The King's Court

VIII

"What?" Biglang napatayo si Mark sa kinauupuan niya at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin. He glared at Nikolas and Leon. 

"You can't possibly go with these...people, Evelyn" dagdag pa niya. Napahilot ako sa sentido ko. I knew this would happen. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have called Mark over here. 

"I need to go with them, Mark," saad ko at tumayo na rin para harapin siya. 

But Mark shook his head and ran a frustrated hand over his hair.

"If you're going, then I am going with you. Saan ba kayo pupunta?" 

"That would not be possible, Markus," said Nikolas and stood. 

Masamang tiningnan siya ni Mark but Nikolas doesn't look a bit concerned. Unsurprising.

"Even if we bring you with us, it won't be possible," Nikolas added. 

"My name is Mark and not Markus. And you can't tell me what to do. Is it far? I can drive all of you there. Just tell me and it is done."

Nikolas' eyes narrowed at Mark. I sensed the tension the moment they met and I knew it would come to this point sooner or later. They stared at each other a beat more and even though they were not talking, I knew a silent argument was taking place in their rigid stance.

I rolled my eyes. Men are all the same--kings, princes, or ordinary men--they like carving out little plots of territory and lording over them. I can never understand that primal male urge.

Tiningnan ko si Leon at nakangisi lang itong nakatingin kina Nikolas at Mark as if he was looking at the most entertaining thing in the world. When he sensed me staring at him, his grin faded. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at pinandilatan ng mata, hoping he would get the message I was trying to convey. 

He clapped his hands and stood as he cleared his throat. "Well, then. Perhaps, taking Markus with us will be helpful."

Nope. 

He did not get the message I was trying to convey at all. 

"Leon, what on earth are you talking about?" tanong ko sa kanya. I wanted him to stop Mark from coming. He can never go with us. He should not be coming with us!

Mercifully, his statement broke the tension between Nikolas and Mark and this time, nakatingin na rin ang dalawa sa kanya. 

"I mean...I could use his help in building--"

"Absolutely not," Nikolas said. "He is not coming with us. He is not allowed to. And we're not even sure if we can bring him there." 

"I agree," tugon ko dahilan para mabaling ang atensyon nila sa akin. Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin si Mark sa 'kin. He looked like I had just stabbed him with my statement. 

"Eve, what are you talking about? Why can't you let me go with you? Where are you all going? Alam ba 'to ng mga magulang mo?"

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it again. How the hell am I supposed to explain to him that we're not going to just another city or another country? For god's sake, we are going to another universe--another world and it is as insane as it sounds! 

"I will tell my parents when I see them and I forbid you to tell them, Mark. Hayaan mo akong ako ang magsabi sa kanila," I said. My voice was more stern than I intended it to be. 

I could see Mark was surprised to hear it from me but then I quickly grabbed his hand. 

"Mark, please. Do you trust me?" 

I heard Nikolas let out a groan--sign that he was getting impatient. 

"I trust you, Eve, you know that. But I don't trust them." He pointed to Nikolas.