Bryan woke up to the bright sunlight shining on his face from the open window. Did I sleep with the window open again? A habit is a disease, he was used to the morning breeze drifting in his room, shaking him up.
"Mae!" He suddenly remembered he had a great misunderstanding during the night. He looked around and there was Berick, asleep on the couch. 'Oh, yeah I slept in his bed.' He remembered. His head was heavy after waking up from a forgotten nightmare. Yeah, the woman seated crossed-legged in the lake? No no no... He couldn't remember even the face but he could picture a woman kissing him in front of a cave. There was a waterfall too... Why can't I remember? I keep dreaming the same dreams.
He got off the bed he had slept in his outfit to put on his trainers.
"Berick?" He called out softly. The guy was wheezing and the sound irritated him.
"Oh, you up?" Bricked yawned as he lifted his head. 'Was this guy asleep?' Bryan wondered.
"Have they left?" Bryan asked referring to Mae and her Aunt. His mind was overthinking, yesternight, why did I mess up?
"Where is my phone!" He suddenly remembers as Berick falls back to slumber, not answering his quiz.
"Berick!"
"What!" Berick woke up this time annoyed. "Do you have to wake me up this early?" He complained as he realized Bryan won't let him sleep till he got his phone.
"How do you suppose me to know where your phone is?" He asked as he put on his shirt.
"I left it on the window sill, in the room on the west wing," Bryan recalled as he paced towards the door ready to fetch his phone.
"Wait! Where are you rushing to?" Berick blocked his path with his arms wide. "I will get it for you." He offered but Bryan declined.
"No need to bother you, I will get it myself."
"Do we have to argue? You should take a shower and change into that." He said pointing to neatly folded clothing on the edge of the bed. "Xie Yu will be leaving in less than an hour." With that Berick walked out of the door locking it behind him as he pulled his trouser up to fasten the belt.
The room fell into silence once more, only Bryan's thoughts were audible to himself. 'That Butler must have had a reason to do this.' Bryan was weary of him. It must have been planned. 'And why did Mae come along with that prince?' He had sent a message earlier that he will go to her, not the other way.
His heart was heavy and his mind was lost in the chaos. The doctor's advice was that he should avoid overthinking his love life as it was the main trigger of his illness. Right now he was oblivious to his actions, he almost let out a tear as he vividly remembered Mae taking a step away from him. Did that prince smile? He couldn't remember lively.
He took off his clothes slowly as he wrapped the towel placed on the hook outside the shower for him to use around his waist.
The water was warm. He let it sizzle down his face as his hair got soaked. He was not going to do anything, after today he and Mae will be miles apart. He had no more hopes of having a wonderful time together before she left, not after the Bella incident. He used the shampoo to clean his hair as he scrubbed through it with his fingers, 'Abi?' He thought of her for once.
It had been a long time since she left. Now he kind of remembered her. He scrubbed his back as the shower washed away the foam from his body. 'It was Abi!' He remembered the girl in her dream had always been Abi. 'Yes, she said she will stick to me.' Bryan thought over as he ended the shower.
He walked out all wet, drying his hair first. He didn't seem to mind exposing his privates as he walked freely to the bed.
"Bryan?" Berick who had long returned saw the stressed youth drying himself. "Ok. Is ok... Here is your phone, I'm going out to join the rest now... Take your time." Berick said as Bryan walked to the bedroom drying his groins now. He didn't answer or respond to Berick as he stood naked taking the undergarment to put on. 'Oh my!'
Berick was not going to watch, so he excused himself. If only he knew, he would have immediately reported this atypical behaviour.
So he just walked his way downstairs still not understanding why Bryan would be so stressed over a girl. 'Ah, just a girl.' He finished the steps still lamenting. 'Just a girl! Just a hole?' Huhu.'
Back in the room.
Bryan changed into the pair of suits offered to him by who knows who. He didn't have to look at his reflection in the mirror as he was not in the mood to impress anyone. His face was gloomy, and his stance weak. The door opened slightly as he pushed his way out to follow Berick down minutes later.
"Ayee, dude!" Hao Ge threw himself on him.
