Chapter 21 - Surprise Visit

Alone on a terrace was King Raglan. He was so deep in thought that he didn't see Commander Sevilon join him at the table. A servant served Sevilon pure fruit juice and promptly left. Sevilon drank his juice silently. The sound of his glass hitting the glass table pulled King Raglan away from his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were sitting there." he apologized.

"What seems to be the problem, my king?" Sevilon inquired.

King Raglan sighed and dropped his shoulders. "What other problem can get me so distraught except for my son? What he did last night has left me fearing for my kingdom. I'm sure you have already heard about it." he complained and Sevilon nodded his head in assurance.

"Perhaps he will change for the better my king." he said but King Raglan looked unconvinced.

"I'm afraid it is too late for that. There are lower chances of him changing. What I'm I to do? He is my only child and sole heir. Having him on the throne as he is now will be a complete nightmare." King Raglan paused but Sevilon saw that he still had more to say so he patiently waited for him to continue.

"Sevilon... sometimes I think of fathering another child but Lavila isn't cooperative. I think the only way now is to take up a second wife. It'll be a whole of a lot better than having a concubine." he sounded low and defeated.

"It will be well, my king." Sevilon replied.

"Of course. I am yet to sit down with the council of elders about this." King Raglan sat up and drank from his glass.

"Well, enough about that, have you finally chosen who the new member of the Enchanted Seven will be?" he asked

"Yes we have your majesty. We voted for Philanda. She will be an excellent addition to the Enchanted Seven." he replied.

"Alright I trust your judgement. We will swear her in as scheduled."

****

Liss and Mayla were chatting loudly with Bayin in his bar. They had been drinking there since mid morning. The people in the bar knew them so they took turns in buying them beer.

The bar was full as usual. The music was not at its best but no one seemed to mind. Sharaina got into the bar and her eyes searched for Liss and Mayla.

When she saw them, she slowly made her way to their table. Bayin ordered one of his waitresses to serve Sharaina a beer. Sharaina drank her beer in silence and listened to the trio chatting.

"It took you long enough to get here." Mayla said to Sharaina.

Sharaina took another drink out of her bottle. "I had a lot to do at home." she blankly replied.

"Sharaina, what's the matter? You seem to be bothered about something." Bayin asked her.

"I am fine." she smiled at him and sipped her beer.

A waitress whispered into Bayin's ear and his eyelids stretched. He looked back at her appalled and left the table without excusing himself. Liss and Mayla kept their attention on Sharaina.

There was no denying that she wasn't in her usual jovial mood. They suspected that something was wrong. Mayla leaned towards Sharaina and waved her hand in her face. When Sharaina looked up, she poked her nose.

"What is with you today? Did something happen at home?" Mayla asked, worried.

"Everything is fine at home." Sharaina blankly answered again.

"Then what is it?" Liss was next to ask.

Sharaina finished her bottle and looked at her friends with her lips tucked in thought. Liss and Mayla exchanged worried looks and looked back at Sharaina.

"I think Light is intentionally avoiding me and I don't know why." she finally said.

Liss and Mayla cracked up laughing much to Sharaina's dismay.

"I don't see how what I have said is so funny." she curtly said and they laughed even more.

"Let us laugh at you in peace." Liss let out a loud guffaw.

"Do you at least have an idea as to why he could be avoiding you?" Mayla asked Sharaina.

"No I don't and that's the thing. The last time we talked, everything was okay between us." Sharaina sighed and then suddenly pointed at Liss. "Did you say something to him? I know you don't think before you say anything."

Liss drank the remaining beer in her cup before saying. "No I didn't and trust me, nothing I can ever say will keep Light away from you."

Liss looked sideways and leaned closer to Sharaina. "I once asked him if all he was interested in was getting in between your legs but that didn't stop him from seeing you." she whispered.

Sharaina's jaw dropped but her shocked look quickly balled up into a scowl. "Liss why would you..." she paused. 'Why I'm I even surprised?'

"When did you ask him that?" Sharaina questioned Liss.

"I asked him that day when we were sunbathing on your lawn." Liss cheerfully answered and Sharaina groaned.

"Maybe he has a girlfriend and she got jealous of your closeness with him." Mayla voiced out her suspicions.

Sharaina heart dropped at that possibility. She rested her head on her palm with a frown. "You could be right but still he should have at least told me instead of shutting me out." she complained.

Liss stretched her lips and looked at Sharaina with an unbelieving look. "Why do you care so much that Light is avoiding you? I mean, Mayla and I are your best friends and we have avoided you at times after arguments but it took you at least four days to a week to start caring. Light has ignored you for a little while and you are feeling restless." she pointed out.

