Written by the Moon

8~ OUTSIDE

We had lunch after the shopping. I looked at Mark and Sham who are busy with the clothes they bought. I couldn’t buy anything. Forest, suddenly, he was in my mind throughout the time I was in the shop. And that was torture.

I sipped on the iced soda I ordered. I just finished my food here. It’s actually nice here, I must say. I can have servants here. Or it’s just really their job. I shook my head with my thoughts.

“What’s next after lunch?” Sham excitedly asked.

But Christiana only shook her head.

“We’re going home after this,” she said wearily.

Thinking about our day, I’d prefer to be in that old mansion than here where most of the people here are impolite. Well, most of them are the Elites and Nobles. There’s nothing I really get why they feel so entitled. When in fact, in a blink of an eye, they can lose their title with their doings.

Well, if only the justice system here is also fair.

“We’re going home?” I heard Sham’s disappointed voice.

Markus also looked sad. I thought he never really like it to go outside. But look at him now. I shook my head.

“I second the motion. I’d prefer that we’ll return home. We won’t know how long the cover-up spell Christiana did will last,” I stood up.

I’ll head on first. Surprisingly, Christiana followed then the others did. Without any more words, we went home. The silence actually relaxed me a bit. The encounter earlier with the Nobles and Elites was a bit bothering me. especially that guy.

We arrived at the mansion and I immediately went inside and into my room. I feel like I was drained. Out of a sudden, I fell and I couldn’t pinpoint why.

I sighed and laid my body on my bed. This place is really different from Paredes. I looked at the ceiling. Another sigh. I’m never at peace here and I think I will never be. back in Paredes, I was happy even if I was different. Here, when Sham already said I’d fit here perfectly, all I feel is indifference from this world.

I kept my mind on wondering. It’s not yet dark but all I see and feel is darkness. I pressed my lips together. How can I fit here when my heart is exactly in Paredes. If this freaking mission isn’t mandatory, I’d live my life to the fullest in Paredes.

But then again, I feel hopeless thinking of Paredes when I’m here in Athanatoss. I sounded bitter. This must be why I seem tensed and unwell. I kept on thinking of Paredes making me homesick.

I stood up from bed and at the same time, the door of my room opened. Mark went inside with a paper bag. I looked at it with curiosity.

He smiled with his teeth and handed me the paper bag.

“Here, I noticed that you didn’t buy anything back at the mall,” he put his hands in his pockets when I took the bag.

I made a small smile. I peeked at the bag and it was full of white dresses. Something I like. Something I’d wear forever, I guess. But an outdated clothing of Athanatoss, I’d say. The dresses are simple and white, just what I like.

“You really didn’t have to, Mark,” I faced him and gave him a hug.

“You seemed occupied when we were there,”

I turned my back on him. I really don’t have the confidence to tell him what I feel. Sometimes, it takes months for him to open up even if we have almost two decades of friendship.

I placed the paper bag on my bedside table and sat on my bed. I sighed and looked at him. He looks attentive to me. He made a tight smile and sat beside me. I heard his heavy sigh.

“It’s okay. I know you miss Paredes,”

He really knows me. I nodded at what he said.

“It’s different here,”

“Just like you,”

I chuckled at what he said. I rested my head on his shoulder. Something I am used to doing. He’s my comfort space. My friend and partner. I can never imagine myself surviving if it weren’t for him. I smiled as I started to doze off.

I fell into a deep sleep. I’d guess, it would be the only sleep I have taken here that made me sleep deeply. I woke up tucked in my bed. My eyes wandered throughout the room. it was dark and at first, my eyes weren’t used to it.

I blinked a couple of times to make my eyes used to the dark. And soon as my eyes were comfortable with the darkness, I saw the wall clock. It’s seven in the evening. How long was I asleep?

I pouted when my eyes dropped to the table in front of my bed. The table was close to the balcony. The steam from the plate was a sign that the food was still hot. I pressed my lips and stood up from bed.

I walked to the table. The scent of dinner, I thought. I looked at the tray with my dinner. I was about to sit on my chair when I felt a strong gush of wind. With the strength of the wind, the balcony door opened. Even the windows of my room. the curtains danced with the wind and I saw the moon.

The moon.

My feet led me outside the balcony. I looked at the moon. It’s a full moon. My eyes stared at it with so much adoration. I will never deny the beauty of the moon.

I touched the cold rail of the balcony. The wind blew and my hair danced to its flow. I smiled. The cold breeze touched my pail skin. I hugged myself and saw the forest. An idea popped into my mind for the first time.

I licked my lips.

I sighed and went inside. I looked for a jacket just to make me warm from the cold wind. But instead, my eyes stayed on the paper bag with a brand embroiled on it. I opened it and took the first dress my hand touched. Perfect!

It was a long sleeve dress. Just below the knee, comfortable for me. I immediately put it on. I saw myself in the mirror. Even though my room was dark, the mirror reflected my body. The dress fitted perfectly on my body.

I glanced back to the balcony and went there. the food was losing its steam. It’s getting cold. I closed the French doors of the balcony. I then turned to the moon. Big and bright.

What I’m doing is wrong but who cares? I know Christiana’s spell hasn’t lasted yet so I should take advantage of it while it lasts. I smirked.

I jumped off the balcony and went straight to the forest. I don’t know what mysteries the holds. With just my faith in the glorious moon, I went outside. Wondered about the forest. Deep and wild without any assurance if I will ever get back.

To be continued…