Chapter 26: Persuasion

"Let's talk," he said to me after he sobered up from worrying. Then he looked at Isagani. "Including you."

His tone is menacing. And it's scaring the hell out of me.

I can't help but gulp out of nervousness. I looked at Isagani but he's not looking at me. It's like he's purposely avoiding my eyes.

What should I do? How am I going to handle this?

Neuron was silent. Very silent. And that's why it's making me feel so anxious.

When we got outside of the church Neuron stopped walking. Isagani and I stopped walking too. But Neuron didn't face us.

I am hesitating if I should go near him, if I should talk to him, or if I could touch him. He didn't say anything and I couldn't see his face but I am freaking scared right now.

"My fist is itching," he suddenly muttered.

"Neuron let me explain--"

"But I won't hurt your friend," he immediately cut me off. He turned around to face us then looked at Isagani. He had this subtly annoyed look because of his slightly noticeable creased forehead.

"I take back what I said," he confessed to me.

"What?"

"I won't be proud if someone else wants you. I'll pretend I didn't see what I saw earlier."

He stared at Isagani. "F--k off, man. She's mine. I'm trying so hard to stay calm but I really wanna beat the hell out of you."

It's my first time hearing the prince swear.

And I could see how hard he's clenching his fist.

"How is she yours?" Isagani retaliated. "Does being her lover give you entitlement over her?"

"What?!" Neuron grimaced out of rage and grabbed him by his collar.

I immediately stood in between them and pushed them away from each other. "Hey, stop! Stop!"

Neuron forcefully grabbed my hand to drag me but Isagani was quick to stop him by grabbing my other hand.

And that's when a cold shiver crept into me. I saw how Neuron's face changed from his normal expression to a dead one. Emotionless. He looked dangerous. Just like that time when I pointed a knife at his chest.

I shove Isagani's hand away and gave him a look to say he should let go. I could see the hesitation in Isagani's eyes. He didn't want to but he let us go in the end.

I couldn't do anything but bite my lip.

On our way to Neuron's car, Michael approached us.

"Your Highness, you're being summoned to the palace. His Majesty is enraged."

Enraged? Why? What happened?

Neuron raked his hair in frustration and blew out a heavy sigh.

"He demanded that you must be severely punished for using the control tower without proper authorization," Michael glanced at me, "and for personal reasons."

Control tower? You mean that super-advanced tower that monitors every single CCTV in the whole city? Neuron used that tower? Why?

No one is allowed to use that, not even the king if it's not for national dire need. It can only be used to locate murderers and other criminals, when rescuing kidnapping victims, or locating terrorists.

I faced Michael. "Wait, what's happening here?"

Neuron stared at me and shook his head. "Nothing. You don't have to worry."

"Don't tell me you used that tower to find me?" There's a hint of disbelief in my voice.

Am I that 'personal reason' that Michael is referring to?

"No," Neuron immediately denied.

"That's right, ma'am. And he will be punished for it," Michael, however, stated the contrary.

I saw Neuron give Michael a disapproving look but Michael pretended as if he didn't see it.

I stared at Neuron. He was really worried for me. I don't know why he thought Riganda would come after me, but he got really worried and broke the law for me.

Then even with this stunning fact, I saw a selfish opportunity for me to get inside the palace. "Let me go with you. I'll explain to His Majesty."

Please.. please say yes…

"You're not doing that," Neuron warned with finality in his voice and dismissed Michael. Then he dragged me inside his car.

We were just silent. And although he didn't say anything, although he didn't show me that he is angry, I can feel it. So this is what it feels like to fight with your boyfriend.

"You didn't kiss him back, right?" He burst out after the long silence, sounding like he's desperate for confirmation. Then he loosened his tie like it's suffocating him.

"I--"

"Say you didn't, please. I'm on the verge of losing my sanity right now. Tell me it was all him, and I'll believe you."

He unbuttoned two of his upper shirt buttons as if he needed to so he could breathe.

I-- how could I make an excuse at this point?

"Neuron, I'm sorry. I lost my mind for a moment."

Anger blazed in his eyes. He grabbed my face with both hands and he suddenly kissed me with force. He kissed me so roughly and it was painful. I pushed him away with all the strength I could gather.

"Stop! You're hurting me."

He looks so lost, so confused, so hurt.

"Why are you playing with my heart like this?"

By how desperate he sounds, it's making my heart ache for him.

I held his hand. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me just this once. It won't happen again. I'm sorry."

He leaned back on his chair like he's so tired and he forced his eyes to close using his fingers. Then he opened them again and looked at me, this time with a calmer face. He reached his hand on my lips.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

My lips hurt. I think they're swollen.

He closed his eyes again like he's seeing something so agonizing. "It won't get out of my head. Him, kissing you."

I feel so guilty. So ashamed. I wanna run and hide from him.

"What should I do, Rathna?" He suddenly asked.

"About what?"

"To make you not look at other men."

I stood up from my seat and sat on his lap facing him. He was surprised by this bold move.

"It was just a mistake, Neuron. He said something and I got confused for a second." I felt his hands circle on my waist. "I'm sorry that you have to be punished because of me."

He shook his head. "It's fine as long as you're safe."