"What are you trying to say Liss?" Sharaina defensively asked Liss.

"She is saying that you have developed feelings for Light." Mayla said and lit a cigarette.

"Why thank you for explaining my point, Mayla." Liss remarked and lit her own cigarette. "It's okay to fall in love Sharaina. Light is a good guy so what's the harm?"

Sharaina held up her empty bottle to a waitress and she picked a fresh one for her. She turned to Liss and Mayla who were waiting for her response.

"Perhaps you are both right but what does it matter? He doesn't want to talk to me. What could I have done wrong?" she sighed again as the waitress placed her opened beer on the table.

"I have an idea of how you are going to find out. But as for now, let's enjoy ourselves a little huh?" Liss excitedly said.

"Hey Bayin! Ask your singer to put on a real show for us not this fucking bullshit she is trying to sell!" Liss yelled out to Bayin and most of the people in the bar clapped their hands.

The singer whipped her hair back and the band got ready. She sang with so much aggression as she moved her hips and the people cheered. Mayla started dancing in her seat and Liss sang along with the singer. Sharaina's mood began to lift for the better.

The girls drank and danced to the music with everyone. Sharaina didn't realize that it was getting late. When she looked at the clock at the counter, she was shocked that it was 7:15 p.m.

She pulled Mayla and shouted that they had to go in her ear. Mayla nodded her head and did the same to Liss. She yelled okay to both of them.

In no time the girls were out of the bar and they walked to Sharaina's home. When they got there, Liss and Mayla opted to climb up the ladder to Sharaina's room while she used the front door.

Sharaina could barely walk straight. She smiled relieved when she only found Alainara in the living room. Alainara looked on as Sharaina went straight up the stairs. She blinked at Sharaina bumping into Emelinia.

Emelinia was taken aback by her drunkenness. Sharaina smiled at her and waved her finger side to side. Emelinia took the hint and said nothing as she watched at Sharaina go into her room and shut the door.

Sharumez walked out of his room soon after and raised his brows baffled by the stunned look on Emelinia who was still standing in the middle of the staircase.

"What is it, child?" he asked her.

"Nothing at all." she answered.

"Is Sharaina finally home?" he asked again and she slowly nodded her head. "Okay, that's good." he said and went into the living room.

When the girls could no longer hear Sharumez, they were relieved. Mayla dived onto the bed while Liss and Sharaina sat on the carpet. Mayla took out another cigarette but Sharaina snatched it right before she lit it.

"Hey!" Mayla tried to get it back.

"You must be out of your mind thinking that you can smoke here. Do you want my father to pick up the scent and come in here? The last thing I need is for him to see me like this. He always overreacts. I wonder what he worries about. I don't sleep around when I drink." Sharaina laughed.

"I'm sure he wonders whether you are still a virgin or not." Mayla said and Liss giggled.

"Well, that's my little secret." Sharaina laughed hard.

Liss smacked her hands together. "Okay now let's get down to business. I think it's time I told you how you are going to get Light's attention." she said and both Sharaina and Mayla kept quiet. "We are going over his house and we will get his attention through his bedroom window."

"I don't think that's a good idea. What if we get in trouble?" Mayla expressed her doubts.

"I think so too." Sharaina agreed.

Liss scoffed at Sharaina. "How will you get the answers you seek? He will continue ignoring you."

"Alright fine, let's do it but we will sneak out through my window. My father is downstairs." Sharaina gave in.

Liss and Mayla got out of the room first. Sharaina was next to climb out but halted in fear when she heard a knock on her door. She moaned and placed her hand on her forehead.

Sharaina quickly got into her bathroom and asked who it was from there. She was relieved to hear Emelinia's voice. She got out of the bathroom and asked Emelinia to go in.

"Ma says dinner is ready." she said.

Sharaina pulled her into the room and closed the door. "Emelinia, now that you are engaged to my brother we are practically sisters in law right?" she asked her and she slowly nodded her head.

"I want to go over to Light's place right now and I need you to cover for me. I will be back soon I promise." Sharaina pleaded but Emelinia furrowed uncertain. "I really need to see him. Please help me Emelinia. Only you can do this for me."

"Okay, I will but please hurry up." Emelinia finally agreed.

Sharaina leaped with joy and kissed Emelinia on her cheek. "Thank you so much."

Sharaina climbed out of her window. Emelinia took out her keys from the door and locked it. She went downstairs to the dinning table. Akirexer was puzzled that Sharaina wasn't with her. Emelinia quickly explained that Sharaina decided to take a bath instead.

