away from the rape seeds field.

"choose wisely, my prince. do not let your own desires conceal the higher purpose."

he thought, retreating back inside his shack.

// ✧ //