Chapter 021
1228 Words
After Ethan and Cara’s scene, the parade resumes. I check Ethan’s condition and give him a simple pain reliever. He still needs to be in pain in front of the people so that they will swoon over him and Cara. Aside from that, I need him to stay in the infirmary for a while so he’ll get first-hand experience of the care Cara can give him, and I hope to Anitun Tabu he will really fall in love with her.
When we arrive at the Academy, I notice Aaron waving his hands at me. He’s leaning over his horse and is wearing the same outfit as when we both escaped from the tavern. I make a small wave and return my attention to the parade. After the day Olivia and I found out about Felix, I rode to Pablo’s inn to invite Aaron to the ati-atihan celebration.
Today, the Academy will hold an open house and we can invite anyone we want, mage or non-mage. However, we can only select one to avoid overcrowding.
We all stop in front of the Academy and Sir Philip reemerges to introduce us and our anito to the townspeople. Once done, I run towards the waiting Aaron.
“Thanks for coming,” I say.
“What’s the food?”
“Are you here to get pointers for your inn food?”
“That would be a good idea,” he answers.
So I give him a huge smile and pull him towards the Academy. “Come,” I say.
The academy management will serve the food in the main hall, but the principal attraction will be on the grounds, as that’s where all the dancing will be. That’s also where they are going to announce the winner of the mage’s popularity contest.
Inside the Academy, I acquaint him with the blessing device, the vines that Cara controls, and to my mage friends who all seem delighted to meet him. Then, we proceed to the same ground where we defeated the wakwak. It’s crammed with people.
“What now?” he asks.
“We dance.”
I pull him into the center and when the sound reverberates; I force him to dance with me. It is a piece of happy, celebratory music, and even if I know that this place is the same place Sir Philip let loose the wakwak, I don’t care. All I’m aware of is the jubilant, upbeat music, Aaron’s hand on my body, and the cheers of all the surrounding people. If this is not the time to be euphoric, then when else should I be doing it?
On the spur of a moment, Aaron pulls me into an embrace and kisses me on the lips. It’s quick. And when he lets go, we are both surprised. I’m not sure how to react. In my previous timeline, I never really cared about guys before. All I see is the Scepter selection and my career in front of me. So even if I am older, and I’m supposed to know what to do in these cases, I freeze, as if time stands still just for me.
Aaron’s thumb brushes on my lower lip and then he leans down again. Suddenly aware of all the surrounding people, I push him and run. Should I go to my room? No, Denise will be there. How about the library? No, Olivia never likes parties, so she might be there too, in the corner, reading some romance novels. So I choose to take the stairs up to Master Orson’s workroom and close the door.
I look for my special spot in the workroom—a stack of books on the corner where I can hide. I sit in the corner and hug myself. I feel when the door opens, but I don’t raise my head.
“Holly?” he calls. It’s Aaron. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to stop myself.”
I keep my silence.
“You hate it?” he asks.
This time, I look at him. He’s wrong. It’s not about not liking what he did. I like it, but it feels like I am changing with him. And that makes me afraid. Or confused. Or someone not ready. Changing one thing in a single night is more than enough. If I change my fate too, that scares me.
He reaches out to me and I flinch. “We should get this headdress off,” he continues. I let him and once it’s off, I can feel my head breathe, as if something lightens up. However, he stops again and I’m worried he’ll kiss me again.
Instead, he sets the headdress beside me and says, “My grandpa agreed. He says he can help you with Benia’s martial arts. He’s gonna help you with the Caltra combat as well.”
“He seemed against it the last time I asked,” I finally say.
“He changed his mind.”
“Because you forced him?”
“No, of course not.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry too,” I say.
“No, it’s my fault. It’s on the spur of--”
“I like it too,” I interrupt.
Aaron frowns.
“It’s just that I’m surprised and I’ve only known you for just a couple of weeks.”
“I understand,” is all he says. “I--”
“What the hell?!” a loud voice says. “That’s just a couple of junks!”
I hear wood against wood and the unmistakable sound of it locking into place. From the sound, I’m certain they came from the secret door that, as per Master Orson, I only know about. He hasn’t mentioned its existence with anyone; he says it will be our own little secret.
Is it Master Orson? No, of course not. I doubt Master Deborah will allow him to leave after they helped me with my training.
Aaron is about to check who it is when I stop him and put my finger in front of my lips and shake my head. Why would that room open?
“It’s not there,” the voice says. “You said it’s supposed to be in his secret room!”
“You should lower your voice down. There might be a celebration right now but who knows who will hear.”
“Damn the party! We need that f*****g trinket!”
“Calm down. There are other ways to get it.”
“How? Ask him directly?”
“Shut up.”
When the duo leaves the room, that’s the only time I breathe and withdraw my hand from Aaron’s. My mind raced. What are they trying to steal from Master Orson?
I look at Aaron. “Does Master Orson still come by your inn?”
“Yes, when he needs to eat and escape from Master Deborah.”
“Can I stay over while I practice my transportation magic?”
“You’re becoming more and more brazen with me,” he remarks.
“You don’t like it?”
“I like it, but you need to understand that I might get more and more shameless with you.”
“Shameless, as in what you did earlier while dancing?”
“Exactly,” he says and touches the side of my cheek, which I allow this time.
To be continued…
- Writer
