CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Song for Chapter: Truth I’m Standing On — Leanna Crawford

THIRD PERSON POV

"No, Father. I'm not going to get married to some Princess," Javier argued.

He was sitting in the private chambers of his father, King Domingo II. The gold carvings surrounding the king's seat made him look all the more imposing.

His Father had dropped by unexpectedly for a visit. An unpleasant one — to Javier at least. He had summoned him right away to his chambers claiming to have important business to speak to him about.

"Javier Miguel, if you want to inherit all that I have someday and take over this throne, then you will do as I say!"

The king's patience had worn out.

But one look at his son's dejected face, took all the heat from his anger.

"Tell me, do you have someone else in mind you want to get married to?" He was willing to at least, listen to what his son had to say.

For a moment, Javier's eyes flickered with hope. He wanted to say that, Sí, yes, there is someone whom I love and who loves me back and is willing to marry me.

But, he couldn't. He thought of the last letter he had written... to Aquilina. He had made his feelings bare unto her. And asked her to spend the rest of her life with him.

He was ready to let go of everything—even his right to the throne.

Sadly, as the other letters he had sent, he got no reply. He couldn't bring harm her way by texting her. Whoever was after his life might be checking on his close contacts — despite the tight security setup.

"No, no tengo, padre," (No, I don't have, father), he admitted, his shoulders drooping.

His father sighed, he couldn't bear to see his son sad—knowing all that he had been through.

"Fine, I'll give you two weeks to think about it before moving forward."

"Just two weeks?"

"Two weeks are enough!"

————————————

Why, Aquilina? Why?

Javier felt his head begin to ache once again.

If only Aquilina could sing for me, he thought.

But that only made him further depressed. No, he needed a distraction. He had spent the whole day worrying about his father's proclamation. He had just two weeks to escape his fate.

And they were going to soon leave for their school's Annual Competitions against other similar schools held in France.

He walked around the garden behind the glasshouse a bit, but it didn't help.

He tried reading a book by his pool as well — hoping that'd be enough of a distraction. But it was to no avail.

He took out his phone... everything looked boring to him. He sighed and decided to try any new app that was on the suggestion list.

Perhaps, I'll find a game.

As he searched, he stumbled upon an app, Friendar.

Interesting name, he thought.

Without reading much about it, he downloaded it.

Soon, the app, Friendar, which actually meant Friend Radar opened up.

They asked him to fill up his details, and he entered his ID number—they needed that to verify that everyone was safe. But they didn't reveal any other detail about the person to the public—it was secure.

He felt so bored that he joined, but not with his current Royal ID. He snatched up the long hidden card he kept secure in his wallet.

The name it read was, Angelo Valerius García. His real name, or rather, the name his mother had given him.

He remembered when he had begged his father to change his name.

~

Five-year-old Angelo walked down the dimly lit palatial hallways leading to his father's office. He knew that they had been dimmed for his sake, as he couldn't bear the glaring lights.

As he walked on, he subconsciously touched the bandage that wrapped his little head. It still hurt.

He knew he shouldn't be roaming about, but he had to see his father. He knew his work gave King Domingo II little room to see his son, though he had tried to be available when he could.

But his young heart had yearned to see his father again.

He is all I have left, he thought to himself.

His mother had deserted him and left with her lover.

Though the servants had been instructed to keep quiet about the subject, there were still whispers. And those whispers were a painful reminder to his young heart.

His mother had left him when he needed her most.

She had been lovely, and so had everyone said. And Angelo knew it to be true. But he willed his young heart to forget every little detail about her.

Which was why he was approaching his Father's Royal office in the night, where he knew he would be.

His petition? To ask that the name which his mother had declared over him while he was yet a wee one, be removed. Thus removing every trace of her. It had once been his pride and joy.

His father who had been shocked to see him up and about had grimly agreed. But not after reproving him for leaving his room when he was sick.

"And father?" He said as he reached the door about to head out with a guard who had been called to aid him out.

"Sí, mijo (Yes, my son)?"

"I never want to get married to a Princess,"

His father had remained silent for a long moment. He knew why his young son had made that request—his mother had been a Princess before he had married her.

"We will see when the time is right."

~

Javier pushed the memories aside, and entered the ID number. Though he had stopped using that ID, he had never actually had the courage to get rid of it.

What better riddance than this? He mused.

He set his username as ShatteredSoul. For that was how he felt at that exact moment.

He then let the radar scan those who were in his city and a little beyond.

He glanced at the various usernames that popped up.

Brown Tea.

Seriously?

GoldTurmericPowder

(A/N: Been writing since midnight, I'm past logic at this point, please do bear with me. :D)

He chuckled.

AngelicEagle

Now that sounds way better... and interesting too. He gingerly added the person as a friend. The bio had said it was a she.

He then went on to chat with the person.

Finally, a diversion.

————————

Hi, all! I am so, very sorry for the long wait. Kindly forgive me.

And GOD richly bless @Hope4ever and @ThatGirlAJ

Your love means so much to me.

Much Love,

Phela