(And English is my 3rd language… so please understand.)
Chapter V
YOUR NAME
(School: First Class; Year one classroom)
"Listen everyone. I am a master of survival and herbalism. Starting today; I will teach all of you; the basic learning of survival and herbalism. Learning this two expertise will grant you the knowledge and skills for survival and in battlefields. Because time will come, our King will need you to render service for our kingdom; that is why our school is built to teach and develop you into reliable individuals." Master of survival and herbalism.
Year one students just listens to him as he talks in front of them.
"Today, I will give an outdoor activity. I will send all of you outside the school to find herbs around the town. You can get as many as you can, but there is a penalty if you mistake any plants as an herbs. My grading of this activity is Right Minus Wrong. We must remember, that we cannot just get any kinds of plants out there and extract it into concoctions. A high risk possibility that it may be a poison; and what will happen? Death; you failed to survive." Master of survival and herbalism.
First class: year one students nods and agreeing to the teacher.
"Go outside the school and be cautious. That is one of the fundamentals of survival." Master of survival and herbalism then leave the room.
XXXX
(Outside the all-boys school)
"I suggest we split up, we can cover larger area outside the town if we separate our searches range." Zack is now acting his duty as the leader of their friendship.
"Brilliant idea, leader." Jeo agrees and keeps nodding to Zack.
I nod to them. "Yeah, divide and conquer. So then I'll go south."
"I'm going west." Jeo smile
Zack realize he will cover bigger area, but his also thinking that he is their leader. "Fine, we got whole day. I can manage north and east."
"Oh, friend. Always remember to bring food whenever you go into a journey." Zack open his silk pack-bag and he gets a box wrapped with cloth. "Here friend, bring this." He hands it to Sebastian.
That makes me think for a moment. "You're right, I don't have foods with me. But? How about your food? Don't mind me, I can buy foods along the way."
"Seriously, you really don't have any idea; don't you, Sebastian?" Zack gets the wrapped box from Jeo and forcefully hand it to Sebastian. "Most of the inhabitants in the southernmost part of the town are outlaws and bandits are everywhere."
I accept the wrapped box and realizing going to the southern part of the town is putting myself into danger. "Well, maybe… East is wisest choice for me."
Zack and Jeo agrees to him.
"East then." I smile to them.
The three of them separates their ways to each direction they choose.
XXXX
(East part of the Town)
So I'm thinking which direction of the town is our house? It is going south, right? That is why I chose south because our house is there. Hmmmm… Bandits and outlaws do exist in this period of time as well. I need to be careful not to encounter them. Avoiding in going to the southernmost part of the town is the best idea.
My thoughts end; as I look what's in front of me in the eastside of the town.
A not so high mountain. Hmmm… Sigh. I unconsciously scratch my head. I don't have any idea what an herb looks like. This is the moment that cellphone and internet data are badly needed. Geez! Why it was not sent with me, my essentials. It is only this flower pendant. I touch the flower pendant which is tied to my bag's sling.
I decided to sit on a boulder, thinking of my next move on how to survive this outdoor activity.
(30 minutes passes by, then an hour… 2 hours…)
I picked up some plants, flowers, rooted plants, shrubs, very tiny plants and tree leaves around the foot of the mountain and I put it on the cloth that I placed on the ground earlier. Then I look at the stack of herbs in front of me. Are these herbs? The herbs I know; is we put and mix it into the foods to improve the flavor. Sigh… I need a dictionary; to define the herbs of survival for me. Or images... I unconsciously put my left hand on my forehead and hold my right hand on the side my waist. I never thought this day will come; that, herbs become such a dilemma for me… I hope those two are getting lucky finding herbs.
My stomach growls. "Yep, time to eat." I open the box. "Yummy, dumplings and fried meat." Can't help not to smile. "Thanks, Jeo." then I start to eat.
After eating, I packed-up everything (the stacked of herbs). And I am on my way back to the town proper.
(Half an hour of walking along the dirt road.)
"Somebody, help me!" a shout comes from the side of the river.
"Oh?" I heard someone yelling for help. I quickly look around to find the person who needs help. "Where are you?" I yell as well; to ask where is the location of that person.
"Help!" the person keeps yelling. "Help! I'm here at the steep side of the river!"
I rush to the steep slope and find that a girl is hanging on a grass. "Here, take my hand." I reach my hand to her.
