BLAMELESS SORROWS

18. Late-night talk on snack.

Heri' Point of View

After we had our dinner, grandpa and Galen and me, we sit around the fireplace and chat about one thing or other. Untill it reach eight and grandpa went to his room to rest while Galen and me, we stay behind with me making us a tea and already ready with a basket full of corns to roast and eat.

It is one of my absolute favourite to eat, roasted corn with some light tea.

So I sit near the open fireplace and place the corn nicely and start to grill them, while humming a soft tune. While Galen sit then leaning on the wall and smiling softly.

Galen: I really don't want to go back to Iklu, it is so peaceful here and that too with you.

I chuckled at his words, while my hand still busy with my corn.

Heri: You are a rare case then.

He look up at me confused, while I continue to explain.

Heri: Iklu is a beautiful place and a very blessed one at that, so everyone will rather have their homes there than anywhere else in the world.

He sigh at my words.

Galen: It's such a shame that I don't feel like I have a home there then.

I look at him with many questions in my eyes, the person who is said to have the most weath and the most luxurious house in the kingdom feels like he have no place in the kingdom, what an irony!

But then again, not every house can be called a home. A person make a house, whole love ones make our home.

Heri: Then, shall we just go back to my home the next time we come back, since you are a guest I swear I'll treat you well, besides we have many room available.

He smile cheekily as I said that, and I already knew some evil thoughts are going through his mind. So I look at him with squinted eyes. While he look at my expressions and chuckled but nonetheless said it.

Galen: Well the only room that I want is your house is, Iam pretty sure you will know where.

And he raise his eyebrows in a very seductive way making me scowl at him.

Heri: My bedroom is very much off limit.

He raised his hands acting all innocent making me look at him more suspiciously.

Galen: You are going quite offtrack there little lady. I was talking about your kitchen, the dish you made before was quite tasty.

I look at him speechless with my mouth hanging open, Iam quite sure that is definitely not what he thought of when he said he need only a room the first time.

Galen: Heh! Your mind really is going wild!

And he look at me in a teasing way while I scowl at him and much on the already roasted corn looking at him in displeasure. He chuckled at that and take the tongs I was using to roast the corn, seeing as Iam struggling to eat and roast at the same time.

Galen: Eat to your heart contend little chipmunk, let me do the necessary.

And he start to roast while I happily munch on my tasty corn, wanting more as I eat more and more.

Galen: You look quite cute with your cheeks all filled up. It's a new scene Iam falling for!

I look at him proudly and lift my nose more and more acting proud.

Heri: Well I can be anything from cute to fiesty to gentle to sexy, and I'll pull it all off perfectly.

When I said that he just laugh softly shaking his head while I sip on my warm sweet tea.

A while of silence follows after that, until he speak that is.

Galen: Do you know, in earlier time it is said that when a guy like someone they will go to her home with his friend and sit around the fireplace like this and talk about love the whole night!

I look at him amused, I also know of this tradition. It is still followed now in Iklu but is not as famous and followed as before.

Heri: Wah! This is a shame then. In our story, Iam the one coming to court you rather than you with me.

He smile at that.

Galen: Iam relieved!

Huh? I look at him confused.

Galen: Cause if that culture is still as famous as before, boys will be lining up by your door every night. And here I don't even want to bring friends to let them see you.

I laugh amused at that.

Heri: Thats just flattery now, Iam not as desired as you think Iam.

He shake his head in denial when I said that.

Heri: Iam a bit too smart, and known as a genius for it and have a bit of a resting b***h face, so many people find me hard to approach. So no boys or men will come up to me or anything like that. Of course, if that man is not you, who is well, majestic in an unrealistic ways.

And also women also don't approach me, like I said people find me hard to approch and always said taht Iam too arrogant or cold because of my general expression. So, I hardly have any friends growing up and no boyfriend growing up more.

Galen: Then I guess your face is truly a blessing for me.

I look at him speechless.

Heri: That is not supposed to be the point you get from that.

He chuckled when I said that and give me the corn which he finish roasting. This time I broke it in two and gave him the other halve.

While he take it with a smile but not eat that much compared to me, Iam eating like a pig right now.

Galen: But that tradition, shall we follow it too? Omitting some of its parts of course.

I look at him curiously.

Heri: What part do we omit?

Galen: Well, if we look at it the traditional way, they take that when a guy is courting her but not visit her home during the night with his friends or whatever, and the girl is with another guy. That is not cheating and is quite natural actually.

I nod my head, understanding what it is and expecting him to follow up with more information.

Galen: Well, I don't like that part. Please wait for me and be with me when we are like what we are now. I get jealous easily and besides like I said before, Iam quite possesive.

I look at him a bit shock, by how serious he is taking all this. Is he seriously going to come to my house at night from now on?

Heri: Seriously?

Galen: Why, you have other that you like?

And he look at me while whimpering a little like a small pitiable scolded puppy, making me guilty for reasons I know not.

But nonetheless I shake my head in denial, quickly at that.

Heri: I mean you are seriously going to come to my house? At night?

He look at me relieved when I said that, which make me glad for some reason.

Galen: Of course I will, and there is more rules I want to omit.

I look at him questionably, is he really doing this?

Heri: And that is?

Galen: The things about the guy going with friends, let omit that too.

I look at him suspiciously, already taking this seriously.

Heri: And why is that?

Galen:I might get jealous if he becomes mor friendlier with you than me.

And he look elsewhere, fidgeting here and there making me more suspicious.

Heri: Why do I think that, that is not the reason. For me to open the door for you, you need to be honest. So quick, out with it.

He look at me with a little frown and tch to himself while finally saying.

Galen: Okay I have no one clos enough to call a friend, which I can bring along.

I look at him mortified, I mean he is like the centre of social gatherings.

Whenever there is a meeting or a ball or any gathering. From the babies to grandpa and grannies, everyone know him and he seem close to everyone. He is always here and there happily chatting with everyone.

Heri: You are kidding.

He shake his head in denial, while I look at him suspiciously. He is not doing this cause he really think he will be jealous right?

Heri: Well I like that rule, so please come visit me when you have a friend with you.

He look at me shock while I put on a pocker not willing to show him my confusion.

First off like this I can see if this is all about jealously, and secondly if he does have no friend and going forward he struggle because of it, I will invite him home myself so its fine.

And moreover Iam more than sure he do have friend he can invite, he just like to keep a bit if a distance and creat a wall between him and everyone.

Galen: Come on Heri, am I not enough for you anymore.

He said it dramatically while I roll my eye at his drama.

Heri: No means no, and yes I will be waiting eagerly for your arrival. Please dont make me wait for long.

He look t me mortified while I look at him with a sweet smile acting a innocent.

Galen: Iam so stupid that I even find this stubborn side of yours quite attractive.

And he look at me lazily with his red eye sparkling in joy, making me completely flushed in a second and blushed like a tomato within second.

Heri: Careful with your confession series, I have only one heart and it is skipping too many heartbeat these few days.

He laugh when I said that while I look at hi. displeased yet smiling. I mean, I was serious; I might really expire at this rate and the fluttering of my stomach has not even entered the story yet.

Galen: Your honesty will really kill me someday, I can never get enough of it.

And he smile at me like he always do, while my heart flutter again as if on cue.

And that night like that, while chit chatting and filling our cup of tea again and again, we talk away all our happy and giddy feelings.

The firewood burn down and then a new batch follow which slowly starts to burn away again. But it seems like our burning feeling for each other and the undeniable yearning to be with each other is never put out and is still burning beautiful lighting up the silent peaceful night with its youthful and innocent sparkle of love