The Tale of the Princess and EXO Knights [ON HOLD]

Chapter 26 - Broken

Lee Ji Hyun's POV

My head was pounding like crazy. My body felt like it was torn to pieces. It was much much worse than when I used my power back at Prague. Did the magic took it's toll on me? I couldn't think much as I felt a set of warm hands holding my right hand tightly as if that person noticed that I was awake. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times before I turned to my right.
"Hey", I gave him a small smile. Although my vision was still a bit blurry, I knew for sure that that person was Luhan.
"Oh thank goodness, you're alive", he held my hand tighter. There was a relief in his voice. He looked mess up as if he didn't sleep for a month. His eyes were weary and his hair was a mess.
     "You look like you just lost a billion dollar lottery", I joked.
     He let out a small chuckle and sighed.
     "I'd rather lose a billion dollar lottery than this. I thought I lost you", his face grew weary again.
I blushed at his words. He really did care that much for me. At that moment, I realized that our fight before meant nothing. Because whatever happened, he would always be there for me. I could feel my cheeks heating up even more at that thought.
     "What happened?", I changed the subject immediately as I tried to get up. I also curious of what happened. The last thing I remember was a bright light and the warmth on my body before it went cold.
     "Take it easy", he said as he helped me sit.
     "What happened?", I asked again because he didn't answer the first time. My whole body was still sore, but I tried to ignore it as my curiosity got the best of me.
     "You used your power too much and it took a lot of your energy", he answered with a sigh. "You had a nose bleed and your body went pale and cold as ice", he added as his face grew sad.
     I squeezed his hand to comfort him and felt guilty for making him like that. Then I remember the reason why I used that much power.
     "Xanthos. What happened to him? My parents... where...", I couldn't finish my question as Luhan cut me off. My head was already flooded with questions before I could even draw another breath.
     "Ssh... Calm down, alright? Xanthos and Vexan are both gone. You defeated them", he explained to calm me down.
     I sighed in relief. Although I couldn't believe it at that moment, I was happy that it was finally over. No more Xaroxian.
     "And my parents?", I asked again as my heart anticipated a bad news.
     "They're alright. They're in the living room with the others right now", he answered.
     "Oh thank God!", I let out a big sigh as my body relaxed at his answer. It could've gone bad. I was thankful that our plan went smoothly. "I want to see them".
      Luhan's face changed suddenly. He looked like he was about to say something, but then contemplated to say it or not.
     "What happened?", I added. I knew something's wrong. I knew it. Nothing would work out perfectly. Nothing was since the day I was born. I lost my parents, my best friend, and my fiancé. Then I realized that I failed to protect my people in the past. I even lost the very person who trusted me the most because of my stupidity.
     "Your parents...", he hesitated. "... your parents don't remember anything about you. They don't even know they have a daughter. Xanthos brainwashed them to forget all about you".
     Of course they didn't remember about me. If they did, they must have looking for me. Right? They had to. I didn't know how I should feel. Sad because they didn't remember anything about me or happy because they wouldn't have to be apart of this crazy things about my past life.
     "I'm sorry", Luhan added as he wiped a tear that rolled out of my eyes. I didn't even notice that I was crying.
     "I want to meet them", I took a deep breath and tried to stay strong.
     "Are you sure? You're still recovering", Luhan said worriedly.
     I nodded and he finally sighed before he stood up and helped me walk to the living room. Until that moment, I didn't even realize that it was noon and the weather was quiet nice. The sun shone through the window on the end of the corridor and it was nice to feel it on my skin. I felt like I haven't feel them for a long time.
     When we reached the door of the living room, I noticed that the others were doing their usual things. It was like nothing had happened in the past 24 hours. Then there they were. Sat across Suho was a middle-aged couple who wore oversized bright-colored shirts.
     I took a halt when I saw them. Luhan noticed this and knew instantly that I needed to take a breath. I did before I stood straight and nodded at Luhan to tell him that I was ready.
     As we walked in, the room went dead silence and all of them stopped what they were doing to look at me. I noticed some sympathetic look on their eyes. I gave them a smile to let them know that I'm okay. But they still looked like they couldn't breath. As if their breath alone could knock me off.
     "I'm fine guys! You all can breath now", I said with a small chuckle.
     "Noona!", Sehun shouted before ran toward me and pulled me into a hug.
     I chuckled and hugged him back. Second later, one by one, they came and hugged us until we were finally having a group hug with me and Sehun in the middle of it. I was touched by their affection toward me. Turned out, I wasn't completely alone. I had them and I always will.
      "Okay okay! That's enough! She can't breath", Luhan shouted as he tried to get me out of the group hug. He wasn't a part of the hug because Sehun pushed him away accidentally when he hugged me.
     "Ey, Hyung. Just say that you're jealous that...", Baekhyun said to tease Luhan.
     Luhan laughed nervously after he cut him off by grabbing Baekhyun by his head and covered his mouth. I swore I saw Luhan blushed for a moment there. He was actually blushing. We all laughed at this before the middle-aged couple went forward and we could see one another clearly. The room went silence once again as we all noticed the awkwardness of the situation.
     "Hyung, we still have that thing we need to finish, right?", Chanyeol said out of a sudden to Suho.
     "Huh? What?", Suho was clearly didn't expect this. "Right. Yeah. That thing. Right. Let's go", he added before they left the room in a hurry.
