He's going with us

"We are not taking him with us." Zoban narrowed his eyes at Mart, "if you want to travel, why don't you do so alone? It isn't as if we are seeking whom to take on a journey."

"It's not like that, Zoban. He's going on the same trip as us. We just can't let him travel alone. It's not safe for one person."

"Why did you embark on the journey when he knows he won't be safe alone?"

"I didn't say I wasn't capable of looking out for myself. If you don't want me to follow you, you can tell me that. I won't force you to take me." Mart said in a calm and collected voice. The expression on his face was one of a person who doesn't care.

"Don't say that, we will—"

"You heard it from him, right? There is no reason to take him with us." Zoban walked a bit to the right and sat on a tree. "It's late. We need to rest earlier." He leaned on the tree, and closed his eyes, with his hands folded. Zoban kept his bag close to him as if afraid it might grow hands and legs, should care not be taken.

"Don't worry, I will take you with us when we are leaving. Don't mind his words, he's a softie." I walked closer to Mart and sat down.

"It's alright. I would rather not be the reason for a drift between you two. If he doesn't want me to follow him, it's alright. You don't have to force anything."

"But—"

"It's alright, Dyn. He—"

"Don't call me that. My name is Dynma."

I can't tell why I wasn't pleased to hear him call me by that name.

It wasn't so when Zoban did the same. At least with him, I pretended to be repulsed by the mere idea of a pet name.

"Why? It suits you."

"No, don't call me that. Call me by my name. I kinda love it when people do that."

"Oh, okay." He nodded, "I won't call you by the name you don't want."

"Thank you." I turned my face towards Zoban who wasn't paying attention to me.

His eyes were tightly closed as he pretended to be sleeping, but I can tell he was still awake.

"Good night, Dynma."

"Good night," I replied, with my attention still on Zoban.

If only he will give in to my wishes.

******

I didn't sleep a wink last night.

It was as if my mind were fixed on Zoban. I kept on thinking of a way to solve things between us, but I didn't come up with any tangible plan.

"I'm not going without him." I folded my arms and glared at the prince.

"Suit yourself, then." He stretched his muscles a bit before he took up his back. "If you want to go with him, you can do that. It's not as if I care." He said before he started for the path that led out of the cleared part of the forest we were in.

"Zoban!" I called him, but he didn't turn. He kept on walking as if he didn't hear my calls.

"You don't have to be stubborn, Dynma. He's your partner."

"If he doesn't want to include you, then, he's no longer my partner. Come, let's follow him." I took up the small bag he left for me.

Unlike the other bag Zoban was with, this bag only had little money in it, and a few spare clothes. There was nothing else in it.

"Are you sure about this? Isn't it better we for—"

"Come on, stop acting like a sissy. I know who Zoban is. He won't be angry with me for long."

I was only hoping he won't be.

I've only known him for a few days, I can't say for sure what his thoughts are, and what he is always up to.

It's difficult to know the heart of a person who doesn't want his heart to be known.

"I hope he won't—"

"Stop talking already. Let's go." I took his hand in mine and dragged him after Zoban who was a few distances from us.

At first, he didn't notice us following him, but when he did, he turned with a frown.

"Why are you following me?" He furrowed his brows at me.

"Who said I'm following you? I happened to be taking the same part as you. Is that a crime?" I pursed my lips and pretended as if I wasn't stalking him.

"Why don't you take another path? Is this the only one?" He folded his arms, and glared at me, hoping it will scare me, but it did the opportunity.

Instead of scaring me, it amused me.

The prince looked cute whenever he was angry.

"This is the one I've decided to take. If it's not to your liking, you can choose another one, it's not as if this is the only path in the forest."

"Now, you are using my words against me?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Last I checked, you weren't the one who invented those words. Back in my wor— Kingdom, we frequently use the words."

"Since you want to take this path, go ahead. And don't you dare follow me." He glared at us as he started through another trail.

"Why don't you proceed with him? It's not as if I don't know the way back."

"You do?" I rolled my eyes at him, but he didn't seem to notice the sarcasm in my words.

"Are you kidding me?" He laughed, "I survived alone. You don't have to make it—"

"He must have gotten a head start now, let's go." I took his hand in mine and dragged him towards the path Zoban took, and he begrudgingly followed me.

I smirked as I thought of the expression that will be on Zoban's face when he sees us.

He should have known that I'm not one to back out without a fight.

I so happen to love this kind of thing.