"I'm standing here naked"
Naked - James Arthur

2 years later (3 years since Kao left)

Earth is tiredly walking toward his bedroom. His head is throbbing with all the "whining" from those old officials. Everyday, they would ask the same thing, a Prince Consort. Do they have nothing to do? Why are they so persistent on his marriage life? Should he give them more works so they would shut up about it? So annoying.

"Awncleeeeee~~" A cute toddler voice interrupted his thought. Before he could response, Earth feels a tight force on his left leg. His cute nephew is looking up at him with his puppy eyes.

"Awncle, huggie... huggie..."

"Hahaha, if you ask me with those eyes, I can't refuse, can I?" Earth laughs while bending down to pick his 2-year-old nephew up. Aciel is Fluke's and Ohm's son. The two decided to adopt the baby from an orphanage after one year of marriage. Their family had another addition of a joy ball.

"Aciel, don't bother Uncle. He is tired. Come here to dada." Yep, it's his brother, Fluke. After 2 years of marriage, he had completely lost his playfulness. Instead, it is replaced with maturity.

"But dada, Aciel miss awncle. Aciel want to pway with awncle." As if to emphasize his point, Aciel puts his small arms around Earth's neck, hugging him tighter.

"Sigh... where do you get your stubbornness?" Fluke shakes his head. His son is reaching the age of saying "no" and refusing everything that does not go his way.

"Of course he got it from you. You was the most hard head kid back then. You gave mom a headache all the time bro."

"Hey!"

Ignoring his pouting brother, Earth returns his attention to the cute ball in his arms, "Aciel, uncle would love to play with you nah. But uncle has to get ready to leave...."

"NOOOOOO...!" Before Earth can even finished talking, Aciel breaks down crying when he realized that his favorite person won't play with him. He hadn't seen Earth for a week now.

"Aww Aciel don't cry! Uncle will come back and play with you soon. You just have to sleep for 3 nights and uncle will be here again." Earth moves Aciel's head away from his shoulder to wipe the toddler's tears. "When uncle back, uncle will have a small present for you. Promise!"

"Pwreally?" And the cute puppy eyes are back. This toddler is the death of him.

"Yes! Have uncle ever break his promise? So be a good boy and don't cry."

"Otay! Aciel miss awncle." Aciel kisses Earth's cheek to show his sincerity. Then, he reluctantly reaches out his hands to his dada so Fluke can take him back.

"That's my good boy! Now, let's go visit your grannie okie baby?"

"Yay, grannie! Aciel want huggie huggie grannie."

The adults really can't get enough of this joy ball. Earth is really happy with his family addition. Aciel brings a small light into his cold heart. He can't help but hoping one day he will have the same happy family like his brother. At this thought, his heart once again aches. The same ache that he thought he had been used to.

Before Fluke leaves his brother, he can't help but ask in a worried voice, "You will be ok in the next few days right? After all he is there."

"Yeah! I think I will be fine. Don't worry!" Earth gives his brother a small smile, hoping he won't see through his lie.

"Take care! Don't forget, we are always here for you brother."
The two brothers take their separate way to their destination. Who know what will happen?

"Go find your heart brother." A faint murmur in the now quiet hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earth steps out of the airplane to enter the humidity atmosphere. Helenia is a tropic island that belong to Alethea. It's located 5100 km (around 3100 miles) south of the country. The island is mainly for military purpose, with a few small towns surrounded it.

Due to a recent hurricane, many locations were flooded for two weeks, wind caused heavy damage not only to the military base but also the citizens' property. Luckily, there was no casualties. Aid was sent to help the island; but, Earth still visits the island for the final inspection that everything is in its place at the base and the citizens are getting all the helps that they needed.

The line of high ranking military officials greets Earth's sight. They are standing straight in attention, waiting for their Crown Prince's command to rest them. Yet, Earth can't do that. He is lost, lost in the sight in front of him. There he is, standing just a few steps in front of Earth. 3 years, 3 goddamn years and Kao still takes his breath away. His cold eyes, sharp jaw, his thin lips, they all are there, right in front of his eyes. The face that had appeared in his dream for the last three years is cold as ever, staring straight ahead.

"Your Highness!" Mark's voice interrupts Earth out of his taunting thought. Earth allows the officials to fall in. Then he proceed to greet each one of them, thanking them for their hard work.
Before he even realized, he is standing in front of Kao, the last person in that line. Earth offers his hand for the handshake, unable to hide the trembling fingers.

"Lieutenant Dechaphatthanakun, thank you for your hard work!"

"Your Highness! It's my honor to serve you, the King, and Alethea." His voice, the voice that he had been missing, is no longer carry warmth. Instead, it's cold as ice, piercing through his aching heart once again.
The only connection they have after 3 years is broken much too fast to the Crown Prince's liking. But what can he do? That is what they have left right? Crown Prince and Lieutenant. Future leader and citizen. Stranger nonetheless. Nothing more, nothing less.

