Loving You Untimely

Chapter 4 : Friend

Ji Ren's POV

When we got to the park my classmate said I couldn’t help but smile because the surroundings were beautiful. I can’t understand myself because every time I see the natural beauty of nature it seems like my heart is jumping with joy.

The chirping of birds eases my emotions. The sight of trees, lakes and flowers was able to calm my mind. That thing is weird for a guy like me but that’s the truth. As a child I noticed this in myself.

"This place is so beautiful," said dad who was also busy looking around.

"Yeah, it's nice to see such scenery and it causes you to feel at ease while looking around," I agreed with a smile.

"There's a more beautiful place than here, Ji Ren,"

"Really, where?"

"But in just one night it was destroyed and blood stained all around,"

"What?"

"Ji Ren, I know the time will come when you need to know everything," he sighed, frowning because that wasn't the usual sigh I've heard from him since I was a child. "The time will come when you will get to know the people who are connected to you and who you really are. What I don't know is if you will still be with me during those times—"

"Dad, what are you trying to say there? Why do I think you're even weirder now?" I tried to hide by smiling how I felt.

"Ji Ren, I just want to tell you that it's an honor to raise you and teach you everything I know," dad tapped me on the shoulder and for the first time, I saw a curve of smile on his lips.

But why does it feels like something I don't like would happen? Why would his smile give me such thoughts? I didn’t take my eyes off of dad’s smiling face.

For no apparent reason I was scared and nervous. Dad's way of speaking has been weird ever since — well, he used to speak weirdly but now it's different. I feel like he’s letting me know but he can’t say it directly.

"Dad, are you keeping secrets from me? Are you sick and you didn't tell me?" I asked frowning as I looked into his eyes, his face returned to normal with no expression.

"I'm not sick, I just want to tell you those things. Also, it's not just the sick who leaves," he said then looked away.

I just sighed and tried to erase from my mind what my dad had said and how I felt. I thought maybe he was just like that because I was a teenager and he thought I would get married soon.

Dad's really weird. I just shook my thoughts away.

We also stayed for a few hours in the part of the park where there are a lot of flowers because it is really beautiful there. I also lost my thoughts forever when we went for a walk and we came to the lake because of the beauty and clear water. My smiles never faded as I looked around.

I saw dad sitting under one of the trees and turning a blind eye in his surroundings and just staring at nowhere. After some time, I saw him closed his eyes. Maybe he was tired of walking and wanted to take a nap. I just smiled and left him there while I went for a walk and looked at the beautiful view. It was fun to watch the kids play with their parents.

It's a pity I didn't experience playing with dad... or mom. Sometimes I feel sad because I didn’t get to do things with my parents when I was a kid.

Aside from the fact that my father couldn’t tell me who my mother was, whether she was still alive or dead, he also couldn’t tell me what she looked like. It was as if he always took the conversation away whenever I asked. I will always get the same answer that I'll know his answer in time. I grew up and every answer hadn’t arrived on time as he said.

I also didn’t experience playing with dad because we were always focused on training. I don’t feel bad for dad because I know he has a reason why he can’t tell me. Why can't he answer my questions.

My whole existence seems so mysterious. I just started laughing and then continued walking.

Huh?

I just stopped when I noticed something on the ground not far away. I slowly approached there, a bird with a broken wing turned out to be the object on the ground. I picked it up immediately and its wing was still bleeding.

"How pitiful," I whispered softly as I stroked its head.

"Your Highness..."

"Huh?" I frowned and looked around when I heard a voice but saw no one else near me.

Who is that? Is someone playing tricks on me? I just ignored it and then turned my attention back to the bird but I was surprised to see that its broken wing earlier was healed.

"What? How did that happen?" I frowned, checking the bird but its wing was not really broken.

"Thank you very much, Your Highness..."

"How...?" it was as if cold water had been poured on me because of what I had seen.

As clear as the sun in the morning. I could clearly see the bird bow to me before it finally flew away. I think I'm going crazy. I swallowed looking at the sky but I could no longer see the bird.

Confused, I looked at my hand, which was still stained with blood from the bird. I don't know what happened, but I'm sure if it wasn't some hallucinations, I would have gone crazy. I took a deep breath and took shelter in one of the trees.

I leaned there and turned to where dad was but was surprised to see he was no longer there. Where did that man go? I looked around to find him but my eyes could not see him. I just shrugged because maybe he was just hungry and bought something to eat.

