The wind soothen their mood and helped Jae to calm down his emotions
Ashley: "so, how did it feel like being back after a long time"
Jae: "In the sense -?"
Ashley: "like disappear and re-appearing in this world-?"
Jae:" i... don't know, i've never felt like much time has passed... it was more like i teleported with some smoke and wind carrying me"
Ashley:" you must have been very confused sheeesh"
Jae's eyes widened and he let out a laughter... as he didnt expect that kinda reply from ashley.
Jae:" well, i was... but i had to quickly adapt and accept to... survive.. isn't it?"
Ashley:" mhm... must have been hard for you to... you know..."
Jae:" well thankfully i met you guys and you all did help me a lot you know..."
Ashley looked at him, admiring how he is and how he looks, their eyes met. as rays of moonlight reflected on his eyes , they seemed like real rubies. Jae quickly looks away in order to not have any eye contact as if he didn't wanna show something
Ashley: " your eyes..." while she was so invested in his eyes
Jae: " yea... they aren't - common... it is said to be a bad sign, eyes of that color red which resemble anger and destruction right..."
Ashley: "WHAT-? NO... not at all" as she raised her pitch and tried to be resentful towards what he has just said.
Jae: " well... it always seemed like that people who serve me never dared to look at me believing that if one sees my eyes they'd be cursed."
Ashley: "That's made up bullshit... don't even think about something like that"
Ashley reached into her pocket of the dress and pulled out a delicate chain with red crystals that shimmered like Jae's eyes. She held it out to him.
Ashley: "I... want you to have this. It reminded me of your eyes. and... your eyes are very beautiful..."
Jae's eyes widened in surprise. He hesitated for a moment, then took the chain from her, their fingers brushing. He looked at the crystals, his eyes reflecting their glow.
Jae: "Ashley... this is... I don't know what to say."
Ashley: "i just wanted you to have it"
Jae looked back up at Ashley, his eyes shimmering with happiness. He put on a warm smile, the kind that reached his eyes and made them sparkle even more.
Jae: "I'll wear it, always. Thank you, Ashley."
Ashley smiled, watching as Jae carefully put the chain around his neck. The red crystals rested against his chest, matching the warmth in his eyes.
Ashley: "It looks perfect on you. i know... this isn't a pricy or a precious gift like the ones you may have received when you were a prince buy yea... "
Jae: "i may have received few gifts before, but never been given something so meaningful that I'll cherish it. Thank you."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, feeling their connection deepen. Jae felt an overwhelming sense of happiness, more than he'd felt in a long time.
Jae: "Shall we head back to the festival? There's still so much to enjoy."
Ashley: "Yeah, let's go back. We've got a lot to see and do."
They stood up together, ready to face whatever came next. The festival lights twinkled around them as they walked back, their hearts lighter and their bond stronger than ever. As they approached their friends, they were greeted with smiles and laughter.
Veronica: "There you two are! We were starting to wonder if you got lost."
Amara: "Yeah, we were about to send out a search party ,you know.... lol"
Jae: "Sorry, i just needed a moment. This festival is amazing."
As they chatted, Veronica's eyes caught the glint of the red crystal chain around Jae's neck. She recognized it immediately and smiled.
Veronica: "Hey, Jae, that necklace... Isn't that the one Ashley bought at the stall earlier?"
Ashley smiled, as she blushed but with a hint of pride in her eyes.
Ashley: "Yes, it is. I thought it would suit him."
Veronica: "You have a good eye, Ashley. damn It looks great on him. Those crystals are supposed to bring good luck and protection, you know."
Amara: "It really does look great on you, Jae. Ashley has good taste."
Jae touched the chain lightly, feeling its warmth against his skin, and smiled.
Jae: "Yeah, Ashley thought it suited me. And she's right. It's perfect."
Alex, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement.
Alex: "It's a nice touch, Ashley. You really know how to pick 'em."
Ashley: "Thanks, everyone. I'm glad you like it, Jae."
Veronica: "So, what's next? Should we check out some of the games? I heard there are some really fun ones here."
Amara: "I'm in. I love carnival games."
Jae: "Sounds good to me. Let's go."
They all walked towards the game area, enjoying the sights and sounds of the festival. The booths were filled with a variety of games, from ring toss to shooting galleries. The group immediately got into the spirit of things, trying their luck and cheering each other on.
Veronica: "Alright, who's up for the ring toss?"
Amara: "I'll give it a shot."
Amara stepped up to the booth, taking careful aim before tossing the rings. She managed to land a few, earning some small prizes.
Jae: "Nice one, Amara! Let me try."
Jae took his turn, his natural coordination helping him to win a large stuffed animal. He handed it to Ashley with a smile.
Jae: "Here, this is for you."
Ashley: "You're really good at this."
Alex: "Let's see if we can win something even bigger."
They moved on to the next game, a shooting gallery, where Alex and Veronica showed off their skills, earning more prizes and laughter.
Veronica: "By the way, Ashley, that was a really sweet gesture. I'm glad you two are getting along so well."
Ashley: "Thanks, Veronica. It feels good to have such amazing friends around."
Jae looked at Ashley, his heart filled with gratitude and affection. The festival continued, but in that moment, everything felt perfect.
As they moved from game to game, the group laughed and teased each other about their varying levels of skill. They approached a booth with a strength test game—the kind with a large hammer and a bell that rings if you hit hard enough.
Alex: "Hey, Jae, think you can ring the bell?"
Jae smiled, sensing the playful challenge in Alex's tone.
Jae: "I can give it a try. How about you?"
Alex: "I was on the wrestling team in high school. I think I have a pretty good shot."
Veronica: "This should be fun to watch. Let's see who's stronger."