GOODBYE (2)

In a hideout below ground, the trade gang hide all their loot and wait for the surrounding surveillance above to clear with fellow thief friends as lookouts.

"We really went over our heads this time." One of the gang members sitting on a pillar says. He had dark eyes and he held a pocket knife in his right arm with his other arm folded above his stomach.

"Yeah, but it was worth it." Another thief says. This one was tall and had long hair.

"What do you mean? We were caught!" Clair said to the tall man from the side.

"We were, but you weren't." The guy with the knife said with a grudge in his tone.

"Enough of this! We must escape!" A man suddenly said out of the blue. This man sat near the window. He seemed to be the leader and everyone kept quiet when he spoke. "When this dies down, we'll all get our stuff and meet below the bridge close to the border." He continued.

"But..." Clair says remembering Eren.

"But what? You won't come with us? You know, it's a matter of time before they find you." The dark eyed man with the knife drew nearer to Clair.

"I didn't say I wasn't coming..." Clair said as she took a step towards the man, looking straight at him, "... I just need you guys to buy me a little time. At sunset, I'll be there." She reassured the gang and turned to the boss with pleading eyes.

The tall guy with long hair looked at Clair dubiously, "I have a feeling that she'll bail on us and expose us, boss."

"If I do that I'm also going to lose, won't I?" Clair widened her arms as she tried to convince everyone.

"Okay, but if we don't see you at sunset we'll leave for Seudoria division." The boss said after a brief silence, ignoring the two men.

"Thank you boss." Clair bowed to show appreciation.

A knock was heard from the iron door.

Clair opened the rectangular peephole on the door and saw one of the lookouts.

"The coast is clear."

"Alright. We'll meet under the bridge at sunset."

***

Maya arrived home in an expensive jeep. At the front seats were two soldiers. They looked like they were ranked high in the eastern kingdom's army.

The one driving the jeep was a yellow skinned man who was almost bald and had a grouchy look on his face. The other was a dark skinned man with a muscular physique and he wore a suit-like uniform which gave away the fact that he was a general.

From the flower farm, Eren watched the jeep enter the compound and also watched the two men, alongside his mother, walk into the house.

Entering the living room, Eren saw the two men sitting on the couch. He greets them and goes over to the kitchen to meet Maya. Maya was carrying two glasses of wine in a tray, already walking out of the kitchen to serve the two men.

"Mum" Eren calls but gets no response.

"I'm sorry for taking so much time. Please use this to make yourselves comfortable." Maya said to the two men as she placed the tray on the table before them. She walked into the room and Eren followed behind.

"Mum who are those men? What's going on?" Eren asked immediately they entered the room.

Maya used her hand to clean the sweat on her forehead, took Eren's arms and then brought him to sit on the bed.

"Okay, Eren..." Maya sighed, "... Listen carefully. I didn't want to tell you this before because I knew you wouldn't agree. Now, it is all done and I can't hide it to from you anymore." She looked into Eren's eyes. She raised her right palm and touched Eren cheek as a tear slid down her face.

"Mum, what's wrong?" Eren said trying to understand what was going on.

Maya wiped the tear off her face. "Those men out there are going to take you to Oalia to your aunty Eva." Maya finally said.

"What? Mum! I don't even know who that is! And I don't want to go! Why are you sending me away?!" Eren was confused.

"You'll get to know her, I'm not sending you away. You deserve more than what this place can offer. There, you'll go to school and learn medicine. Isn't that your dream? You'll also make a lot of friends." Maya tried to convince him in a shaky voice as tears now rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"So that's why. I can learn medicine on my own and I have a lot of friends here. You want me to just abandon them?" Eren said and freed his hands from Maya's grip.

"That is not all, I can't protect you. Sooner or later they'll find you and I wouldn't be able to do anything." Maya said desperately looking at Eren.

"Mum, what are you saying?!" Eren yelled in confusion.

"There's so much you don't know. But nevermind that. You have to go now." Maya packed some of Eren's belongings excluding his clothes.

"Mum stop! I am not going!" Eren yelled again.

"Yes you are!" Maya yelled back.

Eren held Maya and she turned to him, "I'm serious!" Maya shouted.

Eren lets go of his mother's arm.

"Do this for me." Maya said.

Eren surrendered as Maya had never been this serious before.

"Mum, I don't want to leave you." Eren said with a calm voice.

