Trapped In Hisstory

Clayton tried his best not to get near Clifford, he took a step back every time Clifford came forward. The time he leaned on the wall, he even sat down immediately just so that nothing would happen.

But there he was now, kissing the man he was conscious of, the man whose touch he wanted to avoid.

He did not even notice that Clifford was attempting to go for a kiss as he was deep in his thought, too focused in trying to shut the voices in his head in which he could not no matter how hard he tried.

Who would have thought that a kiss was all it took to make it all disappear.

Clayton felt like he did not notice his surroundings and all that was in his mind was the man kissing him.

Clifford's ears started to turn red and if he went on longer, his face might explode from embarrassment. He pulled away and took three steps back, putting his hands at his back with a lowered gaze.

Clayton did not bother hiding the blush on his face as both of them were red as hell. He looked flustered but he glared at the servant, "Why in the world would you do that? Do you think that is funny?" he exclaimed with a furrowed brow, frustrated by his actions. "I told you not to do things that you do not mean!"

Clayton pointed at the door, "Please leave the room." he said, for the first time he tried to be calm as he spoke.

"You want me to leave? Do you really mean it?" Clifford asked.

"Yes, so please leave." Clayton said and turned his head so he would not look at him.

"You told me not to do things I do not mean. I hope you do as well." Clifford said but Clayton did not say anything.

Clifford turned around and walked to the door and opened it, following the prince's order for him to leave.

Before he stepped out, he looked at the prince one more time, "The kiss...I did it because I wanted to pull you out of your thoughts." Clifford said.

"And because I wanted to." he added and went out of the room, leaving the Second Prince inside.

Clayton turned around, not because he was mad nor because he did not want to see Clifford.

Clayton's whole face was red and he cannot help but put his hands to feel his heated cheeks.

Inside, he knew that he did not want to make Clifford leave. He wanted to hide his face that has a look with an obvious meaning.

~~~~~

"Since when..?"

Clayton felt nervous as he looked at the servant flustered, "What...what do you mean?"

"When did it start? When did you become so conscious of me?" Clifford asked.

"It makes me happy to know that I have a chance," he said.

Clayton stood up, "W-when did I say you have a chance?!" he shouted, all flustered.

"It means you see me as a man and not only a friend," he said, "I will try harder now."

"Stop saying it as if you really like me!" Clayton said, annoyed by his teasing.

"But I do."

~~~~~

He covered the lower part of his face, he slowly understood the reason why he was feeling that way.

"There is really..." he whispered, "a crack in my wall." 

---

Niro and Sherin immediately pulled their hands away from each other when they heard a nearby door open.

There was an awkward silence and the man who came out of the chamber glanced at them, they were standing in the path that he will go through and the man stared at them.

The two royal aides from Canopus gave way and let him pass. "That man, have we seen him before?" Sherin asked.

Niro looked at the back of the man walking away, "I am not sure, is he a noble? But he is wearing clothes similar to that of a servant." he responded.

Sherin shrugged.

"What about my question?" Niro asked.

Sherin did not want to tell anyone, but Niro and Prince Caliber already knew about her identity as Phoneutria Fera of the Summa Octo.

But her past was one that she did not want to let him know. Especially what she found out from Alec.

But somehow, she felt like it was all right to tell Niro. Her most trusted partner. "All right." she said.

That was the answer that Niro wanted to hear but he was still surprised that she agreed so easily. "You will?"

"I trust you, Niro." Sherin said.

Niro stared into her eyes, he knew in an instant that it was serious and what happened was bothering her mind.

She lowered her gaze, "Alec is…

~~~~~

"You...you said you are a lynx?" Sherin asked, and could not believe what she just heard. She thought that it was impossible since she saw how the royal army and Aranea annihilated the clans of Animalia Tribe.

Sherin remembered how her father, Phoneutria Bahiensis, killed the senior lyncas. Sherin put her hand on her mouth, 'Did he see..?' she thought.

"I do not blame you for not remembering me, since you never had the chance to ask for my name." Alec said.

She found it difficult to process it all in her mind, all these years, he was alive. The lynx she promised to meet and play with on the day of her birthday, he did not die. She does not know if she will feel glad because he survived or feel sad that he was the only one left.

She lowered her gaze, "You knew me from the time we met..?'

"That time where we dueled." 

All this time she was the only one who did not notice. She spent her day in the punishment circle and would never forget the promise she made. But that does not mean that he would still remember his face.

All these years she thought he was already dead. How would she explain to him? What does she need to say so she could prove that she has no knowledge of her father's scheme? 'Why do I have to prove something to him?' she thought.

She should not act like this, but it was not easy to remove the feeling of guilt deep within her heart.

Alec looked at her and his gaze gave an icy feeling to Sherin, making her uncomfortable and even more guilty. "When all of the people of the tribe, all clans, were wiped out, and you stood there. You stood together with your family and you…"

"You laughed."

Sherin's eyes widened, it was not like that, she thought. There was a misunderstanding, "Listen, that time when my clan was with the royal family, I had no-" Her words were cut off as she stared at Alec. The look on his face was enough for her to know that no matter what she said, he would never forgive her. He would never forgive her clan, the summa octo and even her who was also fooled.

"Although I did not give you my name, I do hope you remember the one I was with." Alec said to her.

Sherin glanced at him, trying to remember who he was talking about and the perplexed expression on Sherin's face made Alec irritated. He slammed his hand on the wall, making Sherin lean back in surprise.

Alec let out a snort as he looked her in the eye, "To think that you do not remember the person who reached out his hand to befriend you." he said, all of the emotions Alec kept within him was slowly seeping out. "He was the one who told me that he wants to become friends with you, he was the one who called the others to play with you!"

Sherin's eyes slightly widened as she got in a daze from Alec's sudden raise of his voice. "Aloy..?" she muttered. She remembered the boy who everyone got along with. How could she forget?

Aloy gathered kids to play with her and yet she could not even come. How disappointed he must be.

"That is right, Aloy, my best friend." Alec responded in a low voice.

"He was always with you, so he must be fine. Where is he staying now? How is-

Sherin could not continue her words when she sensed a bad air around Alec. She should not have asked, judging from his expression, she could already guess what happened.

"He is gone." he said in a whisper. Alec turned to her with a tear running down his cheek but his eyes were full of hate, "Aloy died that day. That day when your clan betrayed the tribe!" 

Sherin froze in her spot, this was exactly what she was hoping not to hear. She knew full well of what her clan had done, it was something that can never be forgiven even if they die. She stayed silent as there would be no response that would lessen his hatred.

~~~~~

Niro felt his blood boil when he remembered how much she was mistreated by her family. But the revelation about Alec Valorian also surprised him, who would have thought that there would be a survivor?

"Alec is from the Lyncas Clan of Animalia..." Niro muttered in disbelief of what he had heard.

"Does the King of Antares know about his identity?" Niro asked in a whisper. "If he finds out that he is a survivor, that ruthless king will surely have him killed!"

Sherin looked at Niro, "I think he already knows."