She grabs it. "Pull me up, please! I'm slipping away."
She is heavy for me, but I manage to pull her up and away from the stepped slope of the riverside. "Wohhh!" I exhale. "You're heavy."
The girl takes a breather. "Thank you so much, Mister." Then she looks at him and learns that his wearing a uniform; that he is a student of the most prominent school of the town. She hurriedly stand-up and vows. "Thank you, Sir. Forgive me if I caused interference of your time."
"What are you doing at the side of the river? You could die you know, if I didn't act on time" I look at her. "And why are you vowing?" I look around to check if there are palace soldiers on the road.
"You're from a noble family, Sir. Your clothes got dirty because of helping me. Forgive a poor citizen like me, please don't send me to jail; I have a grandmother who needs my assistance." The girl keeps vowing, and is really worried of her situation.
"Mmmm… is that so?" I cross my arms. "Are they going to behead you if they will know that you got my clothes dirty?"
"No, no, Sir. Please have mercy!" the girl kneels and use her hands to clean his shoes and lower clothe.
"Hey, stand-up! Why are you kneeling there? Stop! I'm just curious, okay?" I hold her arms and help her to stand.
"Sir! Let me clean your shoes, please. I'm just an herb collector, I'm the only one that feeds my family. Sir, please." The girl pleaded.
What she said rings a bell to me. "Herb collector?" I let go of her arms. "And listen to me, everything is okay, okay? Stop cleaning my shoes."
The girl relaxes and she stand straight now. "Thank you, Sir."
"So, you collect herbs?" I ask her and I glance at the basket bag that is on the ground.
"Yes, Sir. I collect herbs and sell it to the market." The girl
Such luck comes to me. I can't help not to smile in celebration. "I will buy all your herbs; how much it cost?"
The girl's worried expression turns into surprise and happy. "Really, Sir?" she can almost jump as she walks closer to get her basket bag.
"Yes." I replied shortly.
"All of these cost 1 silver. But because you saved my life; I will give it free to you, Sir." The girl is thankful to him.
"Just one silver? What about your efforts?" I take my silk pouch out of my secondary bag (silky pack-bag). "Here, maybe that counts 40 silvers or more." I toss to her the silk pouch.
The girl gets surprise but manage to catch it. "Sir, this is too much; I can buy a horse with this."
"Buy your grandmother a decent meal, and some groceries to your family." Then I untie the cloth bag and throw all the plants I picked up earlier. "Here." I hand her the cloth.
She accepts it right away.
"Separate 3 stacks of herbs with same kinds; my friends need it as well. I will wait until you're done." I sit on the boulder that is just right there beside me.
"Right away, Master." he is now her master; for she finds him merciful and kind, worthy to be called and served as her master.
XXXX
(Outside the school.)
The three of them meet up outside the school.
"Friend, we are here." Jeo calling out to Sebastian. They are sitting on a bamboo bench under a big pink leaves tree, along the street going to the school.
I walk to where they are sitting. "Hey."
"What took you so long? We've been waiting here, for hours." Zack stands up and check on Sebastian, he is getting worried again.
"I bumped into some trouble again." I scratch my head. "Anyway, did you guys get some herbs?" I check the one wrapped cloth on the bamboo bench. "Just one?"
"Sorry, friend. But I only got this." Jeo show a single root plant that he keeps inside his bag.
Zack roll his eyes. "It's not an easy task to identify herbs; but I managed to picked few of them." Actually his not too confident about it.
"Well, both of you is lucky today." I confidently smile to them. "Here." I hand one wrapped cloth to each of them.
"Thank you, friend." Jeo accept it happily. "Now, I have some herbs to submit." He is rejoicing.
Zack accept it. He may not be smiling but he is thankful and happy. "Are these correct herbs?" he opens the wrapped cloth and see some herbs perfectly cut. "Where you get these herbs?" he glances at Sebastian.
"You don't trust me, Landswide?" I cross my arms and smirk at him.
"Friend. I, Spicery trust you." Jeo smile at Sebastian and he is proud of him that he got herbs for them.
"I'm just asking; we will submit it to our teacher." Zack sounded self-justifying, then he ties the cloth.
"Well, I met a skilled herb collector along the way. And bought all the herbs from her." I confidently said that to them. I'm proud of myself, I found a solution to our herb activity.
