Intertwine (Strings of Fate)

Intertwine (Strings of Fate) Chap.8

"I said don't try to follow him. Are you insane? What if he didn't stop and hurt you instead?" I also sensed his worried voice even though it is much an inquiry.

"I'm sorry." Is all I can say to him, because I didn't listen to him. I tried to do something alone without the help of others.

"Sorry? Is that all you can say? After I run after you because I was worried you might get hurt." I bowed down my head and bit my lower lip as a sign of losing.

"I didn't say to blame yourself. And it is not your own fault. I am too at fault. So don't decide for yourself." He said as he loosen his grip and let go of my hand. I remained silently to repent on my doings.

"Let's go back." He commanded.

"Right" I replied. We started to walk as I hold the horse to guide him to our way back.

"But before that-." He suddenly stops in his tracks, still facing his back.

"-you have to treat me for worrying about you."

"Huh?" I just replied to his statement. But the last words are not clear to me

"Didn't you heard me? I said treat me for all those things I have done and for your trouble."

"Right now?" I asked.

"Not right now, it's for me to decide." He stated.

"I'll tell you when I have the time. But for now, promise me you'll treat me."

"Do I have to do that?"

"Of course! I have done many things to get in here." He shamefully said. Weird.

"Let's just get back to the quarters."

After the long day in the stable, it's almost twilight and there are only few students in the school ground.

"Let's call it a day, shall we?" Breaking the silence that embraced us after the incident.

"It is that late?" He raises his hand to see what time is it. We were through grooming the horses.

"Why don't we just rest a bit before we head out?" He suggested.

"You're right. I'm a bit tired today. I haven't done this for a long time." I stretched out my body to ease out the pain and sat down in an empty barrel.

"I think there is a field of irises somewhere nearby here." He scoffed while stomping his dirty leather shoes in the ground.

"Really?" I shouted because of excitement.

"I love irises!" I exclaimed.

"Is that so? I like them too. Do you want to get a sight?" He suggested.

"I'd loved too. Do you know where it is?"

"Of course, just a few kilometers from here. But I know a short cut from here."

"Then it's settled, I'll just prepare." Because of excitement, I hurriedly grab a saddle and put it on top of MadSpeed, that is what I call to the horse we rescued earlier.

"What are you doing?" He asked while standing behind me.

"I'm preparing our means of transportation." He pointed out.

"With him? No way! He's done some trouble and I don't trust him if he will gone mad again."

"Don't worry I trust him" I step up in the stirrup and hop on in his back. I reach out my hand for Jiro.

"You wanna come?" I invited him.

"But is he okay to ride on? Are you not going to reconsider what happened a while ago?"

"Don't worry about him, he looks fierce, but his good in nature. Horses are intelligent animals and they can feel the emotions of the riders." I stated. He grabs my hand with hesitation and without a sweat, he gets in my back. I smiled lightly for this was the first time I ride a horse for a long time. I slightly kick the side of the horse to alert him to start walking.

"Hold tight." I cautioned Jiro. He puts his arm in my waist and embraces me tight. I suddenly lean a back and now we are closer to each other.

(Jiro's POV)

When she said to hold her tight, I suddenly got hesitant, but I answers her command as I put my arms around her waist and embrace her tightly. Now that we are closer, I can smell her hair even though she smells sweat it doesn't decrease how good her smell is. Even her body is slim and warm. The warmth in her body was amazing, I feel like I like to sleep forever if I can embrace her like this. I slightly rest my chin in her shoulders as I hold her tight.

"Tell me, where is this field you are saying." I heard she said.

"You see that tree on top of the hill? You past through that and you will past a small river, and that beside the field of the irises." After we get on top of the hill, we clearly see the bed of irises lying beside the small river.

"It's great, Jiro!" Because of what she said, I can clearly see her first smile on her face, with slow motion she turned to face me. Only a few inches away our faces could have been touch.

"Hey, can we go there?" Even her cheerful voice suddenly become music to my ears. I don't know why but, my heart suddenly beating so fast. Thump...thump...thump...thump. Everything I see is in slow motion, that I want to stop the time and just stare at her. This is the first time I felt this way.

"Hey! let's go over there." She tried to ask me but I'm still in the silence.

"Hey! why are you spacing out. I really want to go there." She asked me again and now I regain my conscious and back again to normal.

"Then, let's go." We walk down to slope of the hill down to the small river that is between the hill and the field. After we got there, I get down first. I reach out my hands to help her get down. She grabs my shoulders, I grab her hip, and without any sweat, I put her down.

"Yeppoda! Noemu yeppoda! (Beautiful! It's really beautiful)" She said excitedly while picking up flowers and running in circles like little princesses do in the story books. The way she move, the way she blinks her eyes, and the way her lips forms smile. I say it's perfect. I don't know why, but the whole place that surrounds her feels like she belongs here, like a lady so found of irises. Now that I can freely see her so close, I want to keep her forever like this. Thump...thump...thump...thump. She is very pretty like those irises in the wide field. I really don't know but, I'm starting to like her.