     Second later, all of them were making excuses altogether that I didn't even hear any of them. They just left in a hurry after said a few things. Luhan was clearly wanted to stay but, Xiumin and Sehun dragged him out of the room with them while said their own excuses.
     "It's okay", I mouthed before he was completely out of my sight. With him gone, I was completely alone with two strangers in front of me.
     "Is it true? You're my daughter?", the middle-aged woman asked as she stepped forward. I noticed her gray hair and some wrinkles around her eyes.
     I nodded slightly. Seconds later, she already pulled me on her embrace as she cried. I was so surprised that I couldn't even process what just happened.
     "I'm sorry. Oh... my daughter... I should've known. I should've...", she sobbed. "It's all mistake. I should've known. All this time, I felt that there was something missing in my life. I should've known that it was you".
     "It's not your fault", I hugged her and stroked her back to calm her down. I could feel tears built up in my eyes. I tried to hold them because I didn't want to upset them even more.
     "She's right. It isn't your fault. It's mine. What kind of a father, am I? I always dismiss you when you told me that something was missing from our lives. I'm.... I'm such an idiot", the middle-aged man suddenly joined in our conversation as he fell onto his knees and broke into tears. He even hit his own chest out of desperation. I kneel in front of him and hold his hand.
     "Stop... please! It's not your fault either. It's because of me. I am the one who brought you harm. Xanthos did those things to you because of who I am. Because of who I was", I burst into tears.
     "Oh... my daughter", he pulled me into his embrace. I hugged him back before my mom joined us. We held onto each other for a moment. For that moment, I could see the future I prayed for a long time ago. Back when I didn't know about any of this magic and past life. But, I know I have come to accept that without all of it, I would never found my parents in the first place.
As our emotions subsided, I let them go and wipe my tears away. I could hear a bunch of whispers in the other room and got reminded of them.
"You guys can come out now if you want!"
For a second, I thought no one would come out. Then, Tao and Sehun suddenly came out of the kitchen by pushing each other to go first like five years old boys. The rest of the boys in their heels with Luhan being the last. He looked at me worriedly and I smiled in return.
"So... everything's good?", Suho finally asked the question that was in everyone's mind in that moment.
"Everything's perfect", I smiled as I hold my parents on my arms once more.
"So tonight's call for a celebration then", Suho said.
"Party!", Kai shouted as the rest of them joined in the excitement. Except for Luhan, that still looked at me worriedly.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lee, you're gonna stay for the party, right?", Luhan asked which suddenly turned all the attention back from the whole party idea.
"Well, we're really happy to join you, but we need a change of clothes and a shower before that. These clothes are good, but they're just not appropriate for our age", Mom pointed out her oversized red shirt with a white hexagon-maze in the front.
"A nap also would be nice. We haven't been able to rest since that monster took us from our house", Dad added which made me realize that they did look tired.
"Of course! You can rest in my room for now. I'll take you back home after lunch", I suggested and they both nodded in response.
"Okay! That settles it then! We're having a party tonight!", Chen said as he sing the 'party' word in a melody. The rest of them shouted in excitement again. Except for Luhan, who still looked at me worriedly. Did he knew what I was thinking?
As the boys busied themselves in party preparation, I took my parents to my room. It felt like a long time ago since I woke up in this room with twelve handsome boys surrounded me. It used to be Kris' room. Nothing has changed ever since. Even the bedsheet still smell like him. Kris. I couldn't help but thinking about him.
"You should rest too, darling", Mom pulled me out of my thought.
"I will. Just get some rest now, okay? I'll wake you up for lunch", I said before I closed the bedroom door.
I could hear the others arguing and shouting in the living room. I wanted to join their excitement and happiness. After all, Xanthos was dead and we got the grimoire. But instead, I found myself slumping to the ground. With my back against the corridor wall, I closed my eyes and sighed. How could I celebrate while Kris still out there? Lost. Because of me. I opened my eyes when I heard footsteps approaching.
"Are you okay?", Luhan asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Just tired", I lied.
He sat down beside me. "I miss him too", he said as if he could read my mind.
I turned to him and gave him a weak smile.
  "I just thought that, with the grimoire, I could break the curse, bring him back and restore Exo Planet. But, I knew it shouldn't be that easy".
"The road to greatness is paved one stone at a time", he whispered. "Read that somewhere. But I agree with it. See, The Great Wall wasn't build in a day".
"I know. I just...", I couldn't even finish that sentence.
"It's okay. We'll take one step at a time", he reached for my hand and held it on his own. "Together".
I smiled and just like that, I felt like everything wouldn't be so difficult anymore. For a moment, our gazes locked and it was enough to spark something that wasn't there before. My hand was still on his grip as my heart involuntarily beating faster than usual. As we got closer, I noticed more clearly how his eyes sparkle and how his lips...
"Hey, you guys want chicken or beef?", Kyungsoo suddenly barged in and realized that he was interrupting something.
I pulled away and stood up immediately. Luhan did the same and the three of us stood there awkwardly for a moment.
"You know what? We're just gonna order both", Kyungsoo added hastily before he mouthed sorry to Luhan and basically ran out of the corridor.
"Um, we should help them", I said trying to break the awkwardness.
"Yeah... right... let's go", he said trying not to be awkward and failed miserably.