The Woman Ruler of the Altan Clan

Chapter 33 Lies

Shanum had barely slept well all night. He went back and forth on the bed, often waking up. Just before six o'clock, he gave up and got out of bed. Shanum grabbed his phone, then went down to the kitchen. He found the waiters preparing breakfast.

Shanum asked for a cup of coffee for him to bring to the dining room. He sat in a chair at the end of the table and was getting ready to type a message for Khan inside one of his mobile apps. During the man's departure Shanum managed to refrain from contacting him for the past two days, and he had not been able to convey what he was thinking. Khan did not contact him at all.

Shanum took a sip of coffee and started typing, starting with a saying how is Khan? And began to tell about his activities during the man's stay. His hands itched to type in the words, "Did you miss me?" Shanum was hesitant and embarrassed. He did not dare admit that he had lost the man. This mansion felt desolate in his absence.

Shanum suddenly put his phone on the table. Then changing his mind, he took back the phone and deleted the message he had typed. The girl bit her lips while tapping her fingers on the dining table.

Shanum suddenly realized that he did not feel balanced. He felt nauseous, it felt as if something terrible was about to happen. Lately his feelings have become increasingly uncomfortable. Especially when Khan left the mansion.

"Shanon. What a pleasant surprise! It's been two days that you girls have always disappeared somewhere. I never met you guys at breakfast." The girl turned her head, seeing Taban standing behind her while holding a cup of coffee like her. He was wearing work clothes with trousers and a tie.

"Hi, we're too tired. So just ask for breakfast to be delivered to the room. It's also good for two days exploring the area you recommend. By the way you go to the office every day?" ask Shanum.

"Well, as long as Khan goes out of town, there are many important meetings to attend. I also have to take over while the job. For the last two weeks he didn't go to the office, and did his office work at home. He's busy taking care of you, Shanum." Taban answered with a smile.

Shanum rolled his eyeballs. "Just son, he's busy with you guys, having meetings often. He was also more in his study" the girl said. "Yes, but it was a meeting to discuss strategies to protect you from Chinua." Taban then sipped his coffee. And take a piece of bread from the serving plate.

Suddenly Shanum remembered something. "Em, Taban, can I ask you something?" The man stopped chewing his food. He immediately swallowed the food that was still in his mouth, then said, "May, please ask. What do you want to know?"

"I've heard words in your language, but I don't understand the meaning. So you can help me decipher it?" Taban nodded his head and began to take back the sandwich and put it in his mouth.

". . What mean?" ask Shanum. Taban coughed. The man suddenly swallowed his bread wrongly and choked. Taban immediately pulled the coffee cup and drank the contents to relieve the pain in his throat.

"Where did you hear those words?" tanyanya rasp. Shanum simply replied by shrugging his shoulders and smiling secretively. "Okay, I'll say what it means. But then you have to tell me where you heard it from" Taban said. Shanum nodded his head.

"That means I'm here. I'm always here for you. Do not be afraid my dear," Taban said as he looked at Shanum with amusement. The girl was stunned. Then he shook his head while sitting leaning on the chair. He still seems to be in disbelief. "Cannot be. You must be wrong, Taban," he murmured.

The man exhaled his breath. "I cannot be wrong unless you are not right to hear it" said the Taban. Shanum is back. "You sure?" Taban nodded with a faint smile. His face looks serious.

"There's no way Khan would say such sweet words to me." Now it was Taban's turn to gawk at Shanum's words. "You mean... Khan that..." The man could not continue his words. "Yes, he said it" Shanum replied. The girl then placed both palms on her cheeks. "Jeez, my cheeks are hot."

"Hey, why are you two so confused? What's up?" ask Farah. The two girls pulled up a bench and sat down near them. "Yes, there seems to be something serious" Diva said. Taban and Shanum looked at each other, then the girl started giggling. Taban just smiled thinly.

"Ih, what's wrong? I don't answer." Diva was still curious, she moved to sit down, then pulled up the chair next to Shanum. Diva sat down while tugging at Shanum's clothes like a child. Farah was busy taking the breakfast available at the dinner table into her plate.

