OBTICEO

Chapter 19: CLAIM

I went back to the cell to have lunch. My wandering around was really interesting. I might do it again, but not until exams are over. I still have to train.

"Where have you been?" I heard Gio ask when he heard me open the door and enter the house. I went to the kitchen where I heard his voice come from.

"The borders" I answered looking at him. He is preparing the table for lunch so I helped him. I put the plates on the table while he get a spoon, fork, and two glasses of water.

"What were you doing at the borders?" He asked putting all of the things he got on the table. I went to the stove and checked what our meal for today is.

"Looking at the ocean" I looked at his eyes when I answered but he looked like he was doubting my answers. "Okay?" he was eyeing me suspiciously. Like he knew I did something bad but in fact, I didn't.

"Let's eat. I already prepared lunch" He then transferred the pasta to a bigger plate and put it on the table. We both sat down and started eating lunch.

"What are you waiting for? Go change your clothes. You don't want to train to wear that" he checked out what I'm wearing so I did the same. Oh yeah! Who practices punching, wearing a tank top, cardigan, and shorts? Not me! And definitely not Gio.

I went to my closet and grabbed a tracksuit and another pair of rubber shoes. I changed in the bathroom while Gio sat down at the edge of my bed. I went out after changing and put on my rubber shoes. I felt Gio's stare at me so I looked in his direction and saw him looking at me.

"I suggest you wear the combat boots. That's what we always use, I bet even on exams" My mouth gaped open. Why did he just tell me now? I could have adjusted to the combats boots earlier he told me the first time.

"You should have told me earlier. Your stupid!" I barked not meaning the last word. I saw him raise a brow on me. I get my combat shoes and change into them.

"Let's go?" I nodded.

"That was really tiring!" I exhaled after we wrapped up and went home. Like last time we went to the headquarters to get the punching bag and luckily, a standing one was available.

Gio taught me how to throw a punch using my left hand after making a small step forward. After that, we did all of the stamina-building exercises that Caligo taught us and last, we had a small duel. Clearly, we all know who won, but I was happy because even I, can see the improvement in my fighting skills. I was happy with that, it was still not enough to win against them but it was a small step, I never expected that I will be able to keep up with them in a span of seven days so... I was happy with that.

"Do you want some ice cream?" my gaze quickly went to Gio. Ice cream? I love those.

"We have one?" I asked, do we have one or is there a*****e here that sells ice cream. But we don't have money, how would we buy it? Prisoners don't get paid when they work. They just provide the things we need.

"Not just one, we have three of them" three? Why didn't he tell me? He just doesn't tell me things earlier, huh? First, he did not mention the exam, then about the combat boots and now ice cream? What else is he not telling me?

"Since when?" I would have eaten them since day one. I love ice cream so much.

"Since this morning. Ry went here and give us some" Oh! Just this morning, while I was wandering. It's forgivable.

"Just us?" or did everyone have ice cream. If everyone had it, I would eat one when we have lunch at Caligo and Khael's cell tomorrow.

"Of course not" yes! That means I can eat more ice cream.

"Oh! I have a question. Is it Ry's job to deliver things to the cell?" I've noticed that he was the one who always gives us the things we need.

"No. They have maids for that" is it because we are his mates? Does he consider us, his friends?

"Then why was he the one to deliver my clothes and the ice cream to our cell?"

"I don't know," I think he really does consider us his friends. Maybe he was the one who sent things to other Kavan trainees as well, even to Caligo and maybe even Soren. He is our Work Head after all.

I did my usual night routine. I change into a simple shirt and shorts. I closed the lights and went to bed. Gio went to bed before me so he is probably sleeping already. I still can't fall asleep. I was thinking about my little argument with Khael. I understand his point, now it's making me confused about whether to escape or just let things be.

"You asleep?" I thought he was already sleeping but I thought wrong. "Yes," I answered. The lights are already off, the only thing that provides us light are the lights from the street. Bur, it was not enough for me to see Gio's face and I'm sure he can't see me as well.

"Do you still plan on escaping Erebus?" I did not answer his unexpected question. Instead, I told him about what happened earlier.

"Earlier, when I went to the southern borders, the one near the portal. I met Khael" I started. "What happened?" he replied, not minding about me not answering his first question. He might be interested in my story so I continued.

"He asked me about my father's case and he said something that I think is right" I am not sure if Gio is aware of the freedom thing, he is smart. He understands things that were not mentioned to him. He is observant.

"What did he say?" he asked with a calm voice. I've noticed that we usually have conversations before we sleep. It is a growing habit between us.

"He said, we can never escape. If we escape from this island, we only have one place to go, Elletra. That place is also under the Sesgados. Not even the King can oppose their decisions. We won't be free even if we escape here" after explaining Khael's words, I looked in his direction even if I knew I wouldn't be able to see him.

"Is it freedom that you seek?" maybe? I'm not really sure. At first, I was really sure that I only wanted to prove my father's innocence but maybe deep inside, I was low-key wanting to have freedom.

"I don't know"

"I thought you wanted to escape because you wanted to prove your father's image and restore his reputation," I thought so too. But I am starting to realize that maybe I really did want to escape because I was scared and I want freedom. Free from the controlling governance. I never really paid attention to it before but now that I am experiencing things, I started to hate the rules. I started to hate the ones who made the rules.

"I do, I really do. But I really can't do that, can I? Even if I succeeded in proving my father's innocence. His reputation won't be the same as before. It never will. This false accusation will leave a mark, a noticeable mark" even if I succeed we can never get things the way it was before. Something always changes after a fall. Always.

"Of course, it will. But at least they would be aware of the truth. It can help people to give him a chance to build himself again. You won't be able to fully restore it, but it won't be as bad as it is now" Gio and Khael had different views. Khael was more on the dark side, the one with no hope at all. Well, Gio's view had very little hope that he keeps holding. Maybe not hope but his passion and love for his sister. Love was making him hold on to this small hope.

"I'm confused. I don't know what to do" I heard different, an opposite opinion in one day. I can not weigh which one should I believe in.

"It's okay. This is not easy anyway" it really wasn't. I grew up in a lovely household that these sudden problems that came crushing my life are too much for me. It may be easy for other people but this is too much for me.

"How about you? Do you still want to escape?" I asked the same question he asked me a while ago.

"Yes," he answered firmly and surely.

"I never thought I would be free because none of us will ever be. All I want is a chance. Just another chance. Even for just a day, I want to see my sisters again. I want to check if they are okay. I want to explain things to them. Just one chance and I'm fine" his love for his sisters is really genuine, it looks really beautiful. It made me envy the girls. I wish I had a brother.

Gio was so sure of his plan. No one can stop him from seeing his sister once again. I should do the same. I should stand strong and carry my will. I want to prove my father's innocence and I want to see him one more time. I must stay strong, I will prove my father's innocence. I am claiming it.