Trap

{4}

⚠Everything in this story is fictionalized. Nothing's connected in real life. There would be cursing and errors. My third language is English, but I'm not that good at it.⚠

{Story reminders!

Bold - protagonist narrating the story

Italic - characters' thoughts}

Enjoy the story!!

"By the way, I really love this necklace that you gave me on my 17th birthday."

Necklace? Right, now I remember.

"I saw it at a*****e and thought that it might suit you so, I bought it. And I was also kind of aware that your birthday was near."

"You're the sweetest friend I could ask for~"

"Of course! Hm, may I see how it looks like again?"

"Sure. Here."

"Wait, it said, shining, shimmering, splendid, didn't it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That's it! This necklace is the next clue! Uhm, Hannah, if you don't mind, can I open the necklace?"

"Sure. But why?"

"I'm just curious about what's inside of it."

"Oh, okay."

I got the folded paper out of the necklace and kept it in my pocket until we returned to the living room.

"Did you two enjoy?"

"We did, Your Majesty."

"I told you to call me by my name, Connor."

"I'm afraid I have to follow the rules, Your Majesty."

"More than me? But I'm the king."

"And I might get kicked out," I fired back.

"Sigh, alright. Charlotte and Lea, could you two please wait in the dining room? Connor and I will follow soon."

"Of course," the two ladies said.

"Connor, what is wrong??"

"Nothing is wrong, Your Majesty."

"Did I upset you? Why are you suddenly calling me so f*****g formal?"

"You didn't upset me, Your Majesty."

"Then tell me what's wrong. I'm not supposed to guess, am I?"

"You're not, Your Majesty."

"We're friends, Connor. Aren't we? You can tell me everything."

"We are friends, Your Majesty. It's just that, I'm your bodyguard and do my job right. And to do my job right, I have to call you formally."

"Aren't friends supposed to be informal?"

"Our friendship is not like everyone's, Your Majesty."

"But Connor-"

"I think we should go now. We shouldn't keep the ladies, should we?"

"Sigh........"

I opened the door and waited to be after him to leave. I closed the door and followed behind him. He would glance at me but I would brush it off with a poker face. 

"I'm sorry, Luka. I just want to distance myself from now on. You have a girlfriend. I don't want to show you the slightest clue that I have feelings for you. I'm really sorry."

After they ate, we had to send Hannah off. 

"Aw, you're already leaving?"

"Connor, you can still call me. I didn't change my number."

"Really~?"

"Yes!"

"Great! Cause I will be calling you non-stop."

"How sweet~"

"Take care, Hannah. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. I'll visit you next month, alright?"

"Aw~ thanks!"

"Bye!"

"Goodbye, Charlotte," Luka said.

"Goodbye, Your Majesty."

She kissed my cheeks before leaving. I lastly waved her goodbye until her car was not seen anymore. I smiled in satisfaction as I saw my "little sister" smile before going. I always saw her as a little sister before we even became close. I don't know why, but I just do.

"You like her?"

"I don't, Your Majesty."

"Then, why were you smiling when she kissed your cheek?"

"She's my little sister. I haven't seen her in 5 years!"

"I'm pretty sure you only have one sibling and it's a he???"

"She's my sister at heart, Luka. Now come on."

"Wait, you just called me Luka!"

"I mean, she's my sister at heart, Your Majesty. Let's go?"

He just sighed and walked in front of me.

"I'm sorry, Luka. I have to distance myself away from you. I don't want to give you any clues about these stupid feelings of mine. You have a girlfriend. I don't wanna make a scene. Besides........ I don't want you to have more worries than you already do. I'm really sorry, Luka."

As I followed him, I took the paper and read it. "Be careful. A danger is coming towards you, yet again. Watch your back. For now, it shines brighter than you. You will be able to outshine it before it's gone." Huh??? Shine??? While I was trying to figure what it meant, an unfortunate thing happened. It started raining. I immediately covered Luka with my coat and lead him to the small garden teahouse. 

"Aren't you cold???"

"I'm okay, Your Majesty."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll just call for help."

I started to call guards and went as far as 3 miles away, but no one still hears me. Where the f**k are those guards? Sigh..... Looks like we have to wait until the rain stops. I sighed once again before coming back to the teahouse. I stood right beside him and looked straight. He suddenly pulled me down to sit and looked at me. I stared right back at him, but I tried to control myself from bringing our lips together.

"Control yourself, Connor!!!"

"Will you sing me that song again???"

"Which one??"

