19
Debt
I watched as the rain pour down mercilessly on the paper house I built, morphing it into a glob of wet paper. The crisp weather breeze fanning against my skin. Our conversation was a heavy weight on my chest. I retreated to the hiding place Stavros once showed me in our high school days.
My hair matted to my forehead as I pant vigorously. I had walked from the car all the way deep in the woods with Stavros ahead of me.
"Why are we here?! We went all this way, you forced me to skip a class—"
"Correction, we asked and you accepted." Stavros cut me off. His piercing scintillating under the light. "Come on, we're almost there."
There's no doubt that the back of my thighs were probably dotted with mud, now. I took cautious steps to Stavros, accepting his outstreatched hand. He pulls me up the elevated dirt. I squeak when his hand almost slipped. Rolling my eyes at his amused face, I walk ahead of him.
"Does my cousin even know you kidnapped me?" My face morphs into digust as I wipe away a chunk of mud that stuck to my calves. "Why'd you even bring me instead of him?"
He responds with a shrug. "I thought of annoying you."
That didn't answer my questions, exactly. But, I'd rather shut my mouth than to argue with him again. I know we'll argue because that's all we ever do. After what felt like hours, I resembled a wet dog except I was drenched in my own sweat.
"We're here." He said.
I stare at him funnily, there's nothing here! Just trees, mud, grass... more mud and critters! I open my mouth, about to scold him for wasting my time just for us to go to the forest in the middle of nowhere. He smirks, pointing up the thick tree in front of us. My jaw drops.
"Woah..." The large base on installed to the tree was glorious. Flattened wood served as it's flooring, a hidden staircase went up around it like a spiral, wide glass with white painted wood convivial to the natural light, and a hanging chair's attached.
A smug look on his face as he ushered me up. "Pretty cool, huh?" He boasts as soon as we ascend the wooden stairs.
Lanterns scattered the area, the wide windows and the modern structure catching my eye. Stavros opened the door, I'm a bit hesitant to step foot into the treehouse. Though I was petite, my weight; however, was as leaden as a cow's. I sunk myself down the gigantic bean bag, what a good place to mellow out.
I found solitude in this place, solitude that I haven't felt in a long time. My eyes shut, leaning my head down as I hummed a tune that's stuck in my head.
"I got this built back in 7th grade." He presses a hand on the wall, his eyes roamed our surroundings 'til they found mine. "Last thing I've gotten from my father, we built this together."
I cast my eyes down. The late Duibhin Koenig, rumors did him no justice. As far as I knew, he's the kindest man that's ever lived. He ruled with an iron, yet just, fist. Building the tarnished name of the Koenig Mafia, his legacy will go down in history. His death shook the system, everyone's in a riot. Pointing fingers here and there, some have even blamed my father. I often laughed it off. Stavros pressed his tongue on the inside of his right cheek. I bat my eyelashes twice, I'm just seeing things. His eyes... held traces of anger. Observing the young heir, a question pops in my mind.
Why am I here?
"Because I wanted you here," his solemn voice interrupts my thought. "You should be grateful to be graced with my presence. Many would kill just to have a day with me." He spoke in a magniloquent manner, laced with a tinge of sarcasm.
I chuckle. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" He nods.
"Sit down." I pat the space next to mine.
He dithers for a moment before dropping down beside me. A sense of Halcyon surrounds us. My breathing came out slow, the scent of rainforest wafts up my nose. I willed myself to a nap, yet I found it difficult to do so when the man I'm with is burning holes in the side of my face. I peep one eye open, only to be met with his dilated pupils. Unexpectedly, my heart riddled with the way he stared at me. I divert my chocolate eyes.
Heat crawled it's way up to my cheeks. Why am I blushing?! I forged a cough, "So, how often do you come here?" I ask while scratching a stain of mud on my uniform skirt.
"Not that often, only when the trainings get pressuring." He hauls his knees to his chest. "Would it be cliché of me to say that I come here when I wanna be alone?"
The corners of his mouth slid upwards as his eyes sparkled. I tilt my head, unconciously mirroring his actions. His gaze then drops to my lips, lingering more than I'd expect. His face moves closer, as I'm unaware of myself doing so, too. The loud thunder jolts us both in surprise.
I gaze out the window, streaks of pure white crackled against a stormy blanket of grey, shrouding hot silver clouds with its blinding incandescence, emanating the might of an imminent tempest. Jagged bolts endlessly protrude, filling the sky with undying flashes of radiance.
The mere memory of us now painted with the image of our fight. "I'm not obligated to tell you anything."
"That's not what I'm asking you to do, I just want you to trust me."
His head ticks. "You wanna know? Well, fine." He fished out a small black rectangle device from his breast pocket. "I paid off your father's debts."
He pressed on the red button. The voice of my father booming from the small gadget. Trepidation filled my heart as it thumped loudly I was sure it could be heard by him. Clamorous ringing pierced my ears.
"You now belong to me."