****

The girls found all the lights at the mansion on. They scaled across the yard undetected and hid behind a bush. Sooner than they expected, they watched the lights going off. They came out of hiding and looked up at the mansion.

"Which one is Light's room?" Liss asked Sharaina and she pointed.

Liss proceeded to throw a pebble at the window and a light immediately turned on. To their shock, Velan looked out the window. He squinted his eyes as he looked around and when he saw no one, he closed the window and turned off his lamp.

The girls were able to hide behind the bush just in time before he spotted them. Mayla wiped the sweat off her forehead and Sharaina slapped Liss at the back of her head. Liss growled at Sharaina and grabbed her collar. Sharaina pulled her collar and the two growled at each other.

"You idiot, you pointed at the wrong window!" Liss furiously whispered to Sharaina.

"No I didn't dumb ass. You hit the window that I didn't point at!" Sharaina aggressively whispered back.

"Will you two shut the fuck up before you get us caught for real?" Mayla scolded them and they let go of each other.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

"Well, we can't hit a window now." Sharaina voiced out.

Light suddenly opened his window. When the girls saw him, they were delighted. They swiftly sneaked to the window. Mayla helped Liss onto her shoulders. Sharaina stepped on Mayla's hand and she climbed on Liss. She then sat on Light's window panel.

Light was astonished to see her there smiling and waving at him. He got off his bed and went to her surprised. He heard Liss and Mayla and looked down. He watched Liss jump off Mayla's shoulders.

"We are leaving now Sharaina." Liss whispered. "Remember, it's okay. Allow yourself."

Sharaina gave them a thumbs up and they quietly left. Sharaina got into Light's room and sat on his bed. When he looked into her eyes, he realized that she was very drunk. Sharaina patted his bed and he reluctantly sat on it. Sharaina rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Sharaina, this is crazy. What are you doing here and worse in the state that you are in? Do you know how much trouble this could get us both into?" Light sternly scolded her.

Sharaina pouted, "Well you have been ignoring me so what choice did I have?" she laughed.

'Oh she noticed. I was hoping that she didn't.' Light silently thought.

"What did Liss mean by its okay and you should allow it?" he asked her and she gave a drunken chuckle.

"She and Mayla are convinced that I am falling in love with you." Sharaina groggily said.

Light's heart skipped a beat and raced away, thumping in his ear drums. He nervously licked his lips, scratching the back of his neck.

"Well, are you?" he longingly looked at her.

"I don't know... maybe? I think I am." Sharaina yawned.

Light widened flabbergasted by her answer, "What?"

"I'm the one asking the questions. I want to know why you have been avoiding me. What wrong have I done?"

Light nervously observed the seriousness in Sharaina's eyes. He could see that his actions hurt her.

"You haven't done anything wrong." he simply said.

Sharaina drew closer to him, looking deeply into his eyes, she asked, "But why then, Light? Do you have a girlfriend and does she think that I am over stepping my boundaries with you?"

Light faced away, "No, I don't have a girlfriend." he said.

"Tell me why, Light. Help me understand." Sharaina said but he remained silent.

'Now that I know that she has developed feelings for me, I have no choice but to tell her the truth. But how can I? Telling her will mean losing her. I'm I ready for that?' Light pondered.

Light stared at Sharaina yawning. He was mesmerized by how cute she looked even when drunk.

'Focus Light.' He said to himself and turned away.

'I am so happy that she also has feelings for me. If only things were different. But I must tell her. She deserves to know. Better she knows now than later. It's just not possible for us to be together.'

"Sharaina, " he started. "I am avoiding you because I... I am falling for you but things are complicated." Light breathed out through his mouth. "I am engaged to be married to someone else. My parents will never accept us together. My mother doesn't even want to be friends."

Light paused and heard Sharaina breath. He couldn't muster the courage to look at her.

"I'm afraid the more I spend time with you, the more I yearn for your love. I don't want to hurt you so I think it is best we stopped being in each others lives." he finished.

Light anxiously waited for Sharaina's response but she was silent. He feared that his words hit her hard. Light felt awful for telling her the truth but it had to be done. He just had to tell her.

Light heard a soft snore and immediately turned to look. He was completely astonished to see Sharaina fast asleep. From the look of things, she didn't hear anything he said about his engagement. Light was left with mixed feelings of frustration and relief.

He put a pillow under her head, took off her boots and covered her. Light went into his closet and walked out with another duvet. He picked a pillow off the bed and laid down on his couch.

Light looked over to Sharaina once more, frowning at her elegance in his bed. "I will tell her tomorrow. I just hope that I will regain the courage to do it."