"That's a wise moved, friend. Thank you." Jeo approves to Sebastian.
Zack avoiding to look at the confident Sebastian. He doesn't want to admit that he is right this time. "That's good then. Thank you. Let's go and submit it to our teacher."
"Okay." Sebastian and Jeo said it the same time.
They submitted the herbs and got a perfect score and a +20 bonus because the teacher thought that they cooperate with each other in searched of those herbs.
"Good job my students. Another way to survive is to cooperate with your group." The survival and herbalist teacher smile at them.
XXXX
(Upper class town market)
The three of them decided to take a stroll to the town market, they finished their activity sooner than the other students.
The town market is full of shops and sellers of different sort of wares; there are food stalls and shop services of any kind.
Good thing the whole ground is covered with bricks; it's not dusty walking around here. I walk side by side with Zack and Jeo.
"Young masters, come see some of my books; these are best sellers in our town." A book merchant approach them and lead them to his book stall which is located in front of his bookshop.
Zack get a book from the display; and read it's cover. "Indeed, this book is the most popular in our town nowadays."
"Really?" Hearing that from Zack, I become interested to read the book's title; I get one from the display. "Moonlight Birds" I read the book cover.
"Yes, yes young masters. Almost all the youngster and adults in our town already have a copy of this book. You can buy it a very reasonable price." The book merchant sales talk to them.
"Okay then, give me one copy of that." Zack is persuaded and decided to buy.
The book merchant wrapped the book right away and got paid. "What about you two, young masters. Is there any book that interest you?"
"No, I pass. I am more of a… musician person." I put the popular novel-book back on the display shelf.
Jeo did not even get too close to the book stall. "I come here to eat." He smiles.
"Okay, let's continue to check some of the stalls." Zack just put in the wrapped book inside his silky pack-bag.
"Young Masters, good afternoon. Kindly check my painting stall." A painting merchant approach them after they passed by the bookstall.
"Okay, show us what you got." Zack walks near to the front of the painting stall. Sebastian and Jeo just follow him.
"Here, my young masters." He shows to them his painting collection on display for sale. "This one is very popular; a painting of…"
I couldn't hear anymore what the painting merchant is talking there at his painting stall; I get drawn to walk closer to another shop.
"Welcome to my trinket shop, young master. Feel free to check on my exquisite trinkets for sale." The trinket merchant smile widely to Sebastian and he is very welcoming.
I stand closer to the displays of for sale trinkets, and watch it closely one by one. "You got quite a collection of beautiful accessories here, Mr. Merchant."
The trinket merchant clasps his hands; he is delighted about the praise. "Of course, young master. I only buy and sell wonderful and high value trinkets all over the seas. Here. Here. I got something very rare and beautiful. Wait for a bit." He then opens a decorated lock chest and show it to Sebastian.
I got mesmerize of the exquisitely made accessory. "Beautiful." That's one word I can describe.
"This bracelet is skillfully made from the kingdom of Hindustan. The butterfly and flower on it; is made of white gold from a far wide desert. And the velvet sparkling gemstones embedded on it; are rarely mined from the mountains of the Romans." The trinket merchant fabulously explains and sales talk to Sebastian.
"Okay, that's really beautiful; and a very convincing sales talk." I smile to him. But yet I can't take off my eyes to the beautiful bracelet.
"Friend, that is a very beautiful accessory for girls." Jeo appears behind and watch closely the bracelet.
"What's the fuzz over here?" Zack joins them in front of the trinket stall.
The trinket merchant gets excited to see that two more rich kid is checking his trinket stall. "Young masters, welcome to my shops. Come, check freely the displays they are for sales; these trinkets are exactly the perfect gift for someone especial to you."
"I have no one special." Yet Zack still check on the different girl accessories, then glance at the accessory Sebastian is eyeing so much. "Do you like that? So much that you can't put it down?" he asks him.
"Yeah, so much." I nod at the same time.
"Mr. how much this trinket cost?" Jeo ask the trinket merchant.
The trinket merchant thinks for a moment then decided. "I will sell this trinket to a very reasonable price of 950 silvers."
"What!" Jeo exclaim. "That's too much for an accessory."
"But young master, I bought this from overseas. And the materials they used are pure white gold and real gems." The trinket merchant explains.