Shanum cleared his throat, trying to stop the cheerful laughter he was feeling. The girl seemed to be able to fly far into space so happy. His face was glowing. "There seems to be good news" said Farah as she chewed her food.

Diva's attention was distracted, she turned her head as her ordered juice was delivered by the waiter and placed on the table in front of her. Diva thanked him while smiling.

"Until where it was. Ah.. I'm not saying, let's tell." Diva clapped her hands again while looking at Shanum with a hopeful face. "I'd better get going. It looks like it's the girls' business" Taban cut. The man rubbed his lips with a feeding napkin, then stood up. He looked at Shanum with a sharp look.

"Shanum, he's serious about you. Whatever will happen in the future, please trust him," Taban said with a smile.

Then Taban went out of the dining room, leaving a big question mark on the three girls' minds. "So..." Farah looked at him with a curious look. Shanum. "Okay, I'll tell you." Then a series of words flowed from Shanum to his two companions.

"I could have expected it. The view is different with you, Sha," Farah said. "Yes, that guy was really cold and stiff with other people. But towards you her attitude is gentle and sweet. Ah, if only I could have a man like that" muttered Diva.

"You already have, Diva. You forgot your angel man." Shanum tries to remind the Diva of Sergei. Diva disagrees with Shanum. His face looks upset. "The man is not an angel, but a demon. I don't want to talk about it," muttered Diva.

Shanum smiled bitterly. "I'm sure you'll regret this stubborn attitude of yours, Diva." The girl shrugged her shoulders indifferently. Seeing the attitude of the Diva, Shanum could not say anything more. He had already closed his eyes and ears, so Shanum tried to convince him.

"What about our return plan?" farah asked to switch the conversation about Sergei. Shanum. They only have two weeks left in Astrakhan. After that, they have to go back to their country. Shanum felt the time quickly pass. There's still a lot he wants to do.

He had also not found the answer to his dreams about Sintai. About his strength had indeed been answered, he had inherited the blood of the Batbayar Clan, and no one could doubt that. So is he and Khan. Shanum rubbed his temple which suddenly felt dizzy.

"We must return." Finally the girl answered Farah's question. "What about Khan?" ask Diva. "Maybe we'll be in contact remotely. But I also still need to talk about this with him." Shanum smiled faintly.

"Okay, let's end talking about unpleasant things. Better take another walk today." Diva looks enthusiastic. Farah rolled her eyeballs and said, "I'm not coming, I'm going to rest."

"Well, you're not fun, Farah. All day here." Diva pouted hearing Farah's words. "Ep... Diva, sorry. I'm just gonna go to the mansion, call my parents." Diva looks disappointed. "Oh, yes, if you want that. Then I'll just swim. Rather than no activity," break up the Diva. They finished breakfast and left the dining room.

Shanum has finished calling his parents. Mom and Dad are very excited to see her return in two weeks. They miss that girl very much. Shanum then remembered Khan. What's the guy doing? The girl fadly swiped the touch screen on her phone and scoured the internet.

Shanum tried to find information about Khan. From the very beginning he was in Astrakhan never did he ever get curious looking for news about the man. While busy tapping the screen of his phone. Shanum suddenly glued. His eyes stared at the article found in the gossip column.

A photo of Khan with a very beautiful woman at some sort of cocktail party. Khan's arms embrace the woman's waist, and their body language is familiar and intimate. Khan stood very close to the woman, his lips almost touching her temple. The woman was holding a glass of drink and laughing.

Shanum squinted his eyes and read the photo's explanation: Khan Adrian and Jelena Chimea at Iona Clothe's party.

Shanum's fingers trembled as he moved the page upwards and read a short article there, looking around for more information. His body went numb when he realized that the party was held yesterday afternoon in Astrakhan. That man is already in town.

He's getting out of bed. He stood up and began to walk. While biting her lips, she looked towards the phone lying on the bed. He finally got his phone back from his place.

Shanum sat on the bedside. His body seemed to be moving restlessly. He pressed a button to call Khan's phone, and waited for him to answer. After the four men answered.

