Heraiah

CHAPTER 17

The fact that I had to keep up on small talk with my parents was exhausting already. It is suffocating and intoxicating. I had to force a smile and act like as if I was their little naïve girl. Every time they asked me a question they made me feel little. They had their ways to belittle me like. But it never really got to me since before I never really looked into the words they said. But now realizing, they have been belittling me for ages.

I calmed down, exhaling, “Well, I have to go now,” I can’t take any of this any longer. The glaring eyes of Carlie is making me feel like I’m not welcome home. Maybe I’m not, though, but my pride is will not admit that.

Mom jolted fast from her seat, my head swiftly glances as she tries to compose herself, “So soon?”

“Yeah, Khai is probably waiting for me already,” I shortly answered.

She looks down, “Oh, yeah, Khai, you’re living with him,”

I nodded and tried getting up but dad stopped me, “Can’t you stay here for a night?”

And let you do something to me? i laughed in my mind. I’m not letting my guard down that easily. But yet, I have to be convincing.

I shook my head, “No, I’m trying to get used to on living on my own,”

“We can get you a job,” Dad offers. Ugh, they’re so persistent.

“No, I want to do it on my own,” I smile, forcibly.

“But we must help you a little,” Mom exclaimed.

Getting up from my seat, an idea formed in my mind, “My savings account,” I said.

Their eye shifted to me, “I want it back,” I looked at them.

They looked at each other, a hint of fear in their eyes. I furrowed my eyebrows. Did they spend my money? Because it looks like it. They were in hesitation but then soon off, they responded.

“Oh, yes, of course, it was yours in the first place,” mom smiles sweetly. The smile looked painful.

I nodded, “Okay, so I’ll get going,”

They nodded back and gestured to guide me out, “yes, yes,”

They continued to guide me out until I was out the gate. They hurriedly went inside upon seeing Khai outside his car, waiting for me. Now, I was left alone with Wesley who has always been coming along. I smiled then opening my arms to hug him in my embrace in which he gladly accepted.

I couldn’t get to ask him about Carlie and now that I have time alone with him, I can, “Has Carlie always been like that?” I asked.

“No,” he shook his head, “She was hurt when you were gone but it wasn’t your fault,”

When I heard that, I laughed causing him to get confused, “Don’t worry about me, and take care of her, okay?”

He nods, “I will, haven’t I always have?”

We both laughed, but were soon consumed by silence again. I looked down, trying to stop myself from crying, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you,”

“You don’t have to be,”

I nodded attentively, trying to understand him and exhaling to relax, “I’m here now, and you can always come to me for help, okay?”

“I will,”

I smiled, walking away from him and entering Khai’s car. As the car moved, I looked back at him. He waves good bye and smiles. When the car got far enough for Wesley to not see I faced Khai.

“Stop here,” With eyes widen open looking at Khai, I commanded.

He furrowed his eyebrows, “Why? What now, Hera?”

“I’m going back,”

He gasped, “why?”

“Don’t worry, I’m going to turn invisible and go back there to spy on my parents,” I whisper.

“And risk yourself on being found out? No!” he hesitated and didn’t stop the car.

My mouth dropped wide open, “But I’m just going to listen to them,”

He looks at me at the mirror, “The last time to eavesdrop them, you were upset, I don’t want to see you in that same position again,”

“But, I swear I won’t be-“

He turns the car, “I will be the one looking into it, there are other things that matter than what your parents think about you,” he paused.

I thought to myself. In the pit of my stomach I knew he was right. I shouldn’t let my personal affairs get mixed with my mission.

“You were for a reason, Hera, please do what you need to do, then save yourself,” as he said that, I went quiet. Feeling guilty, I was here for a reason. I will not let this opportunity to save my kind slip through my hands.

I could never bare the guilt after.

I exhaled, in defeat. While looking at the window, my mind clouded with thoughts. I felt a pain on my feet and noticed, the tip of my feet was now wounded. It wasn’t big, nor was it deep. But it was painful, it hurt even with the slightest touch and movement. I sighed, reaching for my heels and taking them off of my feet. I threw them away beside me and slammed my head on the passenger’s seat.

I look at the driver’s seat, my eyes slowly looking up to see Khai’s figure. I wonder what’s going on in his little mind. I wonder about his fears. When I look at his eyes, they are always full of worry. Worry for me. Well, best friends would be worried for you when you’re actually a violation of the law and should be punished by death, right?

I took out the hair tie that held all of my hair in a low pony tail and let my hair fall down naturally. I can’t believe my mother insulted my long healthy red hair that took me 5 years to naturally grow from all the dye it experienced. Like as if she didn’t over dye her hair blue just to fit in along with the other Hyveins. My mother naturally had brown hair, then as she got married with father. She gradually started dying hair to stop being the “shameful” wife of the Hyveins.

