Chapter 17 Dance with my Father

I stiffened in my place because of what I could see right now. In front of me, King Gabi is sitting on the floor with his half body leaning against the wall with his body full of blood. Suddenly tears welled up in my eyes.

“Ya-ni... it's... it's al-right,” he said intermittently.

I was speechless. When I saw the blood, I remembered what I had done when I was young. I covered my mouth at the same time, tears welled up in my eyes.

“Ya-ni... please... don't... cr-cry…”

I just sobbed. “... it ... makes ... me ... sad,” he continued.

“What... happened?” I asked while sobbing.

“... a... long… story,” he replied.

I thought I would never cry again after what happened earlier but there is more to come. Wait, he's dying, and I’m not even doing anything.

“Oh God. I'm so sorry King Gabi. I'll just call for help or maybe I'll just call your sons instead,” I wiped away my tears and would have left the room when,

“NO YA-NI!” he firmly said using the rest of his strength. “Pl-Please... don't... call... anyone,” he begged me.

I turned to him because of that. “Bu-But you need help… and they can help you.”

“It's okay… my… time... is up.”

“No!” I confronted him. “Please don't say that. You have to live.”

“Please Yani... don't call them…”

I looked at him carefully before I answered. “No. I have to do this,” I stubbornly told him while looking around to find a way to call them immediately.

“Yani... please…”

I ignored him. He needs help. If I can't find a way to help him, it's as if I killed him myself. I went to his desk and saw a piece of paper. I would have looked at what was written when he spoke,

“Yani... if you... call them... I'll state... in my last... testament... that... you killed me.”

I stopped and was surprised by what he said. I looked at him and he just looked back at me. I looked back at the paper and saw the beautiful cursive letters “Last Testament” written on the top. There’s a long message after that and I think he's done. There were tears in my eyes again.

“Why? Why are you doing this? Don't you want to live?” I cried asking.

He didn't say a word so I looked at him. I was so moved by what I saw.

He smiled back at me even though his lips were full of blood. My tears kept falling.

“Why are you smiling?” I said. “This nation needs you. You're the king and everyone looks up to you and… and I can't do anything to save you. If I don't do something, they might think I killed you.”

“I'm not… worthy… to be… this nation's… king,” was his answer.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I'm not… like anyone… in this… nation… I'm just… a normal… human… you know that… right?”

I was speechless at what he said. Even though it was fragmented, I understood what he meant. He smiled at me again.

“Don't worry… I have chosen… a better ruler,” he said.

“Who?” I asked while still crying.

He didn’t answer me instead, “Yani... can you... do me... a favor?” he asked.

“Uhm yes. Absolutely. What is it?” was my answer.

“Could you... get that... paper and... bring it... here?”

I didn’t say a word and looked at the paper he was referring to.

“Please... get a... pen too.”

I couldn’t do anything but obey his command. When I approached him,

“Can you… write for… me?” he asked as a favor. I nodded.

“April 1...” he said so I wrote it immediately. “Sincerely... yours... King… Gabriel…”

Sorry King Gabi. My handwriting is not as good as your handwriting. Yours is far better. I’m embarrassed.

After I wrote down what he said, he took the pen and even though his hand was shaking, his signature was still nice on top of his name. He took the paper and handed it to me.

“Please... keep this…”

I picked it up and just looked at what was written.

“Do me... a favor... to read that... only after I... will be... buried and... read it only... in front of my eight... sons…”

I nodded and rolled the paper. He smiled at me. Great, he still managed to smile again?!

“... I give you... permission... to go... to the... underground... meeting room... aren't you... happy?”

I was surprised by what he said not because of his permission but, “Happy?” I said sarcastically. “Why would I be happy King Gabi if I saw with my very eyes that you... are dying and I can't do a thing to save you?”

Even though I looked like I was scolding him, the smile still lingered on his lips.

“I'm sorry... I just... don't want... to see... the sad faces... of my sons... during my last breath...”

I don't know if I will agree with his reason because it is too superficial just to not call them but I understand. It is indeed painful to know that with your last breath, the last thing you will see is the sad faces of your loved ones crying but that 's really what happens when someone dies, right?

