It Was an Unfair Barter

The thing about stories was that they could be immortal. To be forever loved. Or hated all its existence. Honestly stories are one of the most precious things to their creators. 

Every story is made from the beating heart of the author. A piece of flesh cut off and then sewed into the skin of the pages. Sometimes it was a speck. Sometimes it was the whole heart.

Readers hold their stories close to their heart, or maybe even put it on a platter for the story.

There were a lot of in betweens. Lots and lots of in betweens.

But our story is about those who have served their heart. And somehow, something you love could cause you to lose everything.

But at least in the case of Kleuren, he had Ananika. So he did not lose the most important part of his life. He missed his parents. But in the end Ananika was all that mattered.

She was where the fun began after all.

Even when they were kids. Her bright fire burnt through all of his shadows. With her he felt alive. Then there was this story. He had seen her read it once. With great concentration. He knew that look.

She was in love.

And he was jealous.

Very much so.

He found the story, and on reading it. He fell in love too. Maybe not as much as Ananika. But Kleuren loved the story. The characters. 

He did not want anyone to talk about it with. He waited for one day Ananika to ask him. But she never did.

So he did.

After years. He finally asked. And it was the most important revelation. Even if they are both dead now. And probably buried if the bodies were found.

He knew Ananika like he knew nothing else. He knew her favourite colour to her deepest desires. They were close from birth. But he knew Ananika won't love some wimpy freak obsessed with her.

So he pretended to not like her.

He liked every flavour she did not. She would like someone who opposed her after all.

He changed his style. Copying mannequins.

Changed the way he behaved.

It was a gradual process. She probably did not remember him being the geeky, scrawny kid he was. He still was a geeky scrawny kid. Just cooler.

And when he finally did. Finally after years on end he had found himself with her. Changing everything about himself.

Changing everything he liked. His outfits, his colours. His taste. Everything to oppose and make her love him.

She was being stolen away by his favourite character.

Era seemed to love Ananika.

It had been obvious. After all, his girlfriend was damn amazing.

Actually he knew why Era was flirting so hard. She was a thief by nature. And liked things that belonged to others.

But he knew neither of them liked each other in that way. 

But he felt his heart burn at the sight of them being so close. He was scared of his Ananika being stolen from him. 

But if she chose to leave one day, he would comply.

Because. He liked her best when she was happy.

And it had been two days since they had arrived at some place with a creek running, that belonged to four people. It was a wide area filled with grass. And a campfire burning.

Lae who was confused at first. Disagreed second. Then agreed. Because Era did not let him not.

Era was the true protagonist of the whole novel. She was a magicless person, in a magical world. Just like everyone in that house. 

Kleuren felt like the author hated Era sometimes.

But that was a far away thought in his mind.

He watched as Era slowly clinged on to Ananika. Who smiled with her the whole time. It took him so much effort to be loved. But just because she was a character that was loved by her. 

He sighed. 

He looked around.

The forest was a boring place to be.

 But it was the place to be.

Since, it is where the story is supposed to start. Well the story started for a long time. The author was more invested in making the characters. But they did add soul to the story. The plot was pretty slow.

But now it was over.

And he realized how much he missed the story.

There was no story to follow anymore. It was real after all.

Everyone was quietly eating the berries they had found. Kleuren only ate a little, since he had not helped. Ananika ate a lot. She was very hungry. He smiled at the sight.

She talked to all of them without any hesitation. Era being the frequent one. The others had their own introductions and they sounded real. Well they were. But it just felt even more to him.

He looked at Ananika.

Maybe it was all still a dream to her.

A dream where she lived with her favourite characters.

A dream in which maybe Kleuren did not exist.

After all that he fell asleep. He didn't feel like talking. He wished he was a little less jealous. He did not have a dream. He was very tired after all. 

It had been cold when he slept. But it was warm when he woke up.

He looked at his girlfriend hugging him.

He pressed a kiss on her forehead, hugging her tighter. 

"Were you jealous?" Ananika's voice was croaky. She did not move, her face buried into his chest.

"Yes. Very." He worded out the two syllables in a harsh manner. His voice biting.

"I'm sorry." She hugged him tighter. Her whole figure slouched into his. Their legs one over the other.

"It's fine." Kleuren placed a soft kiss onto his girlfriend's head.

"Hmm."

"You know we are dead," Ananika said.

 "Like really really dead." Her words were a whisper. As though it were a secret from herself.

Kleuren could feel her tears wet his t-shirt. He drew different shapes on her back. Hearts and stars. She liked them. 

"I know." Kleuren said.

"It doesn't feel real." Her voice was a whimper.

"I miss my parents." Her tears flowed.

"I miss my friends." 

"I miss everyone."

"I don't miss anyone." Kleuren's voice. He felt annoyed at Ananika for once. 

But then it was silent.

"I mean at least you are here." He said, his heart starting to beat a bit too much.

"Hmm." 

Ananika slept.

And a part of Kleuren realized, Ananika did not love him as much as he did. She had only thrown a piece of her heart and he had given the whole heart on a platter.

It was an unfair barter.