Not like Us

Chapter 14

" How are you? " Timpi asked to Lamang.

Lamang was staring to his white tunic embellished with black stones on every seams. He was already wearing his black pants and black leather boots. He looked at the moon by his window. It was already rising. It was a full moon. Four days had passed since the king declared that he was going to be married on the rising of the full moon. And, today was the day. Everything was moving so fast.

He reached for the tunic and wore it. He wrapped himself with a wide cloth belt on his waist while Timpi was just looking at him.

" I am fine, " he replied to Timpi. Timpi was already wearing his white tunic, too. His long red hair was tied behind his back while Lamang just let him flow his.

" How would you spend your night today? " Timpi asked to tease Lamang.

Lamang threw him a deadly glare, " Alone, " they both said in unison. Timpi laughed.

Timpi walked towards him and patted Lamang on his back. " If only that destiny of yours is not true, " Timpi comforted.

It felt like a pity to Lamang so he brushed Timpi's hands off his shoulder. " That is not reversible, Timpi. I only have to accept it and perform my duty as prince. "

" It could be an advantage to me, too. I would not be as stressed as you, " Lamang continued.

Timpi sighed.

" How are your children? " Lamang asked to change the subject from him to Timpi.

Timpi walked towards Lamang's table and handed him his crown. " They are fine. So is my wife. "

Lamang nodded. " It seems to be tough handling six children, eh? " he asked. " They were bags under your eyes. "

" Shut up, " Timpi replied.

Lamang raised his crown and aligned it to the moon. The moon shun light to it and the crown refracts the light. He just chuckled. He thought it was best for him to laugh before the ceremony because after it would be unknown. His life was predetermined since birth but some things were still unknown.

He wore his crown and marched towards the ceremony. His wedding ceremony. Timpi followed him as he was Lamang's right hand man. They were already engkantos talking to each other, laughing. Nobles were grouping themselves and congratulated Gat Gunita for

her daughter would become the princess consort of their kingdom. After thorough deliberation, it was Maria who was qualified to be the prince's wife. She had the qualities to become queen. Up

The knights were standing in each of the corner to secure the area. The venue was an open area. It was surrounded with white flowers and lights throughout the area. And, in front of it was a big tree and full moon could be seen from above. It illuminated the entire venue. They were orbs flying around the venue and fireflies with their lights on. The engkantos already noticed Lamang. Each of them congratulated him. Everybody knew he was not supposed to fall in love and this marriage could ruin everything but they would need a queen consort, as well, once he became a king. Without a queen consort, the kingdom would become unstable and weak. They were dark engkantos who were waiting for them to go down.

As long as he would not fall in love, everything would be fine.

Lamang sat to his spot. On his right, Timpi was there. On his left, there was a barrier between him and the bride in order for him to avoid seeing Dayang Mutya and in front of him was the big old tree. The marriage between him and Dayang Maria would not follow the tradition. He would not hold Maria's hand or even lay his eyes on her. He would not even fetch her from the hands of her father and walked with her to face their judge. He would not be with her when she went out of the room. They were so many restrictions that they should follow. Other marriages happened with the presence of love but theirs was an opposite. Their marriage was allowable as long as there was no love involved. All of those decisions, everything that was keeping Lamang from falling in love was for the good of the Kingdom.

Lamang looked at the entrance as the music coming from each of the corner echoed. His parents just arrived. Their clothes stood out from everybody else especially with his mother's beauty. She was the kingdom's rare gem. A human who became their queen.

The group in the venue parted themselves into two to give way for the king and queen. In front of Lamang, the judge appeared.

" Look at me and never look back, " the judge said.

He nodded his head. It was time. He heard the music slowly became loud. Lamang could hear the engkantos talking to each other and praising Dayang Mutya as she walked to the aisle with her father. She was wearing a white long dress. It was embellished with black stones on each of the seams. The dress was really made to match Lamang's cloth. She was wearing a veil to complete her look.

Lamang felt that there was a slight thud on their barrier. She seemed to have positioned herself.

The judge cleared his throat and looked at both of them to each side of the barrier.

" Gat Lamang and Dayang Maria, " he started.

The judge reached for their hands.

" Everyone who are present in this ceremony are the witnesses of the union. This special bond between the two of you that could not be broken and forever you would be associated with each others name. Do you Gat Lamang take Dayang Maria as your wife? " The judge asked.

Everyone's attention was on Lamang. He looked at the judge. He did not have any other choice but to say yes. " I do. "

Everyone smiled and silently clapped on their seats. The judge turned his attention to Dayang Maria, " Do you Dayang Maria take Gat Lamang as your husband? "

Dayang Maria quickly looked at his father and immediately faced the judge. " I do, " she answered.

The judge unite both of Gat Lamang and Dayang Maria's hands. Two gold chains appeared on their hands, each for one of them. It then lit. It symbolized as the completion of marriage.

" You are now both husband and wife, " the judge declared. Then raindrop coming from the sky showered slowly on their faces.

Lamang dropped on his bed as soon as he entered his room. He looked at his right hand. His hand was chained. He was now tied down. It was a bracelet that binds you to your spouse.

The ceremony was now finished and he was advised to not join the party for there would be a lot of girls especially Dayang Maria's friends. He sighed and rolled on his stomach. He could hear the music coming from the celebration. It was always like this. He was always advised to get away from girl however, if it was inevitable, his parents told him to not look them in the eyes.

This was also a great time for Dayang Maria to look for a noble lover because he could not be hers. It would be unfair to Maria if she would share Lamang's destiny.

Lamang drew a circle on his side and lay on his side. It became a portal. He could see what was on the forest, in the ocean, or in any places that he was allowed to go.

He looked around the forest by navigating through the portal. It had been four days, he always check the forest to see if the girl came back but he did not saw the her roaming around the forest since the day she bid good bye. She must had been stop coming.

He remembered her name, Bella Rioflorido, a beautiful flower in a flowing river, how good must her destiny be to have such a beautiful name.

He sat and stood up from his bed. He looked at himself on the mirror.

He already had a long white hair that reached his waist. He looked at the scissors on his table and grabbed it. He had that hair eversince he was young. Should I cut it? He thought to himself.