“Yani... I know... how much... pain you will... go through... after this... because my sons... will blame you... for... killing me. But please... bear it... because... everything is in the paper... already. They just... have to... wait... until... the time... has come.”

I just nodded as an answer. He smiled at me again. Paksh*t. Why is he like this?! He seemed to be content to die. He seems to accept... no, he really accepts it. Other people are still scared of such incidents while he... he is able to smile. This king is really unique.

“Who killed you?” I asked.

He paused. “... it's someone... you don't know.”

“Then why did he kill you?”

“... it's a... request.”

“By you?!” I asked in shock.

“... no... the killer... himself.”

“And you agreed to him?”

“…yes.”

“Why? Are you depressed? Sad? Why?” I have a series of questions for him.

“No… I'm happy… to be… with… my sons… and you.”

“Then why do you want to die? Why did you agree to his request?”

He looked at me straight in the eyes “Because… he said… that I… am no good… to be… the ruler… of this… nation.”

I was surprised and wasn’t able to talk back at his answer. “And I thought… he was… right.”

I can't answer and I also don't know what to think, whether I will agree to it or not? Why does part of me seem to think he has a point?

“... looks like... I'm getting... sleepy,” he said while catching his breath so I just went back to reality.

“No! Wait King Gabi. I still have one thing left for you.”

He looked at me. “... what... is it... my dear?”

“Isn't it you have a request before you die?”

There was a build-up of silence as he thought. I was about to speak so he would know what but he preceded me.

“Jethro's voice,” he replied.

“Yes.”

“Of course... I'd always... dream of that... but no matter... what I do... I know... he won't... sing... to me,” there’s a trace the sadness in his voice.

“No. He will. I can make that happen.”

“... how?”

“Just hang on. Keep your ears open, okay?”

He smiled at me. “... okay.”

I brought my wrist closer to his ear which was a bit shaky and pressed a button on the recorder.

(Music Now Playing: Dance with my Father by Luther Vandross)

It’s a guitar version. While the intro was playing, my tears did not stop flowing. It’s too related.

“Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence, my father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then…”

I thought he would not die and this is the best song that Jethro should sing to him but it is more related now because... King Gabi is dying. Huhu. Jethro's voice is even beautiful.

“Spin me around til I fell asleep and up the stairs he would carry me, and I knew for sure, I was loved…”

Even though he is not my real father, that little time I was able to talk to him and be with him...

“If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him…”

... I already considered him a father. He seems to be the kindest father I have ever met.

“…I'd played a song that would never ever end. How I'd loved, loved, loved… To Dance With My Father Again…”

That's where it ends. He did not sing everything because he told me I was being abusive. “King Gabi you heard it?” I sobbed.

He smiled. “... that was... the most beautiful... song... I'd ever... heard... and I... knew it... how beautiful... the voice... of my precious son... is…”

I cried when I heard what he said but I cried even more when I saw a tear fall in his eyes. I was speechless. Just great King Gabi. Why are you just crying now?

“... Yani… thank you... you must... have run... to a... lot of trouble... to record... his voice.”

“It was actually nothing.” Yes, it was difficult.

He smiled again. “... Yani... I leave... everything... to you... please... take good... care... of it... especially... my sons.”

“Yes King Gabi,” I promised obediently. “I'll do my best.”

“... thank you...”

His breathing slowed and his eyes gradually closed. I could not help but wonder how lucky the eight princes were to have a father like him.

“Tay…” I whispered because of what I was thinking.

“…tay?”

I was surprised and looked at him and saw his eyes open as he looked at me.

“Tay… Jethro… called me… that… once… it means—”

“It means father in Filipino,” I entered.

He just looked at me and smiled again.

“Tay…” he slowly closed his eyes again. I thought that was the last thing he would say…

“Salamat…anak, (Thank you… my child)” was his last words before he let out his last breath.

I was dumbfounded looking at him with a still engraved smile on his lips. Even though it was painful, I was still able to smile as my tears flowed unceasingly.

He’s gone. Our dearest king is dead. I just hugged his dead body and cried. Why does this have to happen? Is that guy who killed him that numb for such a request?

After a few hours, I also thought about calming down. I went out to ask a maid where the princes could be called. She said there is a speaker in King Gabi's office that you press a button and then you speak.