"Yes, Shasha," he said, that heavy and slightly hoarse voice made Shanum close his eyes. The girl remained silent for a few seconds. "What's up, Shasha? I really can't talk right now."

"Then just listen. I won't be long. Can you give me time?"

"All right" replied the man.

"Are you still out of town?"

Khan silence. Shanum waited anxiously for the man's reply.

"Why don't you answer, Adri?" ask again.

"Yes" said the man.

"Since when?"

"What do these questions mean, Shasha?" Khan asked the girl.

"Jawab it, Adri. He said you didn't have much time" Shanum said.

"Yes, since I left."

Shanum's hands clasped his cell phone, while anger lashed at him.

"Are you sure?"

A long pause, then, "Yes."

Shanum tried to catch his breath. "OKAY. I think you're a real jerk, because as long as you're gone you never once called me. You're actually in Astrakhan, right, Adri. You came to a party with a woman yesterday afternoon. I saw your picture with him. There's an article about you two on the internet."

Shanum gulped, trying to hold back the tears of anger that were ready to spill. The girl quickly continued, desperately wanting to say what to say before she could no longer hold back her tears.

"I think you're a coward for not being honest. Is it because of that woman? You don't want me to know. I don't think our relationship will ever work out, Adri. So we'll just end this relationship. I'll try to understand."

"Braha!" bentak Khan's.

"Oh, so now you're yelling at me, Adri. After you broke my heart and I no longer have any respect for you."

"Stop." Khan's voice was just a whisper, making Shanum wonder if this man really doted on him, like the meaning of the words he heard from Taban.

"Please tell me the truth, Adri. What do you really feel for me? Because I want to know, even for the last time."

I heard a loud breath inside the phone. The sound of Khan's breathing roared, as if the man was holding something that was about to explode inside him.

"Why are you silent? You can't answer it, because you don't actually have any feelings for me...." Shanum's voice was choked.

"Please stop, Shasha," said the man. "I'm done. I hope you find..." Shanum's hand was clenched tightly in his lap. He endured the increasingly overflowing tightness within his chest. "Forget it. Good bye."

Shanum hung up the phone and dropped it on the bed. He then walked to the bathroom. Light a warm shower, and fall on the floor sobbing loudly. The girl hit the bathroom floor with her fist. The marble underneath seemed to crack, and the girl's fingers were covered in blood.

The sound of the bathroom door was heard by him. Shanum ignored her, the girl remained silent as she stared at the water droplets flowing from the shower. Suddenly the door slammed out of place. Shanum turned his head, his face remained expressionless. Tears stopped flowing from the corners of her eyes.

Taban was standing at the door, with Shanum's two best friends peeking out from behind him. The three were shocked to see Shanum's look. A puffy face, drenched clothes with fingers full of blood and bruises.

"Please help lift him up, Taban," said Farah. Taban then approached Shanum. The girl was still motionless, her gaze was still empty. The man directly scooped up Shanum's body and carried her out of the bathroom.

Diva shed tears looking at Shanum's state, and Farah looked worried. "You have to change your clothes. I'll find a cure to treat the cuts and bruises on his fingers. You can call me outside when it's done" Taban said. The two girls nodded their heads.

They rushed to change Shanum's clothes, not wanting to let him catch a cold. And in between her time changing Shanum's clothes, Farah noticed, the girl was like an empty shell, there was no reaction whatsoever on her face and body, even though her eyes remained open. His soul seemed to have left his body. Farah was very anxious to see the girl's condition.

"What happened to her, Taban?" ask Farah. They called Taban to re-enter, when they had finished changing Shanum's clothes. "Yes, he's like an undead.His gaze is empty. I feel like there's something weird about her" said Diva. Taban was wrapping Shanum's fingers after applying the medicine. His gaze was fixed on the girl, who was currently asleep.

"I don't know what happened either. I was on Khan's phone. His voice seemed panicked, he told me to go see Shanum immediately. And once I get here and ask you guys.well, you know what happens next. Because you're watching it too."