60 To Dream Is To Hope (2/2)

Next day at the academy.

”Do I look like someone who cares about ornaments?” Felicity's eyes were filled with anger as she looked at a silver bracelet in front of her.

”O-of course not,” Zed didn't know how to offer the bracelet he and Claudia created for her safety.(Chapter 39)

”Then why are you giving me one?” Felicity asked.

”It was not me but Claudia who created this so you ask her. I am only doing her bidding,” Zed has no remorse in transferring the entire responsibility to Claudia.

”Really?” Felicity asked with some suspicions. She was rather close to Claudia since she would regularly visit the villa.

”You can ask her directly if you don't believe me,” Zed pressed a button on his cellphone.

[[Lady Felicity, how have you been?]] Claudia's voice came from the cell phone.

”Claudia, I would have been fine if not for the bracelet. Is Zed telling the truth?” Felicity asked in a soft voice.

[[Yes but he missed out a crucial detail]]

”Hm?” Felicity gazed at Zed. Zed was having a bad premonition from Claudia's words.

[[He is also wearing a similar bracelet but he has covered it with sleeves.]]

”Oh?” Felicity quickly checked his right wrist and found a silver bracelet.

[[Even he is wearing the bracelet so there should be no problem for you as well. I created them as a sign of memento of your friendship.]]

Claudia knew Felicity will never accept the bracelet if she said it was for her protection so she used another excuse.

”But...” Felicity wanted to protest but she didn't want to refuse Claudia's kind gesture.

[[Please wear it for me. If you feel embarrassed, you can always take joy in the fact that Sir Zed is also wearing a similar ornament.]]

Zed: ”...”

”If you say so then I don't mind!” Felicity quickly wore the bracelet.

Zed sighed in a breath of relief. He was always afraid she will be in danger with her habit of thrill-seeking so he designed the bracelet for her as a protection.

It was something which cost him a lot but he didn't mind. In the end, Felicity was perhaps the most important of his life...one of the biggest reason why he still enjoyed living as Zed.

-------

A few hours later at Dream Rising House.

Felicity was giving a tour of the villa to Jessica. The latter was surprised by the sheer size of this luxurious villa.

”Why will you live alone in such a big villa?” Jessica asked Zed. She knew he was rich but never to this extent.

The villa was created partly on a waterfall and the entire area was like one with nature. Jessica couldn't imagine the extent of money spent to create such a place.

”As a kid, I dreamed to have my own home. A home where I can sleep without any worry,” Zed answered with a smile, ”Now that I have the resources, I created this home and satisfied my vanity in the process.”

As a kid,there were times when he envied the people of the city for they had their own homes and never have to worry about sleeping hungry. The only thing he truly wished back then was for food and a place to sleep without the fear of getting killed.

As he grew, his dreams grew with him. A man with nothing can only live by his dreams and same was for Zed.

He dreamed big not because he believed he could make them true, but because they could give him a peaceful sleep. He would be able to forget the pain of reality.

In the dreams, he would have everything he wanted. A dream filled with the happiness he has always wished for.

The dreams gave him hope just like the reality gave him despair. A reality offering him nothing but a hungry stomach and torn clothes along with the abuses from the caretaker and overlords.

There were times when he wished to commit suicide but then he would remember his dreams. Dreams so unrealistic that it made him laugh but yet gave him a hope for a better future.

If not today then perhaps tomorrow...Don't give up just yet.

”With the times, my dreams have changed and evolved but there is one thing which still remains the same. They are the only reason why I still live.”