Three year later. The present time.
The gaze of people is warmer than the sun-or it's only for me. I am all flushed with the fact that I have had a dozen people watch the act I pulled off.
I shift my eyes to Arnold.
He's sure grown damn handsome.
Man, who thought that thin kid will turn into a figure so fine.
I wipe the tears out of my eyes.
I should surely not think about him this way.
He's eyes are still delighted with happiness; it almost seems like he doesn't give a shit about what the people around us are thinking-
"Look at the kids nowadays, doing these kinds of things in public" someone whispers from the crowd and that's all it takes for me to grab his hand and run.
My cheeks are burning; the sensation is something I am not familiar with but something in me cannot stop smiling.
"Where are you taking me Elicia?" He questions. I smile.
"I guess, once an idiot is always an idiot." I smile at the thought of calling him an idiot after years.
Years that he sacrificed for me.
I choke at the realization that he should have been in the cells instead of here-but it's better for me to be near him.
He wasted years of his life for…me?
How?
I don't remember it. I don't remember anything related to him going somewhere or leaving me, the only thing I remember is he being in jail.
I don't remember why? How? or when?
No matter how much I think,
Cannot. Remember. It.
I force it, trying to remember it.
How did he go to jail and why for me? What the hell even happened-
Tears run down my cheeks. The sensation is cold.
Why am I crying?
I don't remember crying at trivial matters, and still it has been the second time I am crying after meeting him.
To be honest, I don't even remember thinking about him. Don't remember having a thought about him.
It's like he vanished from my life like he never existed, but somehow, he's here; standing with me and it feels like a feeling that cannot be explained in words, an action that relieves me without any means.
Whatever, at least we are together now-
I am just trying to ignore the fact that I have been a bad friend.
How can I not remember my only friend? How can I not think about him even for a second in three years? How can I even do that?
Now is not the time for it. I should be happy to meet him again, I should feel like myself again. Act like myself again. I should have some fun.
"Yes, I am an idiot so can you please tell me where you are taking me?" he says, his voice has deepened with time. It is no longer the voice of that barely turned teenager; it sounds more like an adult.
How can I forget he is one now as he turned fifteen?
And there am I running with an adult and calling him an idiot while myself being only thirteen. I will soon turn into an adult too. I only have to wait for two years.
"Home."
Home the word feels like something foreign to me. I used to have a home, but it shattered. Then, I met Arnold and slums started feeling like home, but it too shattered the day I cannot remember. And the feeling of hope of finding a home again makes my heart flutter.
After 3 hrs.
"I still cannot believe it's you Arnold, you've grown so much!" said mother, it may be the twelfth time she said this line. Of course, it's understandable seeing that he sure has grown so much but she should understand that she should not keep repeating it. It's exhausting.
"And you're just as pretty, Aunt Ama! Your black hairs are as elegant as always, not even a single white hair is to be seen and your green eyes-damn; they are so beautiful that I cannot describe it in words!", he says, looking as dramatic as always. It would be wrong to say he's changed; his personality is the same as always.
"Oh, honey! Don't flatter me so much. If you would have put this much effort into flattering a girl, she would have fallen for you already" I am scared to think that my mother likes him more than she even loves me. Her own daughter. But it wouldn't be wrong to say that mother is beautiful.
"If you're done with flattering my mother, then can we go to work?" I say, the atmosphere was light, like I love it.
"I would love to," he says, a big smile covering his lips. He slowly gets up as do I.
I tie my hairs in a ponytail while he runs a hand through his hairs.
"Well, isn't today a fest?" he asks.
"Yes, seeing how streets are getting decorated" I pause to question, "but I don't know why it is happening."
"Oh yes, I heard about it too. It is to celebrate the return of the Nikas." Mother says, her right hand cupping her face.
"The kingdom must have loved their warriors so much to prepare a whole festival for their return" I said while fixing my clothes "Anyway, it's a perfect opportunity for us to get some work!"
"Yeah."
"Goodluck" mother says with her hands clapping in from of her chest.
"Sister, can we go to see the festival together today?" asks Anna. Her eyes were hoping for a yes, so I gave her it.
We left the house to search for a job and left our identities as thieves behind.