"I know… My father is the number one merchant of many seas; so I know. That this gold has mixture and the gems embedded are in small pieces." Jeo has examined the accessory very well, even just by looking at it. "I will give credit to the skilled person who crafted this accessory. And you got this through trading. So let me lower it to 500 silvers if I'm not mistaken."
The trinket master is sweating to Jeo's judgement about the accessory. "Young masters, this is a very rare accessory. You can't just base your assumptions…" interrupted
"My father is the governor of this town." Zack declares his noble status (it's always like that). "If we found out that your scamming us; I'm pretty sure you will end up hanging on the execution platform publicly, Mr. Merchant." he sounded intimidating.
The trinket merchant got frightened to Zack's words. "There's no need to get to that situation, young masters. I will exactly sell this accessory for 500 silvers; that is the right amount of silvers I paid to the vendor and I also traded 2 sacks of salt for it. But let's forget about the 2 sacks of salt. 200 silvers are enough." He got sweaty all over his body.
"Never mind, I don't have 500 silvers." I put down the lock chest on the table. And continue to walk ahead.
Jeo follows Sebastian.
Zack stay there for a while to remind the merchant. "Then, keep that accessory Mr. Merchant. We will come back in a week and will bring the exact amount of silver."
"Of course young master; I will keep this for you." The trinket merchant smiling; he doesn't want to get into trouble.
"Make sure to keep it for us." He sounded serious, then leave after saying that.
"Of course, young master." The trinket merchant keeps his head vow.
They are now walking away from the town market.
Zack catch up with them. "The merchant will keep it for you, you can accumulate 200 silvers in a week."
"Yes, friend. A week is long enough. Anyway let's eat at the drinking house, it is near here" Jeo excitedly tell them.
"Okay, let's go there. I'm still hungry because of that herb activity." Zack keeps walking with them.
"I will put an effort to save my silvers this week." Then I try to check my money pouch and to realized I given it to the herb collector. Maybe, this week; I will stop giving silvers to the beggars. Yeah, that's the exact thing to do this week.
"Don't worry friend, I got your food cover this week." Jeo assured Sebastian. "So let's go to the drink house and let's eat there to our hearts content." He is smiling to them and very happy that they are finally on their way to the drink house.
"Thank you." I smile to him.
So as Zack smile. He is happy that the three of them are getting along very well.
XXXX
(Drinking House)
The three of them are eating inside the drinking house except they did not order wine just food, tea and water.
Jeo ordered his favorites and to his heart's content.
Then a middle aged man arrives at the front side of the drinking house and is greeted very well with high courtesy. Right then Chris of the SSE walks near to him, he went outside from one of the VIP rooms of the drinking house.
"Is that head elder, Chris?" Jeo ask them
"Where?" Zack turn his head sideways to look for Chris.
"There, at the entrance." Jeo point his lips to the direction of the entrance.
I just look to the direction of the entrance.
"I see; he meets up with his father." Zack
"His father is the chancellor?" Jeo a bit surprise.
"Yes, you don't know that? Where were you living all this time?" Zack just shrug his shoulders and gets back to eating again.
I pretended to focus on eating, that I don't care about what they are talking about. Because honestly; I don't have any idea about the lives of the people living in this town.
"Oh, incoming." Jeo yelped as he is seeing Chris is walking to where they are seated.
"Just relax. We are not skipping class." Zack prepare his self to explain.
Well, the me; I just keep on eating. Don't want to stress over things.
"Good afternoon, my fellow students." Chris greets them respectfully.
"Good afternoon, Head elder." The three of them chorus
Chris smiles to hear them greets in tune. "I just come over here to invite you guys, to attend to my party tonight. It will be held here. Seeing you three enjoying places like this gives me a pleasant mood; when I was in year one; I am more like the three of you, young and naïve but bold enough to visit drinking houses such like this; in a broad daylight without worrying getting caught by adults' supervisions." He is thinking that these three boys are socially elite, and one day; they will become elders of the students' body.
Zack gets calm and he loosen up to learn that Chris don't give a shit about them inside the drinking house. "Of course head elder, we will definitely come."
"Yes." I replied shortly.
"For sure. We will be there head elder." Jeo smile.
"Good. I will leave you with your meal. See you tonight, the three of you" Chris smile to them.
"See you, head elder" Zack answer.
Then Chris take his leave and went back to the VIP room.
XXXX
(Hastings House)
So tonight will be the first night I will attend a party; and this also will be the first party for me while being here in this period of time.
