Memories of our square friendship and the confession.

*Azalea's POV-

Oh shoot...!

I really have to admit this time, my mouth really has a mind of its own. Everyone in the prison was totally shocked. And I can bet everyone is waiting for me to say 'Hey, just kidding'. But I wasn't. I was even in shock about what I said. But the bubble which broke inside me took it all over. Earlier, I was feeling angry. Right now, I am feeling frustrated. Really weird.

But not weirder than those people who are in shock. I looked at Iris, who was also confused about what I had done. But as soon as he saw me staring at me, he immediately smirked at me. Meanwhile, this girl was so shocked that her eyes looked like they were about to fall out and come towards me at any time. Some prisoners' jaws dropped from amusement. Some people fell and sank onto the floor. And the remaining people were still waiting for me to add 'I am just kidding'. But I am not. Looking at everyone's faces makes me say-

' Azalea rocked. Everyone shocked.'

But everyone even includes me too. Even I am very amused as well as shocked. A few seconds of silence passed. Just like an angel has passed by. We were all still sitting in silence, but Lia broke the silence.

"Ahem... I am really sorry for bothering you two. Heheheh [awkward laugh]... I was just, just... Doing my duty... I am sorry prince Iris and Miss Dracoumis. I will guard at the... The... Entrance... Heheheh."

She was stuttering. Add to her awkward laugh, which was making me laugh, but I held it back. Iris gave her the modest nod and signaled her to get out, his eyes still on me. But my eyes were on Lia. My gaze was so sharp that it could act like a knife and cut vegetables. This lady, Lia, was too embarrassed to shout at me. She couldn't even meet my intense, sharp gaze. She even bowed her head slightly, as if trying to apologize to me for her bad behavior. My eyes were on her until she left this prison.

My eyes automatically looked at Iris, who was even looking at me. His gaze was very intense, but not more intense than mine. We were both practically glaring at each other. The only thing was that he had his poker face, as if trying to study me. And I had a very cold expression, making it impossible for anyone to find out about my thoughts. I was looking like the actor Iris mentioned earlier. That one best actor who as very poker and cold expressions on his face, making it difficult to tell if he is lying. But as we both grew up together, he had learnt to detect lies from me. But... Should I have tried to understand him?

Am I that stubborn and grumpy?

"So, from hiding your name, so that no one here could know, to announcing your name aloud to everyone. That also in a prison? Nice mind games, huh!"

Iris said to me in a very low voice, but definitely in a mocking tone. He even raised his eyebrows and slowly nodded as if he was really amused.

"Correction... I only announced my last name."

I said to him in a mocking tone. We were both acting like a thief who was always talking in a soft and low voice.

Great! Really Aza? Now we are the thieves of the kingdom Gesha!

"Nah, I want you to change your last name. I think, it would be just like me." Iris said with his usual teasing smirk on his face.

"Nope Mr. Stupid idiot, Iris Kreosa of this Kingdom Gesha, I would never change my last name for anyone. Not even will I enter your heart ever," I said to him.

"Alright then, if you don't want to enter my heart right now, it's fine. But my door to the heart is always open for only you. But as time goes by, and you are still not with me, I will make you enter for sure. Whether you like it or not," Iris said. 

Does he really like me? I don't know if he is just simply teasing me or telling me the truth, but I think that he really likes me now. I don't want to make any assumptions, but still... I couldn't help but feel like that. Maybe... But this time again, I won't lie. It felt good, maybe? I don't want to assume, but still... A part of me is hoping or longing for it. To be together with him. I really think that he likes me. 

Tsk...! Aza, are you out of your mind? He has no reason to still be in love with me. And you Aza, what do you mean by 'something longing and hoping for me'? Even you Aza, you have no reason to be feeling to be together with him. You have already let go of him. You are no longer in love with him. Have you forgotten all the pain he caused? Your mind is drifting. Don't pay attention to him.

