LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK ANGEL'S SPRING

CHAPTER IV

(LOOKING FOR YOU IN THE EYES)

“YOU do know what a servant means, right?”

“I do!”

I somewhat stuttered, swallowing my pride. The pride that right now I do not know if I still have any. But I couldn’t complain and I needed to comply with everything that he asked me to do. Now that I am in his protection and wing. I am under the sanctuary that he is guarding and protecting. The being that neither in my dream that I expect to meet. This forbidden forest king, the guardian that I took the unlikely contract from.

“Really? Then you wouldn’t mind if I test you in some way, right?”

He’s probably teasing, no, testing me right now. Test that I couldn’t find any answers of what from his expression and eyes that stayed the same like he never felt something or any emotion before. A cold king in this beautiful sanctuary, yet who am I to ask? Knowing that in the first place, I was the one who intrude on his place, took the contract with him, and now only relayed with his grace and nothing more.

“Very well.”

“Fine then.”

His expression somewhat changes, but not alarming. The expression is neither a cunning smile nor a testing one, and not even a smile at all. It was like an expression that is close to nothingness, yet is not. Somewhat in between but I just couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Tell me, can you even smile at all?”

The question that I didn’t mean to ask, but just blurt out from my mouth. Words that I quickly realize how appropriate it was that made me turn red in embarrassment and covers my mouth. Uncalled for a princess like me.

“Smile? I am not a human like you who had that kind of emotions or the liberty to have such.”

“Liberty?”

I suddenly thought, catching that word from him. Aware of one thing and somewhat understands his position. Now I felt guilty and sad towards the being that is not a human, a demon, or an angel. But somewhere in between. Being that The longer I look at him, the more I can see and tell that he is suffering for something that he didn’t know and fully aware of himself.

“Then that means that you can learn.”

“Learn?”

“You can learn how to smile.”

“What?”

I don’t know what comes into my mind for telling those words that at first is disrespectful from a slave to her master. But I couldn’t help but tell it otherwise.

“I am your slave and I will do anything to obey everything that you wish for, but I will also teach you how to smile, all you need to do is take my hand and I’ll show you how.”

Maybe I was a bit naïve, no, turning back to my weak self for smiling freely like this and at this time. But I couldn’t help but say those words and express my genuine wish for him. I do not know why, but I am more than comfortable when I am with him and when he is around. The being that I do not know what, and only knew as a king, a fairy lord, and someone that no one ever expect to exist. Someone that I am having this gut feeling that I can trust.

“Aren’t I should be the one testing you? And not the other way around?”

“Testing?” I was a bit offended, for I do not know if he deliberately cut the moment, but he completely turns the topic back. “Please, do not get the wrong idea, I am not testing you or trying to at all. I am genuinely wishing for that---”

“My smile?”

I immediately cover my mouth getting ahead of the current situation and just realize that I’ve been a loudmouth for a while and once more, but then.

“Very well.”

He suddenly said, agreeing or perhaps granting my wish.

“I will learn, I will smile just like what you said, but you have to do something in return. My test and let's just say that a way for you to earn my trust. For even though I let you stay here, you are still a mortal, and much worst, a princess.”

“That’s!”

“I know thing way beyond what you can hide. I know for a fact that you run away, a princess that right now everyone is desperately looking for. Someone more dangerous than an ordinary mortal.”

He walks forward, closing the gap we just had towards each other. His steps that is soft, but his face and expression that’s nothing to see nor to read making me agitated and a bit scared. Then he reaches his hand which made me close my eyes firmly, yet it all ended up with his gentle touch to my face, his face closer than ever that’s making my heart beat crazily the moment. But I know that I shouldn’t show it or panic because of it. His face and those gorgeous pair of sapphire blue eyes captivate me. Then he whispers directly to my ears.

“You’re my slave then you must pay heed to my command. Go back to that place and take the most precious thing that you can find.”

Words and his command wash the fluttering feeling that I just had. All changes immediately with horror, anger, and disappointment. The test that he wanted me to do and fulfill is the thing that I am fearing the most. To go back to that hell of a place and to see everyone again.

“Can’t you do it? For you see, you will be deemed useless to me if you cannot prove your worth. If you cannot escape and run away once more. For the princess that everyone is searching right now. I need an assurance that they will not look for you and put this place in danger.”

