Alaia fluttered her eyes open, adjusting them to the light. She groaned, remembering the dream that she had. She sat up and ran her hands on her messy hair while biting her lower lip. She couldn't believe the subject in her dream. She couldn't remember what exactly happened in her dream, but she could clearly remember the person who was standing beside her. Maybe that talk that she had with Maria yesterday is what led her to this. Because even if she admitted it or not, she couldn't get off her mind what Maria said. She couldn't kick Maria off her mind.
Alaia gets out of bed to change her clothes. She reached out for her neatly folded tunic and put it on. She then tied her hair and was about to pick up her beast mask when she saw her white mask placed beside it. For the first time, she contemplated what she would wear. She remembered again what Maria said yesterday. She blushed to herself and looked away from them. She took a deep breath to calm herself and normalize the beating of her heart. Alaia silently prayed for Maria to give her some peace of mind. The Heavens didn't hear her prayers, but her heart at least calmed down. Alaia looked back at her masks, but still couldn't decide. She bit her lower lip for the second time in frustration. She closed her eyes and heaved a long sigh. To finally put an end to her dilemma, Alaia reached out for her white mask.
It's not like she hasn't seen me with this mask yet.
Alaia loosens the tie of her hair and lets it fall freely on her back. Her long black hair was up to her waist. It'd been a long time since she let it fall like this, and that was when Maria was still not there. She kind of missed it though.
I wonder what Maria would think if she saw me.
Alaia shook her head to get that thought out of her mind. She lightly hit her forehead and cursed to stop herself from thinking of Maria. Alaia contemplated if she would tuck her hair behind her ears or not. She slapped her face when she was about to ask herself again what she thought Maria preferred. She took a deep breath and straightened her clothes for the nth time. She checked her reflection for the last time before she finally stepped out of her room. With every step she took away from her room and closer to the possibility of seeing the younger girl that'd been messing her mind for the whole week, the louder and faster her heartbeat. She's unbelievably nervous for childish reasons.
The servants of Alaia that walked past her greeted her with a surprise in their looks, but they didn't say anything regarding the mask she was wearing and just smiled before they proceeded to where they were supposed to go. There was a part of her mind that was telling her to go back to her room and wear her beast mask instead, but the bigger part of her mind was telling her the opposite thing, knowing that Maria would surely be happy to see her in this mask.
Alaia went straight to the kitchen, assuming that Maria was there, but found Alicia instead. Alaia couldn't help but be disappointed since she pictured this scene countless times already in her mind. That scene in which Maria was standing in the kitchen and was so surprised and happy to find her in her white mask that she would hug- crap.
"Alicia." Alaia awkwardly called, couldn't look straight through Alicia's light green orbs.
"Your Highness!" Alicia called back, surprised, like what Alaia was expecting. Alicia's eyes slightly widened in disbelief at the sight of the mask that Alaia was wearing. She knew that this time would come but she didn't expect this to happen this early.
Alaia cleared her throat and rubbed her nape. She tried to look like she wasn't nervous, but Alicia wasn't an idiot to see that she was.
"W-Where is Maria?" Alaia asked, wanting to punch herself for stuttering.
Alicia fights off her smile. She didn't want Alaia to misunderstand her and thought that she was making fun of her. With her neutral face, she answered, "Oh, Alice asked for her help about something just a minute ago."
Alaia just nodded her head in understanding and tried not to frown.
Alicia saw the disappointment that registered in Alicia's eyes, but she again kept her mouth shut about that.
"Do you want me to call her, Your Highness?" Alicia offered, dying to tell Maria about the good news. She wondered how the younger girl would react if what she'd been waiting to happen was finally coming into shape.
Alaia shook her head, a little bit panicky, "N-No. There's no need for that. I don't need anything from that girl. I'm just-"
Alaia paused, thinking of a reason she could use. She didn't expect this, so she basically doesn't have anything on her mind right now.