As soon as a part of my mind reminded me, I came back to my senses. I don't want to go through the same pain and the same things as before. Back then, there was at least no one to notice me or have pity on me because I was all alone. But now, the situation is quite different. I have to stay strong for all my friends. My sisters are there for me, but even they might have their own work load and personal things to do. All of their responsibilities are on me, all alone. I shouldn't break down into pieces. Or else, who knows what might happen to them. They might not be able to handle everything.

" Shut up, you stupid idiot. Just go away from here. All eyes are on us. And also, you can not do anything to me or force me without even my permission. I even know the law. I have completed my studies. Don't try to mess up with me. Now come on, move away from here, or rather from me, to be exact," I whispered to him.

I even gave him a slight push to move away from the bars. He just raised an eyebrow of his own, nodded as if silently saying, 'Oh, is this how you are going to behave with me? I am counting it. Keep pushing me away from you, I am yours after all!'.

Oye Aza, are gone out of your mind? Since when did you start to read and understand his mind? You might be assuming again. A very bad habit. Don't keep holding it. I looked around. All the prisoners were still staring at us, or rather, staring directly at me, to be exact. I gave them an irritated smile and gestured to them to mind their own business. But they were still staring at me. I exhaled deeply, preventing myself from turning into a fire - breathing dragon. I looked at them, giving a very sharp look. As sharps a knife which can cut the vegetables.

"You are all not welcomed, everyone. The show for you to watch is all over now. Go back to your places now. Don't stare, or your eyes might pop out and beat you with themselves, okay? Good night everyone,"

I said. They went to their own places, but they were still staring at me.

"Everyone, those who are still staring, look at themselves. I don't think that you would like me to turn into a fire - breathing dragon. Go now, and do your own work." I threatened them. And finally, they went to do their own work.

Iris was walking towards the exit slowly. Very slowly that it might even be slower than a turtle.

But if he kept going on like this, I might really lose my angry temper, sooner or later. What if, due to my anger issues, I might just punch him until someone comes to stop me again? Would he end up like that guy? The moribund patient in the newly invented ICU, who has very little chance of surviving? I can't even think about the same thing happening to Iris. Whether it is because of me, or another thing.

There are even more cases of people who tried to provoke me, but they ended up in the hospital. But the most critical condition was of that moribund patient. Good thing that ICUs are invented for people. He might survive, he should survive, he will definitely survive. He has to. Or else, I might not be able to handle this time. But I almost did something very similar to them. The Seal - seven. I regret hurting them now. I must pay them a visit or the other way around, they should pay me a visit. But why would they even visit me? What kind of idiot visits the person who punched and kicked them so hard that they end up in the hospital would visit that same person, all because that person is feeling guilty and even that wish is of that same person? I immediately thought about paying them a visit myself. But how?

My eyes instinctively went to search for Iris. And here he was! He had his arms crossed on his chest, showing off all his muscles and directly looking at me, straight into the eyes of mine. I immediately gestured to him to come here, towards me. He was walking so slowly that I had to call his name to make him move faster.

"Oye Iris, come here faster. You are not a real turtle. Who would ever agree that you were the fastest in our whole orphanage?"

I asked him mockingly, hoping for him to come fast towards me. But he was still walking at his slow pace. I had no choice but to wait for him in real.

"Iris... I want to meet the Seal - seven tomorrow... They ended up in the hospital, all because of me. So, I am really available tomorrow. That is even a very good offer for you. Just give a letter to Joy. I will talk to him... Either, you give the letter to Joy herself, or give it to me. I will give that letter to Joy, myself or talk to him. You are still not welcome, now you may get out of here again," I ordered him. But he just laughed out loudly. 

"I knew it. I knew already that you were going to ask such things. The letter has already been passed to Joy. He might receive it today. The Seal - seven still can't move, so you, yourself, have to go to their hospital to make a visit to them. And I am not an idiot for walking slower than a turtle and then, stand facing you while waiting for you to call my name." Iris said to me and without waiting for my response, he left out, properly this time.

I really hope that I will meet Seal - seven before leaving this place for good. But the thing which troubles me, or rather, hurts me the most, to be exact, is why did he let me be in this prison? These boys of this generation are really weird. First, he promised me that he would never - ever let me stay in a prison and still, here he is, keeping me in the same prison. At least he still obeyed me. He still let me stay in the same prison which I had wished for, once. I still remember those days. All those memories when we were still a child.

