CLOAKED IN ROYALTY

Chapter Twelve

---

"I...almost went crazy that day." He laughed.

---

Chapter Twelve

I opened my eyes and a sudden blinding light welcomed me. Napapikit akong muli. Just when I managed to adjust to the surrounding, I looked around.

Sa pagkaka-alala ko, nasa kwarto kaming dalawa ni Al. Why am I suddenly outside? This place is full of green grass. The clear sky is blue
with the soft clouds travelling in it. The chirping of the birds can be heard and the atop of the long green grasses are the beautiful butterflies fluttering its wings while swaying. I am probably currently on a top of a hill. Why am I here, though?

"Isn't it cold?"

Agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. I was shocked to see the two people sitting right under a huge tree. The other was properly sitting while the other is lying down and using the former's lap as a pillow.

"No? Why would I feel cold at this warm summer?"

There's a thick long mat under them. The wind blew. The two people under the tree were Al and Julius, the real Julius.

Is this a memory? Of whom? Julius or Al? And most importantly, why am I seeing this?

"How's Mother and Father?" Julius asked and looked up to Al. Napayuko naman si Al kay Julius.

"They're alright. Pero ilang beses nila akong tinanong kung bakit hindi ka raw sumama. Why don't you want to see them?" Al replied.

"It's not that I don't want to see them. I'm just...kinda tired. Lalo na't malayo ang lalakbayin." Julius just shrugged. Al chuckled and he stroked Julius's hair that is being swayed by the wind. "Tired and Lazy has the same meaning on your vocabulary, huh?"

"What? I'm just tired, being lazy is like this." Pabiro pang inabot ni Julius ang pisngi ni Al at kinurot ito.

As expected, these two has a rather close relationship. Tama nga ang hinala ko. Those gossips just probably showed the outside relationship of the both of them.

Kanina pa ako nakatayo rito at nakikinig pero hindi man lang nila ako nakita. Guess this is a memory.

But...where is this, though? Hindi ata malapit sa kaharian ito.

"How about your work, Your Majesty? I thought you're quite busy?" Julius asked.

I saw Al shake his head, "Nothing's more important than you..." He stroked Julius's hair once more and smiled warmly to the latter.

The wind blew once again and out of nowhere, my surrounding darkened. When I opened my eyes, I'm back to the room.

"You're awake?"

I jerked my head to the sound of the voice. I am already properly lying to one side of the bed while he was sitting on the other and stroking my head. He smiled at me. What a refreshing way of waking up.

Looking at his face reminded me of what I saw in my dreams...or perhaps a memory.

Agad akong umupo at inayos ang mukha ko. Baka malay mo't may muta pa pala ako tapos nakabalandara pa sa harap ko ang gwapong mukha ng Mahal na Hari.

Just as when I was fixing myself, a sneaky hand embraced my waist and I heard his warm, deep voice beside my ear. "Are you alright? Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo?"

I comfortably leaned on him, "Ah, feeling okay. Kanina parang masakit pa ang katawan ko pero...maayos na, wala nang masakit." Sinubukan kong itaas ang braso ko at tulad ng hinala ko, hindi na ito masakit. Kahit ang likod ko ay wala na akong kirot na nararamdaman.