"Nap of a Star."

"You liked it, didn't you?" I chuckled.

He nodded cheerfully and I chuckled at him again. How cute. I sang the song to him once again, leaving his mind in a calm state. After I got done singing, he just clapped loudly and I chuckled at the sight. 

"Can you sing one more song?"

"Hmm, I don't know?" I teased.

"Please~"

"Fine. What song?"

"I don't know. You choose."

"Alright."

There you are beautiful, quietly

Sleepin' on the bed we made right next to me

Feels like a dream

Only a dream

I shouldn't have really sung this............

Here we are holding on, dangerously

Dancin' on the edge of the infinity

Feels like a dream

Only a dream

 But is it my fault that my heart wants to let it out? Is it my fault that my heart wants to cry out? It's just too much bottled in.......  It's hard to take. 

Writing all these memories

Singing all these melodies

Waiting here for centuries

Like bitter alcohol, once you first take it, you hate the bitterness that you start to choke on it, but you continue to drink it because it's good.

I ain't perfect

I ain't perfect

Perfect for you

Perfect for you

Is it my fault for loving Luka?

Here I am beautiful, as you see

Standing on the pedestal you made for me

Feels like a dream

Only a dream

Is it my fault that I can't control my feelings?

Waltzin' through our symphonies

In our little galaxy

Waiting for our destiny

Is it my fault that I'm like this?

I ain't perfect

I ain't perfect

Perfect for you

Perfect for you

Is it my fault that I'm sad?

I ain't perfect

I ain't perfect

Perfect for you

Perfect for you

Is it my fault that I'm slowly dying inside?

There you are beautiful, quietly

Is it my fault for loving someone I shouldn't have?????

Is it.........?

I looked at him, and he was just smiling at me, complementing my "perfect" voice. Behind this perfect voice is a crying man who's wishing to love you freely.

"Thank you for the compliments, Your Majesty."

"There you go again with that. Do you know that..... when you call me that, it hurts. I didn't want our titles or roles in this palace to set a boundary on our friendship, Connor. You weren't like this. What is it that I did? Is it that bad for you to be like this?"

"It's......... not your fault, alright? I just really want to do this job right."

"Break the rules for me."

"Y-Your Majesty?"

"Call me Luka, Connor. Break the rules for me."

"B-But..........."

"Who would you follow? Me? Or the stupid rule?"

"My heart wants to follow you but my mind wants to follow the rules. I'm personally setting a boundary between us............. Now that you're asking me that................... I don't know anymore."

"Connor........ choose one."

"I choose you."

Guess I'm more simp than I thought. Sigh.......... I can't stop my heart, can I?

"The rain has stopped, Luka. Let's go?"

He smiled before saying,

"Mhm, let's go."Lady Lea ran to him and hugged him tightly. She asked where he has been. She asked him if he was okay. She asked him if he was hungry. She asked him if he's injured. She asked him if he was not cold. She asked her the questions I wanted to ask............. I wish I was her........ 

Three years of relationship? Pretty darn strong if you ask me. I immediately changed my clothes and came to the dining room as they were eating. He asked me to join, but I refused. Of course, he wasn't delighted. He just started eating, and I felt dizzy. Has it always been this cold in the dining room??? Ugh, my head f*****g hurts, dude. I swear, it's like someone is punching my head. Something is up. I was slowly losing balance. I tried to place my hand on the near foundation, but my hand slipped and I fell. The next thing I knew, I blacked out.

I felt someone shaking me. Huh? Why is there something cold above my forehead? I groaned as I slowly rose from my bed. Wait- bed??? Am I not supposed to be in the dining room, guarding Luka? Why am I in a bed??

"Oh, you're awake."

I recognize that voice........... Carson?

"Oh, hey, Car."

"Hey, Mr. Future Alpha. What up with the disco? Why did you pass out?"

"Pass out?"

Right, now I remember.

"Well, I just felt dizzy, a f*****g headache, then I lost balance."

"Sigh. Here, eat this."

"Aren't you supposed to feed me???"

"b***h, you have your own hands."

"I feel weak~"

"Oh, god. You and your brother are really the same. Fine. But just this once, alright?"

I nodded aggressively, and he started feeding me. This is my only chance to get fed by the one and only grumpy Carson. Why would I not get the chance? As he was feeding me the 7th spoon, we heard a knock from the door.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Carson? Is he awake now?"

"He is, Your Majesty."

"Connor!! Thank god, you're awake!"