I brushed some of his hair using my fingers and held both sides of his face. "Do you trust me, Your Highness?"

I wanted to know if he trusts me completely now.

"When you like someone, you can't help but give your whole trust even if you don't want to," he professed like he's in agony.

Neuron is almost perfect. He's smart, he's gorgeous as a man, he is of royal blood, he is kind-hearted, he's compassionate, he's giving, he's cheerful, he is so lovable.

But he's so easy to tame. He's so quick on trusting strangers. He tends to trust those who are kind to him, even if it's only superficial.

And I'm gonna make sure I'll be the last person who will teach him skepticism over everything. I'll make sure that after my betrayal, he will learn to not trust again easily. In that way, I can make sure he won't be taken advantage of by ill-intent persons like me.

I traced his under eyes using my thumbs and then planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"Your Highness, I'm not the person you think I am. I'm keeping a lot of things from you. And I might end up hurting you."

He held both my hands and circled them on his own nape. Then his hands went back to my waist.

"I've seen almost everything. And I've dealt with some of the cruelest people in the world. I don't think you'll be worse," he wittily retorted.

I planted a kiss on his forehead and I heard him chuckle.

"How can I stay mad if you do this? You're bribing me with kisses," he complained. "You should make mistakes more often so that you'd cuddle me like this."

"You want me to make mistakes more often?" I wanted to clarify.

"Except kissing other guys. I would go insane, I swear. If you don't want me losing my sanity, don't even dare Rathna. Just don't."

"I'm yours, Your Highness. Only yours. I am making that oath right now."

"Can I write that down and have it notarized by my lawyer?"

That made me crack up. He's making me laugh again.

"Whatever you want, Your Highness."

"If I make that into a legal contract you'd be liable to the law if you leave me, or if you cheat on me."

"So you don't trust me, huh," I said, pretending to sulk. I tried to get off of him but he tightened his hug on my waist making me unable to get off from sitting on his lap.

"I trust you," he professed with the level of sincerity that could make the hair at the back of my neck stand up.

When he said that I wanted to shout at him and tell him to not trust me. I wanted to tell him to leave me while he still can.

But I'm selfish. I know I am. I prioritize my own benefit more than anything. So even if I know Neuron will get hurt after all of this, even if he doesn't deserve to be deceived, I stayed quiet and let him trust me with all his heart.

I stared straight into his eyes. "Take me to the palace. Let me make it up to you. I'll explain to the king on your behalf. Besides, it's my fault why you used the tower."

He shook his head in disapproval. "The royal court is a scary place, Rathna. I would never bring you there, no matter what the situation is."

Just why wouldn't he bring me to the palace?!

"Please? I wanna make it up to you. I've been through the worst, Neuron. There is nothing I can't handle."

He shook his head again stubbornly.

Urgh! Please! Just bring me to the palace!

"But I want to meet your family," I sulked and pouted.

Please, I hope this works.

I kissed his left cheek. "Please?" Then his right cheek. "Please, Sir." Then his chin. "Neuron, please? Why? Are you ashamed that your girlfriend is only a calligrapher? Do you not want your family to know you're dating a commoner?"

"No, it's nothing like that." He stopped to think. Then he looked at me. "If you really wanna meet them, come with me to the palace this Saturday. The royal family will have a royal meal."

I tried to conceal it but my face still brightened up. Finally! Finally!

"But it's a royal meal. Can I really join?"

"They can't kick the prince out, can they?" Arrogance is evident in his tone.

I hugged him out of happiness. "Thank you! I am so excited!"

He laughed. "I remember you told me you like the king. Is that why you're so excited?"

That literally made me stop for a moment and the smile I had, fell off my face.

Me? Liking Mirando? The idea is disgusting and so far-fetched.

Before I pulled out from the hug I made sure I was smiling to pretend I am happy because of the king.

"Yah, I can't believe I will finally meet the king!"

He had a pure smile plastered on his face. Like he's happy I am this happy at the thought of meeting his father. Little did he know, it's a lie. Everything is a lie.

He put his one hand at the back of my head and he's slightly looking up at me, because I am sitting on his lap and that made me taller, with a very serious face. He slowly dragged my head down so he could claim my mouth.

What Isagani told me replayed inside my mind. The butterfly weed diamond ring. If he's telling the truth, why would Neuron lie to me? But if Isagani is lying, why would he lie to me?

As Neuron expertly moved his mouth against mine, Isagani and the butterfly weed ring faded from my thoughts and was replaced with something wilder. Something erotic. My body burned with every flick of his tongue.

It was different from Isagani's kiss.

Neuron's kiss could take me to places I've never been and could arouse that desire I have never felt for any men before. My breathing started to become heavy. And my kisses became more aggressive, hot, and needy.

Before we end up doing something more erotic, I pulled out from the kiss breathless, still flushed, and still aroused.

"I realized something when I saw you kissing someone else," he said, still with that blazing desire evident in his eyes. Desire for me.

"And what is that?"

"But I won't say it."

"Why?"

"Because I'm still upset by the fact that you kissed someone else."

I stared at him in disbelief. After making out with me, he'd tell me he's still upset with me for kissing Isagani?

I just shook my head and chuckled. Neuron is adorably pure sometimes. And I like that about him.