My Name is Written in Your Past✅

EP 13 Is this it?

Joong felt surprised but it wasn't a feeling that belonged to him. It was dream Joong's. It wasn't a good kind of surprise. His father had heard of the rumours that he had a secret lover and he was furious. 

"Father, these are all rumours. You do know jealousy spreads contempt. It is nothing new to hear rumours about me." Prince Joong tried to appease his father. 

"Rumours die down but this is spreading like wild fire. People are believing it like it's the truth! Do you know how unbecoming it is of the crown prince to have such rumours?!" The king roared. 

"Father, please. You would believe mere strangers over your own son?" Prince Joong pleaded once again. 

"It's because I believe in you, we need to set the record straight. You will be marrying Princess Kapook from the west in a fortnight. You've been betrothed to her long enough. I think it is time. I had wanted to give you more time to explore the world before marriage and taking the throne but it seems that we need to move things ahead of time." Prince Joong paled at the order.

"Father-" The king held his arm up to stop his speech. 

"This is final." He gave Joong no room to argue but to follow as instructed. Prince Joong had flung the chair against the wall in anger, frustration and despair after his father left the room. He walked towards it, looking at the broken pieces that once resembled a chair. It was exactly how he felt. He felt broken inside.  

How was he going to tell his beloved that the day has finally come?

 ***

Dunk shook Joong awake as they needed to get ready to head to the airport. Dunk was surprised when Joong was extra clingy when he woke up. He had held Dunk tightly in his arms and wouldn't let go. 

"You will never leave me, right? No matter what happened, you will never leave me, right?" Joong whispered. He was too shaken by the dream. The lingering fear from dream Joong stuck with him. 

"I will stay by your side as long as I am able to." Dunk hugged him back with a sad smile.

***

Dunk caressed the side of Joong's shoulder as they boarded the plane. He didn't know what spooked Joong. Was it a dream or was it a memory that was surfacing? He didn't know how to ask. Neither did Joong know whether to tell Dunk. That drunken confession that Dunk made had planted a thought in him that his Dunk could be the Prince Dunk from his dreams. 

Did it mean he killed himself to avoid the arranged marriage? 

So many questions twirling in his head. He decided to sleep it off, hoping the dreams would bring him some answers. 

***

Joong saw Prince Dunk under the cherry blossom tree. He wore a sad knowing smile the moment he saw dream Joong. He made love to Prince Dunk that night at a punishing pace. For all the power that his title carried, he was helpless when it came to love. He wanted to fight, he wanted to defy his father's decree but Prince Dunk's quiet acceptance irked him. 

Prince Dunk had seen it all. He was the 9th child after all. His elder brothers and sisters had all reacted differently to their title. While most of them accepted, there were also some who rebelled and defied, leading to some who were exiled. He had seen the consequences. He knew that dream Joong wasn't ready for it. His love for him was far too great to allow him to make such mistake. Dream Joong had laid a gentle kiss on his lips to apologize for taking his anger out on him. 

Prince Joong reminded himself that they should be spending their last moment together remembering their love for each other. The last time he made love to him was a round of slow tender love, as he etched each breath, each move, each sound to his memory as they savoured their last moment together.

They parted under the cherry blossom tree. 

"Bai loong, neng zai chui yi qu ma (white dragon, can you play one last tune)?" Prince Dunk nodded as he conjured a flute out of thin air. Melody filled the air as it echoed Prince Dunk's thoughts and feeling. 

***

Joong felt the tears at the corner of his eyes as he woke up. He was lucky that Dunk slept soundly beside him. He didn't notice a thing. Joong couldn't begin to understand. 

If they had both accepted their fate, what changed? 

He looked at Dunk as he slept peacefully. He realized he had gotten slimmer than the first time they met. He looked a little pale. He wondered if Dunk was sick but they were already on the flight to Suzhou. Hopefully, he would feel better when they touch down. He sighed as his thoughts went back to his dream. He really was curious as to what happened to Prince Dunk and dream him. 

Was he the reincarnation of Crown Prince Joong? How did Dunk become blind? 

~Please vote if you like this EP. It drives me forward. Khoorp khun na kha~

Do comment to let me know your thoughts. 😊😊 

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A/N: Here's the lyric to the tune. I have to say that I'm amazed that this song reflect like almost 100% of how Prince Dunk thoughts and feelings in that scene. If you are interested in listening: