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Have you heard of this story?
The story between two twins who are the most evil of all.
The Twins of the Grace Kingdom - Bam and Viole - are the most innocent and beautiful children the continent can ever have.
Eyes - that have the blazing Sun in the form of majestic gold irises - look at each other with warmth and fondness; childish mischief and young purity sanctifying the evil that always looms.
“Look at that, Viole!”
“Wait up, Bam!”
Little hands instinctively intertwining and fingers sewing tight, not a slim chance of ever letting go.
“You look ridiculous, Bam!”
“Viole! You’re the same!”
Light-hearted giggles fill the garden of sunflowers, gracing the atmosphere with their own little world of happiness and joy.
Raising his pinky, Bam promises: “We’ll be together forever.”
Viole laces his pinky, “And, no one can separate us.”
A simple promise yet the pristine twins hold them dear. Both smiling with full intent and dedication laced with determination to fulfill them to the very end.
There’s another underlying promise as they both lose themselves in the comforting warmth of the other: I will protect him.
The twins were separated from each other.
From that day on, their future had split into two.
“Viole...” Bam cries, clutching onto Viole as if it’s the last. “Don’t leave!”
Bam is tucked tight in Viole’s arms, holding onto him as long as he can. Viole sobs, “I don’t want to either.”
Bam thinks if he has gripped enough, then Viole will not go, will not leave him behind. For a moment, it’ll come true.
But, Viole is yanked away from him.
“VIOLE!”
“BAM!”
He sees Viole being carried towards the carriage, against his own will, eyes wide, as he tries to reach out to him, desperate for his warmth. Bam is about to run for Viole, heart beating fast in adrenaline and hopelessness, but arms circles around his waist, caging him, stopping him from running for Viole.
“Viole!” Bam thrashes around, “Let me go!”
He tries and tries, but the grip on him is strong.
Bam cannot do anything but cry in despair at the sight of Viole struggling as he’s shoved inside the carriage, “Viole!” Bam’s voice crack in anguish. Tears burn his cheeks as they trickle.
Bam falls to his knees as the carriage gets smaller and Viole gets far away from him.
“Viole…”
Bam stands there, waiting for Viole. He waits for the carriage to come back as the minutes stretch to hours.
Viole doesn’t return and kills the string of hope Bam has.
Bam hears a voice behind him, "Let us go inside, Your Highness."
What's going to happen to the other, the one who was taken away?
He works very hard because he knows he’ll be back. He loves his twin after all.
Viole endures the years of longing.
Viole silently laments the absence of Bam’s beaming smile.
Viole studies with his utmost best.
Viole never loses his hope as years without Bam passes by, for he knows that he'll reunite with Bam one day. He will return to Bam’s side no matter what happens.
He did swear to himself that he’ll protect Bam even if the universe turns against him.
Viole will come back.
“Agh!” Viole groans, massaging his sore forehead where Khun has flicked him, “What?”
Khun grins at him. The heart-warming sight of Khun’s smile casts away the empty and lonely feeling in Viole. He’ll never get tired of being thankful for Khun to accompany him throughout the years.
“Nothing,” is Khun’s playful response. Viole knows too much for it to be ‘nothing’ but he chooses to stay ignorant. He has long given up to even try to question the mischief in the tone of Khun’s voice.
The trudge towards the dorms is quiet. There’s nothing but silence between. Nothing is spoken amidst the white noise of the main street of a different kingdom - the one Viole knows Khun holds dear.
“You’re leaving.”
A simple statement. Two words that weigh the whole world.
Viole looks at Khun, “Yeah.”
The sky is so wide, but it’s sad. Viole knows there will be a day that he has to go. The memory of Bam is still vivid - it’s a lesson that is so difficult but Viole understands the moral so well.
“We're going to meet again, Khun.”
Did the twins reunite?
Yes, they did and it was the euphoric.
Viole stands in front of two ginormous doors. It’s as intricate and elegant as it’ll ever be. Nostalgic - Viole likes to say, but it’s different now.
Viole doesn’t come back as a Prince, but as a servant - a faithful and loyal subject of the young King.
It’s fine. As long as he’s by Bam’s side, nothing will change.
The doors open with a low and mighty roar. With easy steps, his dress shoes clacking as he takes steps forward to reunion, back to Bam’s side, Viole wears a smile. His long chestnut hair flowing elegantly behind him in a ponytail and his coat flapping with confidence.
Viole’s smile stretches more as Bam’s expression morphs into surprise.
Hand on his chest with unyielding dedication, Viole bows, “Your Highness.”
In his robes of royalty, Bam’s lips quiver and tears well in his shining eyes.
“Viole!”
Bam lunges at Viole and engulfs him to a hug, grip tight. Even as they fall to the ground, Bam never lets go and he cries into Viole’s warmth. A release of all the lament, empty, loneliness, and longing for the other’s comfort.
“You’re back…” Bam sobs, burying his face into Viole’s shoulder.
Viole chuckles and wraps his arms around Bam, sighing in relief. He’s back and he’s here to protect Bam from everything.
“I’ll always be by your side, Bam.” and I’ll cast away everything that will make you cry.
Bam pulls away and smiles, innocent and colorful as ever. “The sun is beautiful today, Viole. We should go outside!”
They reunited.
Yet, their fate had always been so pitiful.
Viole clenches his fist behind him, suppressing his anger and annoyance.
In the shadows of the outskirts of the palace, with no eyes can ever sight, blood splatters and stains the grasses of a hidden forest.
Viole looks down at a filthy body with the clothes of a nobleman painted red of defying blood and clear water of dirt. Viole wipes the undeserving blood from his dagger.
“No one can disobey him,” are Viole’s chilling words - an oath being recited once again.
Viole turns around and lets the body be washed away by the nameless river.
The man’s words were right, but Bam’s crestfallen face flashes.
Viole grits his teeth. How could that filthy nobleman make Bam like that?
Viole returns to the palace on schedule. Noticing the hands of the grand clock, Viole takes note it’s time to serve the afternoon’s desert for Bam.
He leaves the kitchen, not missing the servant’s murmurs of the people’s revolt.
“The sun is beautiful today, don’t you think, Viole?” Bam says as his eyes light up for Viole, an innocent smile gracing his lips.
Viole replies, “It is.”
He gently pours tea on Bam’s favorite teacup. The sun kisses them sweet humming as the trees dance and sing along the melody. The sight of Bam’s innocent smile never fails to make Viole smile as well. It’s just that contagious - radiating - and Viole will never, ever get bored.
Just keep smiling.
I have forgotten to tell you.
The servant twin loves someone.
Viole is in an errand. He visits the kingdom where he once resided, hoping to see Khun again.
His light wish comes true as he spots Khun with someone.
“Viole.”
The masterpiece of Khun radiating under the glowing rays of the sun makes his heart skip in joy.
It’s been so long since he has last seen his first love.
“Khun!”
Viole sees, behind Khun is a man of yellow with a rather boyish charm stuck on him.
Khun punches his arm lightly, payfully just like Viole remembers. In a light-hearted remark, Khun grins, “You look like a diplomat.”
“You look the same,” Viole grins, “I did tell you we’re going to meet again.”
“Right,” Khun laughs - a cheerful melody like children singing so carefree with a senseless smile.
It’s a quick, passing, and fleeting moment of reunion. There isn’t a minute for them when they can catch up and walk down the memory lane, but it’s enough for Viole. The simple sight of Khun being well and out of harm’s way is enough to assure Viole.
Also, seeing the ring around his finger makes Viole smile. Khun is in good hands.
Or, so is Viole’s delusions.
“Destroy the kingdom of blue.”
The words of the King are absolute and true. No one will ever dare to speak for they will be delivered to their deaths by Viole’s glinting blade.
Love and jealousy are tightly intertwined with each other.
[ Kill him. ]
Viole grips the paper enclosed from a tiny bottle.
If Bam wishes for Khun to be gone, then he will grant it with loyalty and determination.
He cannot bear witnessing the heart-broken cries of Bam in the night.
Viole swears an oath that he'll protect Bam from the darkness of the world (even if they are the source of the darkness). Even if no one stands by Bam, Viole will still remain, no matter what.
For Bam's happiness and smiles, Viole will do anything.
Even extinguish his own love.
"Viole…"
Why is Khun smiling?
Khun lost his home. Khun lost his family. Khun lost the joy of his life. Khun lost everything. (But not Viole. What can he do? He's the one who took everything from Khun)
Why is Khun smiling even if he's on the brink of death with the very dagger of Viole stabbed on his chest?
"Khun…" tears of anguish and grief escapes from Viole's golden eyes, "I'm sorry."
An apology, but he doesn't regret it at all.
Why is Viole saying sorry?
One can hear the distant screams of the massacred people from where they are.
"It's okay."
Underneath the spotlight of the moon, Khun's sparkling eyes, the orbs where the sky is in, in which Viole always feels like he's soaring, closes.
"I love you, Khun."
Viole doesn't regret his actions because it's for Bam.
You see, nothing is eternal.
Even the selfish joy of the twins.
The moon will never be the same again.
The garden of sunflowers is pretty under the blessings of the moon. The wind is a caressing cold against Viole's neck. His hair gently waltzing in the silent music.
A heavy feeling. It's a futile thing, but Viole's heart meant for romance is shattered.
He feels a bump behind him, another warmth of someone else. One can almost say a presence of comfort.
No words are spoken. A voiceless communication of the twins who dearly loved each other.
Thank you.
Viole doesn't mourn.
He prepares for the onslaught of the invaders and the revolution Bam must survive from.
He'll do anything for Bam, even if it meant trading places with him.
The looming fear of the servants can be discerned easily. In one glance, Viole can see the terror in their eyes - a natural human instinct to fear for their lives.
There has been murmurs and whispers of escape.
The servants in the palace are decreasing.
Viole continues to serve desserts.
"The Sun is beautiful today," Bam chimes, as clueless, as pure, as innocent as ever. There isn't a trace of worry on his face. Very carefree.
"Yes, indeed, Your Highness."
The sun falls on the horizon at dusk. The atmosphere in the palace chilling and foreboding with the threat of the revolution of the people outside. Viole doesn't waste any time, because he knows this is the conclusion.
Viole is certain. With the knights exhausted from the war and with no servants to protect the King, the palace will be overthrown and Bam will be killed.
Viole won't make that happen.
He'll take the punishment all by himself.
Bam wears the most shocked and aghast expression on his face.
Who wouldn't be when the person in front of you is you?
Viole's ponytail is gone.
Viole is wearing the same clothes Bam is wearing.
In Viole's hands, his own servant robes are folded neatly.
"Viole-"
Viole places his clothes on the table.
And, he hugs Bam, whispering, "Here, I'll lend my clothes."
"But, Viole-"
Viole's arms tighten around Bam, "Wear them immediately and please escape."
Bam clings onto Viole. He can't stop the tears flowing from his eyes.
Viole pulls away and presses their foreheads together, wiping the tears of sadness away. He smiles: "It's okay, Bam. No one will notice."
"We're twins after all," Viole assures.
Viole hands his own clothes and kisses Bam's forehead with tender affection - a gesture that they never did until this moment.
But, why is it a farewell?
"I love you. Bam." Viole pushes Bam away.
And he sends off a smile, "Now go." Live a new life.
Viole watches Bam bite his lip and runs off with his clothes.
Away from this cursed fate.
Viole turns around. As if on cue, the door booms open.
"Bam Grace," the leader of the revolt points his giant sword at Viole, "You are under arrest for abusing your power."
Viole spats, "How dare you, barbarians!"
The servant twin did this for his brother.
He swore to protect him and he intended to keep it until the very end.
The giant bell is a horror for Bam.
It chimes and it bells - its sound so deafening that it causes goosebumps throughout his body.
It's a signal. The hands of the clock striking three in the afternoon.
Bam clutches a tiny bottle with a small note sealed in it. He watches, ignoring the spiteful sayings of the people around him.
The guillotine. Bam wants to destroy it.
But, he can't.
Bam watches on with wide eyes. His heart racing in his chest. Three figures stand proud and tall on the execution change, even the one who will be executed.
The bell chimes.
It haunts Bam.
The bell chimes and he sees Viole there.
Viole! Bam wants to shout. Bam wants to call for him to escape.
The bell chimes and the executioner starts counting.
"Ah, the Sun is beautiful today."
The bell chimes and the guillotine lets go.
Bam sees Viole's warm smile before it disappears from his sight.
[ Continue smiling and be yourself, Bam. ]
Bam drops the bottle as his heart shatters.
Bam leaves.
The prince twin survived.
But, he continued on as a fugitive and with regret.
Viole had told Bam a myth one time.
He said, "If you put your wish upon paper, seal it in a glass bottle, and let it be washed away by the ocean, it'll come true."
It doesn't hurt to try, right?
So, Bam holds a glass bottle as he stands by the shore, clinging into this tiny string of hope.
Hope for another wish, for another chance.
Because, Bam hates himself. He despises himself for being so selfish.
He caused Viole nothing but pain.
What did Viole feel as Bam simply smiles at him, clueless and unaware of the torture Viole must be feeling?
No matter what Bam says, Viole follows without a question. Even if those orders and wishes are painful, Viole makes them true in a single heartbeat.
Because of him, Viole is no longer here.
Because of him, Viole is killed.
He killed Viole and he can never forgive himself.
Bam lets out a shaky breath and throws the bottle with all of his might and hopes for it to come true.
Bam watches.
He watches as the bottle drifts away with his own wish.
Somehow, he sees Viole.
Bam crashes on the sand and bursts into tears.
"Viole! I'm sorry!" Bam sobs, "I'm really sorry!"
"I miss you, Viole. I hope you're here with me."
But, Bam knows. It will never happen.
So, he wishes.
This life is cursed. That's why it's like this.
So, Bam wishes.
The fugitive twin wished.
"If we are reborn, I wish we can be twins again."
"And this time, I won't make you suffer."