The Next Prince, Chapter 16 pg1
The Next Prince, Chapter 16 pg1
Chapter 16: Lives Hanging on a Thread.
By: CEO ft. Ennice.
Morning passed to noon and breakfast and lunch went and gone, Khanin sat up in bed to allow an old friend he hadn't seen in some time to talk deeply.
His restful sleep was hindered by the accumulated stress in his body.
Khanin felt like he saw the image of himself and his father in a nightmare, there were good times... and the last moments before they parted ways. The image of Tattanai looking at the closed door disappeared gradually.
Khanin woke up suddenly from his deep sleep without knowing how long had passed. His body was quiet. He could feel the humidity around his eyes but didn't think to wipe it away.
He sat up, breathing lightly with a melancholic feeling that was as heavy as a large cloud sitting in his chest. Khanin needed something to hold onto, so he grabbed a piece of caramel candy from his bag.
Caramel candy… He contemplated the candy for a while. He usually used this kind of candy as a support when he wasn't feeling well emotionally. But this time, he hesitated.
He felt scared... Scared that the familiar sweetness would make him feel even more painful because he thought of... Tattanai.
The sound of the opening door snapped Khanin back to reality. He didn't eat the candy; he put it back in his bag as before. Some people came in, but they didn't talk to each other.
Khanin didn't say anything, but Charan, who was very observant, moved closer and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I'm just...”
“...having a nightmare.”
The young man didn't say more. He remained silent and looked down, leaving the other person to ask what was wrong.
“Just what?”
“It's nothing... Did you finish talking with Phii Itthi?”
Khanin changed the subject on purpose, and of course, Charan noticed something was wrong with him but didn't ask any more questions.
“Go to bed, then.”
“Okay, good night.” The owner of the house, who didn't pay much attention, didn't say anything else. It was not strange for them to change to sleep at this time since they usually worked at night.
The person who came looking for conversation went back when he noticed
Khanin stood up, determined to flee to take a bath in the tub to feel refreshed.
Charan didn't say anything; he just looked back at the backpack of the young man lying on the desk next to the bed.
The young man saw it all, the reddened eyes, the embarrassed posture, as he picked up a caramel candy to look at it. If he had to guess, the other side probably had some history with Tattanai in this matter, and for a moment, was being torn apart by memories and longing to do something.
He knew this because there were several caramel candies stuck in the backpack. If Tattanai brought that up, it must be important to Khanin. Charan did not think that the other side's emotional instability was a weakness.
On the contrary... he felt like he understood the other side too much. There was nothing he could do except wait for it to subside gradually...
His eyes followed the bathroom door as it closed. A sigh escaped him as he realized there was nothing he could do for Khanin. However, even so, he chose to do something instead of just letting the situation pass by, even if he didn't know if it would make a difference.
Khanin came out of the bathroom again after soaking himself in the water until he was limp. The tension still lingered, but at least it seemed better than before. The young man glanced at his roommate, who looked like a powerful businessman more than anything else.
In reality, Charan was just like everything else... except a guard
Khanin's footsteps moved towards the bed, hesitatingly looking at someone else who was fidgeting with anxieties. Charan half-sat, half-lay on the bed, staring off into space. Meanwhile, the younger one acted no different from a cat playing with a string.
The cat didn't care if its owner played with it or not.
The young man didn't even realize how close he had gotten to Charan. Living together for many days and nights had dissolved the distance and walls that used to be there without them realizing it.
The smell of soap and shampoo from the younger one's body invaded Charan's senses, touching his nerves. He didn't lift his face or eyes from what he was doing, but knew that the distance between them was small.
“I'm watching the train schedule.” said the older one without waiting for Khanin to ask. The younger one cocked his head slightly and sat closer, making room... for the wind to pass through.
“Is your wound better now?”
“Uh, it's healed.” The answer made the younger one furrow his brows. Khanin wondered if the doctor was a superhero or something... how could he heal so quickly?
Khanin didn't think he was weak, but he did remember one time when he was helping his father cook, and accidentally cut himself with a knife. He remembered how difficult it was as the wound took almost a week to heal, and it was smaller than Charan's.
He didn't want to think about what it would be like if he were the injured person this time, becoming a burden for others.
...
“The weather forecast says it won't rain tomorrow. We'll travel at night, and my influence will send us to the train station.” Charan still hadn't forgotten about the sky, rain, and their journey to Emmaly. Khanin accepted the words in silence, sinking into his own thoughts about what would happen in the future.
He didn't know.
His strained lips met each other's in a shade of reddish-brown. Khanin fluttered his eyes open slightly, not realizing when the other person had gotten up from the bed and was standing in front of him with something in hand.
“Hmm.” Khanin glanced at the young man's ice cream cup and stopped frowning slightly when he met the gaze of the tall person staring at him. Charan did not explain anything, and the other person continued to hold it still until his arm had to give in and reluctantly reached out to take it.
The important thing about the ice cream... is the orange flavor.
‘Next time, get the orange flavor.’
‘Hmm?’
‘I like orange-flavored ice cream more than coffee.’
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