Down System

Chapter 34

FERNO ANDILET

Aleera gaped at me after hearing the news from Yoona. She was shocked but did not seem afraid. Her palm held mine even tighter and pulled me away from the place.

I looked at her as we were running. But when gunshots reached my ears, I turned my gaze at the road, thinking where we could possibly go. Instead of letting her run with me, I carried her because if I didn't do so, the polices might catch us.

The vehicles on the road avoided us, and the others even collided because of my swiftness. I ran like a vampire, and that was why the two of us got lost in the chasers' eyes.

Still running, Aleera's sight could not take away from me. Her eyes were still widened; certainly, she was amazed by me. Her lip couldn't even be closed. Her reaction was not new to me, since the people around her had the same expression as her towards me.

After some time of running, we had arrived at the lake, finally. Just by the moment that we stepped our feet there, Aleera asked me why I took her there.

I sat on the Bermuda grass and smilingly viewed the lake that was just a meter away from me. "Let's just say it's because this place has now a different meaning to me," I answered. "Before, this lake just served as my crying shoulder, but now, this has been also my friend of triumph."

Aleera didn't speak. Perhaps she did not understand what I had said, so she just looked at me.

"Since you rescued me here, this place also served as my big hope. At first, I didn't see it, but now, I just realized how you've brought a different kind of happiness to me."

"So, you mean... it's because of me why there's a glee in your heart whenever you visit this place?"

I nodded. "I feel like winning every time I am here."

It was real, indeed. Aside from I met Gandor in this place, Aleera was also the reason why I was always glad to be here.

At first, I was really annoyed by her because she was always following me, but when I got resurrected, my view of her had changed. I didn't tell the red dragon about this strange feeling. As long as I could manage to keep it to myself, I would not tell anyone.

Aleera was probably confused to me as well- for treating her goodly of a sudden. It could be seen in her face that couldn't be painted. Her question also gave me a hint of wonder.

There was silence for some time because Aleera might be thinking of her next inquiry. While waiting for her to talk again, I was feeling the soft caress of wind against my skin. I was also taking time to look at the serene water, blue sky, and swaying trees. I could not feel this peace if not only here in this place.

"About the-"

"Do you believe it?" I cut her off, knowing it was about the killing she was going to open up.

"No," she said firmly, which made me turn my gaze at her. "I don't believe you can do it to your family. I know you, Ferno."

I drew my face closer to her. "Do you really know me?"

She swallowed and avoided her sight at me. "O-of course. Even a person who's not that friend to you will not believe your sister."

"But, what if she's true about it?"

"I really don't trust her. I know she's just making things to ruin you, b-because you're here again..."

"Don't you ever wonder why I am here? Why am I alive?"

Aleera looked at me again. "I honestly don't know, but I've been thinking about that."

"What if I tell you I didn't die after all? That it wasn't me you saw on the trunk?"

"I don't get it," Aleera mouthed as she puckered her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

Again, after that, no one of us talked again. I didn't know what was in her mind, but I knew it had something to do with me. On the other hand, I was thinking about how I would erase the words I spoke to her in her memory. I almost told her things that supposedly just hiding in secrecy.

"By the way," I mouthed, "how is Keevan doing?"

"I don't know," Aleera shrugged.

"What do you mean, you don't know? He's your classmate, right?"

"Former classmate."

"Alright. I guess I understand it now. So tell me, why did he move out?"

"He didn't say why, he just left. That's a good thing because he can't bully me anymore."

"But, you miss him."

Aleera sharply looked at me. "Hell, no!"

"It isn't a question but a statement. I can see you're missing him. Didn't he tell when will he come back?"

"I told you, I don't miss him. Besides, why would I? He hasn't done any good to me. Even in his departing, he still bullied me. Freak!"

I was a bit interested in knowing how Keevan teased her on his last day of staying in Hades, so I asked Aleera about it. I was smiling hearing her story about the field trip and how did she see the boy there. If it sounded annoying for her, well, it was fun for me.

Nevertheless, honestly speaking, I still did not like Keevan. Aleera was right when she said he was a bully.

Whenever I had the time to have a glimpse of Keevan, I would take that time to observe him. He was good to others, but when it came to Aleera, he was acting rude. I didn't know exactly why he was like that to her, but I could assume of one thing.

"Maybe he likes you."

Aleera gaped at me. "Are you damn crazy, Ferno?" she mouthed with her eyes scathingly looking at me. "Don't you dare to say those words again. It's creeping me!"

"But what if it's real?"

"That won't happen. He is just born a bully. I don't understand why you're thinking like that."

"Defensive."

"I'm being defensive because it's not true. I wouldn't bear calming at lies."

"Okay, fine. If that's what you like, I'll not push you then." I sighed. "It's just what I see. You're restricting me from giving my opinion."

Aleera didn't talk anymore, thus, she took a stone and threw it on the lake. She was grinning while doing it, and that was why I found it fun.

I also took a pebble and challenged her to whoever took it to the farthest, would give a dare to the one who lost. I took the first shot when she agreed; the stone went about a hundred meters from me.

"That was too far!" Aleera shouted in a grinning manner. "How did you do that?"

"I just threw the stone," I answered.

"Yeah, but, you have full strength, huh! I think that's a bit unfair for me," she frowned.

"Why don't you give it a try? We will not see unless you take the shot as well. Do it now."

Aleera took a deep breath first before throwing the stone. Unfortunately, it only went about ten-meter away from us, causing her to pout even badly.

I held her shoulder as she sat on the ground. "At least you did your best."

"I told you it's unfair for me. But, alright, since we have a deal, give me the dare. Just don't make it too hard."

Smiling at her, I mouthed, "Tell me, who do you admire?"

Aleera moved his gaze away from me and took another pebble she threw. "If you mean who is my crush, I tell you, none. But, I admire someone because he is kind despite his cold aura."

"I'm not cold anymore," I said, "but only when it comes to you."

With her eyes widened, Aleera turned back her face at me. "I didn't mention it's you!"

"Yeah, but I know it's me."

Aleera was still about to talk when I picked up a stone and cast it on the lake. She rejoiced, knowing the pebble only reached about five-meter away from us. Little did she know that it was my intention for her turn to give a dare.

After throwing, Aleera looked at me with her eyes shining. "I don't want a dare," she said.

"Why?" I creased my brow.

"Because I want a truth."

I swallowed my saliva. "But it's out of the mechanics. You should follow the rules."

"Okay, fine," Aleera let out a sigh. "I dare you to tell me a truth."

I slapped my forehead. I knew she was beautiful, but damn, she was brilliant as well. Since I had no choice, I told her to speak it out.

While waiting for Aleera to answer, the wind whispered to me first as if it was telling me something horrible. I took a deep breath as I prepared myself to answer.

"Ferno," Aleera spoke my name, "did you really die?"