Chapter 8 - Hangover blues

Akirexer suddenly woke up from her sleep. The moonlight in her room made it easier for her to see the time on her clock. It was exactly 01:00 a.m. Akirexer turned to her side and touched the cold empty space where Sharumez would have been snoring softly had he been home.

Akirexer realized that it was her thirst that woke her up. She got out of her room and walked past Sharaina's room. Pausing in thought, she looked back at Sharaina's door.

She didn't come home during dinner and I didn't hear her return.

Akirexer quietly turned Sharaina's doorknob and peeped into her room. She heaved in relief to see Sharaina fast asleep in her bed. There was another person in bed with Sharaina. Baffled, Akirexer squinted her eyes and when she recognized Liss, she mouthed 'okay'. Akirexer opted not to wake the girls up and silently closed the door.

****

Sharumez and Jenu had been riding and taking short breaks since morning. They were feeling so exhausted. They feared that their horses were going to give up at any moment. When they finally arrived in Mobay, they were relieved. They went to their usual guest house that had horse services as well.

The owner of the guest house escorted them to their room. He unlocked the door and handed the keys to Jenu. Jenu unlocked the room to two single beds. In between the beds was a big window and this was much to Jenu's delight. He went over to look through it.

"Sharumez, you need to see this view." Jenu opened the curtains wide.

Sharumez didn't respond, so he turned to see why. Jenu laughed softly when he saw Sharumez writing by the lit lamp.

"Really? You just got here and you are already writing a letter to Akirexer." Jenu teasingly said to Sharumez.

Sharumez laughed back, "You should be doing the same. Naliya must be worried about you. There are a lot of robbers attacking travelers these days. We are lucky we haven't been attacked so far." Sharumez said and Jenu sighed.

"You know that isn't my point. I mean why not rest first and write the letter tomorrow? It's not like you are going to post the letter now. It's half past one." Jenu argued his point.

Sharumez waved his finger at him. "There might not be time tomorrow. It is best that I write it now so that tomorrow I go straight to the post office. Remember we have to be in Cherilisia in the next two days. We can't risk getting there late." Sharumez's response made Jenu sigh again.

"Sit down and write a letter to your wife." Sharumez triumphantly concluded the argument.

"You sure do know how to take the fun out of everything Sharumez. It's always about thinking logically with you." Jenu teased Sharumez and sat on his bed. "Would you mind handing me a piece of paper?" He asked and Sharumez gave him two.

After a few minutes of writing, Jenu put his pen down and thoughtfully looked at Sharumez who was still writing. He was on his second sheet of paper.

"Are you ready to let go of Sharaina?" Jenu asked.

Sharumez stopped writing and looked up at Jenu.

"If she joins the army, that will mean that she will be away from home for many years." Jenu said again.

Sharumez put his pen down and thought about Jenu's question. "I have always known that a time like this would come. I am just not sure if I am ready to let her go. To me, she will always be my little girl."

"It is going to be okay my friend." Jenu smiled at Sharumez and he smiled back. Both men resumed writing.

****

Night fell and morning came. Sharaina and Liss sunbathed on the lawn. They were both feeling hangover from the previous night. Sharaina laid on her belly whereas Liss lay on her back with a grass hat protecting her eyes from the sun. Alainara joined them with a jar of fresh fruit juice. She sat in between Sharaina and Liss.

"Sharaina, why are guys such jerks?" Liss asked from underneath the hat.

"You know you can't completely blame him for what happened last night." Sharaina answered lazily.

"Why not?" Liss whined.

Sharaina scoffed. "Are you for real?"

"Yes, I am pretty sure everything is his fault." Liss insisted.

Her answer forced Sharaina to sit up and look at her unamused. Sharaina noticed that Alainara was attentively listening to their conversation.

"You know what, never mind. One day you will see your fault in this issue." Sharaina cut the topic. She didn't want Alainara to understand what they were talking about.

Sharaina poured Alainara a glass of juice and proceeded to pour herself one. Alainara took hers with both hands. Liss sat up and poured herself a glass. She closed her eyes at the cool soothing feeling the juice gave her as it went down her dry throat.

"Alainara," Liss softly called Alainara, playing with her soft golden hair.

Alainara swallowed her juice and innocently blinked at Liss who was smiling brightly at her. "Yes, Liss?" she answered.

"You should never ever have a boyfriend. Men are stupid you hear. They will tell you that they love you just to get into your panties. Later they will take you for granted and flirt with other girls. When you decide to do the same to them, they hit you. You are better off on your own." Liss said and ended with a giggle.

Sharaina scowled at Liss and this only made her laugh more. Liss faced away from Sharaina's glare and continued drinking her juice with a smug look on her face. Sharaina held Alainara's hand in order to get her attention.

"I think I heard mama calling you." Sharaina softly told Alainara, and she went back into the house.

As soon as she was gone, Sharaina pinched Liss's hand hard and she winced. "What the hell was that?"

"It's called a life lesson." Liss bubbly answered back as she rubbed her hand to ease the pain.

"Alainara is just a kid. You can't be talking to her like that. Are you serious?" Sharaina scolded Liss and she just chuckled.

"Typical of you to not be remorseful." Sharaina pinched Liss again and Liss scooted away from her.

"Come on knack it off Sharaina. You know I bruise easily." Liss complained.

"I don't care." Sharaina answered back with ice laced in her voice. "Good guys do exist. Give it a rest now. I have had enough of this shit."

Liss twitched her lips into an annoying smirk. "Good guys like Naian?"

Sharaina looked at her blankly. "I made it very clear that my brother is off limits." Sharaina reminded Liss.