My room is now fully equipped of my stuffs (guy stuffs can be seen openly all over the room and also there are girl stuffs; but it is hidden; the essentials). It's more like; this is now my real room, for I am living here for some time now.
Mother bought a lot of new things for me; clothing, footwear, hats, headbands, etc.; mostly stuff that ensures that; I will always appear as The Person.
So at this moment; I am preparing myself to look good. I'm currently wrapping a cloth around my torso; to flatten my chests parts (I need to conceal my two naturals, lol). There, finally done. I've been doing this daily dress-up routine. At first it was really demanding (because I have to do it, so I have to do it. Sigh…) and annoying (in the sense that it is repetitive). But I like it as well; to appear as The Person. I've never felt this thrill and confidence at the same time; that I am guy. Everyone thinks and recognized me that I am a guy; and now I am more like living to it and liking it. I know that, what I appear is false; but when I'm in the zone, it is like I'm living my real soul (complicated, right?).
"What color should I wear tonight?" there are few new fancy robes inside my wardrobe and they are all nice looking. "Hmmm…" I am eyeing the pastel yellow and pastel green robes. "Or maybe the white one." That one looks very clean.
"Sebastian, are you done?" Paul call him outside his room. "Hurry up, we will leave in a few minutes"
"Okay, brother. I'm almost done." I quickly pick the pastel yellow robe, no time to be choosy.
"I'll be waiting outside." Paul leaves after saying that.
"Geez, need to hurry up." I put on the robe and adjusted my white inners; it tightens a little but I managed to straighten the tight parts. Then tie my flower pendant around my waist. Finishing touches, I wear my new hat. "Done." I turn around to see my whole mirror image. "Hair check, eyebrow check, chest check, robe check, appearance check." I smile to myself; then my innocent smile turns into smirk. "Pretty handsome."
XXXX
(Popular Town's Drinking House. At the entrance.)
Jeo and Zack, they already arrived and waiting for Sebastian.
"Good evening, assistant elder." Zack and Jeo greets Paul with politeness.
"Ah, good evening. So, you two are my younger brother's friends?" Paul look at them and he sounded friendly.
"Yes, assistant elder." Jeo and Zack chorus again, they are more respectful to Paul because he is Sebastian's older brother.
"My brother, Sebastian. He is sometimes clumsy and forgetful to many things. Kindly be patient to him, and take care of him for me, while I'm not around."
"Yes, of course assistant elder. We always help each other." Jeo is eager to agree to Paul.
"I am their leader, so you don't have to worry, assistant elder. I will make sure we always do the right things." Zack step-up to this matter; his proud attitude always pushes him to take matters on his own hands (leadership thingy).
"I seriously take your words, Landswide." Paul smile to them. "Alright, I think that's all for now. Let's go inside. You three just follow me; I got you all cover." Paul then leads them inside the drinking house.
Jeo and Paul follows.
I just follow behind them.
XXXX
(Inside the Drinking House)
They are escorted to the private room, Chris rented for the night.
The room is beaming with lights and music. The invited people to the party is already enjoying the drinks.
"There they are." Chris acknowledges their arrival. "Make way for them, they are my special guests tonight. Come guys, sit here beside me." he reserved four (4) mats for them.
Paul smile to Chris and signal the trio to follow him inside the room.
Jeo and Zack follow right away, they are tailing Paul.
As always, I am behind the group. I follow them inside.
The girl by chance glance at the arrival of the new guests and recognizes the last guy that enters the room.
(Slow motion moment)
Wow, she's here at the party? Just wow… I keep looking at where she is seated and my feet keep walking automatically slowly.
The girl keeps eyeing the guy; she's one of the girls inside the room that plays music. And she just simply taps and strums the string without looking at it, because she's very engaged doing eye to eye contact with him.
Both of them absorbs the eye to eye contact, but their faces are blank with expressions.
"Sebastian, you can sit now." Chris call him out.
That takes me back to the moment. "Thank you, head elder." I take off my hat and hang it on the wall. Then I simply sit on the mat.
"Looks like everyone that I invited is already present in this room." Chris is readying his speech.
I take a slow glance to where the girl seated; and there she is eyeing at me as well.
"Good evening everyone. Tonight I decided to held a party without any official reason; this is simply a night to party, to enjoy and to get to know all of you; especially the new ones. Our year one students, welcome to the club." He jokes.
