The Next Prince, Chapter 10 pg3
The Next Prince, Chapter 10 pg3
“I understand perfectly, but if you don't eat anything, you'll get sick.”
“Are you saying this because you care or because it's your duty?” The younger boy snapped back. Charan's eyes met with the white man's who had been silent for a long time, until someone else let out a soft laugh.
“Oh, if I were to die, you would have a hard time.” The sarcastic tone was clear that someone intentionally wanted to start something, but Charan didn't bother answering and took a deep breath before saying a few words to stop the awkwardness.
“I'm saying this because of Tattanai.” Although part of what Khanin thought was true, the main reason why he had to agree to do this was because some people were willing to sacrifice themselves for others.
Tattanai loved this child very much, and he didn't want what that person did to go to waste.
“...”
“I don't want what he did to... “
“Don't say it out loud, you... you shouldn't talk about my father like that!” Khanin pointed at Charan with trembling lips. “If you saw what he really did, why didn't you let me go back - why?!”
“Because you would be in danger.”
“I'm not afraid.”
“But Tattanai wouldn't want it to be like that, he wants you to be safe.” The tall house owner knew well that mentioning Tattanai's desires would carry significant weight and might help calm Khanin down.
The younger boy slowly closed his eyes, the long hours of no rest and no food causing him to feel dizzy. Khanin couldn't resist anymore and gave in to sleep.
Charan quietly observed, switching the food box for a bag of plant-based bread and a carton of milk. He placed it closer to the younger boy before letting the other side begin to eat the small, silent meal.
His tongue was numb to taste. Khanin didn't feel the soft and fluffy texture of the bread. The younger boy seemed to be eating to sustain himself, breathing.
“We'll be here for another two or three days.” After the milk and two slices of bread were finished, Charan mentioned something important that Khanin needed to know.
“Why?”
“Because the situation outside is still not safe. I have to keep you hidden, as your father intended.”
As it concerned Tattanai, Khanin didn't resist any further. The younger boy just looked down and thought before diverting his gaze from the man, his tall figure stumbling against a familiar backpack.
“Did you pick it up?” The young boy remembered that he had accidentally dropped it during the incident with Tattanai, and because the situation before was chaotic, he didn't have a chance to notice if anyone else picked it up.
“Your essentials are in there.”
As Charan said, everything that was essential for Khanin's survival was in this backpack. The young boy approached and checked the contents.
“Do you know what's inside?”
“I know.” The young boy answered confidently because he was familiar with this backpack.
“Where are you going, father? Why did you bring the backpack?”
“This backpack doesn't belong to me, but it belongs to you. I am giving it to you for your travels.”
“Passport? Painkillers? Money? Caramel candy? Where am I going?”
“I haven't given you permission to go yet but we always have to be prepared.”
The conversation brought back memories that made the young boy feel overwhelmed again. Back then, Khanin used to question and wonder why Father always told him to be prepared and ready all the time.
He never understood and came up with his own reasons that Father just liked to do things quickly, so they wouldn't waste time collecting items when they traveled abroad together. But he never imagined that everything would fall into this situation. He only began to understand many things on this day that seemed too late.
Tattanai might have known that something like this could happen, but he never spoke about it to make him aware.
A guilty conscience...
“I'll keep it myself.” The person who was lost in thought whispered softly. Khanin raised his hand, rubbed his face and took a deep breath before getting up and retreating to the corner of the room without waiting for an answer.
“Um.” Charan didn't say anything because he could see the young boy's posture. Khanin picked up the backpack and hugged it tightly, knowing that the other party might want to use it as a substitute for the warmth of the person who left.
They were all in a rectangular room with limited space, filled with various things. Charan glanced briefly at the younger boy, but didn't get too involved with Khanin. Although he wanted to ask him a few questions, in the end he just let it go.
Time could heal wounds in the heart. Charan believed in that...
The sky outside began to change color. The sun had set, and it was time for another visit during the night when the tall figure got up and went into the bathroom to take care of his personal business.
Charan allowed the water to hit his body while his ears listened for any sounds from outside. It was almost silent, with only slight movements indicating that someone else was still there.
The tall figure grabbed a towel and went out again to find that the younger boy had fallen asleep. The light in the room was turned off, and in the darkness, he saw Khanin sleeping with his backpack hugged close to him, looking away in another direction.
The younger boy's breathing was steady. The small house owner took the space on the left side of the bed, leaving the other side empty. Charan lay down slowly, trying not to disturb the other person's sleep. In truth, the young man was not used to sleeping in the same bed with anyone... but when booking a hotel, there was no option to request separate beds.
They had no choice but to share a queen-sized bed.
Charan considered this as part of his duty...
The tall figure closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, while some others slowly sank into their dreams, and the younger boy gradually became comfortable in the darkness.
Khanin let his eyes adjust to the darkness. The boy stopped moving to observe and waited anxiously for a moment before getting up from the bed. He walked straight to the door, being careful not to make any noise. Khanin waited quietly for almost five minutes to make sure that no one would wake up, then he quickly slipped out of the room unnoticed...
Khanin made a decision to escape... He didn't want Charan to take him back to Emmaly, so the only option was to take himself far away.
The closest destination for Khanin at this moment is the train station. He walks hurriedly, choosing main roads where there are people passing by because he knows that in this situation, being among a crowd of people is the safest option for him.
He doesn't care about anyone as he walks with his head bowed down. He steps up to the last tourist train of the day before hiding in the corner quietly.
Khanin clenches his jaw, thinking only of Paul...
He cannot go back home; it's too risky. The destination on the train ticket tonight is the train station that connects to the accommodation of his close friend. The light around the station is bright enough for him to see. Khanin steps out of the train with a face that reveals his troubled thoughts.
He walks quickly along the pathway, trying to leave the train station before anything important comes to mind. The double-sided walkway that connects to Paul's flat is a residential area, so it's relatively quiet during this chaos.
Khanin has no choice but to move further away from the train station before turning back. His thin body rushes forward as he glances towards Paul's apartment building, which is just two streets away, but in his mind, it feels like kilometers.
The sound of footsteps echoes loudly, and the closer he gets to his destination, the more danger he senses. The young boy looks both ways cautiously.
His heart beats faster in his chest. Khanin decides to reach into his pants pocket and pull out his phone to call someone he knows.
The ringing tone is a constant beat, contrasting with the nervousness in the small boy's heart. Paul does not answer the call, but Khanin is not calm enough to wait.
“Pick up the phone, Paul. Answer!”
The sound of his voice is low as he looks up towards his friend's window. From this angle, he can see the door of the room opening before Paul steps out and stops at the balcony.
The two-layered eyes hid in the wide open space. The young boy was about to scream for help from his best friend, but... Khanin could only do everything in his mind.
“Pa... Ahh!” A sweet voice was blocked by a mysterious hand. Someone dragged the white man to the back, causing the communication device to fall and crash on the ground.
Paul's voice called out from the end of the line.
But this time, the phone owner could only shout in horror, unable to answer as usual...
“Help... Ugh! Ahh!”
“Be quiet.”
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