*Gulp*
Although it's not that loud, Leon still heard Rose swallowed her saliva while staring at the pile of meat in front of them. It seems like she was really looking forward to their dinner for tonight.
Well, it was years ago since the last time she managed to eat this kind of food. That was when her father was still alive and she didn't have to work yet. Added by the fact that she was working hard the whole day, it's only natural that she was hungry.
" Wait Rose, before we start eating, where's the food you brought back? " Leon said. Although he knows that she was already hungry, Leon didn't want to waste the food Rose brought back this afternoon.
" Ahh! I left it outside. Wait, I'll go and get it. "
Rose replied before she stood up and went outside. It didn't took awhile before she returned carrying a small wooden box and put it above the small table along with the other dishes.
" Are you sure you want it Leon? But...its only a left over grilled meat though. "
" Grilled meat? Are you the one who made it? "
" Yes. I... I made it before I went home. The store owner was nice and gave me the left over ingredients. "
" Oh. Well, let me see it then. "
" Okay. Here it is. " Rose said as she removed the cover of the box.
There's four pieces of meat in skewers but they look plain and unappealing. Anyone who will see it will know that this meat dish was done unprofessionally.
But since it was especially created by Rose, Leon will of course eat it so he immediately grabbed a piece of meat skewers and took a bite.
' Wow! This is so..... bland. ' Leon thought to himself.
The grilled meat skewers was really bland and almost tasteless. Well, perhaps this girl in front of him wasn't cut for cooking.
" How was it Leon? It's not.... good right? " Rose asked. Even she herself wasn't confident in her cooking.
" No Rose. It's good. So good. " Leon replied seriously. But his face says the otherwise.
* giggles *
" You're lying to me again Leon. Look at your face, who will believe you? I know how it wasn't good because I tasted it myself. It's just that, I'm.. I'm... really not good at cooking. But I want to cook something for you personally so....so.. I still made it myself. " Rose replied in a sad tone.
Leon embarrassly scratched the back and said: " It's fine Rose, you can learn how to cook properly sooner or later. I'm sure you'll become a good cook in the future! "
" I know. I'll do my best Leon! " She said seriously.
" Alright, let's eat then. Here Rose, eat plenty. I'm sure you're hungry after working for a whole day. " Leon said as he put some boiled rabbit and grilled chicken in her plate.
Rose smiled at him and happily accepted the food. She was feeling sweet inside.
The two of them then began eating the food in the table. Leon continue putting food in Rose's plate till she can't eat anymore and started complaining that it will be his fault if she'll get fat.
Although the meat didn't taste much because they lack condiments, the two of them still enjoyed it.
Leon just laugh at Rose and didn't speak any further after he saw her pouting her lips like that. The two of them didn't manage to eat all of the meat in the table. Leon put it back in the pot so they can eat it again for breakfast.
....
One hour later.
" Where are you going Leon? " Rose asked when she saw him going out of the house.
" Oh, I'll go and take a bath at the brook nearby. I'll also get some water for when I got back. "
" I... I'll go with you. "
" Are you sure? It's quite cold outside you know? It's better if you stay here and wait for me. "
" No. I.. I'll go with you. " Rose replied in a determined tone as she look at Leon.
" Ermm. Okay then. Let's go? " Leon said as he stretched out his hand in front of him.
Rose didn't hesitate and grabbed his hand. The two of them then started walking towards the brook while holding each others hand.
Although their relationship was still vague, this level of intimacy was still wholesome right? Especially for people like them whom can be considered as childhood friends.
The brook wasn't far. It only took them ten minutes or so before they arrived. The water in this brook was clean and with the moonlight, the water was like a bed of crystals and it was very pleasing in the eye.
Leon let go of Rose's hand and went beside the water before touching it.
" The water is colder than I expected. Rose, can you handle it? " Leon asked as he began taking off his upper clothes.
Rose who was watching him at the side doing that was taken aback by his sudden question and it made her face even redder.
" I... I can. I always come here every night to take a bath and the cold water wasn't a problem for me unless it's winter. "
" I see. It seems like I'm worrying too much. "
" Mn. Thanks for your concern Leon. " Rose replied as she also stepped into the water.
When she's about to remove her clothes, she remembered that Leon was here so she can't just do it right here.
" Leon, I.... I... "
" You what? "
" I... I think it's not appropriate for me to take a bath here so..I... I'll go to the other place. "
" Oh. Don't worry about that cause I won't peek. It's not like you'll know even if I did. "
" You... What did you say?! "
" I said I won't peek at you so just take a bath here. "
Re..really? You.... you better not or else, I... I'll get angry. "
" Okay okay. You're the boss. " Leon replied as he turned around and his back was now facing Rose.