I immediately understand his words and what he wanted. The fact that he took me in, doesn’t mean that I can forever hide in this place. I who is a princess will put him in danger. A fact that I shouldn’t neglect.

“Very well. I’ll plan everything, I will die in front of them.”

“WHEN I MET HIM.”

I step onto the stage whispering those words as I remember that particular past, no, our first life. Now that I am about to sing my heart out for the people who are looking up to me and loving my songs. The fleeting memories of the past never leave me. To this reincarnation and the very last chance that we both got, I do not want to blow it.

“You want me to die? So be it! Besides, I think that this is the right and best thing for me to have my freedom.”

“Then I will be watching you.”

The exchange and our conversation that was like yesterday. My life then and where everything started and pointed out for my worth to stay on his side draws the most dangerous, but the most precious memory that I have back then.

“Wait for me, I will prove my worth as your servant. In exchange, you have to smile at me.”

“Very well.”

Our first promise. The words from that first life and the past that I miss so much, now that we came to this point, and the last loop of our paid exchange and deal for our love and life.

“Miss Miyu, stand by and we are going in three, two, one!”

“Everyone!”

I took a deep breath, holding the microphone in my hand. The platform of the stage raises and I could hear the loud cheers from my fans that are filling and engulfed the whole arena. I smile, raising my arm, and together with the song I sing.

“HEY, SAY!”

Everyone screams at top of their lungs. The smokescreen makes a thunder fog effect, the lights go dim, and the crimson spotlights with a mixture of blue and green neon lights dance their way up into the last stage.

“Miyu!” the crowd cheered, the people who made me who I am today, the strangers that I never meet before, but I could reach through my songs.

“Please, let me find him.”

I whisper to the heavens hoping that it could reach the person I never intended to have. Destiny is cruel enough to my life, and fate set a different path for me. And now here I am, the person who everyone loves and idolizes, adored by many, and owned fame for five years now.

This spotlight, my songs, the name, and affection they all bring, there is only one thing that led me to this path, and that is to find the person in this reincarnated 3rd chance of a life of ours, to finally be with each other even if it means the last, from the sin that we need to pay.

“Te Amo!” I greeted, waving my hand as I went in the center stage, rocking the melody I jive with the song.

The crowd once more screams in full support and glee at top of their lungs, waving their light sticks, banners, and pictures of me. The life I strive in this life to hold kept and will never let go, not until he will finally hears my voice and recognize my call. To reach him on the highest pedestal of this famous identity, I dwell on this scene and life to be with him. To have a little care and a chance to fulfill that promise.

“One, two, three!” they count with me, then the smoke faded and the lights dance gently, dimming out with the spotlight that traces unto me.

Stopping for a second as the beat strums to the song, I started.

“Everybody!” I began singing. To the vast echo of the sound that fills the arena, everyone jives with me, singing in tone as the others dance with the night of their lives.

The song that took their heart, the words I wanted for him to hear, I conveyed, and hope to be understood, rings the ever-wanted promise we both took. But the deal rips us apart, to the wants and greed of our souls that we took in a gamble, in exchange for a short romance is the game I wanted to regret, yet I cannot blame it.

In time, no, this time. I remember clearly the day.

“YOU CAN DO THIS, MIYU!”

I took a deep breath, making sure that the hood covers my face and my disguise like a servant is flawless. I look at the palace where I grow up and the same place that I deem to be hell itself. I then clench my hands tight, entering the hallway while pretending to be one of the cleaning servants.

“Too quiet.”

I happened to whisper, observing the hallways and the seemingly empty palace that I know that’s never been empty for any feast nor aristocrats who did nothing but make the poor suffer.

“Haven’t they found the princess yet?”

“From what I have heard, the Lord is mobilizing the royal knights' just to find the princess.”

“But didn’t the princess go inside the forbidden forest? It is rumored that there are beasts and demons there right, so what if?”

“Shhh!!! Do you want to lose your neck for saying things without proof? The Lord and the Madam wouldn’t believe it. The royal crowns wouldn’t accept it. The princess is the only true princess, so how the majesty would want to think that the princess is dead?”

The servants gossip. The rumors surrounding the palace and the very reason why the residence is empty and everyone in the capital is warry. They are looking for me and will stop at nothing just to find me.

“You! Stop dilly-dallying and do your work!”

“Yes, Lady!”

I hide my face, taking advantage of the disguise that I made and mixing with the servants and away from the palace head servant.

“You there, stop!”