"I'm just asking because she's usually here at this time of the day, so- so- yeah." Alaia stated, feeling so stupid for being so obvious that she was nervous. "Anyway, I should go now. Can you prepare some breakfast for me and bring it to the garden?"
Alicia nodded her head and smiled at Alaia, "Will do, Your Highness."
After preparing breakfast for Alaia, Alicia lost her patience and left the kitchen to look for Maria. Once she finally spotted the younger girl, she called her name louder than needed and with excitement in her tone. Maria snapped her head in her direction and her brows shot up as she waited for Alicia to come closer to her.
Alicia first catches her breath while holding Maria on her shoulders.
"What's wrong, Alicia? Is there any problem?" Maria asked, glanced at Alice to ask if she had any idea but only received a shrug.
"It's not a problem." Alicia answered between intakes of breaths.
Maria titled her head, not understanding anything.
"It was good news. You would surely be happy to know this." Alicia said, shaking Maria's shoulder and trying her hardest not to squeal, at least not yet.
"Cut to the chase Alicia, just spill it." Alice uttered, losing her patience and couldn't help but be curious too.
"Your Highness." Alicia started, breathless. "She's no longer wearing her beast mask but her white mask instead." Alicia finally spilled, close to tearing her lips because of how broad her smile was.
Maria was confused at first. She frowned, not understanding the need for Alicia to be this excited and inform her. It's not like she hasn't seen Alaia in her white mask yet. She had, countless times already. There's nothing to be excited about. And then the gears in her mind finally started turning as her eyes widened at the news. Now, it was her turn to hold Alicia on her shoulders and stare straight at the green-headed girl's eyes without blinking at least once.
"Are you telling the truth?" Maria asked, almost in a whisper, suddenly losing all her strength to speak in her usual voice.
Alicia eagerly nodded her head. "Yes. She even came to the kitchen and asked where you were."
Maria's arms fell to her sides, losing their strength. Her lips automatically curved into a smile; her mind was busy forming images of Alaia wearing her white mask. She remembered her conversation with Alaia yesterday. She thought that she had done or said something bad again, but it turns out that she was just overthinking. Maria no longer wasted any more time and excused herself. Even though they are not yet done with what they are doing, Alice let her go while shaking her head.
Maria forgot to ask Alicia where Alaia could be but she didn't have a hard time looking for her. She spotted a woman wearing a familiar tunic with her hair freely dancing in the air, sitting in a wooden chair and having her back on her. Maria smiled to herself, recognizing that woman. She bit her lower lip as she slowly walked toward Alaia.
"Your Highness." Maria sweetly called, still biting her lower lip to stop herself from smiling widely.
Alaia flinched, recognizing that voice. She held her breath in her throat. Her heart beats louder and faster. Her grip on the utensils tightened as her system started panicking. She started asking herself what she should do. Should she respond and look back at Maria? Should she run away from here without letting Maria catch a glimpse of her half-covered face? But didn't she do it because Maria wanted her to do that?
No, I didn't!
Isn't this what she wanted to happen? She even asked Alicia about Maria's whereabouts.
No, that's not what I want to happen.
Alaia panicked even more when she heard the light footsteps of Maria getting closer. There's no use in her thinking because her mind was overpowered by her heart already. She can't think straight because her heart is beating way too fast and too loud, distracting her from thinking things over. Her teeth against her lower lip were digging even deeper, getting closer to the possibility of making it bleed. Feeling hopeless as Maria drew nearer and nearer, Alaia closed her eyes and yelled, "Don't come closer!"
Maria stopped walking, confused, "W-What? W-Why can't I come closer, Your Highness?"
"J-Just because I said so!"
That's it. This is no longer Alaia. Something definitely changed in her. She shouted. She stuttered. She panicked. She was nervous. Despite surrounding herself with tall and thick walls, Maria still managed to break through them.
Maria mentally cursed, refusing to do as she was told.
She's being unjustifiable again.
"No way." Maria hard-headedly answered in a low voice. She has wasted too many opportunities already. There's no way she will let this day be added to that list.