Earth is escorted to the awaiting car to attend to his schedule. Before the car drives away, he takes once last glance at the man he had been yearning for. But to his disappointment, he is no longer there.

However, Earth didn't have to be disappointed for long. The person who is responsible for escorting him during his stay on the island is no other than Kao himself. Fate must play the string in his favor.

Or not.

Two days. Two long days on the island and he didn't have even one private moment with his ex-fiancé. Yes, they were always together during his inspection (well, not when he is in his provided bedroom); but, it was all reports, information he needed to know, and tours. Nothing else. Every time they have a break, the man would find any reason to avoid spending private time with him.

It's frustrating! He is leaving tomorrow and it seems like his hope at the beginning of the trip is deflating fast. Tossing and turning on his bed, his mind chooses anything but sleep. Earth heaves a sigh and decided to head out of bed to look for something to drink.

He quietly walks to the communal kitchen. The military base here is pretty simple, they don't have any special building for the Royals to stay like other bases. Thus, Earth had been provided to sleep in a room alongside with other soldiers. The room has its own bathroom; so, he at least doesn't have to share the communal bath with other soldiers.
Once he arrived at his destination, he opens one to another cabinets, hoping he would discover some alcohol. However, there is no sight of it.... until he opens the door right under the sink. There it is! A bottle of wine that had been hidden behind all the cleaning supply. If his eyes weren't keen enough, he might have missed it.

Like a child who discovered a treasure, Earth excitedly takes out the bottle. It is only half full, but who care? Something is better than nothing. He pulls out the cork and takes a sip straight from the bottle. Etiquette be dammed. He is 5000 km away from the palace.

"Seem like you have discovered my secret." Earth was enjoying the quiet night and dark view from the window until he is interrupted by a calm voice, startling him a little.

Earth turns around and he can't help but take in a sharp breath. The cause of his frustration is standing just a few steps away from him. A blush creeps up his face when he realized Kao is standing pretty close to him since the last 2 days.

"You want a sip?" Earth offers the bottle.

"Sure." Kao immediately takes it. Their fingers brushing against each other, deliver a current to Earth's body. Kao takes a sip straight from the bottle, shocking Earth.
After he finishes, Kao passes the bottle back to Earth. They continue the cycle in silence, neither saying anything. They simply share the bottle and stare out of the dark night.

"How had you been?" Earth decides to break the silence.

"Good. You?" Kao answers after he took a sip, then passes it back to Earth.

"Hmmm." Earth hums in response. The silence embraces them once again. Too many things to say; yet, they can't bring themselves to say anything.

"Are you.... happy?" This time, Kao breakes the silence. He asks the question that had weighted in his mind for 3 years. After all, he wishes nothing but happiness for the love of his life, the one that he believed he could not have.
Earth takes the last sip of wine and let the alcohol boost his last bit of bravery to pour out his answer.

"Happy? How can I be happy when my heart is not with me Kao? I lived in darkness for the last 3 years, feeling empty. Every day I busy myself with work, hoping I could forget the pain and emptiness in me. Yet, every night my head hit the pillow. Every memory of you come back, reminding me that you are not there with me. Then, I started to ask myself, why is it so hard to even have one thing for my life? All my life, I give everything I have for the crown. My own privacy, my own habits, my dream job, everything. But I can't have one thing for myself, and that is my heart. YOU. It's you, Kao. You are my heart. The anchor for my soul. Yet, you walked away. You wished me happiness in your letter, but how can I when you chose to leave me? Where is the promise of you forever staying by my side? When will you stop torturing yourself? Torturing us? Kao, what is love if you don't fight for it? I'm not gonna wait for you to run away anymore. I'm willing to fight for us. Will you come back to me?"

Earth wipes the tears that had been running down on his face. He had stripped it all down, all the layers, all the walls around his soul, stripped naked in front of his ex-fiancé. He eagerly waits for the answer, hoping it would be what he wanted. Sadly, it is not.

Kao shakes his head. "I can't Earth! I'm sorry, I can't! Please forget about me!"

Just that. Just a few words and he walks away, once again. This time, Earth's hope of getting his heart back is completely gone. He had forever lost his heart.

After a sleepless night, Earth is back at the airway. Just 3 days ago, he was full of hope. Today, he is solemnly leaving with nothing but an empty soul again. Emptier if it is even possible. He greets all the military officials again. Kao is not there, like he supposed to. After last night, Earth probably won't able to handle the sight of Kao today; so, he doesn't mind Kao's absence.

Earth reluctantly walks toward the staircase that leads to the airplane.

This is it!

"Goodbye!" He whispers, letting the rare breeze carries it away.

One step on the staircase and his arm feels a force, turning his body around. Before he can register what is happening, his lips are covered by warm.

The feeling is oddly familiar. His body had never forgotten the touch, never forgot how perfect those pair of lips fitting on his own. Like a puzzle piece. All the longing, regret, fear, and love are being poured into the kiss.

"You forgot to pack your heart, My Prince!"

THE END