"I know. Neither do I, but you must go. Wherever you are in this world, just know that I am fine and I am most proud of you. Besides, when you've finished, you can come back. I'll be here waiting for you." Maya said as she had finished packing up his bag.

'Clair!' Eren suddenly thought.

"Mum, I'll be back. I have to find Clair." Eren ran out without even waiting for a reply.

"Don't be long, okay?!" Maya shouted as he had already run away.

***

Eren ran as fast as he could. He knew that Clair was on the run but something told him that she would be at the top of the building in the market.

***

Waiting at the top of the building, Clair had faith that Eren would show up as this could be the last time that she would see Eren.

She prayed to god or who ever was listening that Eren would show up before sunset because she didn't have time to go over to his house. She rested her head on the rail with her hands over her head. Something was telling her that he would come. She just didn't know when.

'Where the fuck are you Eren?!' She thought.

Eren finally reached the top of the building.

Clair had given up.

As she turned to go, she found Eren panting. He probably ran from his house to the building.

The sun was setting and the golden scenery glowed as both parties sighed in relief.

"Eren!"

"Clair!"

They both called each other at the same time as they walked to each other. They stood extremely close, looking for the right words to say.

"I need to tell you something."

"I'm going away"

They said at the same time.

"What?!" Clair exclaimed.

"Calm down." Eren said to reduce the tension.

"I can't. I don't have much time left." Clair said.

"Me too, but how are you going away?" Eren asked.

"We can't stay here anymore. Last night, we tried to rob a general and we got caught. Now the army is on our tail and we must escape after sunset." Clair explained quickly.

Eren paused in shock, "I get it now. I'm also going to the Oalia division. I came as fast as I could. I don't know why, but all I know is that I must go, or, so mum says." Eren explained calmly, in control of his emotions.

Clair calms down, trying to seize the moment. She knew that she may never see him again and she wanted to use most of the little time they had.

"You'll never seize to be a mama's boy, will you?" Clair said with a a little humor.

Eren smiled and walked up to the rail to get a better view of the setting sun. Clair follows and rests on the rail beside Eren.

"That far, huh? I'm just crossing over the wall but you're off to Oalia." Clair chuckled.

There was a brief silence and Eren turned to Clair. "I will never forget you. I will never forget this." He said with a rueful smile.

"How could you when you're wearing that ring?" Clair replied as she looked at the jade ring he was wearing.

"Just say it." Eren said.

"Yeah, I'll never forget you too..." She rolled her eyes playfully. "... But, I'm happy for you. If you ever meet the king or the queen, tell them that a friend of yours says they should go to hell with the middle finger." She continued.

"Are you trying to get me executed?" Eren replied humorously.

A few minutes of silence passed by.

"I have to go now." Clair suddenly said.

"Me too" Eren sighed.

The sun had set and the sky was pale blue.

Clair suddenly takes Eren by his left arm and placed her right hand on his cheek. Going closer to him, she kisses him in what would seem to the longest time ever.Eren rolled with it and placed his right hand on her hip.

Soon, she let go and tears were already falling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry." She said.

"Why are you sorry? You've never had to say sorry." Eren wipes her tears and smiles but the tears just kept rolling down.

Clair let go of Eren and walked away without turning back.

She was gone, maybe for good. Eren felt extremely sad, but he too had no time left, for it was almost dark.

***

Maya, the general and the soldier were already standing outside when Eren got home. The soldier was looking extremely grouchy while the general remained calm.

"There he is..." Maya let out a breath of relief. "... I told you he didn't run away." Maya said jokingly.

"You thought I ran away?"

"For a moment, yes." Maya replied.

"Okay, that's all for the chat, we have to go now." The soldier said rudely as he walked to the jeep.

Maya saw Eren's sad expression and knew immediately, "I'm sorry about Clair." She said.

"It's not just Clair. Are you sure you'll be alright mum?"

Maya threw the bag into the jeep and turned to Eren. "Yes, I'll be fine." She smiled as she helped Eren into the jeep.

"I love you honey. Never forget that." Maya said as the two men entered the jeep. "Eva will take good care of you." She finally said as a tear rolled down her right eye.

"Goodbye mum." Eren said, using everything he had to hold back his tears.

The jeep reversed into the driveway.

"I'll send letters okay? Remember to write back!" Maya shouted, waving as the jeep drove away.

Soon, the jeep was out of sight and it dawned on Maya.

'My boy is gone.'

"Protect our child wherever you are, Alex." She said, looking up to the stars.