The magical smile

Oksi

I began making my way to the palace gardens to meet Oksi. After passing through the gray-painted palace walls and reaching the garden, I saw Oksi sitting beneath a tree in the distance. She was wearing a long white dress. The wind was blowing, causing her dress to flutter as she sat on the grass. From the way she looked, she seemed like a young woman who had arranged to meet her secret lover and was waiting eagerly to enjoy their secret romance.

Seeing her from a distance, I found her beautiful. She looked to me like a pure white flower.

She began adjusting the white hat she was wearing, smoothing it with her hands. I had the feeling that we had been brought together to make love. Yet, the closer I got to where she was sitting, the more nervous I became around her.

As soon as I reached her and stood beside her, she laughed. While she was laughing, I noticed a piece of wet grass stuck between her teeth. It looked as though she had been using the grass to clean her teeth.

She pointed to the grass beside her, patting it with her hand as if telling me to sit down.

> “What are your orders, Your Majesty?” I said, respectfully bowing my head.

I deliberately showed her such respect because I wanted to keep my distance from her.

> “I had you summoned because I felt something when I saw you, and I wanted to ask you about that feeling,” she said, staring intently at me from where she sat.

Good grief! You feel it too? Who told you about all those nights I stayed awake thinking about you? Who told you how many times I secretly struggled with whether my feelings for you were real?

> “Why are you so quiet?” she asked.

The way she spoke encouraged me to approach her as a friend rather than treat her as a queen.

> “Nothing,” I replied.

At that moment, I suddenly raised my head from where I had been looking down, and our eyes met. I could feel my heart pounding in shock, though I didn't know why.

> “I feel like I know you from somewhere,” she said without taking her eyes off mine.

> “I don't think so, my lady,” I replied, my eyes avoiding hers.

> “I'd be happy if you stopped with all the formal respect, Henok,” she said, frowning slightly.

What is this girl doing? Can a queen even frown like that?

> “Ever since the day I saw you, I've been feeling something strange. That's why I feel as though we've known each other before,” she said.

> “It's because you like me,” I said.

At least, I don't think I actually said that. I couldn't read any emotion on her face. But what if I had? What if I really had told her that?

> “I don't think we know each other. As for me, I'm certain I've never known you before,” I said.

> “How can you be so sure? I actually feel as though we were even close relatives,” she said, touching her white hat.

Her clothing made me uncomfortable. It was the kind of outfit that could make someone watching us from a distance suspect that something was going on.

> “Once we've finished discussing why I came here, may I leave?” I asked, looking back in the direction I had come from.

> “I summoned you because I wanted us to go to the witch's house and ask why I felt something different when I saw you,” she said.

Is this girl joking? Did she want the witch to tell her that she had fallen in love with me?

> “You don't know what you're feeling?” I asked, my astonishment showing plainly on my face.

> “I only said that perhaps we knew each other before. The wise ones can read our stars and tell us about our destiny,” she said.

> “Why don't I tell you instead?” I said, drawing a mischievous smile across my face.

> “Tell me what?” she asked, confusion appearing on her face.

> “That we knew each other before,” I replied.

> “How did we know each other?” she asked, taking off her hat and holding it in her hand.

She seemed eager to hear the answer. The wind had begun swaying the tree that sheltered her from the sun.

> “You were my lover,” I said.

The moment those words left my mouth, I froze in shock. But I immediately smiled to indicate that I was joking.