"What were thinking risking yourself like that!!!", Iven finally snapped as soon they were out of the ship.
Seb looked perplexed, unable to grasp his words.
Iven sighed,"I'm talking about the earlier situation", he was telling about Noah.
-I don't understand Iven. Why are you getting so worked up about?
-What do you mean???
-Earlier too you yelled at me for no reason!
-I didn't yell, I was just....concerned.
-should I just have stood and seen him beaten to death?
-You could have called the authorities.
-Do you have any immediate wit? By that time everything would be over.
-Belle please understand! Those people are dangerous and merciless, they won't think twice before eliminating you.
-You know well that I'm quite capable.
-That doesn't change the fact that you're a women. And that's enough to make me worry!!!
-Relax!!! Just be glad that Noah is safe.
-That's the point. We can't repay you back for that. That's why I want to ensure of your protection!
-You don't have to repay. In the contrary, why do have a kid in your gang in the first place???
-We don't force anyone Belle. They come to us, we don't turn them back.
-Isn't it dangerous for him to survive like this at such a young age?
-You don't know anything about the insides Belle. We all are black sheep from our families. We could never fit in our own, so we have formed a family which is more understanding to each other. We fit in here because we protect each other.
-You, as a elder brother, manage to protect all of them?
-Hard to say. We've all got each other's back. We look after each other.
-Sure is cool to be a part of this family.
-Even you are!
Iven stressed the last words!!!
Seb's eyes lightened,"Really?"
"Of course!", Iven said,"The way I see it, you've got a very special place among them. They looked very....impressed with you. As if they regard you as a sister already.....but....", he paused,....I'm not going to take you as one!!!.....Sister sounds.....very awkward!!!".
Seb started laughing. Iven chuckled a bit too. Then all of a sudden, he realized something very important about himself.
This was the first time when he actually found himself joking about something and laughing on it genuinely. Even if his brothers ever cracked a joke, he never paid much attention to it. But then, he was free enough to let it out in her company, Seb's!!!
This was also the first time in his life when he's having such serious intimacy with a girl and such earn urge to protect her. She makes him feel different, as if she has discovered a new hidden personality of him, which was within Iven but he has never come across it ever.
"So, what will you take me for then?", Seb pulled himself together.
That's one question, Iven has been asking himself too. But in vain.
"Let's get going, it's late", he swapped topics.
"Hey!!! No fair!!!", Seb followed quickly as Iven has started walking already. She rushed upto meet his level and nagged him on. Not once did Iven replied her. It was a height of ignorance.
Finally Seb gave up and started talking something else,"You didn't seriously have to come. It wouldn't have taken much time for me to reach home".
"It would take much less time if I drive you", Iven said to her.
"Huh, even if you have a car, you can't compete me on bike....my bike....bike", Seb's trail started fading.
"What is it? Where is your bike?", Iven asked.
Seb recalled her memories as it went back,"I left it near at the lane,....where I saved Noah....unlocked!!!". It was a heart attack for her. She treasured her bike more than anything. It was like her other half, she clasped her head tight. It might be gone by now!
"I was too careless!!! My poor bike!!!", she mumbled.
Iven sighed at the melodrama. "Stand up, it's not anything big", he said.
"Do you realize what my bike means for me?", Seb looked at him with popped eyes.
"Let's hope for the best. Let's go now", Iven looked little soft. Seb pretended to sniff once. Iven rolled his eyes,"Let's go Belle!", and he was going to hold Seb's hand hesitantly when suddenly she looked up.
Her expression changed,"I know he's safe, let's hurry!!!".
And Seb started marching with huge steps. Iven fell behind because he was confused enough. She's too fickle minded!
He was intentionally walking slow because it was such a bother. He just made sure not to let Seb get out from his eyes.
Occasionally Seb kept poking him to walk faster.
Iven was increasing his pace when Seb was looking but was eventually back on his usual pace when she wasn't.
