Some said the world would end in fire, some said in ice. But no one told me it would be like this. I leaned my back on the century-old oak tree as I heaved what seemed to be my hundredth sigh for tonight. Embracing the whispers of the growing winter seeping through my ebony skin, I closed my eyes. That’s when I realized how the leaves hummed in perfect harmony with the wind, putting even the greatest musicians to shame. “I am still too sober for this,” I mumbled, the quiet intently listening. “Seems like time ran faster than I did.” “We should have stayed in my chamber. I knew it!” he whispered in between gritted teeth and heavy breaths. I could not help but laugh at his regretful remark—it was as if he cursed all the stars in the sky for letting our paths cross. Well, we are fourteen years too late for that, I must say. Still panting, I tried to get a glimpse of his face hidden beneath the faded cloak. His raven hair was sticking with sweat and his lips were now pale from all the running. “Just make haste, Crown Prince,” I mockingly uttered. “Aren’t you the fastest runner in the castle?” Unlike all the other days where we would spend our time listening to Lady Julie’s dragging lectures on table etiquette or Lord Gael’s clumsy self-defense demonstrations, today, we decided to break through the knights’ rigid stance on the castle’s gate. It was fun, and the plan was perfect.
Not until I tripped and caught the attention of the First Knight.
“Cut that foot of yours the moment we return! It only has one job and it even managed…” he jumped over the line of goats parading across the country lane. “… to flawlessly fail!”
With brows furrowed, I asked, “You think I wanted it to happen?!”
I mirrored his movement and looked back to see if the knights are still running after us. I cursed when I saw them getting closer. “Neo! Run faster!” I screamed. The clanking of their armor became louder as they extended their arms in an attempt to seize us. My heart was beating wildly against my chest and I could hear the pounding of blood in my ears. I would have loved to indulge in the feeling when Neo suddenly pulled me into a corner. His grip was too tight and sudden that my body became parallel to the ground as we took the abrupt turn. As soon as we huddled on a veiled spot, I glanced at my feet and saw that my left shoe was torn. I grunted. The list of things I have to explain to my grandmother when we return just grew an inch longer! With that thought in mind, I opened my mouth to complain but Neo absentmindedly covered it and pulled me closer. “Shhh…” he whispered in my ear. He was seriously peeking on what seemed like a tiny hole above my head. Weird enough, I felt a tickling sensation on my chest and it gave me the urge to giggle. “Are they still there?” I asked after a while, my voice muffled against his milky hands. He knitted his eyebrows—probably wondering why I sounded like that—and bowed his head down to look at me. However, I guess it must have been the wrong idea. Our eyes locked, and only until then that I realized how mesmerizing his brown orbs were. It wasn’t hypnotizing, it didn’t pull me in—instead, it made me want to linger. I was too young back then, if only I understood.
67