Then when I arrived with bright red hair, mother was furious. When I turned 13 years old, my hair was already used up in dye. Mother wanted it that way and I could not stop her. Because in those naïve years of mine, I thought it was okay. It thought she was just looking out for me. it didn’t take me long enough to realize it was because she was ashamed of me.

She acted like as if she was any better than me. and she made me her little doll, where she can dress me however she liked or wanted. The way I acted and dressed like before was all of her work. I was her mere puppet.

How annoying.

The memory is annoying.

The car stopped, stunning me since I thought the drive would be longer. I look out the window, the sight of the high wall entrance of the prince’s home. Or shall I say, our home. For the meantime, of course. It seemed to be easy for him to just accept me as his becoming wife. Well, I did insist, without even considering what he would say. But he was the one who offered it first, I’m just merely… accepting it.

Oh, what am I doing? Giving myself excuses.

“Are you not going out?”

I glanced at Khai’s green eyes, full of worry, “I am, I am,” I smiled, then opened the car door.

I clutched my heels in my hands while walking bear foot. I slammed the door shut after walking out. My feet felt the hot cement path to the entrance. I walk, not minding the heat. I heard a door opened.

“Does your feet hurt?” yelled from the back, Khai.

“I’m okay,” I signaled my hand whilst holding my heels.

I walked wobbly, trying to avoid the rocky part of the path. There were many times I almost fell, but my balance kept me still up. I heard the door from behind me shut. The car engine started, then the sound of the car became just a whisper to my ears. Khai has driven off.

I continued to walk. As I arrived, I opened the door and went inside. Finally, some time for myself. I dropped my heels carelessly on the floor, so as my bag. I went straight to my room, trying to search for a comfortable replacement for this suffocating fabric all over me.

Then I found none, the only clothes I bought were the ones for the public. I felt remorse. How could I even forget? I sighed, I sat on my bed. Just wanting to get out of this suffocation. Then I heard a creaking sound, catching my attention. I followed where the sound came from. I walked out of my room, seeing the room beside me was open, the door was creaking as it was half open. It was the prince’s room. Without hesitation, I held the cold metal doorknob, opening the door. I feel upon a dark room, the architecture similar to mine but sharper. Walls were in grey; the bedsheets were sheer black. Felt very captivating but also creepy in a way, but I found it pleasing. It looked comfy. But even though this looked exquisite, it was quite messy. He is still a man after all. But I could not careless, with how it was a mess. Since mine was a mess too.

I walked on the soft carpet, leading my way to his closet. I wondered my eyes on the never-ending hanged uniforms and suits that fitted the prince. I was feeling rather, guilty snooping around his closet. Surely, he wouldn’t mind if his fiancée took a few of his shirts? Right? They seem comfortable too. Without thinking, I snatched a few t shirts in the color of grey, blue, and dark purple. They were soft and comforting to hold. Just what I need.

The aroma of his sent filled my nose as I hugged the clothes near my face. Not to be weird, I just found it comforting. Why are men clothes more comfortable than woman’s?

I sighed, hopping back to my room and changing my clothes. I was fully consumed by the prince’s scent now. his fragrance reeked. Not that he had a terrible odor. It was quite pleasant actually. The masculine scent was pleasant.

I went back downstairs and to the kitchen where I opened a bottle of wine and prepared a tiny meal for me. I was exhausted, haven’t I already mentioned this?

I swiftly shake the wine in the glass, “Truly annoying,” I said, remembering the memory.

I sat in the island counter, feeling heavy and annoyed. The door clicked open, I look up to see the prince, standing from afar. I ignored his presence. And I thought this was some me time. I guess not. His steps began to grow louder. Then he was close to me, sitting across the counter from me.

I looked at him, from his dark hair to his hands composed on the counter. Then I noticed a shiny thing in his hand. He was quiet, not mentioning any word. The shiny thing was my ring. I put the glass on the counter and reached for but he moved it away from me.

“What?” I asked, innocently.

He raised his chin as his eyes looked down upon me, “Are you wearing my shirt?”

I backed away, looking at the gray shirt I was wearing and nodded, “Yes, it is quite comfortable, I hope you don’t mind,”

“No, I don’t,” he shortly responded. Kind of threatening me instead of making me feel relaxed.

“Is there something bothering you?” I asked.

“Yes.” He then put forward the ring, “You must always wear this ring,”

He reaches for my right hand and pulls it forward, putting the ring on my ring finger. Even though I was flattered by the gesture. I was also in confusion and puzzled.

I scoffed, “Why does it have some tracking device in it? Are you afraid of what your fiancée might be doing?”