A Selfish Heart
Chapter Three
KellyQ
Judai closed the door and locked it.
"Johan?" The prince turned and walked up to Johan and pulled his friend close. "If he threatens you again, tell me."
"I'll be all right," Johan reassured. He felt terrible that he made Judai worry. "You know that it will always turn out alright."
The prince tightened his grip around his friend. "I'll make sure that Yubel doesn't hurt you. I'll protect you, just like you've protected me in the past."
Yubel stared at the locked door. He growled, trying not to imagine his Judai touching Johan. What does that filth have that I don't?
"Yubel ...?" came a familiar voice.
Yubel turned his head to see Judai's twin brother, Haou. He was wearing armor stained with blood. Yubel tried to hold back a blush as the image of Judai wearing the same thing flashed before him. Haou caught the look in Yubel's eyes. You did think it was cute.
"Haou … what are you doing here? I thought you went on that mission …?"
"I came to see my brother get married. Is there a problem with that?" Haou asked.
Yubel blinked. "No. It's just that Judai told someone else that he doesn't want to marry me and that he'd rather marry someone else. He should've told me if he didn't want to marry me, not some filthy kitchen boy!"
Haou observed his friend and noticed the pain in his eyes. "Now, calm down. I'll talk to my brother about it ..."
Right at that moment, the door opened, and Judai stepped out. He turned and took hold of the door handle. "We'll figure something out, Johan. For now. Just rest. I'll be right back." Judai closed the door and locked it. He turned to see his brother standing there with Yubel next to him.
"What's this I hear - that you don't want to marry Yubel? It would be best if you consider yourself lucky. He loves you, and you're betraying Yubel by talking about him behind his back. Do you want him to feel that way?"
When Judai saw that his brother had returned, he was shocked. Haou stared at Judai, saying he wanted to talk with him. Judai squirmed under his brother's heated gaze.
"No. It's just ... It's just that I don't feel the same way about Yubel as he does for me."
Haou sighed. "You know that father is not going to approve of this."
"I know," Judai sighed. "It's just I wanted to choose someone – not have father do it for me. I don't want to be with any of the princes."
Haou sighed. "I know it's hard, but you should feel lucky that someone loves you as Yubel does."
Judai sighed. He felt like shit now. He didn't mean to make Yubel feel betrayed.
"I'll talk to him."
Haou smiled and nodded in approval. You're lucky, Haou thought, watching Judai leave. I would love to have someone like Yubel as a lover. He's beautiful, strong, and intelligent.
Judai walked into the garden to look for some flowers for Yubel. He found some blue ones and picked them. He walked out and arrived at Yubel's door.
"Yubel …?" He called through the door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings ..." The door opened, and Yubel stood there with a solemn look on his face.
Judai tried to smile as he held up the flowers; his head hung low. "Can you forgive me?" Yubel sighed and took the flowers. He stepped aside so Judai could walk in. "You want to come in?"
"I can't. I have to make sure that Johan is alright."
Yubel's expression darkened. "Do you hate me? Because I feel that you hate me."
Judai sighed. "Now, that's not fair. I'm allowed to have one friend, Yubel. Considering that you have more friends than I do."
Yubel sighed. Judai did have a point. "I just don't want him to hurt you like some of the other friends you tried to make." Part of what he said was genuine, but he didn't want to admit that he was jealous of Johan.
Judai smiled and ran his fingers through Yubel's soft hair. "Johan wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Sometime ... I will arrange to have you meet him just for a day. He is a sweet guy."
Yubel's expression darkened as he stroked the flower pedals. "Did Haou have you apologize to me?" one of the pedals broke off and glided down to the floor.
Judai bit his lip. "Yeah. He said that you felt betrayed. I am sorry that you felt that way. Next time, I'll tell you what's on my mind ... if ... you don't hurt Johan anymore. Deal?" Yubel nodded his head. Judai leaned in and kissed Yubel on the forehead before he walked out.
To Be Continued ...