* Azalea's flashback-

I am very much happier right now. The reason? Well, it is very simple yet complicated...! This Iris Tavade proposed to me and now... We are finally in a relationship, officially. I mean I am his boyfriend and he is my girlfriend. Wait a minute, I am his boyfriend and is he my girlfriend? Really Aza? Wow!

Tsk...! What I mean is, he is my boyfriend, and I am his girlfriend, officially now! I am very happy. Even if people found out who was the first person on the Earth to fall in love, they wouldn't be this happy but me? I feel like I am the happiest girl on earth. I will never forget today's date. The sixth of August is very special to me.

" Hey, what happened? Have you gone crazy?" Iris asked me.

"Huh? What do you mean? It's nothing," I stated to him.

" Oh yep, you are right. I don't need any confirmation. You are really crazy indeed!" Iris said with a teasing smirk on his face.

"Oye, speak properly with me. I am your girlfriend now,"

 I told him very softly with a happy smile. It might even show my teeth but I don't care right now. I am really and genuinely happy right now.

"Okay dear girlfriend, what I meant was, why are you laughing and giggling all yourself?" Iris asked me.

Eh? Did I really chuckle and giggle all myself? I really don't know. I don't even know where we are right now. It is just now that I caught him staring directly at me. The only thing which I know is I am very happy, holding Iris' hand and walking towards the direction he is taking me in. I am only replaying his proposal in my mind. It is playing all over and over again. What he said and did was too unique. We even bunked at our school, just because he was insisting me that he didn't complete his homework and took me to somewhere else.

"I really don't think that I chuckled and giggled all over myself. How about you? Why are you staring at me?"

I asked him back, trying to make him fall into his own trap. He sighed deeply and chuckled a bit before answering my question. I think there is something hidden. Like something mischievous is going on in that little head of his.

" Actually, I was... I was just thinking that... look, I have already proposed to you now, and we are even in an official relationship... I wanted to ask you if we can marry each other and-" 

Iris was speaking while stuttering, but I immediately put my hand on his mouth to stop him from what he was going to say, as I already knew where this was going. But my main reason for stopping him from speaking was because I saw Stan and Pete right in front of us from a few meters away. They were staring directly at us.

"Oye Iris, where are we? What are Stan and Pete doing here? Do Stan and Pete know that we are together? I just caught them staring here, right into our eyes. No one knows about our little secret, right?" I whisper - asked him. 

Iris just looked at Stan and Pete. Because of which, even I had to look at them. I gave them a forced smile, but it quickly turned into a grimace. Iris, Stan and Pete were all looking at each other, trying to speak with their eyes. I am very confused because of these three people.

Wait a minute, Iris just held my other hand and turned to me. But why am I feeling nervous? Even out of nowhere, something in my stomach started tickling me. Is this what they call Butterflies? I don't know. I could feel myself turning red immediately. It is very obvious because of my fast heart beating, like it could explode anytime soon. BOOM..! And I could even feel my breathing starting to get uneven.

He bent down and brought his face closer to mine. He even had to bend down because of my height. His height is 6'1ft. Meanwhile, my height is only 5'6ft...! 

Don't worry Aza, you are only 14 right now. You will grow up more a bit and become taller than Iris.

"How can our secret be mini? We are talking about us, not me alone anymore. So this secret of ours is too big now, because you are involved in this big secret. We should tell them our big secret now," Iris whispered to me.

He spoke in a very deep yet low voice and then immediately kissed me on the forehead and smirked at me. I don't know what I should do. Then I caught myself blushing. What the hell! Aza, what are you doing? But actually, it is not really my fault now. We are officially in a relationship with Iris now...! 

I just simply gave him a slight push to move away. I gave him a warning look, secretly telling him to behave. He moved away and nodded and looked at Stan and Pete like we were the dragons who have been got caught in the act. Like we are some sort of partners in crime. He held my hand again. Stan and Pete came towards us. They did something unexpected. They started mimicking something. Stan bent down on one knee, and he kept the other leg on the ground for support, just like when we propose someone. Meanwhile, Pete just simply positioned himself in front of Stan. 