Then everyone in the room laugh with it.
We just simply exchanging glances; our eyes meets all the time when I take a glance at her. I just couldn't understand this feeling that we are at the same room right now.
Chris gets serious. "Remember guys; that I am here willingly to uphold unity, friendship, development and especially loyalty to our school and to all of you my dear friends."
The invited visitors happily agree to Chris.
"So let me propose a toss; for our friendship to last long till we aged. Cheers…" He smiles widely and do a glass salute to everyone inside the room.
"To our friendship. Cheers!" Everyone in chorus and drink up.
"Let the feast begin." Chris jokes again.
And the party started.
XXXXX
(An hour passes-by)
Everyone enjoys the foods and drinks. And now it's the part of the party to mingle and enjoy the music performances of the girls at the other table.
Yawn… I only took a sip of wine and it gets me sleepy. The foods are very tasty; I enjoy it, but I'm sleepy.
"You know what? My friend here, Sebastian; he can play better than you." Zack voice suddenly gets louder and everyone hears what he just said.
"What's wrong, Landswide?" One of the SSE elder ask him.
"This girl. I mean this Miss who is behind my back keeps bragging to me about her skills in playing music." Zack explains "But, she keeps repeating it and it gets annoying."
"I am just saying that I can play music for you if you like." The Miss politely said it.
"Well, thank you. But I got a friend who plays music every day in our school free time. So, no thank you." Zack rolls his eyes.
"So, you're saying. That, the year one Sebastian can play music better than any girls here in the room?" Malcolm join in the conversation.
"Yes. He plays music much better than them." Zack is very proud to say that.
Then his answer made Malcolm laugh; and the other invited guest find his answer laughable too.
"What's going on? Why are they laughing?" I whisper to Jeo; I am sleepy right now and having trouble keeping up with the situation.
"Zack gets annoyed but don't mind them friend. He can handle it." Jeo keeping his calm.
"Do you know that, only in girl's school you can learn music. And these girls with us…" Malcolm smirks. "They are studying music for years. So you're telling us that, this year one guy is more capable than these girls?"
"Absolutely." Zack is very confident to Sebastian music skills.
"Okay, come on now SEBASTIAN." Malcolm loudens his words especially mentioning his name.
"Malcolm." Paul call-out his attention.
"Paul, you can't stop this. SEBASTIAN…" he starts teasing and chanting Sebastian's name.
Some of the invited guess joins in to tease. "SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN"
Now I understand the situation were in. I awkwardly smile to them. "No, no."
"SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN" the chanting tease keeps going.
"Sebastian…" the girl mouthed Sebastian name. His name is Sebastian. Then she unconsciously looks sideway to conceal her smile. She is delighted to learned the name of the guy that she met at the practice room.
"Guys, Let's just have fun." I'm getting mix-up of declining the situation.
"SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN… SE BAS TIAN" the chanting tease gets louder.
"Silence." Chris raise his right hand to silence them.
The chanting died out right away.
"Sebastian, play for us. Please…" Chris is serious at same time he is smiling gently to Sebastian.
"Okay." I replied shortly.
Then a zither is pass to him.
I move my butt backward so I can put the instrument in front of me.
Everyone is silent, waiting and anticipating what he will going to do next.
I look at them; then I move my gaze to the girl; who is now looking worried at me. I lip smile to her. "I will play: The Lost Hearts" then I start to strum the strings.
Everybody listens and get surprise to the fact that Sebastian can really play music.
The girl gets surprise to hear the title of the music. After several chords of the music piece; it is strum correctly by Sebastian and it resonates a very sad melodic sounds. Her worries calm down; listening to the initial resonance produce by the instrument and how it is being perform at the moment. She is now confident that this interesting guy can play music very well in a different level.
After I played the music for them, they applauded and praised me. But those nice comments from them does not give me a favorable feelings; it just complicates me more.
XXXXX
(Outside the Drinking House)
I went outside at the open space in front the entrance of the Drinking House. I need fresh air, it kind of hot inside the room there. Then a thought came into my mind.
(My son, have fun and enjoy the night but always remember to take precaution to everything that you will do. That is what mother reminded me before we left the house.)
