5 Chapter 3: Fiancé Predicament 1 (2/2)

”You changed a lot, Aerra” he murmurs.

”So, do you trust me now?”

”You dimwit...” His face goes red, but shrugs shyly

”I'll take that as yes!” I chuckled. He sighed, looked at me and grimaced as if protesting.

”Eww. Ugly!” I snickered.

”Jokes on you. We're twins!” he wipes his eyes dry with his sleeve. And then raised his little finger before me to a pinky swear gesture.

”Hey, you called me ugly too– a lot of times” I retorted while wrapping my own little finger around his anyway. I felt him lock his in place.

He gave me a big profound smile and uttered, ”Like I said— we are twins”

I eyed him tentatively and saw that kind of glow in his eyes that I knew we were on the same plane

I eyed him tentatively and saw that kind of glow in his eyes that I knew we were on the same plane.

Without words to explain; without enough reason to elaborate, we simply new the agreement is there.

For a moment, it almost urged me to spill all my worries out and confide in him about my current situation— being reincarnated and my fate in this world. I felt like telling him everything is the easiest thing to do and that he would believe me regardless of how ludicrous it may sound like... but I held back.

I knew it will be too selfish for me if I do so. If he becomes the chosen Familiar of the centennial priestess, it would bother him to accept the role if he knew what kind of destiny we have ahead. I don't want to make things difficult for him and drag him into my own dilemma.

Us— killing each other?

Even imagining it pains me. What more would it be for him?

This is too cruel.

Maybe, I really should be cold to him from now on to make things easier for him... someday...

”What's with that look?” He grumbled, cocking his head to the side while locking his gaze with mine. ”What is it? What is it?”

His eyes, those pair of big brilliant crystalline blue eyes that watches me. Wondering. Waiting. And hoping I would simply talk and tell him what is what. The innocence in his steady gaze was too unbearable, given the brutality of death I was trying to imagine just a while ago.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

What am I thinking? I can't abolish the bond we have now. If my plan is to play out perfectly someday at least He would be the honest mistake i'll gladly accept. Because he is my irreplaceable twin. The only twin I could ever have.

In the end I could only hope Aeron won't be chosen by the priestess.

I decided to digress and play it out just to pacify his curiosity. ”It's nothing. I was just worried you'll do something weird if I leave with papa today,” I said, while I slowly unwrap my finger from his. I stepped aback and crossed my arms behind me. ”Don't follow us, okay? We'll be back soon” I bowed my head and hope he won't notice the tears that was threatening to bloom out.

”I know that!” He complained, stomping a foot forward. ”Don't treat me like a—”.

I need to face him properly, I thought

so I looked up abruptly and didn't notice he was that close. My head collided with his chin in a rattling impact.

We both whined and rubbed the sore spot at the same time.

My teary eyes had now an excuse.

I side glanced him and realised he was down in his heels trying to contain the pain. He was clawing at his jaw so much. I think he bit his tongue by accident. Oh yeah, we was taking when I my head bumped into his chin.

He was obviously in more pain than I was.

”I'm sorry! Aerra...???” yet his muffled words came out, ”Are you okay?!” He sprung up to his feet and walked closer towards me. One hand clawing over his mouth, the other on my shoulder, as if consoling me. ”Are you okay?!” He repeated with squinting wet eyes. But he slides back down to his heels anyway, crouching in pain.

His sudden concern, even if I was the one who caused it, made me feel so ridiculous it took me back to the realisation that we're only kids. And right now the only problems he has was to assure he never caused pain to anyone, especially to me.

Aeron eventually curled his head down, paused in silence and stopped moving.

He then started mumbling some words I can't comprehend anymore.

I kneeled down beside him. ”What?” I rubbed his back.

He turns his head to me abruptly,

”I said, can you check my tongue if it's bleeding?” He says this– dead serious. While rolling his tongue out. ”I thinth ithh bweeding. Wook wook”

With brows meeting in the middle, he glared at me waiting for a sincere answer.

I can't help but puff out the laughter I was trying to contain. He just looks so funny I can't hold it in anymore. I then he bursted out laughing.

Surprised and confused he looks at me in obtunded silence.

Slowly, he loosened the tense muscles he had and began to laugh as well.

We paused, exchanged glances and then laughed again.

More tears were rolling now in both our eyes but it wasn't because of pain or sadness.

”Wait. Seriously, is it bleeding?”

I laughed more hearing him say that.

He sighed in defeated and laughed with me.

The hallways were filled with the echoes of our laughter that morning.

---End of Chapter 3: part One---