OBTICEO

Chapter 21: BEAUTIFUL

"Don't try messing up with my mind. This is their fault" he keeps on insisting. Well, I can't change how he thinks and understands things. But might as well explain my side. He did this to me last time.

"No it isn't and I'm just getting even with you. You also messed up my mind the last time we talked" I pointed out. He did not respond when he realized that I was right. He did the same thing the last time we saw each other here. Although he cooks delicious meals every lunch, I still need to get even.

"And why would you even waste your time hating them when you can't even escape from here. You will never see them so why waste your time blaming them?" I am now returning his words to him. I'm sure he's slowly getting full eating his own words.

"Because they were too coward, too coward to say no to whoever ordered them to kill a nice women" he tried to argue but he is certainly loosing. So I hit him in the most sensitive part I could hit.

"Aren't you the same?"

"What?" he was taken aback, well I expected him to be. He did not know how to defend because he knows himself. He is the same.

"Your the same. You're also a coward to go against the Sesgados, like how they were coward to decline their orders. Your just like your grandparents" I fired even more. He deserves it and his grandfathers did not deserve the hate. He doesn't even know what happened back then. He should let them defend themselves.

"I guess it runs in our blood?" he sighed.

"Besides, I'm sure your parents were happy to meet each other. And they had a bonus, they had a coward child" they just wanted to escape so they could give him a better life. I'm somehow think that they were happy before that.

"Stop mocking me. Well, they did look happy to find each other" we both laughed. Life is giving us a lot of bumps in our ride. That's why we should have someone that would tell us how to drive life safely and get over those bumps.

"What are you doing here?" I saw Ry when I was walking out of the cliff. Exactly near the portals. Khael already left ahead of me, he said he has to go back to work. He said it was his day off today and yesterday but he was not able to take it since there was an emergency. He also said that in return, they would have 7 days off since they have been working non stop and only taking breaks during lunch time.

"Ry?" I confirmed.

"Are you trying to escape? Please don't, you'll only get in trouble" Why do everyone thinks that I will escape? I won't! Or at least not now. I am still planning to escape.

"No I wasn't. I was only looking at the ocean. I only know this place. I can't remember the way to the place near the ocean where we wash our clothes" I did plan to go their but I can't remember the way.

"Really? There is a park in the other side of the island, do you want me to take you there?" I wanted to say no but I think this is a good opportunity to explore more parts of the island.

"Yeah, sure!" I replied. I followed him as he walk to the place.

"Is it far?" I ask to avoid the awkward silence.

"A bit?" he was unsure of his answer. I did not know what to say after that so silence enveloped us again. Until he broke the deafening silence.

"Is this your way of conditioning your body and mind before the exam" he asked.

"You can say that" I simply answered. I don't know how to start a real conversation with him. We're not that close.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" these small talks are killing me. I hate it.

"No"

"Let me guess, seven days aren't enough?" he chuckled upon saying those words.

"Technically speaking it was only 5 days. The first day is when Soren announced the exam, I was busy ranting, and today, the last day, Caligo told us to rest. But how about you?" I tried starting a longer conversation.

"No, personally speaking, I think seven...I mean five days aren't enough. But thinking about it more, Soren was actually right. You should not expect everyone to adjust for you, your the new comer, you should be the one who is adjusting to all of these because these things will not change for you. You should be the one adjusting, just like everybody else when they first got here" what he said was irritating but I knew he was right. And for a fact, I never even once thought that things will change for me. I was just saying that it was too fast and I needed more time. But just like what I keep saying today, we have no choice.

I wanted to say all of that but in the end, I just smiled and nodded. And for the record, when I asked 'How about you?'. I meant to ask if he was ready for tomorrow's exam but instead he explained what he believes. I did not bother asking him again.

"I heard from my father that the day after our last day of the exam is your birthday. 17th day of the first month. Am I right?" my eyes widened. I almost forgot about it. This would be my first birthday without my father.

"Your reaction tells me that I'm right and you forgot about it. That or I got it wrong. So which one is it? The former or the latter?" I laughed, he was right. I forgot about it. Well it was not my priority as of the moment. My mind is focused on something else. And by something else I meant the exam and Erebus.

"The former. I was preoccupied with everything that is going around here that I forgot all about it. Thank you for reminding me about it." I replied to him. There's so much to know around here and I've been making a lot of adjustments so its not impossible for me to forget my birthday. There's a lot I have to take in.

"Your welcome. How do you want to celebrate it?" Is it allowed? I knew Erebus isn't that strict about things but I never knew celebrating birthdays is allowed. I thought worst about the island.

"We are allowed to celebrate it?" I asked with eyes wide opened.

"Of course! So, what do you want? We will provide everything as long as its possible" For a moment, I really thought we aren't allowed. Now that I think about it, birthdays must have been a happy day for Khael and his parents.

"Nothing. I'm fine. I don't want to celebrate it. Please don't tell anyone else. Especially Caligo, he's a blabber mouth" Even back at home, in Elletra. I never wanted to celebrate it, a day with my father was enough for me. Sure we do prepare a lot of food for the house maids but spending the whole day with my father is more than enough for me. But I know that it is not possible.

"He sure is, sometimes. Are you sure?" he let out a small chuckle. I appreciate Ry asking. It was enough for me but I really don't want to celebrate it. I mean, at least not this year.

"Yes, I am!"

"If that's what you want" he surrendered. We kept walking fir a few more minutes. We even saw Aes and Chylus with some of their friends, I guess. They were giving us some look. The 'are-you-two-dating?' look, well all of them except Chylus, he was just blankly staring at us. It made me and Ry feel awkward.

"We're here!" what a relief. That was awkward. Well, I can't blame them. I mean we were walking, just the two of us. Aes and Chylus knew we weren't close so they quickly get rid of the look but it still made us feel awkward.

The park similar to where we usually practice but this one is right beside a small cliff, still high but smaller than the one in the borders behind the mansion. There was a huge three near the cliff. If you seat on one of it huge branches, you will see the ocean beneath you. There are also benches made of wood near the cliff and the park was covered in green grass. This looks serene. I might come here often.

"Do you want some company or do you prefer staying alone" he looked concerned, it seems like he did not want to leave me alone. But I think I can handle it from here.

"I appreciate it but I want to be alone... for now. Thank you though. I mean it. Thank You!" I smiled at him. "It's my pleasure to help. You sure you can find your way home?" he said and returned a smile.

"Hmm... I think I can manage. Thank you!" I thanked him once again.

"Your welcome. Oh and by the way..." he was about to turn back and head his way out of the place when he asked for attention.

"Yes?" I saw him run his gaze to my whole body, I secretly did the same. What's wrong? I am wearing a shorts and a blouse that has a long sleeve that has a slit across the whole sleeve and a rubber shoes. This is a typical casual look that I don't usually wear back in Elletra. I wear dresses on a daily basis. What's wrong, is the shorts, too short? Well it is windy so the wind is subtly blowing my blouse, I can feel my stomach being exposed. Am I too fat? Is my belly button dirty? I wanted to check it but I know I would only make fun of myself.

I looked back at Ry with so much confusion written all over my face. What is it? What is his problem?

"You look beautiful!"

My face instantly heated and Ry quickly ran out of the place.

What is going on?