"Luka? Huh? Why is it so bright already?"

"Isn't it obvious, you moron? It's morning."

"You slept the whole night, Connor."

"I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he looked at me in the eyes. "I noticed you were pale before we even sent Charlotte home. Did you not eat that day?"

"I....... didn't."

"i***t. You can't let your jealousy ruin your health," Carson said, annoyed.

"Wh-What do you mean jealousy?"

"Oh, don't play this game with me, mister." 

"Just shut up, you stupid car."

"HEY!"

"Now, now. Don't bark at each other early in the morning."

We both glared at each other, but then laughed it off. 

"Eh????" 

"We're just really like this, Your Majesty."

"Car is right, Luka. We are just really like this. We bark at each other, then laugh at it after."

"Mhm. You know, you're less boisterous than Alex."

"Really? Oh, right. I just wanna tell you something."

"Yes???"

"Alex and Asher are together in the other world."

"SAY, WHAT NOW?"

"I don't know. That's just how it is, I guess. I think the Alex in that world likes the you of that world but likes Asher too. I sense some love triangle here."

"Who the f**k is Asher?"

"Calm down, he's one of my friends. Remember when I told you that he's an idol like you there and they're together in a group???"

"Oh, right..... Still!!!"

"Stop sulking. At least you're engaged with the Alex of the Werewolf World."

"Uh........."

"This is too much TMI..........."

"I agree."

Did we spill too much tea?

"So, um............. uh........"

"Sorry for that, Your Majesty. I'll do your work for now. Feed that lost puppy. He's too "weak" to eat but strong enough to bark at me."

"SHUT IT!"

"Now, now, Connor. Here, eat."

"I-I can eat, Luka."

"Wasn't Carson feeding you earlier?"

"I was just tricking him. I mean, I wouldn't miss the chance to get to be fed by the one and only grumpy Carson."

"But it's okay to miss the chance of being fed by the only king of Herridonia?"

".................Um...... not really? Okay, you can feed me."

"Aw~ I'm feeding my friend!"

"Haven't you done this- oh, right. Sorry."

"It's okay."

"Who cooked this? It tastes really good!!!"

"I guess you like my cooking?"

"Woah, you can cook?!"

"I made sure I won't make my future partner starve to death."

"But you have maids?"

"I just wanted to be sweet. I think this has become my goal since I was 9? I don't know why, but it seems like I tried to learn this for someone."

"It's me. Didn't I tell you I like home-cooked stuff before?"

"Oh, yeah!! I remember now."

"I can't believe you actually learned cooking for me."

"I can't believe it too, but you gotta eat now."

"Alright, alright."

"Ah~"

"Ah~ Mm~ This soup is really good."

"Thank you."

I looked at his eyes and........ noticed something different. Purple??? Aren't his eyes blue??? Something is weird here..........

"Luka?"

"Yes, Connor?"

"Aren't your eyes blue?"

"No, they're purple."

"E-Eh???"

"I don't know how you saw them as blue, but they're originally purple."

"O-Oh.......... I'm sorry for mistaking them for blue."

"It's okay, Connor. Here, eat more. I'm not letting my friend starve."

"Thanks! After this, could you please tell a guard to get my uniform?"

"No, Connor. You're not working today."

"But Luka-"

"Mr. Phillips is gonna be guarding me today while you rest."

"Isn't Mr. Phillips too old for my job?"

"He might be 65, but he can still do those dangerous stunts like Jackie Chan."

"Woah!!"

"I know, right? Now, now. Say, ah."

"Ah~ It feels good to be fed by a king. I feel honored."

"You should be. Here is the last one."

We both laughed after I finished the last bite, and I stared at the floor. 

"Why so serious?"

"O-Oh, it's nothing. I just kinda miss Colton."

"Do you want him to come over again? I mean, he has a reason. His baby brother is sick."

"Hey~ I'm not a baby anymore!"

"That's what he called you, though?"

"Could we please invite him?"

"Sure. Mr. Andrews???"

The door slightly opened, and someone slightly came in.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Could you please escort Mr. Cunningham's brother to the palace?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Connor, I'll just go to the bathroom, okay?"

"Okay."

After he left, I immediately teleported to the Thompson Manor. I almost forgot that he's staying there now.

"Connor? What a surprise! Hug mommy!"

"Sure."

After the hug, I told her,

"I would like to see my brother. Immediately."

"He's in his room, why?"

"I may or may have not told Luka to bring him to the castle."

"What?"

