Happy Ever After

What Happened on the Helipad

Mindy fixed the last button on Bright's cape. She takes a step back to check if she has missed any buttons or creases but as usual her handiwork was perfect. It did not hurt that the prince looks the way he does, as if molded for royal attire.

Mindy has always felt proud every time she got to help Bright into his formal wear, like she lent a hand in making sure the Kingdom of Guntithanon was represented well.

But this morning, all she felt was crestfallen because Bright was obviously breaking into pieces. It was clear as day that he did not want to leave the castle. But what was a crown prince to do but to obey? Especially this crown prince who had been true to his duty for as long as Mindy could remember.

She squeezes his palm ever so quickly. He looks at her, a film of sadness over his brown eyes. 

"It's time Your Highness. The King and the Queen are waiting."

Bright nods.  He fixes his face into its usual stoic mask.

Mindy cannot bring herself to let him do this without saying anything. "Your Highness!," she calls out.

Bright turns back to look at her, emotionless.

Mindy takes a breath. This was probably treason but- "The Kingdom matters. But so do you." She takes a breath. "Remember that."

Bright simply nods and walks with his guards to the helipad.

He gets there quite fast and finds his parents in front of the helicopter, drinking tea on a small dining table and acrylic chairs.

"Bright, you're finally here."

"Do you want some tea, my Love? Or would you like to fly now? Your future awaits."

Up until that moment, Bright was sure he was doing the right thing. The dutiful thing. Metawin wanted him to go. His parents wanted him to go. The Kingdom needed him to go. So he would go.

But was this really the future he wanted?

They did say it was his...

And the undeniable truth is: No. It wasn't what he wanted.

Even if Metawin did not see a future with him, for Bright there was no other path. He'd rather wait and end up waiting for nothing than denying himself the chance at his true love.

He matters too. His heart matters too.

"I cannot go."

The King blinks. "Let's go then - what?"

"Father, I cannot go."

The King is stunned speechless. The Queen is the one who asks: "What's the matter, Love?"

"Me. I matter. Who I love matters."

"Of course it does," The Queen says, confused. "We're not forcing you to marry Princess Lita. It is simply a date."

"I cannot date anyone else."

"Bright, lineage is part of our duty. You have the luxury of finding love in this family. But you do not have the luxury of killing off the blood line."

"I have already found love."

The King is perplexed now. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Unnecessary theatrics. Who is she?"

"He."

A pause. "All right then. Who is he?"

"Metawin Teepakorn."

"The Teepakorn boy? Have you lost your mind?"

"Father, please. Surely, you have forgiven them by now. It's been so long."

"Forgiveness is -"

Bright does the unthinkable and cuts of the King. "And if you cannot forgive his father, what is Metawin's fault? Why is he in the same boat when he committed no crime and has been enduring everyone's judgement for years?"

King Jumpol Guntithanon closes his eyes and sighs. He has tried to be a fair father to his children, especially to his eldest. The crown weighs very heavily on the one who wears it and that has always been Bright's burden. All this years, he has carried it well.  He rarely complained and he always fell in step. But even then Jumpol knew love would be tricky, it always was. He was prepared for a curveball - like a commoner, or a man, or a foreigner. But Metawin Teepakorn? Jumpol Guntithanon was not prepared for that. Was this really the cross his son wanted to bear?

"Son," he says. "Anyone you choose to be your partner will be put under great scrutiny. It's part and parcel of being who you are. Even if you turn your back on the monarchy, even if you decide to give up the throne - who you are will dictate that your partner will be put under a microscope. You know how hard it is for me and your mother. Years after our marriage , two children later and there is still commentary on the Queen coming from a warring country. And that is just different nationalities. Can you imagine the talk if you were to be with the son of a traitor? Can you imagine what you will be put through?"

Bright holds his head steady and firm, unwilling to feel anything but determined. "If I still choose him, will you stop me?"

The King is about to answer but Queen Atthaphan squeezes his hand. "My King, it was hard for us, that is true. But wouldn't you say it was worth it too?"

The King softens. "Every day with you is worth it, my Queen. But is it really something we want our children to experience?"

"If that is what they want, yes My King. But the difference is, they will have their parents' support."

Bright cannot believe his ears. Were his parents giving him their blessing?  "Are you saying, I can be with Meta?"

"Define 'be with' - because we are not going to go through all this trouble for a fling," the King says with an arch of an eyebrow.

"How much does he mean to you?," asks the Queen.

"I love him," Bright says.  It's the first time he's ever said it. And it hits him just how true the words were.

He never knew what love was, never thought it could mean so much but now? It meant the world. It meant life. For the first time, something mattered more than duty or responsibility. Bright loves Metawin. There is no greater truth.

Queen Atthaphan looks over at King Jumpol. The King nods his head with a sigh and the Queen beams at her only son. She then takes him into his arms and holds him tight. "Then you have our blessings and our support." She smiles at her husband. "I guess this means we're flying to Europe alone, Jumpol."

"Not so fast!," the King says, startling the queen and the prince. "I still need an heir, Bright. That is not negotiable. You need to produce an heir as soon as possible."

"Father!"

"Technologies exist now, Bright! There are studies on semen and - "

"I am not listening to this."

"No, no we will talk about semen," King Jumpol insists.

"Mom!" Bright turns to the Queen, begging her to put a stop to this conversation.

"Jumpol, we have made the pilots wait enough. You can talk to Bright about this when we return."

Bright shakes his head vigorously. " No. No we will not."

"Just say yes." Queen Atthaphan hisses as she pushes the King towards the helicopter. "Can someone call Tia, we're very late."

"And I have read about this thing kids call the Omegaverse," the King says loudly.

"Jumpol! What have you been reading on the Internet again??!"

Bright takes that as his cue to quietly slip away.