Great Heads

9: Forestille

Darla

The both of them cheerfully danced to the tune of the music. The singers at the festival did not fail to showcase their melodious voices as they performed. Kaleb nervously stared at Beryl in complete ignorance of what to do.

She held his hands like a captain stirring a boat, controlling his every step. He was so bad at it, I thought in my head almost laughing out loud.

Of course I maintained my non-interested look and behaviour, but the sight was so lovely. I felt my cheeks lift from their usual grumpy position. Looking at Kaleb, was it just me or he actually seemed really shy, not just because of his unfamiliarity with dancing, but just being around Beryl?

I was still standing there, enjoying this blissful show before I suddenly felt my body move. It followed the hand that dragged me.

“Dance, Darla. Dance,” Beryl said to me as she stood in our middle, with our hands locked in hers doing the cancan dance.

I admit, it was actually fun. Freeing one's self from hate and worries once in a while was not a really bad idea. We twirled around now holding our hands to form a circle. It was one of the best memories I ever had of those two knuckleheads.

After everything, we still could feel this thing called happiness.

How did we even get here…?

Three Days Earlier

The stranger boy, whose name was Kaleb, could not help but show how amazed he was to see the inside of town. The place was a lovely environment filled with people of different occupations performing it with all their hearts, making sure of the smooth running of Forestille. It was pleasurable and a lovely view to behold. It was a lifestyle we all had gotten used to.

Back to my thoughts, I didn't still get Pa, letting one of our most dreaded enemies into our home. For me, it was a wrong decision. That stranger boy would be the first of his kind to live with Forelenes, hopefully in peace.

Pa was kind alright, kind enough to save me as a child. Although we weren't blood-related, I never saw him as any other person rather than as my Pa. 

Grandfather had ordered me to keep Kaleb's identity a secret from others in order to avoid unnecessary alarm. Hearing there was a Rocainian in our mist could lead to the town’s immediate evacuation. 

These people were too scared to hold up a knife. I wasn't. If I ever had to protect the people I loved, then so be it. I would kill a thousand Rocainians or even wipe out their entire nation. I would do that to ensure the people I loved stayed alive.

I did not trust that boy I would still prefer to call stranger boy—since he was a complete stranger we knew nothing about— but I trusted Pa.

As soon as we arrived at Forestille, we headed to where we lived there. Pa had promised to build an extra room for Kaleb to stay in since the rooms weren't enough for him.

“Go take these to the market, okay?” Grandfather said as he handed over some potatoes and carrots, properly packaged in a big bag.

“Sure thing, Pa,” I answered, as I struggled to lift it up.

I was about to go out when Pa stopped me. “Along with Kaleb.”

My eyebrows furrowed and I had a brief moment of silence before going out, not caring if he followed me. He did follow me.

“Just try not to get noticed and smile at anyone that greets you,” I advised him, making sure I used a monotone.

It was hard not to get noticed by people as we walked into the market, pushing our cart. I didn't know what amazed them though, but we couldn't possibly pass by without getting a comment on Kaleb's looks. Literally, all eyes were on him.

Darla, what a handsome friend you've got.

You look quite different young boy.

Who's this charming...?

My daughter's quite your age.

Darla, is this your suitor you’ve brought?...

That particular question hit me hard. It made me halt with my eyes widened, still trying not to react to it. The others I could manage, but that one!

It made me turn to give a stare at the person being praised. I didn't get it. It was either they were blind or I couldn't just see it. All I saw was a Rocainian boy dressed in oversized clothes.

He didn't even seem to react to their praises. He just walked by my side and stopped when I did, looking all—I don’t know. His face didn’t say anything. He didn't look angry, or touched by their comments, in fact, his eyes were just fixed on where we were heading.

He soon caught me staring at him after realizing we weren’t moving anymore.

It made everything seem awkward because of the question and my stare. His clueless-looking eyes just waited for my orders on the next stall to stop by to sell.

I made sure my eyes looked cold and angry when I said this to him, “Dont’t get any ideas.”

We resumed walking. Well, we didn’t walk for long since everyone wanted to buy our goods because of the 'handsome suitor'. A familiar overenthusiastic ladylike girl waved at me as she made her way to where I stood. She wore her usual dresses that I would never make myself wear. Not because they weren’t good-looking, no, they were actually beautiful, yes because of that.

They were too for pretty for a girl of my attitude. Although I knew they'd fit me, I didn't care.

Her name was Beryl.

She hugged me as she confessed, “I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve missed you so much.”

I tried freeing myself from the tight hug, feeling slightly embarrassed for Kaleb to see me being all lovey-dovey. She quickly freed me on her own when her eyes met Kaleb's.