Chapter 35 - The Time Forest

Serefina didn't know why but she was scared. The trees looked like monsters. Maybe it was because of the dark. But still that didn't relive her any better.

She felt warmth in her hand and saw that Bryan held her hand tight. "Don't leave my hand, Sef. This forest is not safe at all."

"Is it because of Sedvie?" Serefina asked though this was more like to distract herself from having to look at the dreadful scene around her.

"Well, now Sedvie is one of the problems. But there are many creatures in here that'll probably want to tear us apart if they saw us."

Now Serefina was more scared. This place was giving her the creeps. She felt her hand shaking.

Bryan stopped. "Sef, are you alright?"

She couldn't see his face but she could feel that his face was full of worry.

"I am f-fine, really." She was not.

"Hey, you're shaking right now. You know what let's just rest here tonight and we'll continue tomorrow."

"But-"

"No buts. Listen to me, will you?"

Serefina nodded as they sat under a tree. The bark was apparently soft not like real wood. "How is this so soft?"

"The Time forest is all about what they think about time. A person who is destined to do something good for humanity feels the softness of wood." Bryan relaxed his head against the bark and sighed.

Serefina didn't know anything about doing good to humanity, she just wanted her grandma back. Was that selfish of her to think so?

"Hey Bryan? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Sef. Anything."

"Well..." Her voice broke.

"We'll find her. I promise you we won't stop until we find you're grandma."

Serefina's eyes widened. How did Bryan know so much about her? She looked at him and he turned at the same time, his nose touching hers.

The time just stopped. The glint in Bryan's eyes sparkled. He turned away his head and cleared his throat. Serefina was to flustered to react.

"My apologies," he said. "I didn't mean to."

"Umm..."

Awkward silence. Last time the moment was taken care of by Ronald but this time they were all alone. Just the two of them.

She glanced at Bryan. Something about him always felt fameiler. He reminded her of someone. Someone she knew. Someone special.

"Sef, you know if you keep staring at me like that, I wouldn't be able to control myself," Bryan said as his ears turned red.

Serefina looked away again. What did he mean by not able to control himself? To do what? Maybe...

'No, Serefina, what are you even thinking right now!?' she thought

"So, are you going to dance with me at the ball?"

With the chaos that day Serefina had completely forgot about the dance. "I have never danced with someone other than grandma before."

"Your grandma taught you dance?"

"Yeah, she used to teach me when I was going to prom in my previous school."

"You mean the prom where you have to take a...date with you?"

"Yeah, kind of."

"Oh."

"But I didn't ever take a date with me."

"Why?"

"Because I never liked the people who asked. So, I always used to refuse them."

"Thank time!"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't think I could see you go on a date with someone else."

Serefina blushed again. He was making her heart skip a beat everytime he spoke.

"I'd love to dance."

"I thought you were refusing me at first."

"I would have refused if it were someone else. But it's different when you're the one asking."

He inched closer. "How different?" he smirked.

"Very different." Serefina smiled back.