Lia felt unsatisfied with her current situation.
It was a fine afternoon in late spring. Summer appeared to be coming early.
The village was serene and energetic; each member going at their daily activities with compassionate vigour and life. They were a small village a little isolated from the outside world, situated in the mountain ranges.
This meant, they were constantly under the risk and threat of monsters and beasts attacking the settlement, but a single glance from an outsider, and they wouldn't guess so.
Lia observed her amiable surroundings as she walked down the streets, accompanied by her loose thoughts.
'What am I doing...' she would think like so every few seconds that passed.
Lia was an adorable and petite little girl, five years of age. She had dark blue hair, long for her age, and wide deep azure eyes. Her countenance was akin to a doll, her flawless fair skin accentuated her eyes like gem, and flowing locks of hair like a cascading water fall under the influence of sunlight in mid-spring.
As a native of this world, Lia held an unparallel beauty, even for a little child her age. But even as native, she was nigh-incomparable to many her age, and some even older.
The solemn expression she wore made her appear as a porcelain doll.
For a while now, Lia has felt lost and left out.
Ever since the incident, a few months back, her friends, Don and the others seemed to have moved on with renewed vigour and conviction; turning the experience of that fateful day to fuel amd power behind their drive.
They experienced, cried, and detested from that day; but all of that emotion and rage was redirected towards a future where things were bound to be different — the were determined to make sure.
Don and the others had grown stronger by leaps and bounds, even regardless of their combat lessons under Mr. Ridge. Leon had felt disgust and helplessness and turned to his father to avoid such hopelessness among his path anymore.
Don and Kyle had faced his resolve and discovered theirs, maturing far more than they seemed to realize.
Lia was a shy, quiet and reserved type; she was introverted and socially awkward, she would always remain quiet among the sidelines and watch others like an audience to a play or a reader to a book.
At first she hadn't given much thought to the distance, but as she spent more time surrounded by her friends, Lia wished she could be as outspoken as Don, as willful as her best friend, Trise, as casual as Kyle and as confident as Leon.
She had poor people skills, and as far as she knew, Trise had been the one mostly covering up for her and protecting her from most any harm for as long as she could remember. Lia was shy and timid and had been prone to bullying once before. While Trise was perceived as as too aggressive for a girl or a lady.
She would often get in fight with others boys, some even twice her age...and win. And this behavior garnered the fear of other boys and children in the village, and the cold shoulder of the other more, 'refined' girls.
So much so, that the little tomboy was dubbed 'Mad Dog' behind her back.
Lia on the other hand was weak willed, lacking in confidence and courage. Her stunning looks had garnered the attention of those far older than her, and the venomous intentions of girls her age and older brewing from envy. As such, Lia has had a particularly troublesome childhood.
Trise was one of her only safe haven. Someone she truly looked up to.
But the universe knew how much tired of that she had grown to become. She was feeling sick of her self, to be constantly hiding behind Trise's back and remaining on the sidelines with her thoughts all to herself. She had views, she had ideas — she had perspectives she would love to share with those around her, so many things to say, but couldn't find the confidence or courage to be out with it.
It was also because of this, her friends were moving forward and maturing in each their ways, while she....
...where was she?
'Ah, yes. From the sidelines...'
Like an onlooker.
While she was brooding with heavy feet against the ground, Lia ran into someone from the corner of her eye. She hadn't realized it but she just arrived at Reo's house up on the hill.
And right outside the small wooden gate was a young black haired boy, with deep dark black eyes and ivory skin, the same age.
"Reo," she unconsciously called out to him, expressing her surprise mildly.
Was it a surprise though? This was, after all, where he lived.
"Mhm?" Reo turned his head and brought his attention toward the person who spoke his name and expressed his own surprise with a short syllable.
"Lia...what are you doing here?" He asked, his words were muffled and full because of the piece of bread he had stuffing his mouth full.
Lia barely suppressed a small laugh from the sight. Reo's cheeks were full like a squirrel and the piece of bread kept hanging out his mouth, as he seemed to be in a hurry to chew it off and rush out.
He had what looked like a cross bag over his shoulder and was heading towards an opposite direction when she met him.
"I... I was just walking by." Lia admitted in a response.
Reo's surprise was justified. Today was a rare day off from both Mr. Ridge and Layla, and the group each had something private to do in their homes so there were no plans to meet up and hang out.
Reo chewed on the bread in his cheeks and swallowed before taking out the one still hanging from his mouth, then said;
"Is that so?" He observed Lia for a short while then decided to ask — " Uhm, are you okay? Is something wrong? "
Lia gave a soft smile after masterfully masking her inner turmoil, she was startled by the unexpected question.
'Maybe if it's him...' she thought and only now realized, Reo was, other than Trise, the other one person she had actually shared her sincere thoughts, emotions and feelings, not once but twice.
Once, when they were seeking comfort alone together in the cave, and the other when Reo returned with Cliff after separating from them in the tunnel.
She wasn't sure why, or how, but she had been able to open up to this person before.
Her lips moved and parted to speak, but she hesitated.
Eventually she said instead;
"Yes. I'm fine. I just needed some fresh air." She smiled gorgeously and reassuringly.
Reo scratched his eye then lingered before dropping the topic. He seemed a bit tired.
"...if you say so." He couldn't afford to force her into saying something she didn't want to. Plus, if there were any problem, he was sure Lia would have already shared with the group, or Trise. There was no particular need for him to meddle or be the one she gets to confide in.
He nodded.
"Well then. I'll see you later, Lia." Saying so, Reo raised his free hand in a small wave and a light smile before turning around to leave with the piece of bread returned back to his mouth.
Lia watched his back retrat with a motionless expression. Her eyes held a dull light as she reviewed the recent interaction.
"He looked exhausted," she thought to herself.
There were slight signs of fatigue all over Reo's expression and countenance. But they were so minuscle, one would barely notice without paying rapt attention or being told.
Reo's ivory complexion was even paler these days she saw him. There were traces of dark circles underneath his eyes, his hair was partially disheveled and his eyes were dull and murky, as if struggling to stay awake.
Although, all of this was carefully hidden and masked behind a casual facade from an average stranger's eye. Reo's behavior was light and amiable with just the right judged amount of distance and formality two people acquainted with each other should have.
So hence, Reo had always felt like a stranger in the group, at least to Lia. The others still don't seem to notice this, but Reo has kept a certain amount of distance and a tall wall between himself and the others.
As someone who was quiet and reserved herself, Lia mostly found herself watching from the sidelines; she could perceive details others could not and was particularly sensitive to other similar aspects like that.
Unknown to her friends or anyone, Lia was a perceptive little girl with a frightening intuition at times. But she only lacked the confidence and courage to listen to her guts and share her thoughts, so she usually ended up stuffing those feelings down deep inside her heart.
That was why she could tell that Reo had been up to something since he returned back from the trip with Cliff. And her intuition was speaking volumes about what it might be.