Chapter 13

AESOP

Joseph had asked me to meet him in the garden the night after his match, and here he is, one of his hands holding a camera. He was already there the moment I arrived, sitting on the bench all alone. It was dark, but the only thing that caught my eye is his blue eyes.

They are so beautiful that it is like staring into the wonders of nature.

"Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting..." I said, taking the spot in front of him.

"No. It's okay. I understand how it feels to have to go out this late. Besides, I'm sorry to make you leave your bed this late. Are you fine with this tho?"

I nodded as he motioned me to sit next to him.

"Come over here. There's something I need to tell you."

I noticed the salty look on his face as he let the words out. It was that moment that I took a full realization that he is not even talking like himself.

It's like his voice was full of despair.

"Good job on the match. I have never seen any of those hunters with skills as good as yours! You're a pro!" I said with the lingering hope that it would cheer him up.

I can't see him this way.

"What? The best? I don't think so, Aesop. There are more pros out there..." He said, running a finger through his hair.

Did I forget to mention how lovely his hair is?

He then moved his legs, kicking the air.

"How about you? How are you doing in the matches? I've seen how you use your skills. That's amazing."

I had my eyes glued into the makeup kit in my hands. Every of the compliments I had received comes from this. Basically everything I had achieved from being here, is all because of this kit.

I was about to give him a happy smile when I heard him sobbing.

"Joseph? What's wrong?" I asked, but  it was the moment when he had his both hands on my arms.

"I'm sorry, Aesop, but I don't think I can talk to you anymore. In fact, I think it's best for us to stop being friends...."

His words surged right into my heart like lightning, rendering every of my feelings senseless.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth. It's like everything he just said had stopped everything I have from functioning normally.

Joseph started crying, breaking into more tears as his grip on me tightened.

It took me a full minute to regain every of my senses, and by the time it all came back to me, I felt the rush of rage and anger seep into my chest, forcing all its way into my lips. But I stayed silent.

He was still crying when I noticed two wide cuts on his left arm.

There's something off about it. It's so.... familiar. It looks like the scars being caused by Eli's owl, which is the same exact thing I had in my arm the moment I met Eli for the first time.

That's when it hits me. Joseph had had a match against Eli earlier.

The mark on his arms must have unmistakably been Luke. Eli must have ordered his owl to do all those stuff on his arms before hopping down the dungeon.

I bit my lip in frustration as Joseph released his grip on me.

A faint sorry from him was the last thing he said before walking away.

I watched his back as he gets further and further from my sight before disappearing into the large door in front of him. The pang of pain from his words were still active inside me.

That's it, Eli. You're getting into my nerves.

***

3rd PERSON POV

Aesop walked his way towards Eli's room, the enormous amount of rage bubbling inside him.

He was pissed off. Pissed off at the seer for hurting one of those he treasures the most. Pissed off at how he had made the photographer break into desperate tears before him.

He felt his blood boiling even more the moment he noticed the seer all on his own in front of his bedroom.

"Eli Clark. What the fuck did you just do?!"

The seer was startled the moment he noticed the embalmer going loose on him.

"Aesop, hey. You need to cool down, mate. What's all the fuss--"

The seer acted like he had no idea what is going on. But deep down inside, he is fully aware of the reason behind the embalmer's rage.

Joseph.

"Enough with all your act! Now tell me what in this fucking world have you done and why would you let Luke get involved in all this! He spared you, Eli! He spared you!"

Eli had his eyes glued on the floor as the raging embalmer kept on blowing loose on him. But his patience had limits, and it had gotten exactly to that point.

"If you're just gonna blow up on me, now you tell me why on earth are you on his side you moron!" Eli said, his anger finally snapped.

"Listen here, Aesop Carl. Everyone here has tried their best and have been patient enough to handle you and your whatever issues you have there. You being sick in the middle of the night? Everyone is there for you. You having anxiety attacks everytime a new announcement comes? Emily is willing to get them for you in private. But this, you have gone too far! Do you think I have no idea what you and that goddamn photographer were doing back then?! That would get you in trouble, you moron!"

The seer went out of breath as he went loose. Little did he know that the embalmer's response would hurt him even more.

"You spied on us? You fucking spied on us?! All from the help of your owl?! Tch. Never thought the manor's bravest seer is actually a fucking coward who relies everything on his owl and not on his own. Wonder why I'm even friends with someone as freaky as you. Get in trouble, you say? Then that's my fucking business to deal with and not with that of yours you cowardly meddler! I've had it with you. Let's stop being friends. Never ever talk to me again."

Eli froze in utter shock as Aesop stomped towards his room, slamming the door as he disappeared into it.

Never would he expect that the always anxious embalmer would snap out with words harsher than Vera's. And most of all, never would he expect that Aesop is capable of doing something as risky.

He wanted to let everyone know about the situation, but something in his heart  told him not to. Not with the condition Aesop has always had whenever he gets rageous.

The seer sighed as he gave Luke a pat on the head.

"I'm sorry you had to witness all that, boy. But am I wrong to let him know what he did is a fatal thing? Did I go too far on him?"

***

Aesop threw himself into his bed, tears soaking his face and that of his mask.

He forcefully pulled the mask off his face, revealing two scars on each ends of his lips. Those things had always been his biggest source of insecurity, but with the feeling that goes inside his heart and no one to see him, what exactly could go wrong?

He sank his face deeper into the pillow with Joseph's words playing in his mind.

It's best for us to stop being friends.

He had full awareness of Joseph having the exact same feeling as he is the moment the words escaped his lips, but still, it hurts. It fucking hurts.

"Fuck it!!!" He yelled, throwing his pillow towards the door, making a faint thump as it hits.

He hated Eli for making him feel that way, especially after the time he promised that he would never hurt his feelings.

Aesop's eyes was full of tears when all of a sudden a splitting headache made all its way to his skull.

Despite the sadness going on in him, his common sense had decided to take its role somewhere in between, straining him in the process.

Just why am I so attached with him?

What in the world am I feeling?

Everything around him then went black.