The Royal Contract

After Alex had hung up the phone and turned to her, asking her to change, she wondered what the problem was. He had turned silent since then. But she let him, thinking that he might need a few minutes before telling her.

Suddenly, he stood in front of her, staring into her eyes in the middle of their room. His face was a picture of a man carrying a heavy burden. She could only wonder what news he had received from that brief phone call.

“I need to tell you something,” Alex spoke so softly that it was barely audible in her ears. Or maybe it was the warning bells in her head that prevented her from hearing him distinctly.

But she still understood him, making the hair of her arms stand up in anxiousness and her heartbeat speed up in fear. His expression and his voice said it all. Something was not right.

Suddenly the dream that she had came to mind, but she wanted to shove it in the back of her mind, but it kept nagging at her. Should she even listen to her dream?

“What is it? Tell me.” She demanded because she could feel that it was not something good. But she hoped it was not as worse as what her mind would probably conjure.

.....

She had to know before her mind started jumping to conclusions. Was it about her father? She just talked to him early that morning. He sounded fine.

Her Mom? She doubted it. She was fine.

At least she did not want to include them in the list of possibilities. What could it be? Their friends or it could be his family. Please! She hoped not any of them.

Their entire business could collapse in the stock market, and she would not bat an eye at it, but she could not accept any of their loved ones getting hurt.

Then, who called him? Why did he ask her to get dressed in the middle of the night to go somewhere? She could not wait any longer as her fear grew inside of her.

Though, she doubted that this was any of his surprises.

She held into his arms when he placed his palms on both sides of her shoulders. As if to give her support. Suddenly she could feel her heart was about to explode from the anticipation as he wetted his lips.

“That was your Mom who called.” Alex started but paused again as if checking on her reaction. But how could she react when he hardly said anything.

But somehow, she could already predict what was next. It was like her husband was giving her a hint so that the impact would be lesser.

But how could it lessen the pain if what was on her mind was what he was about to say? It would not matter because it would have the same result.

“What did my Mom say?” She knew her voice was too calm. It was like she was in the eye of the storm, waiting to make havoc in the next few seconds.

She could see the hesitation in his eyes, already feeling that what he had to say would break her heart. But she still hoped that it was not as worse as what was already in her mind as she felt the first teardrop in her eyes.

“Your Dad had another attack. He is now in the hospital, and it doesn’t sound good this time.” He suddenly pulled her closer to his body after saying those words that she had dreaded every day since her father had his first attack.

She always wondered how many years, months, days, hours, or even minutes she still had with him. Since each drag of air he took meant one less breathed, he had to take in his borrowed time.

“No...” She wanted to scream, but no words came out of her lips, just continuous sobs accompanied by heavy breathing. But internally, she was shouting from the top of her lungs.

Was this it? Is this his last time with them? She asked as she buried her face in her husband’s chest. But at least it was far worse than she initially thought. At least, she hoped that she still had time to say goodbye if this was the end.

But still, she wished and prayed that it was not.

She wanted more time with him. She still had to see her take the throne and become the real queen he wished she would be. And he still needed to see his grandkids.

Still, so many. Yet, not enough time.

Suddenly, she felt him move. She did not even realize he was now carrying her to the sofa in the middle of their room. She felt so lost in her sorrow. She had forgotten about the present as her tears continued to pour out her eyes.

“I need to see him.” She whispered in between her anguish, not wanting to waste another minute of crying when she could be by her father’s side at this minute.

She took the handkerchief Alex handed to her and wiped her tears dry. Although many still fell, she kept on wiping them until she could control herself again.

Alex immediately escorted her out of their apartment, their bodyguards already waiting for them. Instead of going by the front door, security escorted them through another exit. Outside, a car already waited for them.

Now, she understood why Alex had to delay telling her the news. She could see that he had to arrange everything for her, appreciating the handkerchief already waiting for her tears.

He understood almost everything about her, cared enough to know the little details that would make her smile and the extraordinary things that could give her joy. And most of all, Alex knew when he needed to be silent when she needed it the most.

“Thanks.” She finally uttered after recovering her voice from all her tears.

She looked at him, who had his arms around her for support. He appeared very calm, but she could hear his heart beating wildly across his chest.

He was as affected as she was by this news, but he would never show it because she needed him to be strong for the two of them.

He would look like the tower of support that she and her mom would hold on to until this ordeal was over. But he would never crumble down and cry in front of them.

“I am here as long as you need me.” Alex pulled her closer to him, planting a tender kiss on her lips before cradling her again in his warmth. “We will all get through this.”

She knew he was not promising her anything that he could not deliver. He was not saying that his father would survive this attack again just like the last time because, just like her, he was not sure.

But he was promising that despite what would happen, he would be there for all of them, which she appreciated very much. She did not need empty promises, but she only needed him.