"Miss Azalea Dracoumis, I love you so much. Please be mine. Right now, I have nothing for you to show, but you have my hand... And all the memories of our childhood. From the day I met you, till now. I might have nothing for you, but I will work hard for our future... For your future. All I want is you... Please, Aza... Be mine forever. I love you Aza, I will always love you," Stan said, trying to say it in a very deep voice, clearly trying to mimic Iris' voice and extending his hand to Pete.

" Eh, Iris... What are you doing? Why are you like this?... Iris, I know but... But... How can I-" Pete was saying in a very high - pitched voice, while continuously bitting his lips while stuttering. He was trying to make the voice sound like my voice.

The one thing is clear to me now. Pete was trying to mimic my voice, like anyone else, but it was so funny. I couldn't help but chuckle at his voice. I looked at Iris, but he was staring right into my eyes. I don't know why but it was too difficult to look at Iris and try your best not to laugh, so I got nervous and immediately looked at Stan and Pete.

" No, Azalea. Don't think about anything else. I will protect you from all those people who will try to hurt you. Just think about us. I know you too well, Aza. I even read your hidden diaries. I am just waiting for your 'yes'. So, Aza... Ahem... Miss Azalea Dracoumis... What I, Mr. Iris Tavade... I am trying to tell you that... That, I have been meaning to tell you this for a long time... I want to be in an official relationship with you, with a proper label... Now, I would formally like to give you a proposal... WILL YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND? " Stan, trying to mimic Iris' voice, said to Pete.

Suddenly, I got startled by Pete. Not because he was saying something, But because he suddenly made a very high - pitched voice and turned his back and immediately sat down on both knees, to Iris- I mean, to Stan, who was acting like Iris.

"Iris Tavade, I even wanted to tell you this for a very long time. You are the only one, Iris, the only one who makes feel like-" Pete was speaking, but he got interrupted by a loud voice, again. Not because of Pete, again, but because of me.

" Stop this all. You are both acting too childish. I am not inn for this childish act. Stop mimicking us." I scolded them.

"Alright then. We will do the ending scene of this confession of yours," Pete said.

Before I could say anything or stop them from saying anything else, suddenly Iris came behind me and kept one hand on my mouth to prevent me from speaking anything. While his other hand was on my waist. I tried to look at him, but he bent down and whispered in a very soft and low voice.

" Oye Aza, why are you stopping them from saying anything? Don't you want to listen to them? Or... Do you only want to listen to me?"  

I felt my cheeks burning, so I immediately shook my head, hoping that he would leave me, but instead, he stood up straight, his grip tightening on my face and waist. I looked forward at Stan and Pete. They just shook their heads, and continued with all their drama.

" So Iris, I really LOVE YOU, UNTIL MY LAST BREATHE," Pete said.

"Aza, I am too desperate. Please..." Stan said, extending their hand towards Pete. Stan was clearly waiting for Pete to keep his hand in Stan's hand. Pete nodded, smiling happily and genuinely before keeping his hand in Stan's hand. They both suddenly started screaming wildly, just like me and Iris did.

I immediately looked at Iris when I felt he had loosened his grip on me. I faced him and we immediately hugged each other. For some reason, I felt my own comfort in this simple posture with him. Maybe what matters to me the most is that he is with me. Meanwhile, both these idiots, Stan and Pete, were still screaming wildly, but around us now, running in circles while raising their hands around us. I smiled naturally. I really hope that our friendship will always stay like this and never be broken. But now, it is causing a big pain to my ears.

"WHOYAAAAAAAAAA...!" Pete screamed, still running in circles around us while raising his hands and waving them back and forth, just like a cartoon character named Stan.

"UYAAAAAAAAAAAA...!" Stan screamed too, still running in the circles around us, while still raising and waving his hands back and forth, just like a cartoon character named Pete.

Yep, I want to be our friendship as it is but, when will these two ever stop? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh [ An irritated and frustrated groannnnnnnn ]...