I froze, tightly holding the basin and the rug in my hands. Pounding and a bit sweaty, thinking for the worst that I will be discovered soon. Knowing that the head servant is among the few people who always see my face and will recognize me despite the disguise that I am wearing.

“My lady, I apologize on behalf of this servant. She is new and isn’t that familiar with the palace. So, if she displeases you somehow, I apologize.”

“New?”

The head servant’s eyebrows frown, looking at me intently, yet not that close. While I stole a glance towards the servant who somehow defended me, only to notice the bracelet that she is wearing. Recognizing it as owned by the forest king.

‘RAFAEL?’

I thought immediately to myself. Touch and felt warm from the initiative and protection that he is giving me. Leaving the premise of the sanctuary that he is guarding to look after me. A different from the attitude that he showed me, but I am not complaining.

“I see. Let her clean the princess room along with the others.”

“I will lady.”

My soul is deeming with confidence and luck. I just did not get away from the eyes of the head servant, but I am directed to clean my room to get that most important item that Rafael wanted.

“Make haste!”

“Yes, Lady!”

“You better be careful.”

The forest king’s voice, his presence, and scent, yet somewhat in a form of a ghost. No, it is a form of a spirit-like one that then I understand that he is currently controlling the servant through the bracelet that she was wearing.

“Thank you.”

I whisper back and headed immediately to my room. I open the door and the nostalgia that is both comforting and suffocating welcomes me. Holding my composure, I immediately opens my closet and took the necklace that I treasure the most. I took a few moments and held it close when.

“There she is!”

The door flung and slammed open. The royal knight comes running in with a servant and two pointing their fingers toward me.

“Princess!”

They recognize me and how, I do not know, nor do I intend to find out.

“Take the princess.”

I gritted my teeth and look for an escape route. For I do not want to be bound once more in this place ever again.

“Not this time.”

I throw some stuff in front of them, runs towards the window, and flung it open. Everyone was surprised and stop in their tracks, for I am standing on the window sill and will not hesitate to throw myself out from the height that can kill anyone upon impact with the ground.

“Princess!”

“Stay where you are, for I do not wish to be caught and be in a cage in this place anymore.”

I do not know what came into me, but my mind is screaming at me at that time that there is someone that I can trust. I jump, draining the life out of them. I close my eyes and held the necklace close when warm air soothes my back and I felt that I slowly falling. I knew who it was, and though he is somewhere far, I know that I can go to him and where I am safe. I immediately run following the air that is leading me back to him. The knights followed me, but they eventually lost track when I finally reach the forest and the trees by his command lured them away.

“There.”

I smile wide, seeing the light and the place where I can only be safe. Yet, I stumbled face first and waited for an impact when an arm took me by the waist and carried me in a princess style. I gasp, flustered and surprised by the gesture. I look ahead and saw him with a smile and the exchange for the deal that we started.

“Well done, my servant.”

Those words, his acceptance, and his smile. Things that were not known, yet very special to me. At that time and very moment, I know that in this place and with him, I can be genuinely happy.

“I did. I succeeded.”

THE SHADOW THAT I KNEW BUT FORGOT, THE SMILE THAT I OWN, BUT LET IT VANISHES, THE BOY I MET AT THAT TIME IN THAT LIFE, THE ONE I PROMISE TO BE WITH, AND THE ONE THAT I ALWAYS FIND FORGETTING AND LETTING SOMETHING DIE FROM DEEP INSIDE? THE CONTRACT THAT WE BOTH TOOK AND THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE GAME WE PLAY, AND AGAINST IS ALL, BUT THE HUNTING REALITY WE NEED TO PAY WITH THE PRICE, THIS TIME IN THIS LIFE, AS OUR THIRD AND LAST CHANCE. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE AS IT ALL WILL BE, A SPIN OF A TRAGIC TALE OF OUR ROMEO AND JULIET.

"I will make you remember everything even if it means that I need to dwell in pain and agony for missing you. I swear to be the one who will keep you safe, in this life and to the next, up until the last chance."

From time to time in this life and the third. I kept hearing back his words, from those painful promises that created the cog that spins the dark, cruel, and exchanged fate, we are running in circles. I wanted to be the one who will let him remember everything, and I want to be the one that will hold him again, in the third chance of our life.

"Do we have a deal, Miyu?"