Now, there are few people knew that I can play music. Sigh… and I just broke my mother's 4th rule: To not let anyone know that I am skillful musician (for me, I am a skillful musician). But they are just few people, right? No biggy. Sigh… why trouble always comes to me?
XXXXX
The girl politely bids her goodbyes to the people in the party; it is time for her to go home and Chris thank her of coming to his party.
She then walks out of the room, and her personal maid follows behind and carries her zither. They are heading at the entrance walkway going out of the drinking house.
"Hey lady! Hey!" a drunk man calls her out.
She just passes by and ignored him.
"Hey! Come back here! Where are you going?" the drunk man calls out and follows behind them.
"Mr. Please be polite. That is my Miss you are calling so rudely." Personal maid reprimanded him.
"Just walk faster." The girl reminding her personal maid to just walk and ignore the drunk man.
The drunk man gets upset that he was ignored by the girl. So he walks faster to catch up with her. "Lady, come back here!" he was about to grab her.
Then someone appears and beat his hand with a pipe stick.
"Ouch!" the drunk man groans and hold his right hand in pain.
"Stop right there, you smell like shit!" I stand in front and scorn him while smiling. (I feel a little devilry this time, lol)
The girl and her personal maid turn around to see what is going on behind them. And to see Sebastian is blocking the man; not to reach them.
The drunk man sneer and ready to punch.
But then, two uniformed guards jump to wrestle him down and disable his movement. "Creating disturbance to our establishment is a punishable crime. Beating and endangering the life of a noble kid is a crime against the nobles. So, stay down or I will gladly cut your throat." One of the guard threatens him.
I smirk and enjoys the scene that this smelly shit gets apprehended.
The drunk man furiously stares at the arrogant young guy in front of him.
XXXXX
(Horse wagon parking area: just a little further from the drinking house)
The girl looks into his eyes. "Thank you."
Her eyes… I'm feeling shy right now, she is just standing a few inches in front of me and she's looking right into my eyes. "It's… it's the right thing to do." Then my lips are twitching; it wants to smile reflexively.
The girl notice that Sebastian is fighting his lips not to smile; because of that she bites her own lips; it starts to twitch as well.
I lip smile awkwardly. But I know it is a cute smile.
The girl can't help it now; Sebastian's smile is so contagious. In response she unconsciously smiles widely and her perfect aligned teeth is shown. But at the same time she is demure; so she looks sideway to hide that she is flattered at the moment.
Few seconds…
Then their eyes meet again.
Both of them keep looking at each other eyes, reading what's inside each of their minds; and they are smiling to each other.
"Miss…" the personal maid
The girl switches to being demure again. "Have a nice evening." She then turns around and step to climb up the wagon.
I help her climb up the wagon and make sure she seated well. "See you around, Olivia." Then I smile to her and slowly closes the wagon's door.
Olivia is surprise to hear he spoken out her name. Then she smiles.
Then the wagon starts to move away from the drinking house.
I watch the wagon till I could no longer see it. Trouble comes and yet sweet moments in exchanged. I like it, afterall. Then I just realize I'm still holding the pipe stick I snatched from someone; to use it against the drunk man. And I can't remember who owns this pipe stick.
XXXXXX
Flashback: After the SSE: Search and Retrieve Game.
(Year one: top one classroom. After class.)
Music is playing in the air.
"I will keep this belt as a memento of the day we won the SSE yearly traditional game" Jeo is putting on the guard's belt.
Zack just shrugs his shoulder and look at where Sebastian seated; he is in front of them. "Does your mother teach you to play music?" he asks him.
"Yes, almost every day when she's not occupied with other matters." I am multi-tasking at the moment. Answering Zack's questions while learning and playing the chords of the music scroll in front of me.
Sweet and yet lonely melody floating around the classroom.
"Friend, your music is sad." Jeo is now sitting and he is feeling; the lonely vibes around the classroom.
"Are you not bothered that most of the musicians here in our town are female." Zack asks another question.
I strum the strings smoothly and rhythmically. "Not at all." I replied right away. Then I am almost at the end part of the piece.
"So, it's okay with you that people might think; your into feminine activities?" another question from Zack.
"I'm okay with it." I strum the last chord and ended the music. Playing this piece for the first time; I'm not bad at all. Then I read the bottom part of the scroll. There is something written there in small writing. I smile to learn what it is written. Hmmm… This music piece is in absolute loneliness… Olivia from house Lennox.