Call it Even

It was quiet.

Like awkwardly quiet around the table as Ashkan and Javid sat to have breakfast together as they always did for the past days.

Sparing quick glances at his father as he ate waiting for him to say something or show any kind of emotion, but all he got was silence which was slowly killing him slowly.

Last night he came just after midnight, his expression unreadable. But, one thing was sure, he wasn't broken. He was his usual self. More or less. Which sent a tiny bit of relief through him.

Javid noticed his son's gazes at him. Raising his head from his plate at the perfect time to make eye contact with those emerald green eyes in front of him. Making the little one break the contact by looking at his half-eaten food.

"Ashkan."

"Y-yes Papa?" He jolted his head up, looking at his father who had a plain expression displayed.

"Is there something you would like to say?" he said while eating peacefully.

The calm before the storm.

"W-why would you say that?" Ashkan said showing off an innocent smile. Man, he is a good actor.

"You've been staring at me for a while now. Mind I remind you that it's rude to stare?" he said gazing inside the boy's emerald orbs all the way to his soul.

"S-sorry, it's nothing." He smiled weakly.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me about the little visit you did yesterday?" He kept his voice firm forcing the little one to submit to his demands.

"H-how did you…"

"Well," he took a bite on his food, "Pharaoh told me that you went to his room the other day."

"I was only trying to…" he stuttered not able to finish his sentence. Guess the habit of being fearful of his father didn't go away just yet.

"It's okay."

"H-huh?!" Ashkan's eyes shot right up, "Are you not mad?" He knew for sure that if his father would come upon the fact that he was the one behind it then he would surely be mad. But he wasn't!

Javid chuckled. "You've done a brave thing my boy."

A grin was spread across Ashkan's face without him even knowing it. The thought that his plan was a success was making him go over the moon with joy.

For once, he was helpful to his father.

For once, he wasn't something that his father would be ashamed of and try to hide his existents from the world. Though he wasn't sure if the Pharaoh knew about his identity but if he did, there was no problem whatsoever.

Despite the quietness that stayed for the rest of breakfast, it wasn't bothering Ashkan at all. But the exact opposite, he was able to see the faint grin across his father's face which made him smile too in return.

The feeling of achievement that he had inside was taking him up to cloud nine, that sensation was shown all over him.

One thing he didn't know though, that the reason for the grin on his father's face was the happiness that was radiating out of that little red-headed body of his.

"Why didn't you tell me anything!?" Tari said to Ashkan who was squeezed between her and Joon Wo under the Cheery blossom tree.

"You've done enough by stopping your father the last time." He said looking at his knee as he held them to his chest. "I had the feeling that it was my responsibility to handle."

Tari sighed leaning back on the tree and stretching her legs in front of her on the green grass. "Well, since everything turned out to be okay, I guess there is no use dwelling on it."

"I would also like to apologize to you Nefertari, on behalf of my Grandfather." He turned looking at her with sadness and shame in his green eyes.

"Why all of a sudden?" she started getting frustrated at the sudden formality.

"After all, my Grandfather wanted to kill you." His eyes were now glittering with the tears that are going to be shed at any given moment.

"P-please don't be sad. It's not like it was your fault or something like that." She said recalling the sensation of the sharp wind on her neck as her father brought down the sword inch's away from her neck.

"It's me who should apologize." She sighed for the dozen time, "My father almost killed the other day."

"Then you should call it even." Joon Wo said for the first time since they arrived here plugging grass out of the ground as he talked.

"I mean," he said when he noticed that they were both staring at him with the same dump expression, "both of your parent's tried to kill you both."

They both looked at each then nodded in acceptance, he did have a point. Her father wanted to kill Ashkan out of anger and his Grandfather wanted to kill her for her father's throne.

What a very common reason for misunderstanding!

They finally smiled. Unconsciously all of them leaned back on the tree. They were all quiet, wanting to enjoy the weather and peace, knowing that there is no need for words.

There are many things that can't be explained with words. More like, it's better not to. Sometimes it's just better to let those things speak for themselves, in their own unique way of communication.

Because honestly, everything communicates.

"I don't know if I should say this or not, but…" Tari said.

They both looked at her with concern due to her shaking tone. "Just say it." Joon Wo said.

"We only have 2 days left before departure." As she said the words, she felt that her eyes are being filled with tears.

They looked at each other and then back at her, she was right. The time for finally saying goodbye is coming close and God only knows when they are to meet again.

"So what?" Joon Wo said using his arms as a pillow for his head. "It's not the end of the world. Just like how we came to meet like this, I'm sure we will come to meet again."

He was right. As long as they are still alive there is always a chance that they would come to meet again someday. Just like how fate brought them all together, it will surely bring them back again.

"You are right." Ashkan said grinning, "We can also send letters to each other!"

"If one of you doesn't write to me every month, I'll kill them okay?"

Tari said pointing at the two boys beside her.

"What are you guys talking about?" Min Jun said as he came walking with the rest of his brothers.

"Hmm," Min Jun said, "I'll make sure to send you a letter too. Though, it will be sad not to meet here every day again." His brothers nodded in acknowledgement. They were all going to miss each other so much.

They all sighed together in harmony and then looked up at the clear blue sky.

"As long as we are under the same sky there is always hope." Joon Wo whispered under his breath.

He tried his best to be as optimistic as possible but, just like Nefertari his heart ached at the thought that they won't be able to meet like this again until God only knows when.

To be honest, he is going to miss her.

He had to make use of the time they have left, making a memory that will forever last. A moment that they can look back on and be reminded of this sensation once again.

One thing that his little mind didn't know is that, sometimes those memories that keeps lingering inside his mind can be the actual reason of the pain.

Looking back at those memories makes you feel nostalgic to the past and its sensation. Yearning to turn back time to these moments or hoping that fate makes you stumble upon each other again.

Just like what Akhenaton and Javid are suffering from. But to them, the choice of hoping that fate makes them stumble upon each other is not an option.

What they have experienced in the past is gone. Gone forever.

The only thing that keeps them going is the responsibility that both carry upon their shoulders and those small bundles of happiness that makes them forget their yearning and watch as they slowly grow up.

"Princess." The Captain of her Royal guards greeted her as his feel upon her.

"Oh, Captain Jaffar!" she stood up from between her friends who were still siting under the tree talking about this and that and went to greet the Captain.

"You didn't have to come to me Princess." He said with his head held low.

"Jaffar, come on I've known you for as long as I can remember." She pouted not liking the fact that ever since they came here, he was treating her so formally.

"Huh," she said as her eyes fell on an unfamiliar Guard even though she knew all of them very well.

"I've never seen you before." She said tilted her head as she talked to the guard who was standing behind Jaffar.

"I've just joined my lady"

"My name is Azar, Princess."