Liss pouted and rolled her empty glass away. "Not fair Sharaina. How could you be so overprotective of your good-looking, hot, sexy, delicious, scrumptious... "

"Okay enough!" Sharaina cut her short, disgusted.

"Well, he is sexy." Liss continued and Sharaina groaned.

Liss looked over to the mansion and saw Light talking to a servant outside. She waved at him and he happily waved back. Liss excitedly looked back at Sharaina who hadn't yet recovered from her lustful talks about Naian.

"Can I ask Light to come over?" She asked Sharaina.

Sharaina looked at Light. "Yes you can. I don't see why not." she casually gave in.

Liss put her hands around her mouth and called out Light's name. Her sudden yell worsened Sharaina's headache.

"Damn it, Liss." she hissed, irritated

"He will be here in five." Liss cheerfully said.

Akirexer came out of the house with a basket. Alainara was holding her free hand. Akirexer looked over at Sharaina and Liss. She went to them. Liss smiled broadly at her and Akirexer noticed the bruise around Liss's lower lip. She knelt down and examined it further. Akirexer stared into Liss's eyes with eyes full of questions.

"Don't worry about this ma. I just had a little accident yesterday, that's all." Liss convincingly lied.

Akirexer stood up. "Be more careful with yourself dear." She said and turned to Sharaina. "Please watch over the soup on the stove and take it to Naian when it is ready. I am going to see Naliya."

"Okay, mama. Is Alainara going with you?" Sharaina asked for clarity.

"Yes she is. I will be back before dinner." Akirexer said and left.

Sharaina and Liss were indulged in a new argument about the previous night when Light joined them. He too was feeling hangover. He sat down on the lawn and helped himself to some juice.

He listened to the argument unnoticed by the girls. Sharaina rolled her eyes in frustration at Liss and finally saw Light sitting beside them.

"Oh my goodness, Light! Sorry! How long have you been there?" Sharaina asked remorsefully.

"Don't worry about it. I just got here. I hope you don't mind that I have finished the juice." Light held up the empty jar.

"Not at all." Sharaina assured him with a smile. "There's more were that came from." She said to him. "How is your first hangover treating you?" Sharaina giggled at him.

Light let out a gentle laugh. "I woke up this morning feeling as though I was bitten by a poisonous snake. I am definitely not drinking again." He explained and they all burst out laughing.

"We shall see about that." Liss remarked challengingly.

"I have to go and check on the soup. I'll be right back." Sharaina got up and took the empty jar and glasses with her.

Liss eyed Sharaina until she was in the house. She scooted closer to Light and he looked at her puzzled. Liss looked back at the house and when she saw that Sharaina wasn't coming out, she grinned.

"Hey Light, you really like Sharaina, don't you?" she whispered to him.

"Is it that obvious?" Light whispered back.

"Yes it is. Can I ask you one more question?" Liss continued.

"Err, sure you can." Light sipped the remaining juice in his glass.

Liss looked back at the house and quickly turned back to Light. "You aren't just interested in getting in between her legs are you?"

Light splashed juice out of his mouth. "Why are you asking me such a question?" he wiped his mouth, completely shocked by Liss's question.

"Sharaina is my best friend. I am looking out for her you see. I want to know if your intentions are genuine or not." Liss defended herself. The look on her face was serious.

Light widened his eyes shocked by her seriousness. "Look, we are just friends. I'm not looking at her like that." Light explained to Liss but she wasn't convinced.

"So, you don't find her attractive?" Liss rubbed her chin.

Light's eyes widened even more in disbelief. "Where are all these questions coming from?"

"How can you not find her attractive? I mean look at her." Liss said sincerely stunned.

Light cleared his throat, "I didn't say that I don't find her attractive."

"So, you do find her attractive and you want to sleep with her." Liss laughed. "I knew it. There's no such as thing as a good guy. You all think with your penises."

Light slumped his shoulders in defeat. "I think it's best I just stay quiet because you are twisting my words." he sighed and Liss giggled.

"I am keeping my eyes on you Light." Liss whispered at him when she saw Sharaina returning to them.

Sharaina felt the awkward atmosphere between Light and Liss. She began to fear that Liss may have said something stupid or embarrassing to Light. She shot a secret stern look at Liss and Liss blew a kiss at her.

Oh goodness I hope she didn't say anything to offend Light. Sharaina thought.

"Are you taking Naian's lunch now?" Liss asked Sharaina with her eyes on the basket Sharaina was carrying.

"Better now than later." Sharaina quickly replied. "Come on, let's go." Sharaina said to Liss and she got up. "Would you like to come too Light?" She asked Light.

"Sure, there's nothing much for me to do at home." Light obliged.

On the way to the workshop, Liss complained bitterly against Nelex. She spoke about how the two of them always fought and how it was always Nelex's fault. She said that she wished she never met him because he was an inconsiderate jerk.

Liss spoke loud enough for passersby to hear her. She didn't seem to mind their judgmental stares. Light found her to be so uncaring about what others thought of her. He admired her free spirit. Sharaina was quiet the whole way with a bored look on her face. She didn't even bother to respond to Liss when she asked them a question. Only Light answered Liss.

"I am so happy that it is over between us. That jerk didn't deserve me." Liss proudly uttered.

The trio made a corner to the right, and saw Nelex having lunch with a strange and attractive girl. The girl giggled as Nelex said sweet things to her. Liss gritted her teeth at the sight of him kissing her hand and winking flirtatiously at her.

Liss' blood boiled in rage. Sharaina held her hand but she violently shook her hand off. Liss angrily dashed to Nelex and his mysterious date.

"You two timing son of a bitch! How dare you do this to me?!" she screamed at Nelex.