Hello guys! Alex here again (after 3 months of hiatus xD)!
So, this is the 3rd chapter of I Thought I Forgot You. First of all, I want to apologize for making you wait for the 3rd chapter of this story. I kinda got lazy with this story and I also got busy with my school life, so I haven't found the time to type this story. I hope you won't get angry at me!
Also, I would like to mention all of those who left a review for my story. You made me happy and inspired to still continue this story. Thanks to your inspiring reviews, I finished this chapter and thought of what will happen next in this story. As a token of my appreciation, this chapter is dedicated to all of you. Thank you and I love all of you!
This story is not yet dead, I ensure you that. Many more things are going to happen, so please look to it!
Without further a do, let's go on with the chapter 3 of I Thought I Forgot You!
Chapter 3 - Zen Wistalia
"Shirayuki, I will tell you a story. About myself."
When Zen told Shirayuki that he has a story to tell her about himself, she felt curious about what kind of story he will tell her.
"Okay, I will listen." Shirayuki said and looked at Zen sternly.
"So you're Claire huh. Well then, tell me something about yourself." Zen said to Claire, the violet-haired girl in front of her.
After the incident earlier, Claire was left disheveled. But she was able to calm down.
"Uh, I was born from a faraway kingdom named Tarna. I was born of a simple family with enough food to eat for everyday. We were a very happy family. My family is composed of 4 members. my mother, father, elder brother and me. I was really content about the life we have. But then..."
When Claire was about to say the next scene of her life, her face became grim as if she's angry and sad at the same time. Zen noticed the change in her face.
"Claire, you shouldn't force yourself to tell everything about yourself. You have said enough," Zen said, trying to comfort the violet-haired girl.
Fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes, she looked at Zen and forced a small smile.
"What am I doing in front of someone I just met. I'm sorry Zen, but this is the only time I told someone about myself. I will continue on my story. Now, I'm living as a knight in Tarna but then for an unknown reason, those jerks that were chasing me appeared. That's my life," she said.
Zen was awestruck as she finished telling him about her life.
"What about you, Zen? Tell me about yourself," she said.
When Zen was asked by Claire to tell her about himself, he was suddenly filled with hesitance. He hesitated to reveal his true identity to the girl. He's afraid that she might get afraid of him or she might leave just when they met each other.
He decided that he shouldn't tell her that he's a prince and just reveal it when they come to Clarines, his hometown.
"My story of life? I am having a very great life. To be honest, before I became 16, I was questioning my standing in life and what was my purpose. I was rebelling about my existence because I didn't really know what it's for. But then, two friends of mine came in my life and they made me understand my standing in life," Zen said and paused for a bit and looked at the setting sun in the horizon.
"They are Kiki and Mitsuhide. Because of this, I treasure them very much and I don't plan to live a life without them."
Claire stared at the view of Zen looking at the horizon. Within her, she felt a bit jealousy. Why?
She felt like she hasn't met great friends that would change her view in her life.
"Kiki and Mitsuhide are knights just like you. I'm very sure you will like them when the three of you meet each other," Zen said.
Claire snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Zen.
"We-well, they look really interesting. I hope I can meet them sometime," she said.
When he saw Claire looking at him like that, his eyebrows furrowed a bit. But he chuckled lightly at what Claire said.
"That's my life." Zen said.
"May I ask a question?" Claire said with a grin.
"What is it?" Zen asked back with curiosity in his face.
"How did you meet Mitsuhide and Kiki? Are you one of the knights?" Claire asked.
Zen facepalmed himself mentally. How could he forget to make an excuse about how he became close to both of them?
"You can say that, I think. But how I met them is really a long story and I think it would bore you," Zen said while grinning.
"If you say so," Claire said and smiled.
After a while, an awkward silence followed. Zen is trying to think of a question to ask while Claire is doing some sightseeing.
"Claire, may I ask, why did you not hesitate to tell me about your life when we just met?" Zen asked curiously.
When Zen asked this, Claire got flustered. Red tainted her cheeks and she blushed like a tomato.
"We-well... I don't see anything bad with sharin my story to you... A-and you look like someone who can be trusted," Claire answered with all honesty while blushing madly.
When Zen saw her crimson face, he also blushed.
"A-ah..." he said and decided to keep quiet.
After a few minutes of another yet more comfortable silence, they noticed that the sun is already setting.
"Oh, it's already going to be a night. I think we should return now," Zen said to Claire as he stood up and offered a hand to her. He pulled her from her seat as gentle as possible to help her stand.
"Um... Where do you live?" Claire asked.
That's when it hit Zen that he forgot to tell Claire where he lives.
He facepalmed himself mentally for the second time of the day.
"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you where I live. I live in Clarines." Zen said.
Claire posed as if she's in deep thought and her face lit up at the thought of Clarines.
"Clarines? I have heard often from the people on Tarna that it is a very great place. I would want to go and see the place!" Claire said with an overexcited tone that made Zen chuckle.
"I'm sure you will like it." Zen said and he mounted his horse.
Claire did the same
"Well then, shall we go?" Zen asked Claire.
"Sure, let's go!" Claire answered.
Then, they rode together...
"Zen!"
A knock can be heard from the door along with a very loud, familiar voice.
"Zen, are you there?!"
Zen and Shirayuki, who have been talking, were stopped when they heard continuous knocks on the door.
"Yes, I'm coming!" Zen said and gave Shirayuki an I-will-be-back look.
Zen opened the door and Mitsuhide came out with a glare on his eyes. This sent shivers down Zen's spine.
"Zen...!" Mitsuhide said with "anger" on his voice.
When Zen heard his name, he understood what it meant. Mitsuhide has been searching the whole castle to find him. This dawned on his mind and he realized that he has been talking to Shirayuki for 2 hours straight.
"Ah... Sorry, sorry! I will immediately go back to my room!" Zen said.
"Make sure you return, Zen!" Mitsuhide said with a glare still in his eyes.
"Wait for me, I will tell Shirayuki that I need to go," Zen said.
Upon hearing Shirayuki's name, Mitsuhide's "angry" face cooled down.
He returned to Shirayuki and bid her farewell.
"Sorry, Shirayuki. I will continue the story when we get to be together again." Zen said and smiled at Shirayuki.
"It's fine, Zen. Thanks for spending time with me," Shirayuki said and returned Zen's smile.
Zen then went to the door to Mitsuhide.
"Goodnight, Shirayuki." Zen said.
"Goodnight too, Zen." Shirayuki answered before Zen closed the door.
After Zen left the room, her mind wandered back to what Zen has told her.
"Claire, huh... Even though I know that Claire isn't here anymore, I still feel a bit..."
Jealous. She wanted to say that she's a bit jealous of Claire but she doesn't want to say it. She doesn't want to feel jealous of her. She exists in the past, she shouldn't worry that someone will take Zen from her. In fact, she should be happy since Zen doesn't want to hide a piece of his past from her.
But then, she's thinking why Claire isn't here in Clarines anymore. If anything, she's sure that Claire should be here. If that happened, will Shirayuki ever meet Zen? Will their roads cross together just like what it did?
"UGH!" Shirayuki shouted in frustration and laid flat on her bed.
For a few minutes, she laid down, silently thinking about everything that happened this day.
"Is this how it feels to be jealous?" she said, "Probably it will be better if I just sleep this out."
It has been a long day, indeed.
The start of the true plot is in the next chapter. What's going to happen in the future? Wait for it to know the answer!
And of course, don't forget to leave a review, Thanks!