Chapter 2: Chapter 2: … and the Prince
"Where on this world is that guy right now?"
Balanga is now taking a once in a lifetime journey in the forest around the palace to find the "long lost" young prince of the Kingdom of Bakunawa. Where the f**k is that guy! He may be a prince, but if he will be assassinated soon, Balanga has all the reasons to welcome the assassin with open arms and burning passion.
Well okay, burning passion sounds weird, but still!
"Prince Bantog! Prince Bantog! Your father, his royal highness, is looking for you!"
Balanga half-hoped that the prince will respond. But the young prince is getting better and better in playing this game. Too good that he can disappear for almost half a day. Balanga groans. Balaraw will surely kill him when he returns from his hometown. F**k my life! Being the disciple of the strongest warrior among the kings-guard is no easy feat. Thankfully, the king really hasn't called the prince yet. If that will be the case, how can he explain to the kings that the prince is missing.
"Kings-guard Balanga!"
Balanga turns his head to the last person he wanted to see. Manubay, the king's personal assistant, is currently standing few meters away from him, looking like his usual cold and impersonal self. Smile, bro! Smile!
"Kings-guard Balanga, I was looking for you everywhere. What are doing here?"
There is a small glint in the eyes of the pesky—no, no, persevering—assistant. Did he hear me calling the prince?
"I, I am looking for, for the pet of the prince! Yes, yes! The pet run away again!" Balanga's hands flair around him while he explains. Two more glint appears before the eyes of Manubay. Balanga tenses. Dark lines and large sweat marks appear on his head. Kill me now!
ヽ(*.>Д<)o゜
"Okay…" Manubay concedes after a while. Balanga's expression relaxes. A happy imaginary Balanga is running around the flower field on his mind.
"I am looking for your," Manubay continues, "because his highness, King Bulan, is looking for Prince Bantog. Here is the official courier."
Balanga takes a deep breath and comfortably lies down on the soft cloudy bed that his brain conjures when all logical thinking runs away from him. Blood streams down from his peacefully smiling lips. Maybe I will ask his highness for a lesser punishment? I still have enough battle merits, right?
A partially awake Balanga receives the courier from Manubay and gave his salute. His mind is still blank when he starts to walk away deeper into the forest.
Manubay sighs. A small cloud of worry appears before his mouth. Why did Balaraw took this incompetent kid as the temporary guard of the Prince Bantog. He should not even leave the palace in the first place! What does that reason of "retreat from the hassle and buzzle of the palace affairs" even means? If there is anyone who needs a retreat from all these affairs in the palace, isn't it him? If not because of the stocked vacations he accumulated in his years as the captain of the kings-guards, Balaraw will never have his fast-petitioned request for vacation.
The Manubay, in his brain, does a large overly exaggerated shrug. Oh well, dealing alone the king is hard enough. He seriously needs a vacation. When was the last time he has a vacation?
W(ﾟ_ﾟ)w
A strong muscular back of a man standing before the ocean consumes Manubay's imagination. Strong wind flutters the long straight hair before him. Manubay blinks hard. Better stop thinking about that. Nothing good will come out from that. He has, indeed, a very dangerous mind.
Meanwhile, somewhere up among the leaves of the trees in the forest, a young man is clinging like a little monkey in one of the large branches. A youth of fifteen summers, is holding his mouth to control his laughter. That Balanga guy is clumsier in playing takip-silip than Balaraw. Balaraw is a very challenging opponent. He can find easily find him faster than anyone in the palace. It is just few days but he already missed his old guard.
The youth, who is aptly named Bantog, is not just any common youth. As of now, he is the only and sole heir apparent and the only prince in the Kingdom. Since their country has a strong patriarchal tradition, even though he is the youngest of four siblings, everyone still considers him as the heir apparent.
But he does not want to be the heir. His older sister, Analogay, is the best person for that role. He learned the responsibilities of the heir from Manubay, his father's assistant, and so far, he is not liking it one bit. The only thing that he likes so far is the prospect of visiting many places around and outside of the kingdom. He loves travelling. But even that needs to be regulated. Sigh, why can't we break tradition?
He sees that Balanga is muttering to himself while walking deeper in the forest. Bantog smiles. He will chase the game short now. He will surprise Balanga, so that they can start a new game.
Bantog skips around from the branches. He likes playing around the forest and skipping from one tree to the next is his favorite activity. With a stability of the youth of his age, he easily skips on the branches, even those meters apart. When he is close enough, he hears the Balanga talking to himself.
"Better read the courier that I will relay to the prince."
Hey! It is not allowed! Only I can read the letter from father! He is about to jumped down from the nearby branch when Balanga speaks again.
"Oho! A marriage proposal for the prince? Hehe…"
Wait did he just say "marriage proposal of a the prince"?
…
…
(っ °Д °; )っ
What!
He lost his balance from the branch and he fall rather gracelessly to the ground. A loud thud and a groan catch the attention of Balanga. What is that?
Balanga summons his spear, his stance ready to attack the intruder. Who dares attacking the kings-guard? He approaches the bush when the said shrub groans. What?
"Ahh! ~~ My back!"
The bush complains. The voice sounds suspiciously like the prince he has been looking until now.
"Prince Bantog!" Balanga cannot help shouting and sighing in relief! You knuckle head, where do you think you are staying? Balanga pushes his hand into the shrub and pull out a youth from the collar of his vest.
"Prince, you don't know how worried I am!"
"Hey! Don't pull my collar. And I am just hiding above you. How can you not find me?" The youth complains while freeing himself from the brute's grip.
"Prince, please don't make me worry about you."
"I am fine! So let me go!"
"NO! We have to go back together."
"Argh!!" Who is the prince and who is the guard here?
The prince remembers something gravely important while physically being dragged by his guard.
"Wait! Did you just say 'marriage proposal for the prince'?"
(⊙_⊙)?
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Alfred00
Alfred00 Thank you for reading! Please share with me your thoughts about the story. This is not my usual style in writing so comments from readers is highly appreciated.
Here are some explanations about the terms used in this chapter:
Balanga - it is a kind of clay pot or jar that is used to keep, mainly, water
Balaraw - it is a kind of short dagger or knife used in close combat. My father has a collection of that.
Manubay - means surveyor or observer
Bulan - is a visayan term for "moon"
Takip-silip - is a game that children play, it is a form of hide-n-seek
Analogay - is the name of the goddes of the lost things
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