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I don't know why I now look like them. It's already morning. The sun was shining brightly. I feel my head. Now I was wearing a dress and a crown typical of the local population. I hate being in a daze with nowhere to go like this. Moreover, I haven't seen Shiloh's nose since earlier.
"How? Did you sleep well?"
I gasped in surprise when I saw Amyas coming carrying firewood. He smiled at me. His tall body covered me so I couldn't be exposed to the sun. I looked up. I'm about as tall as my chest.
"I don't remember sleeping last night," I said quickly. Amyas laughed. As usual, he covered his mouth when making such an expression. It's normal, I'm not surprised anymore. Maybe that's just how he is.
"Aqua changed your clothes," he said. I asked nodding.
"I didn't ask," I blurted out. Amyas smiled again. I grumbled silently. Why is this person smiling all the time? I hope not to catch the mad virus in this place.
When I wanted to go and look for Shiloh who might be throwing his tantrums at a lot of girls here—just so you know, there are a lot of good-looking people here, I don't know why either— suddenly Amyas touched my arm. He smiled for the umpteenth time. God, what is this again?!
"Help me prepare breakfast. Will you?"
I had no other choice but to nod. Think of it as a form of thanks because after filling my stomach yesterday I can still open my eyes. Especially with pretty fresh conditions like this.
As a result Amyas led me to walk slowly to a small house made of a kind of white cement. This place is similar to a flat measuring no more than 8 square meters. The top is left perforated.
"The people who were here were originally stragglers," said Amyas suddenly. I frowned, but Amyas answered again. "We also lived in the city once. I can very clearly read your uncomfortable gestures."
"You guys are weird. I'm not wrong," I said coolly. I wanted so badly to leave Amyas, but the man stopped me.
"No, we are unique. You just don't know us." Amyas smiled while looking at me. He touched my hand. "Sit down. I'll tell you an interesting story." []
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"Let's get out of here, Shiloh!"
Shiloh gave me a confused look. He was still eating grapes casually like snacking on peanut crackers. I glanced nervously out the door. There were several people busy drying thin meat like fillets.
"Why so hurry?" asked Shiloh, "I don't even know where I'm going anymore. Do you know the way home?"
I clucked. I snatched the wine from his hand. This brown-haired man was clearly at home here. Even earlier I had to force him—by dragging him to this small house. He was spending time with the brewing beauties just now. Damn it. Did he think this is Heaven, huh?
"We have to go. Understood?" I said firmly. To hell with my cell phone pawned by him. I don't care anymore now.
Instead of agreeing to my suggestion, Shiloh shook her head. From the look on his face I could tell he didn't agree. "We can't get out of here, Cav. It's dangerous out there. Could you hold on a little longer?"
"Hey, you idiot! They're all weird. What if they set us up on purpose?" I said, "do you want us—"
"Don't judge before you know the truth, Cav!" Shiloh warned. I clenched my fists, staring at him in disbelief. "You think you know about them all too? You defend them even more than I do! You've known me longer than them but you—"
"It's precisely because I know you that I don't want to take another wrong step, understand?!" Shiloh glared at me. His eyebrows dropped. "You're reckless! Never think twice! You're too selfish! Don't you evaluate yourself that badly, hm?"
I shook my head, not expecting Shiloh to say that. I quickly kicked the boy's stomach until he fell into a haystack. Without saying anything else, I immediately ran away leaving him.
This was the first time Shiloh's words were like daggers.
I kept running, not caring that I had bumped into people who were busy with their respective activities. I cast my eyes all around. Fields overgrown with lavender fill this place. A clear blue sky without a cloud overshadowed me. After escaping far from the crowds of people, I found a clear pool with coral at the bottom. I dipped both feet into it, then closed my eyes.
Lots of stupidity these few days.
The recent events have really broken my heart. I can no longer do what I want, because now I feel that everything is not only centered on me. The world is not limited to me. I'm not as free as the past days.
"Hey, you're Abby, right?"
I slowly opened my eyes when a soft voice entered my eardrums. I saw Aqua, a short blonde haired girl with turquoise eyes walking towards me. He smiled, which I could only stare at. I don't know why I'm lazy to be sweet.
"Why are you alone?" he asked. He sat beside me.
I sighed. "So what if I'm alone? To bother you?"
she chuckled. He shook his head quickly. "No. It's just... maybe you need a friend?"
I looked at him annoyed. I didn't respond to what he said, choosing to close my eyes again. I'm lazy to socialize just so you know.
"Leave me alone."
There is no movement. I guessed Aqua was still sitting beside me. Really ... please. I don't want to make a fuss now. At least not yet, not interested yet.
"Want me to show you a nice spot?" she offered. She smiled and looked at me from the side. I raised an eyebrow. "I hope you feel better from there."
I sighed, then got up and put on my wooden sandals like the locals. "Quickly take me there. Don't just talk!"
She nodded. He then walked in front of me, while I followed him. We passed tall pine trees that I had just noticed had yellow leaves. Usually pines are deep green, but the sight before me made me gape. I secretly thought.
Am I being tacky because I've never seen a yellow leaf pine or is this tree the weird one?
"We're going in this way," Aqua said. The girl opened a large door that was set in a wide and thick diameter tree. The door was normal size, except that the size of the pine tree rivaled the size of the class at my school. The door is painted red. Aqua had already entered earlier, while I was still pensively outside.
Entering the place, the fragrance of pears penetrates the senses. I was treated to a view of clear bottles filled with various objects hanging from a small rope on the roof. Inside the bottle there is also a small candle burning, even though it has been assisted by lighting yellow lanterns in every corner of the room. I saw Aqua waving her hand at me. He was standing at the top of the small staircase. His hands held the lever of the large round door above his head.
"Hurry over here, Abby!" called Aqua. I jogged towards her. We finally stood side by side.
Slowly, Aqua opened the door quickly. I saw a dark room filled with stars. The big moon above was shining so brightly that it slapped the skin of the face. I looked at Aqua and poked her for an answer, but she just smiled.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
What is this place?" I asked. I was sure it was still early. But here… it was night. Even my body was still near the door. Not running out to approach Aqua who was fine standing far from the door.
"This place is the border. This is another part of the earth that experiences night," Aqua said with a smile. He held out his hand. "Come on. It's beautiful here. Are you sure you won't regret it?"
I chuckled, then climbed upstairs beside her. I can see a collection of thousands of stars stretching randomly above there. Cold air was blowing.
"Why is Amyas always bugging me?"
Aqua frowned. While I sighed.
"You're his best friend, right? Do you know why he keeps bothering me?" I said. "Are you all really weird?"
she laughed. "He is like that, leave it be," he said, "I don't think we are weird. We just cultivate our customs."
"Smiling is the culture of your ancestors, or what?"
Aqua snapped her fingers. "That's right. It's one of our habits. But that doesn't mean we can't be angry."
"Strange."
"If you stay here long you will feel normal," she said, "adjusting may take some time."
I paused, then sat hugging my legs. "Actually until now I didn't know where this place was. It's like it's not in Greece. Don't you want to share something interesting?"
"It's still in Greece." Aqua glanced at me. "But somewhere else."
"You mean?"
"Tomorrow, you ask Amyas."
I chuckled in annoyance, then stood up with a rough movement. "Why should I ask him when you can answer it?"
"Because I don't have a right to tell."
"Tsk, so—"
"Yes, Amyas the chief here, Abby." []