Radiance

Chapitre Trois

I awoke to the sound of birds in the trees singing and the sun filtering in through my window on the east. I grumbled some unintelligible phrases, then rolled ungracefully out of bed.

As I made my way through the morning routine, thoughts of Kianti lingered like a persistent melody, despite my attempts to push them aside. It was a dangerous game I was playing, one that I knew could lead to heartache and disappointment.

But there was something about Kianti that intrigued me, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. It wasn't just her beauty or her infectious laughter—it was the way she seemed to effortlessly draw people in, like moths to a flame. I couldn't deny the curiosity that gnawed at me, the desire to unravel the mystery of her nature.

As I dressed and prepared for the day ahead, I found myself wrestling with conflicting emotions. On one hand, I was determined to keep my distance from Kianti, to protect myself from the vulnerability of falling for her charms. But on the other hand, I couldn't shake the excitement that bubbled up inside me at the thought of seeing her again.

Heading downstairs, I grabbed a quick breakfast before setting out for the courtyard fountain where I had agreed to meet Kianti. The sun was already high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the town as I made my way through the bustling streets.

Arriving at the fountain, I couldn't help but scan the area anxiously, half-hoping and half-dreading to see Kianti's familiar figure approaching. And when she finally did appear, her smile as radiant as ever, I couldn't deny the surge of anticipation that raced through me.

"Good morning, James!" she greeted, her voice a melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Good morning, Kianti," I replied, my tone guarded despite the warmth in her presence.

As we fell into step together, I couldn't help but observe her closely, searching for any hint of the enigma that surrounded her. But try as I might, I couldn't decipher the secret to her charm, the mystery that seemed to draw people to her like a magnet.

And so, as we ventured forward into the heart of the courtyard, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was treading dangerous ground. With every step, I felt myself inching closer to the edge of something I couldn't quite define—a precipice that threatened to pull me in despite my best efforts to resist.

"I was wondering," she said, breaking our comfortable silence. "Who are you?"

I knit my eyebrows together. "You already know that," I chuckled. "I'm James Boche. Songwriter, traveler, and forest guide."

She shook her head. "No, no. Those are all what you are. I want to know who you are. What motivates you? Why are you here, standing beside me? What are you most afraid of? What draws you in?"

I smiled softly. "I'll only answer that if I get an answer in return."

"Well, it's only fair." She decided.

"Very well." I looked up into the sky. "I am motivated by the drive to discover." I said after a long pause. "I believe that there is more to this world than what I have already learned thus far. I long to find what that is. I suppose that is why I help others as a guide. I understand the need to discover. I am here beside you because you intrigue me. There is something about you, dear Kianti, that I do not understand. I would like to, which is why I am here."

I took another pause as I thought of my answers to her other questions. "I am most afraid of repeating my old mistakes. And I am drawn in most easily by answers to questions long-sought. Or answers to questions I did not know I had." I turned to her. "Your turn."

She smiled, and I couldn't help but return it. "I am motivated by the people around me," she decided. "I see others who are in the hardest times of their lives doing better than I am, so it motivates me to work harder in spite of struggles. I am standing here beside you because I think you are handsome and funny, and I would like to know you." I fought a blush. "I am most afraid of being seen." I raised my eyebrows at that. "And I am drawn in by people who are real. You seem very real to me."

"I find it strange," I responded, "That you fear being seen. How could anyone not notice you? You walk into a room and it is brighter. Heads turn and people whisper, men and women alike can hardly fathom your beauty, your light."

She smiled. "No." She said simply. "I do not fear being noticed, dear James. I fear being seen. There is a difference."

With every word this girl spoke, I was becoming more curious.

"I long to be seen," I said after a short while. "I haven't been seen in a dreadfully long while." A painful memory almost surfaced before I pushed it back down, my gaze shifting to the floor. A memory from the time I was seen.

"I would like to see you." She said softly. "When you are ready to be seen." She reached out and touched my arm softly.

I looked up, meeting her gaze. "You are unlike anyone I have ever met before," I informed her. "I hope it doesn't scare you too much to hear that I would love to see you one day, too."

She laughed, a beautiful, musical, hollow laugh. "I doubt that." She said. It wasn't in a way that she was trying to bring attention to herself, or make herself seem more intriguing. No, it was very matter-of-fact. As if she truly doubted that I wanted to see her for who she really was. It made me rather sad.

The exchange with Kianti left me with more questions than answers, a swirling mix of emotions churning beneath the surface. Her words lingered in the air like a haunting melody, drawing me in with their enigmatic allure.

As we continued our stroll through the courtyard, the atmosphere between us shifted, a palpable tension simmering beneath the surface. It was as if we were dancing on the edge of something profound, a connection waiting to be forged amidst the chaos of our conflicting desires.

I couldn't deny the pull she had on me, the magnetic force that drew me to her like nothing I had ever experienced before. And yet, at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kianti than met the eye—a hidden depth beneath her radiant exterior that begged to be explored.

As we reached the edge of the courtyard, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me. The looming threat of - something, something strange - casting a shadow over our budding connection.

But despite the dangers that lurked on the horizon, I couldn't bring myself to walk away from Kianti. There was something about her that called to me, a whispered promise of adventure and discovery that I couldn't resist. A part of what I had been searching for in the past few years.

And so, as we parted ways at the edge of the courtyard, I made a silent vow to myself to unravel the mystery of Kianti's nature, to uncover the secrets that lay hidden beneath her radiant facade. For better or for worse, I was irrevocably drawn to her, and I couldn't wait to see where our journey would take us next.