"Ji Ren—"

"Woah!" I screamed in panic when suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind the tree. "Dad! You startled me! Why are you coming out of nowhere!?" annoyed I asked while holding my chest.

I think I'm going to have a heart attack because of my dad! I let out a deep breath.

“Sorry if I scared you, I just wanted to introduce you to a friend,” I wanted to laugh because of the last word dad spoke.

"Friend? How fast can you find a friend, dad? It looks like I brought you here to the park with a good result!" I laughed but his blank expression didn't change at all.

"He's been my friend for a long time,"

"Really?"

"Mm."

"I don't even remember you leaving the house since I was a kid, how did you have a friend?"

"Long story short, just ask him."

"Where is he?" I asked then peeked behind him but I didn't see anyone else there.

"Your Highness—"

"Ah! s**t!" my heart almost jumped out of my chest in shock when suddenly someone spoke behind me.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't intend to scare you," he said then bowed.

I frowned at the person in front of me now. Still holding my chest in shock. Dad and this guy are really friends, they are both weird. If you look at him, he looks younger than dad, even if I say that dad doesn't look old at all, this guys even looks younger. He has long white hair and he wears traditional chinese clothes or hanfu. What trip is it? There was also silver headband around his forehead.

"Y-You're my dad's friend? I'm Li Ji Ren," I smiled and held out my hand in front of him but he remained bent over. "Aren't you feeling numb while bowing?" I asked a few questions because I was like—what in God he was doing?

"He won't stand until you give him permission," dad said.

"Huh? Why does he need my permission to stand?" I asked confused.

"Because he respects you,"

"What?"

"Just let him stand," dad ordered and I immediately obeyed.

"You can stand up now," I said, and he immediately stood up straight.

"So, you're friends with dad, aren't you?"

"Dad? What's that word, Your Highness?" he asked confused.

I'm wrong, this one is a lot weirder than dad. I can't understand why he called me Your Highness earlier. Because of what he was wearing I felt like there was a hidden camera around and it was a prank.

"Brother Shi, you should introduce yourself to him first because I think he's confused by what's going on," Dad whispered.

Brother Shi? Seriously? They really seem to be in ancient times.

Since they seemed to have a lot to talk about we decided to go to a nearby restaurant first. I have money from my part time jobs, that my dad doesn't know about because he would surely won't allow me. I took my money out 'cause I have to pay for our simple meal.

I was scratching my head because it was as if they had just been to a restaurant. They both looked around and seemed amazed. No doubt, they are really friends. When our order arrived, they started talking and it was like I was watching an ancient drama because of how deep the words they used in the conversation.

"Brother Shi, I'm glad to know that the King is safe," said dad, his friend nodded.

"Fortunately, I was able to return immediately at that time. Also thanks to the kid because if it weren't for him and I was only late for a while I would not be able to save the king," replied his friend.

"Ahm... what are you two talking about?" I asked in astonishment.

"Your Highness, excuse my disrespect. I am Jie Yu Shi, your father's right hand," he put his hands together and then kowtowed again.

I don't know if I'll laugh or be embarrassed because other people in the restaurant are already laughing at him.

"Nice to meet you, uncle Shi, but can you sit down now?" I don't know what I look like while saying that. I was smiling awkwardly while gesturing him to sit down.

"Thank you, Your Highness,"

"Brother Shi, have you come to bring us back?" Dad asked uncle Shi, his question grabbed my attention.

"Where are we going back?" I asked curiously.

"You're right, Captain. I'm here because the king wants the crown prince to return to the palace, because he found out there were enemies following me when I came here," I couldn't understand what uncle Shi was saying.

"Then Ji Ren's life is in danger, is it?" I read the concern in dad's eyes.

"My life is in danger? Why?"

“Then we really need to hurry to get him back to the palace because he’ll be safer there,” dad said, not minding me.

Great! Did I just turn into a wind now?

"So, I have come to take you there now because I know they will soon come for you, Captain," said uncle Shi.

"Uncle Shi, dad, can you tell me what are you two guys talking about? Are you on drugs and hallucinating, so what kind of palace, king and prince are you talking about?" I replied to their conversation but instead of answering me, they just looked at me and went back to their conversation.

Since they didn't seem to have any intention of including me in the conversation, I just ate. I also can't understand what they talked about because they look like casts in a historical drama. I just listened to their boring conversation even though I didn't understand anything.