The next morning was nerve wreaking. Yona could practically feel the tension surrounding Hak. She had plans to pull him aside later and tell him some made up bullshit that would hopefully reassure him. Hopefully was the key word here. She received a warm welcome from her cousin which she returned.
That's when she saw him. Hak had obviously had a very rough evening and looked tiered. This was the right moment. She crept up him from behind. To say he was angry when she grabbed him from behind was an understatement.
"What the hell was that for idiot!?"
Yona, being Yona, burst out laughing. "Why are you looking so down Hak?" The question caught him off guard. Under a second ago she was laughing breathlessly and then she was stone faced and serious. It was honestly kinda creepy.
"There was someone on the roof yesterday claiming to be one of you ladies-in-waiting."
With extreme caution Yona straightened her face out and tried to not look suspicious. "One of my ladies actually does that. Could you tell me more about her?" Hak tensed. Yona had never been like this before. Something was wrong. He eventually decided to answer her question.
"She was wearing trousers and a long black cloak. I couldn't see her face." Yona nodded and turned to Hak and told him it was indeed her lady-in-waiting. All Hak could think was that there was something incredibly fishy and secretive about the way she talked. He had to talk to the girl on the roof again.
"-you should probably let her climb on the roof from now on. She tells me it relaxes her. Got to go. Bye!" the conversation ended just as Hak came his senses. He had a new goal.
Long orange locks fell to the floor. I'd always cut my hair. I never trusted anybody else enough to do it for me. I had let it grow out but the split ends seemed to be breeding so I cut it once more. I never enjoyed this ritual as I had to look at the only mirror in my house. It was an old relic passed through the family. I hadn't had the heart to chuck it out along with my parents stuff. Its home was now face down on my father's old study room. Something I didn't like in a place I didn't like.
I had decided on an inch and a half. It seemed like a good amount to take off. I finished up and swept the hair into the back yard. Mom had always told me to do this. "It'll keep the slugs away." She used to tell me. I don't think that was true. To me it was a dumb thing parents told their kids. Nodding and leaving was my usual reaction. I once turned back to look at her while doing this. She looked miserable. I suppose any mom would be at an emotionless child who actively dislikes their parents.
Today I felt different. Maybe that was bad. Maybe not. I had taken the only non-brown top from my closet and I sported a green long shirt reaching to my knees and bark brown trousers. At this point I'm pretty sure my favourite colour is brown. It was nice to have a bit of personality. With everything else it was a non-specific mess: my favourite food was anything I didn't cook, I didn't have a favourite song and my favourite smell was anything that wasn't rotten.
"Ennis, are you okay?" asked a bold voice tinged with worry. Yona. I had been too deep in though to notice her.
"Yeah, sorry." Came my answer. Yona having been calmed tossed me a small bag.
"What's this?" her answer came in a smile. She had grown up a lot. I twirled the bag in-between my fingers and then peeked inside. Warm sugary treats lined the bag and a warm wave wafted from into making me shudder in pleasure. They were still hot. She must have just brought them. I liked sweet stuff. I never usually had the chance to eat it as the stores selling them were sally big and loud. I tended to stay away from that sort of thing. I placed one in my mouth. It was rich and creamy. Heat rolled on my tongue and buttery goodness oozed from the inside. This must have cost an arm and a leg.
"Is it good?" the damned teen grinned flashing her teeth at me smugly.
"Yes. But why?"
That's when it hit me. My birthday. She may be acting kinda bitchy but she had good intentions. Dumb kid. Even I hadn't remembered the date. I almost started bawling at how nice it felt for someone to care about me.
"Come here kiddo…" a look of annoyance passed across her face. She still hated the nickname. That was good. It's always nice to have a bit of leverage. She approached me with caution as she had learnt not to doubt my ability to randomly attack her to test her defences. When she was about a meter so away I pounced. Yona must have been expecting a blow to the chest as she shifted into a side on form and extended her arms in front of her. But I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into my embrace. After a minute of her being frozen with the words 'wait…what?' Being half formed she returned the hug.
"Thank you." We pulled apart and she was beaming like a lamp. "You actually remembered!"
"Why wouldn't I?" she looked puzzled but then passed me another sack. This kid had already given me far too much and she was given me more. She must have understood how I felt as she whispered "don't worry I didn't buy it. It's something I just wanted to give you."
This time it was a cloth like thing with a bow at the top. She tugged an end of the ribbon to reveal an amber neckless inside.
"It's my mum's. I'm never going to wear it. Your like my mum now Ennis. A second mother I guess. Please have it." Astonishment was all I felt. "Also it matches your hair." She added. She weaved around me and placed it on my neck and tied it at the back. She then moved back to face me. I hugged her again this time in tears. Tears of joy of course, why would I be sad? I then held her at arm's length and said "well shorty as your new mother I'd like to say that you have some spots on your face. Just sayin'." She reacted how I thought she would and whiningly told me 'I do not have spots on my face!'
She cooked that evening. She wasn't the best cook but anyone is better than me. The evening was spent pleasantly and it was perhaps the best day of my life. I wish it could have lasted forever but if time froze I'd be stuck eating crappy food for the rest of my days.
