Written by the Moon

7~ NAV

“I clearly told you to not talk to the people here! What happened to my words?” Christiana hissed in a whisper at me while we're in a shop.

I rolled my eyes. I watched Sham excitedly pick dresses of any type in the store. The saleslady was assisting them while I’m here being interrogated by Christiana. I eyed her when she gave me her deadly glare. I raised my shoulder and arms in question.

“Christiana, you don’t have to panic. Calm down, please. Nothing serious happened,” I tried to walk towards Mark who’s choosing jeans but Christiana just gripped my arm and brought me back from my position. My face twitched when her grip tightened.

“You bumped a—”

I shortly cut her off.

“Correction,” I pointed my finger at her tiny nose. It’s actually a good thing that we just have the same height. For a girl, I’m quite blessed with height. “He bumped me,” then I pointed at myself.

She shook her head in so much disappointment. She looks devastated with her palms just at her forehead massaging it. I smirked at her. I tapped her shoulder, consoling her at least.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Christiana,” I playfully said with my smirk.

She dropped her hands and looked at me with so much displeasure.

“You don’t even know that man,” so much dismay laced in her voice.

My brows furrowed. It relaxed when I realized something. Of course, that’s why I hate it here. Your rank in the society here matters so much that you’ll only measure your worth with your status. How despicable and pathetic!

The man I bumped might be some of the high ranks. Much higher than my rank here, I guess. Angels here are considered directly to be elites here. Well, angels with the mission here. So, he must be a noble or a royal. But with his friends around earlier, he must be a noble. A bad, bad boy noble. I shook my head.

“Let me guess, he’s a noble?” I sarcastically asked.

“Yes!” she answered.

I wanted to laugh at her answer. She looks and sounds desperate. I licked my lips and tried to suppress the piling anger. Whatever Athanatoss did to me, I really don’t know. But I am never in support of their system here.

I can never imagine people in lower ranks being mistreated so badly. I shrugged negative thoughts in my mind.

“So, what are you saying? That I should’ve said sorry? For sake, he bumped me!” I couldn’t avoid it. my voice raised and my breathing ragged.

I don’t get it! I completely don’t get it! Whoever made this system, I’m sure they’re dead. So, as soon as I get back to Paredes, I’ll punch their filthy faces. I would bet they’re not in Paredes. I tsked.

“A simple bow wouldn’t hurt, Nav,” she remained with her calm voice.

I shook my head.

“What if it hurts?” I raised a brow and crossed my arms.

“Don’t be immature,” her brows furrowed.

“Oh my god!” I laughed without humor.

I continued with my hysterical and non-humored laugh while everybody must think I am a crazy lady here. I clapped with both of my hands.

All the employees in the store are already looking intrigued with their necks snapped at us. I pressed my lips together just to avoid a scoff. Christiana palmed her face and just looked at her with my shook head.

“I didn’t even know, Christiana,” I said calmer.

For the good graces, I guess, I should just let this pass. Were in a public place and as an angel who has come here with just protection given by Christiana that I don’t even know if it can be really effective, I should just swallow my pride for this.

“You’re just an angel here,” she whispered but it clearly passed through my ear making my blood boil.

Red. As of now, all I see is red. I scoffed and laughed mockingly. Christiana then gripped my arm so hard that I winced and groaned at it. With her eyes, I know she is warning me. I smirked.

Of all the rules, I really like this one in particular.

“Oh, f**k,” I said sensually loud making Christiana’s eyes widen in so much fear. The side of my lips rose in a smirk.

It is forbidden to say bad words in public here. I guess I did something bad. I was triggered, yes. I was offended, yes. Of course, I know it’s not just me but my only last string of patience for this s**t world was cut by Christiana.

I smiled in victory when her eyes reflected fear. Her eyes wandered the room. She must be so scared to be humiliated. I know I just humiliated myself but Christiana as my guardian and this world as wretched as hell would blame it all on Christiana.

In a split second, the fear in the embers of her eyes tripled. Then, also, in a split second, my mood changed. In my peripheral vision, I saw how the situation of Mark and the others suddenly changed. They bowed. My brows furrowed from their action. All so formal and just like… Paredes.

The sales lady even bowed too. I blinked a couple of times, digesting the situation. I pouted when I returned my eyes to Christiana, she was on her knees. Unlike the others who were just half bent, she was literally on her knees. I was taken aback by her.

“The heck happened?” I was weirded out.

Then Christiana’s hands flew to the dress of my skirt. I pulled my skirt back. I think I know the situation now. When I got my skirt back, all crumbled from her grip, she fisted her palms in defeat.

I could feel Mark palming his face now. Now, when I was faced in front, I was really not that shocked. I know the reason why my companions were all bowing and kneeling. I could imagine their fear just because some noble came. I want to puke. Tsk.

In front of me, I eyed only one person. The man I bumped earlier. What a coincidence. We were just talking about him and now, he’s here! I smiled sarcastically at him.

He looked amused at the circumstance now. And by that, I think he just heard all the commotion here earlier. He looked at me with amusement and slowly, a smile appeared. My brows furrowed at his reaction. I never looked away and surveyed his features.

He’s painfully familiar. I tilted my head in deep thought. He’s set of deep dark eyes. Rough and soft at the same time. his long lashes ashamed my lashes. I rolled my eyes inwardly at that thought. My eyes dropped at his lips.

It’s red and luscious. It’s thin but oddly it looks… pouty? His narrow nose highlighted his well-shaped jaw. What an angelic yet devilish face of a man. A mix of bad and good. Both are dangerous to fall for yet safe to love. How ironic.