Due to that, they were only able to cover one fourth of the distance.
Even Seb lost her determination and returned to her original pace.
"Don't you have your own family?", Seb asked when it was getting too silent. Iven's face turned black but she didn't notice it.
"No!", he replied after a second,"I don't".
"I'm sorry", Seb read his voice and mood and regretted asking that.
"You don't have to be", Iven assured,"What about you?"
"Well, I'm been living all alone since 13 years of age. But till then my big brother lived with me", she confessed.
"Oh, I'm sorry too", Iven looked down and apologized.
"No you idiot!", Seb laughed," He's alive yet still. He stayed with me till I was big enough to take care of myself. He was a diligent worker in his office but he couldn't accept promotions because then he had to leave me and move. I always felt guilty on that. So as soon as I turned 13, I persuaded him to leave. He works outside for which he barely gets time to come and see me. He sends me regular checks and calls on whenever he's free. Now all I have is Erica, and...I can conclude you too,....if you want".
"Me???", Iven asked.
"You said I'm your friend, didn't you?", Seb reminded.
Iven looked down. He got flustered.
"How old is your brother from you?", he presented as unnecessary question to avoid the expression.
But Seb wan't flustered,"He's 15 years elder to me. I lost my mum and dad at the age when I still thought that their name were 'mum' and 'dad'. Brother started taking care of me, till 12 years of age", Seb explained,"It was tough for him, studying, working and looking after a younger sibling at the same time".
"It must have been hard on you too". Iven imposed.
"Can't deny that", Seb sighed,"8 years was the age when I was skilled enough to do the house chores, cook for both of us and do my school work by myself. This turned both of us very self".
"No wonder you are so independent", commented Iven.
Seb sighed smiling. After a while, she said, We are only talking about me. Tell something about yourself too".
"There's nothing much to say about me", Iven looked down.
"Am I interrupting your privacy?", asked Seb.
"It's nothing like that. There's really nothing.....".
Iven lost his trail as he looked up and turned at Seb. He met an incomparable beautiful face with a pair of eyes, with the power of hypnotism in them. It could manipulate and change course of everything possible.
Right then, they were gesturing a look which pleaded Iven.
A small smile accompanied on the lips, as pink as babies have which can impose life in the hardest of rocks and stoniest of hearts.
Overall, the face was too innocent to decline.
And it had already been through Iven's mind.
Iven swallowed his thoughts and said,"Uh...alright then.....if you insist that much".
Seb gave a victorious smile.
Iven understood that she wasn't putting up any extra act. She had unknowingly learnt the natural trick to move his mind, and only she is able to do that. She had acquired the celestial magic in her to compile him to do whatever she wished for. All she needed was a normal look from her eyes like shooting stars, or a bit of her husky laugh.
"Well.....", Ive started"...as I said, nothing much to say. The only things that I remember about my folks, are that, they used to fight like wild animals. When I was only 5, they disappeared, leaving me with an old Lady".
"What do you mean by disappeared?", Seb expressed curiosity.
"I have no idea. I was too young to get a grasp", Iven shrugged,"They might have died, left me, or ran away with each other's mates. I just woke up one day to find myself with that Lady and I never could figure out how did I end up there".
"Was she good to you?", Seb asked.
"She was. I wasn't. At such young age even, I was overly rude and wild. I left her one day when I had understood the world enough and ran away to create this family of mine. They are the only ones whom I can call own ones now".
"What about siblings?", Seb resumed her question after a while.
This time, no reply came.
"Iven?", Seb said softly. Iven snapped out.
"No....er...or, don't know.....may be not", he answered puzzled.
"You don't know....if you had a sibling?", Seb wasn't settled.
"It was long time back Belle. Besides, I always stayed alone and isolated myself.". Iven explained but Seb wasn't least satisfied. He wasn't clear about something but she didn't push him more.
The rest of the journey was melancholy and quiet.
Nobody raised further question.
They liked the night's silence better and walking alongside each other.