Hearing his answer and making sure that he really wasn't peeking, Rose also started to remove her clothes and put it at the side. She then went to the deeper part of the brook and kneeled down to make it easier for her to clean her body.
Leon also did the same. Using the wooden bucket, he began cleaning his body thoroughly from his face, down to his feet.
It didn't took awhile before he was done cleaning himself. After a bit of hesitation, without turning his head around, Leon asked: " Rose, why are you hiding your true appearance? "
"..."
Rose was a bit surprised by his sudden question and didn't manage to reply immediately.
Even after waiting for a few minutes, Leon didn't receive any answer.
* sigh *
" Sorry for asking something inappropriate Rose. Just forget that I asked you that. " Leon said.
" It's.. it's not like that Leon. I'm.. just a bit surprised by your sudden question. I... I can tell you why. " Rose replied.
" Oh. Really? Why then? "
" It's.. it's because father said I should hide it. "
" Uncle did? But why? "
" It's.. it's because... it's because... father.. *sniff * father died because of my appearance. " Rose then started crying after she said that.
Leon was shocked to hear that. ' How can that be? It's... didn't her father died because of his illness? How can it be connected to her appearance? ' He thought.
But he didn't continue to asked. Instead, Leon tried to calm himself and said: " Rose, are you done? Let's go home first and talk there. I want you to tell me everything. "
" O.. okay. * sniff * I'll wear my clothes first. " She said as she immediately get out of the water and pick up her clothes and began wearing it.
Leon on the other hand just stand there in the water and patiently waited for her to finish.
" I.. I'm done Leon. You can also change your clothes now. " Rose said after she was done dressing herself.
Only then did Leon turned his head around. He also wanted out of the water and picked up his shirt and started wearing it.
" Let's go. " Leon said as he grabbed Rose's hand and the two of them started walking back home together. They walk a little faster this time and they arrived at their house 2 to 3 minutes earlier than normal.
It's because Leon was a bit in a hurry to know the whole story because he never heard of it. Because of his stupidity before, Leon didn't know much about his past. Before he lost Rose, he never did care about anything around him and just acted like a spoiled Prince.
....
Inside their house. Rose was sitting on the chair while Leon on the other hand was standing at the corner with his back leaning on the wall. He was looking at Rose and waiting for her to speak.
" It.. it happened 5 years ago Leon. I just got this ability at that time so I don't know how to control it yet. When I got this ability, a mark also appeared in my face. One day I came back after playing outside with the other children. When father saw me, he was shocked when he saw that mark in my face and immediately told me not to show it on others. Even though I am confused, I still listened to him and did what father said. I also didn't go outside anymore from that day. But.. "
" But what Rose? "
" But.. it's already too late. Someone already saw the mark in my face the first day it appeared on my way home and after a few weeks, the information spread in the whole city. Then one night, father returned home bleeding. He immediately take us both and left the previous city we are staying and brought us here. I don't know what happened and father also didn't explain anything to me. He only said that no matter what happened, I should never show this mark in my face to others because it will bring calamity in both you and me Leon. Father's condition started to get worse because of the wound he received that night and after three years, he died. I... * Sniff * caused father's death. " Rose said as she started to cry silently.
Leon didn't speak right away after she finished speaking. A surprised expression was clearly written on his face.
Leon really have no idea about this event but if what Rose said was true, then he must take this thing seriously or else, he might loose her again. He became more and more curious about the mark Rose was talking about.
" Rose, can you show me the mark in your face? " Leon asked after thinking for awhile.
" It's okay but... it's.. ugly. " Rose said a bit hesitant.
" It's okay Rose. Trust me. You're always beautiful in my eyes. " Leon said seriously as he look directly at Rose's eyes.
Rose was still hesitating but she choose to trust Leon. She stood up and closed her eyes. A few seconds later, light started to enveloped her whole body. it started from the bottom of her feet upwards. Although it's only a moment, Leon still clearly saw a magic circle appeared under Rose's feet and the light that was now covering her body came from that magic circle!
Leon was surprised when he saw that because he knows what causes that phenomenon.
After less than a minute, the light disappeared and Rose's real appearance can now be seen clearly by Leon.
When Leon saw those mark, he was obviously surprised. And after a bit of thinking, he finally have an idea on what happened five years ago. And why they are forced to leave that city they are staying before and came here. This is indeed.... a big thing.