The maid asked me why I looked like this. I didn’t answer her, instead, I told her to call the medics to bring a stretcher and go straight to King Gabi's office. She asked why... I just said emergency and she never asked again.

I went to the office again and looked for what the maid said. It’s at the table and has nine buttons. Eight for having the name of each prince, and one button if you want to call them all. I immediately pressed that button and spoke,

“The King... is Dead,” and immediately removed my finger. They may suddenly shout through the speaker. The medics arrived immediately carrying a stretcher and were surprised to find the dead body.

“Please take him where dead people should be,” I said.

“Uh y-yes,” and they immediately put King Gabi's body on the stretcher and lifted it.

I opened the door out of the office for them. When it opened, Prince Eaux was out of breath.

“Yani? What was that all about?” he asked a series of questions. “What happened? What do you mean by—”

He didn’t finish what he was going to say when the medics passed by, carrying King Gabi's body.

Prince Zoltar and Prince Turuki also arrived but they also stopped immediately when they saw that the medics were passing by. They were also dumbfounded. There was a build-up of silence when the medics finally left.

“I-I… I thought it was… a joke,” Prince Turuki stammered causing the silence to break.

Prince Feesy, Prince Edmondo, Prince Aes and Prince Fuego also came running.

“We heard the news. Is it true?” Prince Edmondo asked breathlessly.

None of us spoke. “Hey, what's wrong?” Prince Feesy asked, confused.

“It is,” Prince Zoltar replied with sorrow in his voice.

The four of them were surprised. Prince Feesy nervously chuckled. “Hehe when did you learn to joke Zoltar? That was not even funny.”

Prince Zoltar glimpsed at Prince Feesy with a serious face and then turned back his gaze to the floor causing tears to fall on Prince Feesy's eyes.

“You're kidding right?!” Prince Fuego's voice cracked.

We didn’t speak. “No. This can't be. That was just a joke!” he shouted.

No one objected. Prince Fuego just covered his face with his right hand and cried.

“Where is he?” Prince Aes asked full of sorrow.

“Morgue,” replied Prince Turuki. “Taking to the morgue.”

Prince Aes, Prince Edmondo and Prince Feesy immediately ran away.

“Please excuse me. I'll go help the medics,” said Prince Zoltar as he left.

All that was left was me, Prince Eaux, Prince Turuki and Prince Fuego. Only silence enveloped us.

“Yani…” Prince Eaux said so I looked at him but he did not look at me. “…are you the one who called us?”

“Yes,” was my weak answer.

“What happened?” he added.

“He was killed…” I began. “I don’t know how and I don’t know who because when I arrived he was on the floor… with blood…” I could not finish because fear crept into me so I trembled with fear.

I just came back to reality when Prince Eaux tapped my shoulder. “We're sorry for you to see that. So he was dead when you arrived… “

“No,” I sobbed. “He was still breathing”

The three of them were surprised and looked at me. I was also surprised to realize what I said.

“I-I mean… uhm… you see—”

“He was still breathing?!” replied Prince Fuego.

I was surprised and wasn’t able to talk for a moment and tried to gain the strength to answer him. “H-he… he was…”

“Then why didn't you call us?!” he shouted at me.

I wasn’t able to talk back again but I still tried to gain the strength to answer just to explain what needs to be explained. “I-I was—”

“Why didn't you?!” he shouted.

I could no longer speak because fear just enveloped me and my whole body seemed to stiffen.

“ANSWER ME!!”

“Fuego, calm down. You're scaring her,” Prince Eaux entered.

“CALM DOWN?!” he shouted at Prince Eaux. “Can't you hear what she just said Eaux?! If she had just called us when she saw Dad bloody on the floor then we could have saved him right?!”

“I know that…” Prince Eaux replied. “…but maybe she did what she can do but Dad's wound is so terrible that it can't be cured.”

“Really?! Is that what really happened Yani?!” Prince Fuego shouted at me but I still couldn't speak because I am still in fear.

In a fit of rage, Prince Fuego made a fire ball and threw it at me but Prince Eaux blocked it with water and flooded Prince Fuego with water so his back hit the wall and his whole body was soaked. Prince Eaux approached him and grabbed the collar of his shirt.