"Aren't you going to speak? You are so damn handsome, wow,! This suit fits you well!" Hao Ge praised Bryan.
"Not even a thank you?" Hao Ge asked disappointedly as he noticed Bryan was not even in the mood to talk.
"Don't say he is handsome again." Berick who had been waiting had heard all from the hallway.
"Should I lie that he is ugly?" Hao Ge retorted as he faced Berick who walked up to him.
"The day you will stop doing make-up like a whore, I will stop calling you gay."
This made veins pop up on Hao Ge's forehead as anger built in him.
"You wanna fight? Gay?" Berick teased as he saw Prince William Ge emerge from the door.
"Mind your business." Hao Ge warned as he hid his fist away from William's sight.
"Good morning bros?" Prince Ge saluted them as he walked past. His moods were visible, today he was extra happy, and he was joyful. ' What in hell resurfaced his smile of ecstasy.' Hao Ge wondered as he noticed the change. 'We are going for a burial! Do you have to be this happy?'
Hao wondered as he noticed Berick had long left to follow Bryan into the dining hall for breakfast.
"Hey! Dudes!" He shouted out as he ran after them.
The hall was packed to fill. Everyone was present except the Yumaa who had not yet returned.
"Bryan, wow you are so handsome today. Come sit next to me." Miss Old Gindi immediately welcomed her grandson who quietly obeyed. Across the table just opposite Miss Old Gindi, Mae sat between Jake and Xie Yu. Her face too was ashen.
Not much was said, prince Ge joined them a minute after Hao Ge, and they all drank tea and biscuits talking less. "Mass will start by 10 am, is good we are there before the priest." Prince Ge reminded them.
'Uh.' Hao Ge almost choked. 'When did he become so religious? Is he not the same person who told me only Buddha oversees the dead, to ensure karma and bla bla bla...'
"Please sister, have some more." Prince Ge suddenly handed the biscuits to Mae who had stopped eating.
"Thanks." She replied. "I'm full."
"Ok then." Prince Ge smiled back at Mae as he withdrew the plate full of biscuits.
'Aaaaiii since when did he become so caring.' Hao Ge noticed this with keenness as he stole glances at Prince Ge who kept checking on Mae who was now lugubrious.
'Tsk.' Hao Ge knocked his knuckles on Berick's knees under the table almost causing the latter to choke himself with fright.
'Gosh! Don't tell me he likes me!' Berick reacted quick withdrawing himself from this dude.
"C'mon." Hao Ge urged causing Berick to freak.
"Stay away from me, I'm not the type."
No one was in the mood to chat today, so immediately after breakfast, Prince Ge offered to drive them back to Dagoretti where the burial will be held.
After the short burial mass, everyone dismissed leaving behind the family members to get along and decide what should be done.
"Hi." Bryan approached Mae silently. Since he did wake up, he had not taken anything but just a biscuit and half a cup of tea.
"I'm sorry honey." Bryan apologized. He knew if he doesn't mend this now, he will never get the chance. The elders and parents were behind, giving the two space to reconcile.
"Mae, talk to me," Bryan begged as he held back his fear.
"Bryan, I'm sure someone else loves you better, just leave me alone." Mae started sobbing as she quickened her pace, but Bryan won't let go of her.
"I would never demand anything from anyone else if not you." Bryan kept defending himself but only to cause Mae to fall into dismay.
"Babe, I'm sorry." Mae suddenly apologized after failing to get away from the persistent Bryan.
"Sorry for what honey?" Bryan was now confused. She won't add anything more to that despite his effort to force her.
"Is better you go back to Abi," Mae suggested as tears visibly condensed in her eyes.
"Honey, why.?" Bryan was stressed. Yes, he remembered the dream whereby Abi sat with him in a pool of water, but he just won't catch feelings for her, he loved Mae.
"I'm not leaving you." Bryan summoned his last words.
"Babe, you won't forgive me if I tell you the truth." Mae cried as Xie Yu came along, Miss Old Gindi and Prince Ge right behind.
"Are you all ok?" That was the last sentence Bryan heard before he drifted into his illusions once again.