The Third Star

Chapter 37 - Roughhousing

Third Person’s POV (12 yrs. and 3 weeks old)

Ken stretched his arms in content at finishing his bath. “That was refreshing, good thing we had breakfast before leaving.”

“Right? I told you, you would like it and that too.” Wilbert said sprouting a wide smile looking at Ken.

“The bath was nice, thank you for preparing breakfast for the three of us.” said Celine, while rubbing her face, eyes closed, but eventually opens them, Wilbert just nodded.

“Can I teleport us there? It’s quite a long walk.” Ken said, feeling extra kind of lazy, still hung up on the fact that his friends woke him up early, fighting the drowsiness.

“Nope, we’re not letting you teleport us there, I want this to be our time to hang out with each other. We haven’t really bonded with one another since we came to the northern village, and I kind of missed it.” said Celine, Ken stared, surprised. Come to think of it, they haven’t really had the time for themselves since their training started.

“Oh, why?” Ken said, knowing full well of the situation at hand, he still insists on asking a question..

“Like I said, I missed being together with you two.” She said.

“Aren’t we always together?” said Ken. Celine stopped walking, making the others stop as well.

“Well, yeah, we are always together, but it kind of feels like we are not…” she paused for a second, looked at Wilbert, the two nodded at each other, then at Ken, what’s that look for?

“Ken, I… no, we miss you, we miss your pestering, your funny jokes and gestures that sometimes we don’t understand, your attentiveness towards us, how you would always wake us up early in the morning -not as early as we did- and do nothing but talk about a lot of stuff then eventually either you eat at my place or Wilbert’s,

How you would either teleport me or Wilbert to each of our houses, and eat together, then later in the day we would talk about other stuffs while playing or just enjoying each other’s company.” Ken stood stunned as Celine spoke in a fast pace

Although it is not visible that she had taken a huge amount of effort to speak all those things, the ragged breath otherwise says so.

“But aren’t we doing those things now?” Ken asked.

“Yes, we do, but it feels like there’s something different now, and it’s…” What is she indicating? Is there something wrong? His attitude? The way he talks maybe?

“What do you mean?” he asked, lost in words.

“What Celine meant is that she’s worried for you, both of us are worried for you.” said Wilbert looking straight at Ken, full of concern and worry.

“Why would you guys worry for me, I’m fine.” He said trying to reassure them.

“We’re your friends, of course we’d worry for you, we noticed something was bothering you, and we don’t know what it is so… you wouldn’t even tell us, what were we supposed to do? You looked so distant now.” exclaimed Wilbert, a hint of anger laced in his tone.

Celine was on the verge of tears, Wilbert was slowly caressing his right hand on her back, slightly soothing her, and then it hit Ken, he remembered the times they had asked him to hang out, which he always declined.

The times he neglected them whenever they talk because his attention gets caught by stuff revolving around magic, of course he would always give them a smile and a sincere apology, but as time passed, he didn’t notice that his excuses were not sincere anymore.

(Talks inside Ken’s head)

‘White what are these?’ -Ken-

‘They’re your memories.’ -White-

‘I’ve been doing this the whole time?’ -Ken-

‘Yes’ -White-

Ken glanced back at the two after pondering for a moment and said…

“I’m sorry, I… I didn’t notice that I’ve been doing awful stuff to you guys.” Wilbert’s face contorted instantly on a playful manner while two tears were shed on Celine’s eyes, wiping them away.

“It’s okay, all we wanted was to know what’s going on.” said Wilbert with a look of worry.

“I’m sorry…” Ken pondered for a bit before saying. “But, I promise that I will tell you two about what’s happening with me, would you please promise to be patient with me?”

“Of course!” -Celine-

“I suppose I could agree to that.” -Wilbert-

“That’s good enough for me.” Ken nodded as the three resumed walking..

“Before we proceed towards the village, where did all this come from? I mean you guys didn’t really gave this much concern before -if I presume-.” he said, a tilt of his head to the side.

“It was yesterday, when you tickled us on the way home.” This time it was Celine who spoke, with a little smile on her cute little face.

“That time huh… okay.” Ken clapped his hands. “From now on I’ll try my best to truthfully include you guys anything when it comes to me, but not that other stuff.” 

“Haha, there’s no need for that, all we need is that you, be yourself.” said Wilbert.

“Oh, didn’t really think you’d say that. Quick question should I pay attention to you guys all the time?” Ken said, hugging his body, and a hand to his chin.

“NOOO *giggles* that’s ridiculous, you…” Ken quirked an eyebrow. Celine looked at Wilbert.

“Not all the time.” said Wilbert, a frown settled on Ken’s head.

“But why?” he asked, in an exaggerated gesture.

“You’ll know when the time comes.” he said, leaving the guy pondering to himself, but  he still gets confused.

‘OKAY FINE! HMPH!’

“Let’s go?” said Wilbert, looking at both his friends, then at Celine.

“Yeah, let’s go.” said Celine.

On the way, chatter followed them while passing the places and the magical beasts they had encountered, laughed with each other and occasionally at one another, teased here and there, but ultimately Ken teasing the two, a knowing look on his face.

“Hey, Wilbert, I was kind of wondering of what you guys told me earlier, were you not afraid that I would react differently?” Ken asked, while Celine is ahead playing around with the colorful birds in the air.

“At first I did, but I discarded the thought.” He said.

“Why?” the other looked at him and said. “Because I know you, and I know that you would always listen to us no matter how disturbing or insulting the topic of our conversation may be.”

“But did it ever cross your mind that I wouldn’t want to be your friend anymore since you talked about something personal?” Wilbert looked surprised, but blinked it away and smilingly said…

“Why would you think something as absurd as that, you’re one of my dearest friends since we were young, and if you talk to me about my personal stuff, I wouldn’t hesitate to talk with you about it too, because I trust you.” Attention perks, Ken almost swooning then and there.

‘I guess those times that I talked to them regarding personal feelings and stuff, did pay off, I might be getting myself too ahead.’

“You trust me?” Ken asked, and stopped walking.

“Yes, I do trust you, so don’t forget about what you talked to us about trust before.” He said while smiling, a clear indication, he’s getting sharper now, but more importantly…

“Awwww, thank you.” Ken tackled the guy for a hug, the other flushing in embarrassment, raising his arms at the side.

“Let me in on that hug too.” said Celine, feeling a body colliding Ken and slim arms snaking its way around him and Wilbert, the other reciprocating the hug.

Ken looked up at him and smiled cheekily, before turning his gaze towards Celine and licked her face, her eyes were closed, so…

“Kyaahh, Ken, that’s disgusting.” said Celine playfully, but still has a pinch of disgust which made me and Wilbert laugh out loud.

“Race you guys to the entrance!” shouted Ken and getting a head start.

“Oh no you don’t, I won’t let you!” said Wilbert as he also started running.

“I won’t lose either.” followed by Celine as she push herself forward catching up to Wilbert, Ken laughed at the gesture before returning his gaze ahead and picked up speed.

(One moment later)

The three stopped at the entrance upon arriving, and settled to catch their breath, after calming down for awhile, they looked at each other’s faces, the unkempt appearance of the other making them giggle.

Which turned into a burst of laughter at Wilbert’s side, for he had just realized that Ken’s well kept long hair was in a bundle of mess realizing that he must have raced with him pretty roughly since Ken’s appearance was so horrible from their unavoidable playing with each other.

A little roughhousing along the way never hurt anyone anyway.

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