But the words and the deal from the devil that I picture perfectly with his eyes, stand, and the gentlemen in every way. But a spiteful trickster who hunts us from the very beginning and introduces himself as the playwright of the play we took. His uncanny smile and evil desire make me want to regret everything, yet I should not, and I cannot. For the desire to be with him, I cannot be the only thing that I cannot give up against the trick that was long laid out for both of us. For I swear to be the one to make him remember this time, even if it will end in an inevitable sacrifice.

“Miyu!”

They still cheer and call my name with love. Slowly waving their hands as my next song toned down with the melody they all are familiar with, knowing the half-truth of my search, the longing and wants I used to put me on this pedestal. Maybe it is wrong to use people out of their sympathy from the feeling that love could bring, yet I took the stake to be a little closer to him.

"Here it goes."

The lights dim once more, and I sat in the center stage, the bright spotlight is on me Then the rhythm plays. With the world knowing the fantasy, others believe it to be a lie, to the destiny that is neither cruel nor good for us, the choice we made, and the deal that took everything in this third spin and chance, I will hold to the thing that I know off.

“Three years, 12 hours, 35 minutes, and 30 seconds until that day!”

They all chanted together with me, for they all remember, from which that promise holds up until the time that we will fulfill it. I took a deep breath and close my eyes once in a second or two, then whispers.

“This song is what I made for the most special person in my life.” I draw a smile together with my heart that beats its genuine misses, for the angel without wings. I took a deep breath in while I added the confession.

"The person I forget and never intend to, the one who owns my life."

To the words of my past that mark the longing I suffer for a long. From the vivid scene of him and I, my heart strums the familiar melody. Swoon at the promise, and am taken by the pain, the stupidity others branded of me for believing in a fantasy that will never come true. If only they knew, if only I can let them see, my heart, my existence, and the very me is the twist of cruel fate and wants from the lives we both are chasing after for one another. Chances, hate, regret, promise, and love, I shall hold on to this thing, as this is the fact I will live forever. Until that time comes, to the tragic end of the contract we both signed, in this lifetime, I will be his Juliet and he is my Romeo.

“This song is for the person who gave up everything from a deal of a lifetime. I entitled this song 'A Time.'”

The melody that I made and it is now bringing, my memories of that day come rushing and knocking longingly inside my mind.

“I did it! I won your challenge. Then I can be your servant now.”

“You did. Now I hope that you wouldn’t cry at night and look for that half-star necklace.”

His sincerity was beyond his stone-cold expression. Those words and the truth that the challenge that he made me do it all for my sake. My crying nights and calling for comfort can only be eased by those necklaces. I didn’t know then that it will be more than just a half-star and a pair of necklaces for the both of us.

“You did this for me?”

“Do not get me wrong mortal. I just do not want to be up all night because of your tears.”

“Still, thank you.”

“You do not have to, for I am exchanging that thanks for my smile.”

“What do you mean?”

“A spirit king like I will never smile and that easy for any mortal.”

I remember those words. Those exact cunning words that he played with me within the palm of his hand. His excuse and the kind of bond that I never expect to start and stick for something else that is beyond the relationship between a servant and her master.

“I will keep that promise, and this time I will be the one that will chase after you.”

The song ended and my heart flutter in the mix of pain, wanting, and longing. My tear falls and the words came back with the hurtful promises and almost empty hope I still and forever will hold until we could be together again. Not by the chance of the deal nor the fate of our hearts in this play as the actors and actresses. But the final call and before the curtains will fall and the tragic ending will be the happy ever after.

“I CAN GO BACK, RIGHT?”

“WHY WOULD YOU WANT IT TO BE, FOR SOMEONE AND SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND THE REASON OF THE HUMAN WORLD THAT YOU LIVE IN?”

“HUMAN OR NOT, MORTAL OR IMMORTAL, AND A KING OF THE FOREST, NO MATTER WHAT, YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE.”

“IF YOU WOULD NOT AND FOR NOTHING, IF IT IS FOR ME, WOULD YOU?”

“I PROMISE.”

The angel I should have taken a sight to, the heart that I should have ignored, and the greed that took us in this game. The promise and love that started everything. The past I treasure the most and the past that I can no longer go back into or rewind everything. The one I knew back then, was the first person who ever calls my name. The first and only person I would ever love. For after this third life I have, I will be the one to remember him first, the one that will make him remember, the one that will say those words first, and the one I treasure the most.

“Rafael!”