20 Chapter 8: The Return 2 (1/2)

That night I kept tossing and turning on my bed. Unable to earn a wink of sleep.

I know my body is tired but my mind was wide awake. Maybe it's because of the soft mattress or the fact that I'm alone in this huge bedroom. I suppose it's too good to be true that all those days are over.

I stared at the canopy while hoping my eyelids will soon feel heavy but instead, I sensed someone coming.

I reached for the lamp beside me and opened it. My bedroom door opens and Stray walks in nonchalantly, wearing a black matching pair of pajamas, perhaps a provided clothes for them. He closed the door behind him and strode across the room and then jumps to the other side of my bed.

Surprised and confused, I glared at him. ”Are you lost or something?”

Getting in, he laid on one side and looked at me. ”I can't sleep. The bed provided was too soft.” he says and then he lays down flat on his back. ”And this pillow is too soft too!” he pulls the pillow from under his head and tossed it to the middle of the bed, situating between the two of us. ”How about you? What's your excuse?”

I sighed. Stray has always been like this after all. It's nothing new. So I just laid flat on my back as well and pulled the pillow under my head and placed it on our middle like he did, creating a longer pillow wall between us.

”Perhaps the exact same reason why you can't sleep either,” I replied. ”But you didn't have to come over to check on me. I'm fine, Stray.”

I can hear him snicker. ”Then try to go to sleep. I'll leave when you do.”

I turned my head over and saw him with eyes closed while he laid with an arm under his head. He's just worried about me, I thought. Remembering how he took me to the highest ground so that I can cry it all out.

He's very attentive and kind.

I guess that's what you get when you're taking care of little children all the time.

I turned to my bedside lamp and closed the lights. ”Good night, Aerra.” He says as I closed my eyes. ”Good night, Stray.”

The entire room was silent. I became very aware of every little detail around me like a grown habit from how Master Faram trained me.

Suddenly, the events that happened back at the Ouboros flashed in my mind. I tossed to my side on reflex. I want to shut the thoughts away. I don't even want to remember any longer.

I took a deep breath and concentrated to the sounds instead. There's the wind blowing outside my window, the floor creaking while this ship tediously sails, the sound of my breathing and also Stray's.

It wasn't exactly silent. It was rather peaceful.

I no longer feel the odd feeling of being watched.

That man will no longer watch any of us,in fact, because he's dead thanks to—

I turned to my other side impatiently.

Why is my mind against me?

I said I want to forget!!!

”You still can't sleep?” His calm voice spoke just above a sound of a whisper.

”I'm trying.” I replied, whispering.

”Give me your hand”

I reached my right hand across the pillow wall between us. He grabs it and held it in a tight but gentle grip. ”It can't be helped then. I don't sing so I will just hold on to your hand like this until you fall asleep. So little girls like you should go to dreamland.”

He's treating me like a child...

But then again it actually feels rather reassuring and calming.

He brings my hand away from the pillow walls until it lays down flat on the bed in between the open space where I can see it.

I looked at him beyond our folded hands but the darkness only allowed me to see the silhouette of his face.

I remembered how I first laid my eyes on him. He emerged from the dust clouds, soaring high above the ground while wind circled around him. I was so amazed back then...

His face was covered with straps of cloth like bandages all except for his eyes, his dark purple eyes that resemble the starry night sky.

My body began to relax.

I closed my eyes and listened to all the sounds around me once again.

The sound of wind outside. The creaking of floorboards as we sail. His quiet breathing beyond the pillow wall between us. My own breathing. And also ...the footsteps by the hallways beyond my door.

My eyes sprung open.

My mind listened intensely to the familiar footsteps. It walked calmly with shoes that has heels, no... not heels. Its the sound of tapping leather shoes that Lords usually wear. There's confidence in the way it walks as if he owns the place but also reserved as if padding across the hallway quietly because it wants to only visit but not disturb.

I bolted up from the bed, pulling my hands away. ”Levi is coming!” I ran my hands to my lamp and opened it. Stray eyed me impassively. ”Okay. Go ahead and open the door then.”

No—!

How would I explain why Stray is here?

It's not even lady like to welcome a boy four years older than me to a Lady's bedroom, let alone allow him to lay on her bed ...with her—

”Why are you panicking?” murmured Stray as he stretches while yawning.

”I don't know. No, I mean—!”

Someone knocks on the door, ”Are you awake? It's me, Levi.”

”Yes! Just a moment!” I hollered. And then I glared at Stray. ”I don't want him to misunderstand, okay? Just come with me!”

I check under the bed but there was no space, the bed is made along with the floor and wall.

There was no wardrobe either. The curtains drape inches away from the floor, his feet will be seen if I hid him there.

I strode across the room and grabbed Stray's wrist along while he followed my lead like a stringless puppet.

I look around and my focus narrowed at the living room area at the other end of the room. I pulled him there and made him sit on the sofa. ”Stay here!” I told him. He just arched an eyebrow at me. ”Why are you so worked up for? Do you really like the boy?” He sneers.

”Just... stay put. Okay?” I replied as I turned around and marched across the room to where the door is.

I have no idea why I'm panicking, honestly. I'm only ten! There's nothing wrong spending time with a friend even if its my room and in the middle of the night,

—alone in the dark

”...!?”

The lights!!!

Where hell are the freakin switches!?

The only light providing the entire room right now was the lamp at the bedside table. The entire room was otherwise dark.

I turned to where the switch are and blasted all the lights open on full brightness.

I can hear Stray dramatically reacting from getting blinded from the other end of the room.

I quickly moved to the door and opened it. ”Lord Levi! Good evening!” I greeted.

He looks at me, surprised. ”Did something happen?” he asks. ”You're out of breath.”

”No, I just jogged my way to open the door for you. That's all.” I replied. Even that sounded weird for me. ”Anyway, what brings you here?”

”I was just checking if you're well. I haven't had chance to talk ever since you return. So if it's all right if we can chat for a bit?”

I pulled the door open, ”Perfect timing. I have a visitor as well. Please join us.”

”A visitor?” he murmured as he stepped in and I closed the door behind him. I led him to the living room area, ”He's name is Stray. Well not really but we call him that. He's a friend of ours, we met at—”

I stopped dead in my tracks and froze in place to see Stray still sitting on the sofa where I left him

—but this time he was topless.

”Oh, you're back!” he greeted me with a wave. ”Hello, Levi was it?”

Levi stopped behind me, seeing him.

I scowled at Stray, mouthing at him 'Why did you took your shirt off!?'

He just eyed me in a chuckle. ”Sorry, I'm not used to the clothes provided so I took it off. Anyway, just go ahead and sit down. Don't mind me!”

I ran my hand across my face and sighed.

He's obviously messing around.