"Then I remembered that he's staying here. I have to teleport him back to our house for now."

"Oh, I see. Well, you go knock on his door. Mommy has some important business to do, alright?"

"Okay, mother! Take care!"

"Of course," she smiled.

"Uh, Colton???" I knocked. "Colton?" I knocked again.

"Connor!! What a pleasant surprise!!! What brings you here?"

"I told Luka to tell a guard to pick you up from our house."

"But I'm not in our house?"

"That's why I need to teleport you there! Come on, bring some clothes and dress up nicely."

"Okay?"

After teleporting him to our house, I immediately came back to the castle, pretending to stare at the ceiling.

"He's almost near your house, Connor. Just wait a little longer, hm?"

"O-Okay."

"Wait, if he's your brother, is he a werewolf too?"

"Uh, no. His family adopted me before."

"Oh, where are they?"

"They died in a car crash."

"O-Oh, they....... died?"

"Now, only the of us are left together. That's why our relationship is very strong."

"Ah, I see. Do you have a real brother then?"

"I do. Carson told me that I have a brother."

"What's his name?"

"Alex."

"Oh, that's a nice name! Did he tell you what he's like?"

"Not that much-"

"The door is open."

"Babe, may I talk to you for a second?"

"Uh, sure. I'll leave for a while, Connor. I'll come back later."

I just waved him a goodbye and waited for my brother to come.

20  minutes later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

"Mr. Cunningham, your brother has arrived."

"Please, let him in."

"Connor!!!"

"S-Stop hugging me too tight. I can't breathe!"

"Oops, sorry! Oh, anyways. Why did you want me to come here?"

"I missed you and I have a question."

"Aw, I missed you too!"

"I missed you more!"

"Now, get it straight with me. What's your question?"

"Luka's eyes are blue, right?"

"As far as I remember, yeah."

"You even saw him three weeks ago."

"Woah, woah, woah. Three weeks ago?"

"Yeah."

"I never left the house three weeks ago before I moved to the Thompson Manor."

"What??? You were there. You brought us breakfast. You even hugged me and told me you were gonna explore the Herridonia."

"Are you mad? You know that I never leave the house."

"Then, who was that.........? Don't tell me you made another clone."

"NO, are you crazy?! I would never do that again!"

"Oh, really~? The last time I know, you were having the time of your life with him!"

"That was before I discovered something was wrong with the machine, and that he was evil!"

"Then, who is it...........? Sigh, one problem at a time. So, right now, Luka's eyes are purple."

"What??? Impossible!"

"I know, right? But his eyes ARE purple," I emphasized. "I even asked him about it. He told me his eyes were never blue and insisted that his eyes are purple."

"Weird..........."

"I'm seriously frustrated right now."

"Wait, you said, his eyes are blue, right?"

"Yeah."

"If I understand some magic chemistry-"

"You know magic chemistry? Is magic even real?"

"If werewolves are real, then magic is too. As I was saying. If I understand some magic chemistry, which I do, he is under a love spell."

"Eh???"

"The color of his eyes is blue, the color of love is red, if you combine those together, you get purple or violet. That's the only reason I can comprehend. Unless he's wearing contact lenses and pretends that his eyes are like that."

"No, he was really serious about it."

"Problem solved, he's under a love spell."

"How???"

"I'm not an expert with the category of love under magic, but I'm pretty sure it has to be cast on some food or beverage."

"Sigh............ my head hurts."

"Do you think mine doesn't? You literally told me that someone pretended to be me and fed you!"

"Right, about that. I felt that it wasn't you."

"Really? How?"

"You hug me tighter, and you never call me baby brother."

"Yup, totally not me."

"Seriously, what is going on?"

"Wait, magic!"

"Magic? Again?"

"Do you have any answers for this, then?"

"None.........."

"Do you know any other science genius than me?"

"No..........."

"Then-"

"Mr. Cunningham?"

"Yes?" we both asked.

"Mr. Connor Cunningham?"

"Yes?" we both asked again.

"i***t, you're not Connor. Yes, Mr. Andrews?"

"His Majesty is calling for you."

"Didn't he tell me to rest?"

"It's urgent, Mr. Cunningham."

"Oh, okay."

"What am I supposed to then?"

"Just come with me."

"Sure!"

As soon as we reached Luka's office, he was looking at me with...... disappointment? What's going on? And why is Lea looking at me like that? I sat down in front of the two and stared at them.

"Connor, how could you do this?"

"Do what?"

"You're....................."

~To be continued~