“THE F**K WITH YOU!” Prince Eaux angrily said at Prince Fuego. “Do you think Yani really meant to do that?! Is she really that cold hearted enough to do that and let him die?!”

“Then if she is not a cold hearted person then she could have called us to say our LAST GOODBYE TO HIM!” Prince Fuego shouted back while crying.

Prince Eaux was silenced by Prince Fuego's rebuttal and tears fell in his eyes.

Prince Fuego began to cry. “You just don't understand how it felt that you were too late to do all the things you want to do with him…”

The tears of Prince Eaux flowed that he was holding back.

“I don't even remember when was the last time I heard his voice…” added Prince Fuego. “…or even the last time he threw water on me… just to calm me down… and quickly wipe me with a warm towel. I was so busy that I thought I forgot to say how much I'm grateful I am to have him as my Dad… at least I could have just… I could have just… I could have just said to him…”

“…how much I love him…” Prince Eaux concluded with what Prince Fuego had to say.

Prince Fuego just watched Prince Eaux crying. “We're too late…” Prince Eaux sobbed. “…and that was our last chance.”

I just watched them cry and I can't help but cry too. I was surprised when Prince Turuki tapped me on the shoulder so I looked at him.

“I don't know what happened but…” he looked at me with a face full of grief. “…he was right. You should have called us.”

I know those looks, that even if you don't say it directly I know it's my fault. I know it's wrong that I didn't call you but… but…

“I'M SORRY!” I just shouted at them and ran away. It hurts. It hurts to blame you for not doing anything... but I still have to endure it. I understood why they were blaming me but after King Gabi's funeral is the only time I could explain and read his last testament.

But I stopped at my place by what I saw. It’s Jethro, in front of me about a few meters away from me. His face was full of shock looking at me. I just cried because I realized that this is not the only pain I am experiencing now.

I ran immediately and passed by him. I exited the Main Cabin into the woods. I stopped in an open space with a ravine by the end. I remembered this place. This is the place where I noticed the pain in his chest. He ignored me but I hope, I hope I insisted even more so that I would have found out from the beginning and avoided him.

By this time, them blaming me for the death of King Gabi is the only reason I am crying now but no. Three consecutive bad events happened so the pain I feel now is also tripled.

I stood at the end of the ravine and looked down as my tears fell.

I thought it was because of my power that the reason why I always bring bad luck but when I got to this nation, I sometimes felt that I belonged to this place but even here, I am still cursed. Maybe wherever I go I will only bring bad luck. I think, there’s no place in this world where I truly belong because it is not my power that is wrong…

…I was the wrong one.

I was still staring at the dark void. I have no intention of committing suicide because I know all of this is just a test but now, I am losing hope—

Suddenly I felt something take my arm so I immediately turned to see who it was. My eyes widened at who I saw.

“Jethro—”

I didn’t finish what I was about to say because he pulled me and hugged me. I could not move and was dumbfounded.

“You are not a crazy person to do what you are planning to,” he said. I was speechless. There was intermittent silence before he spoke again.

“I don't have tissue right now… but you can cry on my clothes.”

All I could hear was the breeze and my sobbing after he said that. Why is it that those words are the only thing I needed to hear just to make me feel better?

Why are you like this Jethro? Why are you like this to me now? Do you know our situation right now? Won't you blame me for your father's death? Shouldn't you be mad at me also? Why is it that out of all the people that can understand me… only you can?

My sobs became louder and so my heart beat. I know there’s nothing wrong that those words came from him but in my current situation, I know in my mind what I should do.

I pushed him away but not that strong just to let go of the hug. He also parted as my head bowed down.

I want to stay in his arms but…

“Next time, don’t do that because…” I raised my head with a serious face as tears flowed. “…I don’t need your help.”

He was surprised by what I said so I immediately ran past him again and left him there. I want to say thank you but I can't because I remember what I should do…

…that I should avoid him because of the ice of his heart. I know I look bad and numb from what I did but if what happened a while ago continued on, the ice may melt again and his chest will hurt again… this is for his own good so…

Sorry Jethro… sorry.