Chapter 17: Obvious.

Meanwhile near the parlor:

" Is something wrong in the base? " Brenden asked Lucas as soon as Mel left.

" What do you think you're doing? Like seriously? You do know that this thing with that girl is not forever. Why are you giving her false hopes??" Lucas asked frowning at his best friend's judgment, ignoring his question.

Brenden smiled bitterly and spoke after a minute of silence," I know that we can never be together or only if some huge miracle happens, if- the God suddenly pities me. And I don't feel anything for her." he chuckled at his own insensitive self, ' As if that can happen.' and continued,

" I don't need to explain myself to you. But yet, I can assure you that I will always protect her from now on. Be it has-Brenden or you know, as for me." He added solemnly, his cynical smile bringing shivers down Lucas' spine.

" I think if you're more than fond of her, it might ....hurt you, later," Lucas says with concern for his 10 year-best friend.

He had met Brenden when they were training together in DT. As always the syndicate would do a throughout check and collect ( kidnap), several children for their training of the special and intense sessions. They build up the future pillars of the DT syn. by entering into roles as per their caliber and talent.

So, Lucas was caught at the age of 5, and Brenden was caught at 7, most likely saved.

Brenden was an aloof and creepy child when he was brought. He never used to talk, smile, or behave normally. But then, he got up with the others with the help of Lucas ( as per Lucas). Whom, Brenden totally ignored, a fact that was well known to everyone in the syn. . To which, Lucas is still oblivious to!!

Poor guy, Lucas. * sigh *

Suddenly the talk was disrupted when they heard a high-frequency shrill scream.

" What the Fu*k is wrong with you?..."

Brenden didn't mind the conflict as Lucas did, but rather searched for the person who should have been on one of the benches. ' Where the hell is she?'

He ran towards the conflict, where a large number of people stood, pulling Lucas along, without a second thought.

' What so ever happens, she should not know that he cares for her! Never! Wait, who cares? It's just a protective instinct for a fellow human - maybe a tiny human being. ( Just the height.) Yes, just an instinct not any other thing.'

As they pushed through the crowd of spectators a tiny chubby figure come into view. She was totally flushed in anger and seemed to be controlling it a lot. Then like the last hit on the heated iron she broke and retorted in a very 'un-lady-like' speech.

Brenden and Lucas stood there right behind her - speechless. Never in their life had they expected her to burst out like that.

" WOW!!! You're so cool, sister!! " Lucas cheered and ran towards her as the others scramed off.

...

Melanie was surprised to hear Lucas's voice. Turning around she found herself embarrassed in front of Brenden, again!!! ' Urghhh... could this get more awkward? or embarrassing? Can you even maintain a good demure in front of him?? * wu..wu..* so humiliating.'

As soon as Lucas reached her, she put on a small smile, acting as though nothing had happened a while ago.

" When did you guys get here?"

" When you star----" Lucas' sentence was left incomplete as he was under the Dark prince's deadly glare. " Uhmm ... let me go checkout for our order first. You two come along." saying that he ran towards the parlor.

After he left Mel smiled weakly at Brenden to avoid awkwardness but it seemed as though the situation was way better without it.

" Where did you learn those words?" he broke the silence .' Wow, that's a first!! Way to go Brenden!!'

Mel looked at him in disbelief," Don't you read books, scold your friends, call them names? Speaking that, it's obvious. " She concluded.

Brenden couldn't take the declaration. Especially when she puffed her chubby cheeks and patted herself on the shoulder seemingly pleased with her own explanation.

Looking at her still proud and silly self he chuckled without much thought.

" Well, what you said was really good, even reasonable, but I don't approve of the language that you used back there," he chided slowly.

Mel pouted at his words," Why do you sound so strict? It's like I'm stuck with a disciplinary teacher."

' Yeah exactly!! Who the hell needs his approval by the way?? He doesn't even speak out for heaven's sake!!!'

Her sub-conscious was grinning at Mel giving her thumbs- up for the thoughts that she dare not speak out.

Dared not...