The Royal Contract

“Where are you taking me?” Amelia asked, a little perplexed with his action, but she still cooperated with little resistance. They stood side by side in the elevator as it slowly went down.

“We are going to get some coffee. You will pull yourself together before visiting your friend.” Evan offered, taking charge of the situation.

Then, the elevators opened to the lower level, where he guided her toward the small coffee shop. There was hardly anyone around, probably because most were sleeping at this hour.

A few minutes later, Evan handed her a hot coffee and a sandwich. “I thought that you might be hungry. I am.” He indicated that he also bought himself one.

But she guessed he must have heard her stomach growl earlier in the room. She suddenly remembered that she had woken earlier starving because she hardly had food the entire day.

“Well, you said a long story. Maybe just cut out the unimportant ones and go with the juicy details. We at least have...” He looked at his watch. “... fifteen minutes before the coffee gets cold.”

.....

She could see that he was joking, trying to lighten the mood, and she appreciated it, but could she tell him about her life. He was still a stranger to her.

Maybe it was better to get it off her chest now than to keep it bottled up, waiting for it to explode, just like moments ago. Besides, telling a stranger might be better since she would not need to see that person again.

“Lance is a childhood friend. We grew up together.” She began. Telling him the story was not that simple, but slowly, it became easier.

“So, you fell in love with him and discovered that your friend also was in love with him. But Lance love who?” Evan asked, his eyes full of curiosity as he drank the rest of his coffee after taking the last bite of his sandwich.

“Of course, Lance loves my friend. I think because he only saw me as a sister.” Amelia told him, irritated that he kept asking so many questions. Then, he remembered that he was a lawyer.

But the funny thing was, she never realized that she was also in the last bite of her sandwich. He managed to distract her with those questions, not realizing she was feeling more comfortable around him.

“Well, that is a very long and complicated story. That is why I swear not to fall into that trap. Relationships are complicated. Love is worse.” Evan concluded as he leaned on his chair, watching her.

“So, it is better to keep changing partners when you feel like the girl is becoming clingy.” She asked, raising her brows at him. Suddenly, she was not convinced about his macho image, Casanova’s act.

She wondered if there was a deeper reason why he ended up thinking like that, a past trauma with relationships and family issues. Those were only a few things that might have caused his deep fear of relationships.

“Hey, stop looking at me like that. I am not a test subject that you should analyze. I have no issues nor traumatized as a child.” Evan quickly clarified, probably reading it in her face.

He was indeed a lawyer and a good one, just like what Angela said. “Anyway, now that you know why I need to see my friend. Would you help me find him?” She knew she could count on him with that. He seemed to be a resourceful guy.

“But before we do.” This time, his face changed. Gone was the playfulness in his lips. His eyes suddenly grew serious. “I need you to prepare yourself because this might not be what you are expecting to see.”

Suddenly, fear again crept into her heart. “What are you saying?” How would he know what Lance’s condition was? She was confused by his words. “Do you know him?”

It was the only possible explanation.

“Yes, Lance is also my friend. But he is not my best friend like you guys.” He finally admitted to her, extending his hands to her to give her support. “I can take you to him right now.”

She quickly stood up, not wanting to waste a minute longer. “Then, take me.” She allowed him to guide her back to the elevator, and they rode up again to their next destination.

She wanted to be mad at him for not telling her earlier that he knew Lance. But she also understood his reason for delaying it. He probably saw that she was not ready to see him with her condition earlier.

But she was now.

She was ready to face the worse scenario she could come up with because somehow, he had prepared her for it. But she still hoped that Lance would still survive and recover from this.

Even if he did not end up with her, she still wished him to have a happy life either with Eida or someone else who would make him happy. She would never stand in the way of his happiness.

Fortunately, she recognized the guards standing by the door of his private room. She learned that most of their families went home while some were waiting in another room.

“Do you mind if I check on him?” She asked one of the guards.

Thankfully, he nodded right away, opening the door for her.

“I will wait for you out here.” Evan offered, not going with her inside.

She quickly entered, not wanting any of their families to know she was there. As of the moment, she only wanted to see him and no one else.

She was not surprised to see him with bandages covering almost his entire body. His injuries could range from broken bones, burns, cuts, and internal injuries.

She just wished that he was strong enough to recover from this as she continued to walk closer to his bed. Watching his closed eyes, purpled skins, and a broken heart, assuming it was the cause of the accident.

She still wondered what happened to the two people she cared about the most. How did they end up in this situation? Would this incident leave a deep scar in their lives? She hoped not.