JENNA
One would think spending weeks and weeks aboard a ship would make one adapted to the sea. Not so for Jenna, granted she no longer needed to rush to the side of the boat after every time she ate, she still could not keep to her feet when the ship was carried by an unexpected wave and dropped suddenly. The feeling of weightlessness always unbalanced her, and this time she was too far from the corridor walls.
Why, Jenna thought ungratefully, do Lemurian ship have such wide corridors?
Just as she was ready to fall, someone steadied her. She turned her head to give thanks and felt quite weightless once more. She was staring at Isaac's face. Instead of thanking him, she heard herself blurt out in a demanding voice, "What are you smiling at?"
Her voice anchored her mind once more, and Isaac had released her by then, "You still can't stand in the ship, Jenna?"
Jenna blushed, speechless, and she knew not why. Isaac laughed familiarly and went to another topic, "And where were you going?"
"To the pantry. Didn't eat yet."
"Shall I escort you in case you fall again, my lady?" Isaac said, he did not laugh aloud, but his blue eyes were just as telling. She never saw eyes like her friend's, their shape and colour were unique, and she had trawled all across Weyard.
"Oh, shut up Isaac." Jenna replied, shoving his friend roughly in the chest and went on her way. But Isaac walked beside her. "Let the joke go or I'll singe you, Isaac." Jenna warned.
"No, I actually was going to the pantry as well…Really..."
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There was a time when Jenna thought herself as the eldest of the "Vale trio", maturing faster as a girl. Up until the moment she had been kidnapped from Sol Sanctum, she still thought herself as the eldest, even though she was born a season younger than both Isaac and Garet. But when she met her friends again in Contigo, she was bewildered. In the months passed they spent apart, her two friends had grew. Not only into more powerful warriors, but also as people.
They broke fast as they always did: a loaf of warm bread between them with honey and jam and butter. Jenna watched Isaac going for the butter first, as he did in Vale. Suddenly at that moment, she was fully conscious Isaac was there. Breaking fast with her.
"You haven't changed," Isaac said, breaking Jenna's train of thoughts.
Jenna smiled slightly, "I was just thinking how you changed... so much."
"Oh?" Isaac drew back a little, "Well, that's not to say you have not changed… to more beautiful than ever," Isaac grinned, "but… you're still… Jenna. My Jenna uf Vale."
Jenna blushed then, and Isaac noticed this time, he scratched his head, "That is- I mean to say-" He blushed as well, "I mean to say you're still my friend."
They smiled awkwardly at each other. "Perhaps you're not so different after all," Jenna said, "Still a bumbling boy somewhere inside."
"Exactly, you as well," Isaac said almost gratefully, "I meant to say, you're still fiery, good-hearted and slightly gruff."
"So that's my image to you?"
"I'm just glad. I was worried." Isaac said. Jenna looked up from her food. Isaac blushed again, "When you were kidnapped, you were still… unhappy. I…" He trailed off.
"Thank you, Isaac."
They smiled warmly at each other, and then continued eating.
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"Jenna!"
Jenna spun from the rail, and smiled when she saw who called her, "Garet," she greeted.
Garet grinned, "Enjoying the view?"
Jenna nodded, "And how were you enjoying the day?"
Garet turned to the sea, "I was thinking of… Vale."
Jenna did not have to guess what her friend meant, "I'm sure your family will be fine."
"Yes…" Garet said hesitantly, then as sudden as the wind, he turned to her and said "Jenna, will you marry me?"
Jenna blinked. What? She wanted to say, but she couldn't manage a word up her throat.
"I…" Garet began, but stopped. And that made Jenna wonder what he would have said. I am joking? But it was not. Garet visibly look a deep breath before saying, "I have missed you terribly when you were gone. I couldn't stop thinking about you, I couldn't stop worrying if you were hurt. I have always adored you since Vale, but now… I've grown a lot, Jenna. I wasn't sure whether to ask you, when our lives were at stake on this quest, but now it is over. I can protect you. I want to protect you… forever, or for as long as I live. Be mine."
By this time Jenna was aware her cheeks were burning. And Garet's expression. Very aware of Garet's expression. He waited.
"Garet," Jenna said finally, "give me time."
Garet broke into a smile, small, relieved, "Of course." He took a step forward, and then after a moment, hugged her. "I love you."
Sometimes Jenna would reply the same thing, for she did love Garet deeply. But this time she kept silent. Garet pulled away and they looked at each other, Jenna tensed, Garet seemed to sense her whelmed state and only smiled his bright boyish smile. He hesitated before placing a kiss on her forehead, then blushed and walked away a few steps before running the rest of the way below board.
Garet… Jenna stared after her friend, even after he disappeared, and then turned back to the blue, blue sea.
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I rather dislike the layout conversion does. It doesn't keep indents and spaces everything instead. And paragraphs must be separated manually with "."
Well, I'm sure everyone will grant me leaves on the layout. Hopefully the chapter was okay. Reviews are appreciated, as ever.