A VEIL OF PERCEPTION

A look of bewilderment crossed Yura's face, and she echoed, "Huh?" Her voice laced with confusion, and her eyes searched Ezekiel's, begging for clarification. "Why did you share all those stories about Ofori then?". "You're still clueless, aren't you?" Unable to suppress the bitterness this time around in his voice. "All these years, I've watched over you, treated you like a younger sister, and pampered you with every whim....But with Ofori, it was different. He was the storm that would shake your very foundations due to losing your drive after being shaken by that "enemy," the one who would push you to your limits and beyond. He became your rival, not because he admired your talents, but because he wanted to ignite a fire within you. A fire strong enough to drive you into desperation, to prove yourself with every second you put into your training. To make you realize that he was closing in, he will soon surpass you and leave you in the dust. That maybe, just maybe, he'd even retract his words about you being his one and only rival. Ofori ignited a spark within you, a burning conviction that with mediocrity's spark and dedication's flame, you could rise to the pinnacle. He became the catalyst for your relentless pursuit of excellence, the benchmark against which you measured your progress. He knew that to shatter the confines of your comfort zone, to emerge from the sheltered world you'd built around yourself, you'd need unyielding strength – strength of body, mind, and spirit. And so, he embodied the perfect storm: passion that fuelled your drive, motivation that pushed you forward, competition that tested your limits, and a sense of crisis that refused to let you settle. He was the fire that forged your resolve, the whetstone that sharpened your ambitions".

I'm not painting him as a saint, far from it, and his reputation with ladies is well deserved with his smooth talk and killer looks. He's left a trail of flustered hearts and flushed faces in his wake. But amidst that Chaos he has ensured, he's shown a side of himself to you that few others have seen. Even if one of his motivations was as shallow as desire, it's undeniable that he sees something in you that others don't. He's never patronised you or talked down on you. Instead, he has treated you as equal, that kind of trust and belief can be a powerful thing, and it's hard to ignore the impact it has had on you. "Ezekiel's words dripped with mirth as he continued, 'He's never coddled you or spoken to you with false reverence. Instead, he's teased you, pushing you to rise above, do more than you're capable of, never minded his words just because you were an "old hag."' Yura's face puffed out in indignation, 'Hey, I'm not an old hag!' she interjected, her voice laced with mock offense, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Ezekiel chuckled, unfazed, 'That's why he constantly butts heads with you. He's not driven by romantic notions or lust but by deep-seated respect and admiration for you as a person.' Yura's eyes narrowed, and Ezekiel pressed on, his tone laced with amusement, 'And that's why he hates it when you thank him. It's almost...absurd, isn't it? Praising oneself, perhaps, but thanking oneself? Not even the emperor of narcissisticness would stoop to that level.

Ezekiel's words hung in the air, laced with a mix of concern and exasperation. "Do you know how many times you've fallen for the schemes and plots of the "enemies"?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Yura's reaction.

Yura's face contorted in a mixture of frustration and indignation, her hands flying up in a gesture that was almost comically defensive. She looked like a football fan who'd just witnessed an egregious foul, her expression a perfect blend of outrage and incredulity. "Come on!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in protest.

Ezekiel's gaze never wavered, his eyes sparkling with amusement despite the seriousness of the topic. "No, let me finish," he said firmly, his tone a gentle rebuke that belied the twinkle in his eye. "Two hundred and fifty-three times," Ezekiel said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. "That's how many times you've fallen for their baits and schemes."

Yura's eyes widened, her expression a mix of surprise and defensiveness. Ezekiel continued, his words painting a stark picture. "Niko noticed two hundred times – no surprise there, given his seer's intuition. Miss Francisca caught on thirty times, her special eyes piercing through deception. Captain noticed ten times..."

Yura's gaze remained fixed on Ezekiel, her emotions playing out on her face. When he mentioned Ofori, her incredulity burst forth. "Ofori...ten times?" she repeated, her voice laced with amusement and disbelief. "That guy can't even find his own artefacts in his own room!"

Ezekiel's expression remained calm, a gentle smile on his lips. "Shocking as it may seem, that's the truth," he said, his voice low and even. "And it tells you...he pays attention you in ways you never thought was possible."Ezekiel's expression remained calm, a gentle smile on his lips. "Shocking as it may seem, that's the truth," he said, his voice low and even. "And it tells you...how much of an attention he pays you, in ways you never thought was possible."

The curiosity gnawed at Yura, refusing to let go. "So, who noticed the other three times?" she pressed, her voice laced with a mix of intrigue and anticipation.

Ezekiel's response was delivered with a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "Miguel."

Yura's eyes widened, her expression a perfect blend of surprise and amusement. "Miguel?" she echoed, her voice tinged with incredulity. "Well, that makes sense," she added, a hint of dry humour creeping into her tone. "Given his...let's say, 'fascination' with order."

Ezekiel's lips curved into a subtle smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Of course, that trait of his pushes him to always know the whereabouts and what we're all up to sometimes," he added, his voice low and even.

All that is said is said, but just to let you know, "Each and every one of us our own perspective on you," but one thing is for sure, said Ezekiel, his voice laced with sincerity, being belittled, dismissed or an "idiot" isn't and will never be part of that equation. I have got to go since you bailed on us before the meeting even started, we need to wrap things up fast and see what is going to be our goal or decision on the matter at hand is. One more thing Ezekiel face bore the weight of, " your parting words before storming out of the hall, hurt them than you think,". Yura's voice quivered, guilt washing over her like a surging tide, "I'm sorry, Ezekiel," she said, her voice filled with remorse.

Ezekiel's expression softened slightly. "I know, they know, but it still stings. Just.... please refrain from using such words towards them.

≡

I'm heading to farms, "honey," Kevin called out from the doorway. "Wait up!" Chimed Christie in a rushed tone from upstairs, Come on, Christie, I'm just going for an inspection not to work on the farms, and I want to come with you said Christie in demanding tone. "Is that too much to ask?"Her tone was laced with longing like a love- struck maiden yearning for her soldier husband return from duty, she asked, but the room in which she was in, muffled her question.

"Huh? What was that, hon?" Kevin asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Just wait for me," Christie replied, her voice laced with a pleading tone. "Okay," Kevin responded, his tone softening. "You do know I'm going to the farms, right?" he posed, his words gentle. "Yeah, why?" Christie asked, curiosity creeping into her voice. "It's just that it's right behind the house, and it's just a minute's walk," Kevin explained, his words slow and funny like he was speaking to an amnesia patient.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Christie said matter-of-factly, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "Oh, I don't know, it's just that I don't think it's a good idea to fuss with makeup and all that lady-ish stuff just to check up on the farm and come back in twenty minutes." "I'm not putting on makeup or any of that lady-ish stuff, I'm just putting on a suitable dress for the farm," Christie said, her voice dripping with self-righteousness, her tone implying "thought you were so smart about guessing what I was doing well you thought wrong" with a smug grin on her face

"So you mean to tell me you've been trying out clothes for the past one hour forty-five minutes?" Kevin asked, his voice laced with incredulity, his eyes wide with amusement. Christie's cheeks flushed a deep pink as she realized her mistake, and she stammered, "I-I'll be there in a sec." Kevin's smirk grew, "That's exactly what you said thirty minutes ago." Christie's face burned with embarrassment as she was called out on her white lie, her eyes darting away in shame.