His Empress and I

The Party (Preview)

Soldier's POV

I asked her to dance when the DJ played the music that I sang an hour ago.

"TL, let's dance." I held her hand and gently dragged her to the dance floor.

"It's your song." She said while I placed her hands to my shoulders.

I laughed and I smoothly sang along with the song while looking at her eyes.

"Oh, kay gandang pagmasdan
Ang iyong mga mata
Kumikinang-kinang
'Di ko maintindihan

Ang iyong mga tingin
Labis ang mga ningning
Langit ay bumaba
Bumababa pala ang tala"

She laughed at my gestures. She looked at me like I was a child.

Well of course, technically I was 5 years younger than her but I don't mind. I really never cared about it. I just hoped that she would stop treating me as her younger brother or friend.

Some of the guests started to go to the center floor and danced. It's a bit dark in the venue but I can clearly see her face through the indirect lighting. I can see that she's a bit blushing, maybe because of the bottles of wine that we've been drinking with our colleagues on our table.

And I guess I'm also turning red because of how close we are now with each other.

"Tumingin ka sa aking mga mata
At hindi mo na kailangan pang
Magtanong nang paulit-ulit
Ikaw lang ang iniibig

At kung 'di kumbinsido'y magtiwala ka
Hawakan ang puso't maniwala
Na ikaw lang ang s'yang inibig
Ikaw lang ang iibigin"

I'm still looking straight at her while singing the song. She laughed again. She just thought that I was fooling around.

"I think you're a bit drunk." She said

"At sa iyong paglalambing
Ako ay nahulog din
'Di ko alam kung ano ang gagawin
'Di ko alam kung saan titingin

Halik sa labi
Tinginan natin
'Di akalaing
Mahuhulog ka sa 'kin"

I really love how the music played smoothly while her hands were on my shoulders and mine was on her waist. How I wished the music would just have played for hours so we don't have to leave the floor. How I wish to dance with her forever.

I bowed my head a little so my forehead could touch hers. I think my heart would burst because of what I did and I'm afraid that she would move her head away. But she just let it. Somehow I'm thankful that she was a bit tipsy. I guessed the alcohol made her too lazy to move away from me.

"Tumingin ka sa aking mga mata
At hindi mo na kailangan pang
Magtanong nang paulit-ulit
Ikaw lang ang iniibig

At kung 'di kumbinsido'y magtiwala ka
Hawakan ang puso't maniwala
Na ikaw lang ang s'yang inibig
Ikaw lang ang iibigin, sinta"

She didn't know how long I had waited for this moment. A thousand years, endless worlds...

I know that she didn't remember anything about me.

How I loved her even though I was just a soldier. I confessed to her lifetimes ago and I know that I was never meant for her. Never. How I wish that I was in the Emperor's place.

I really wonder why the Emperor was not doing anything during these 31 years of their current lifetime. If I knew that he wouldn't make a move for those 31 years, I should have come to her life sooner. I regretted that I was a coward for the past 31 years. I was so afraid that if I came to her first, the Emperor would suddenly take his place... as the Empress destined lover.

They've been sharing a thousand lifetimes together and I was just at the corner of their lifetime. Watching, hoping and loving the Empress secretly. I'm happy loving her even though she doesn't love me back at all. That's how loyal my heart is.

For now, I'll just enjoy every moment I have with the Empress while the Emperor is not here yet.

My heart's only wish is that it would take him a lot longer please... don't come sooner.

I lift my head and look at her again.

"My Empress"

"What?" I guess she didn't hear me due to the loud music.

A sudden jolt of emotions struck me. I was a bit shaking and I could feel my heart ache. I can... I can feel him. I think he was around. My eyes were tearing due to his presence.

My eyes wandered around the room and there! I saw him standing at the corner. He was here. He was here all the time.

"At sa paglisan nang araw, akala'y 'di ka mahal
At ang nadarama'y hindi magtatagal
Malay ko bang hindi magpapagal
Iibigin kita kahit ga'no pa katagal"

I think she felt uneasy because of my sudden reaction. She touched my face.

"Are you okay? You're sweating. What's wro- "

She stopped. And her reaction seems that she also felt his presence. Her face was full of longing and sadness. She's also a bit shaky. She felt his presence. Even he was not in her memories. Her body remembered the Emperor. Of course they are the fated partner. I felt envious how her body automatically remembered him. I felt my heart shattered. I can't help not to cry at that moment.

She lifted her head and automatically followed where my eyes were stuck.

It was like slow motion but I subconsciously stopped her from moving her head towards him. I held her face and made her look straight into my eyes.

"Tumingin ka sa aking mga mata
At hindi mo na kailangan pang
Magtanong nang paulit-ulit
Ikaw lang ang iniibig

At kung 'di kumbinsido'y magtiwala ka
Hawakan ang puso't maniwala
Na ikaw lang ang s'yang inibig
Ikaw lang ang iibigin"

I know that they are the one destined to each other but please oh dear lord of destiny and lifetime, I hope that you're listening to me...please not now. Please don't allow them to meet yet. I know that I'm selfish but please let me have her even for a few years more. I will never ask for anything. Just allow me to stay longer with her in this lifetime.

"Y-You're crying." She said while looking at me.

I gently touch her face and wipe her tears.

"You too... You too."

She chuckled while wondering why there were tears on her cheeks.

I smiled and I looked at that corner.

The Emperor was already gone.