He snapped in reality and simply massaged his face softly and looked at the people who are obviously tired of bowing. I can imagine their hips are ready to dislocate themselves now.

“Please, everybody, there’s no need for that. Please, stand up, ma’am?”

I raised a brow when he helped Christiana stand up. I pouted.

My eyes landed then on a woman with her raised a brow at me. Looking all so mean at me. I eyed her intently and just helped Christiana stand up too.

“See? There’s no need to kneel like there’s some god,” I rolled my eyes.

I took a step back when she hissed at me softly. I chuckled when she just looked at me with so much disgrace.

“You just violated a rule here, Eloise,”

I twitched when she mentioned my first name.

“Actually, she’s right. You can’t just say that in public places,” the man said in his deep yet intrigued voice.

I raised a brow at him.

“Really? Not even f**k? s**t? Heck? Or at least damn? There must be a way to say damn,” I smirked.

He only pressed his lips at what I said. I chuckled at his reaction. I’d guess this man would be a hypocrite. He’d say no cursing in public yet he would do it normally outside. Because he’s a nobleman no one would have the guts to stop him. I shook my head in dismay.

“Please, forgive my niece,” Christiana slightly bowed and faced the man.

My brows furrowed.

“Niece?!” I want to laugh at her excuse.

“Nav…” I heard Markus hesitant on stopping me from my stupidity.

I smiled cheerfully at Christiana. She sure does have the guts to call me her niece after she almost scarred me with her grip earlier. The side of my lips rose in a mischievous smirk.

“I didn’t know were family, Christiana!”

I could see the confused look of that guy. His eyes looked at me then back to Christiana and then back to me. I shook my head.

“Uh, I believe Aunt Tiana shared to me that she has a lot of nieces and nephews,” he looks cute trying to save the ass of Christiana.

I nodded repeatedly and gave Christiana a smirk. I know that she’s annoyed as hell with me. I know as of this point, she just wants to throw me to the nearest dessert. I chuckled when she just sighed heavily.

“Then should I just call you Aunty Tiana?” I teased.

With that, she lost her patience. She grabbed my arm in an instant and dragged me to a more private place. I pouted thinking that Mark would be there explaining everything. Well, more like lying. Tsk!

I winced when she never let go of my arm even though we're in a more private area. She shot me here death glares which I only smirked too. I tilted my head to gesture her to talk. She rolled her eyes at what I did.

“I know your like… that! You’re an unexplainable angel, Nav,” she sighed heavily in the end.

I nodded with a pout.

“Yes, I am,”

I swallowed when she finally released my arm. I massaged it when I felt the pain immediately. I pressed my lips when a second passed and there was only silence.

“But please, act accordingly. Please… just for once, stop being a headache. When Sham said you’re a better fit here, she never lied,” she then left me.

My lips moved to create a sentence but no words could escape. My mouth remained open without a single word being said. I wanted to say sorry. I know I’m an ass. I have already acknowledged that since birth!

But it was the slap of reality what Christiana said to me. I swallowed so hard with so much guilt. I guess I’m such a negative and bitter person here. I act like a five-year-old and I don’t even feel sorry about it sometimes. I massaged myself when I was hit with so much reality check.

It’s dumb for me to realize it now. I am a jerk.

I turned back to follow Christiana and apologize but I just stopped from my steps. My brows furrowed when I saw him just at the corner, not so far from my position. I raised a brow at him.

“I didn’t know that it’s bad to curse here but okay for someone to eavesdrop?” I swear that’s a genuine question!

He chuckled at my question with his head shaking. I noticed his stance from my view here. He’s actually tall. Taller than me, of course. He’s hair something for the first time, I like looking at. His head bobbed down so I had the opportunity to look at his whole.

Wearing dark blue jeans and just a casual white t-shirt actually made him look decent than the others here. You’d think he’s not from the noble family. But because of his stance and aura, you won’t get it wrong thinking that he is a nobleman.

The moment he raised his head, our eyes met immediately. I flinched at that. But then felt weirded out so I avoided his eyes and just looked in another direction. I pressed my lips when I felt a sudden nervousness out of the blue.

He’s the normal schoolboy you’ll see on campus. But I really don’t get it. He looks different. He’s different. Well, I guess.

“I only came here a second ago. So, no worries, I didn’t hear a single word,” that genuine smile after he said those words were captured by my eyes like a camera. Saving it and keeping it in memory forever.

“What’s your name?”

I know just at the tip of my tongue, I know his name. I bit my lip when I couldn’t find names to call him. I just know I’ve seen or heard about him.

“Forest,”

I nodded slowly, still processing the name. It’s familiar to the ears but somehow in the memory lane.

“How about you?”

I scoffed at his question and he was caught off guard by it.

“I’m sure you’ve seen my ID and read my name. You’re a dummy if you didn’t read it,” I eyed him.

He chuckled, again. How many times has it?

“Okay, you got me, Eloise,”

I cringed at the mention of my name. Only my professors at the Paredes call me by my first name out of respect. But usually, everybody would call me Nav, not Naveah. He called me Eloise. Yes, it’s a bit cringe. But for a moment, I appreciated my name.

I shook my head at him.

“No first name basis. It’s Nav,”

He smiled with his… eyes. That was a weird description but that was what I saw. He smiled with his eyes. He’s so sincere and genuine. I felt attacked for a moment there!

“Nav,” he said while giving me a handshake.

My eyes remained at our hands holding.

To be continued…