The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 24

WE WERE SUPPOSED to enjoy our time in the garden, but Eien just had to make me shut my eyes and try his method of clearing my mind. Honestly, if he weren't there to ease my head, I could've lashed out.

I focused first on how soft his fingers were against my temples. Then, the comforting air surrounded my head. I knew by then that he'd created a dome.

When he asked me if I thought of a butterfly, I nodded. It was a lie, and I wonder if he knew it but let it pass. There was no butterfly, only his soft hands.

Because no matter how small they are, they always find a way to cure me, not just physically but emotionally and, dare I say it, spiritually. I'm not a sentimental type, but nothing stops me from believing that God has sent me this kid. The more he's healing me, the more I'm letting go. Do I think I'll be free from such guilt someday? No. But at least, little by little, I am healing.

Before we go back inside, I gently squeeze his hand. 'Eien,' I say, and the confusion that blooms in his eyes almost makes me drop his hand, but I hold him firmly. 'I know you don't approve of skinship, but I want you to know something...'

He looks down at our hands and then back to me. 'If it's a love confession, forget it, mister.'

'It's not that!' I say, dropping his hand. 'Oh, you cheeky monkey.'

'My apologies. I couldn't help it. You started it.'

'Yeah, I know. Stupid me.'

'OK, pardon my witticism. What were you about to say?'

Heat radiates in my face. I've never talked about this before to anyone, not even to my mother. 'I...I want to say thank you for everything you've done for me. It was never your job to help me, and yet, here you are.'

Silence follows. He chews his lip and then turns his back on me. 'Y-you're welcome, Mister Evans.'

Now that I can't see his face, the following words are easier to let out.

'And also, I'm so sorry for how I treated you. I know I haven't been the best—', Friend? Are we friends yet? '—companion so...I'm really sorry.' It feels great to free myself from shame and pride. And yet, it's also daunting. By being more emotional, I'm allowing myself to get hurt again.

A voice tells me to push Eien away. I bury it deep, just like how the ashes buried those victims of mine.

Eien stares at me again, and my breathing stops as he gives me his most sincere smile yet.

'I have been waiting for you to say that...'

* * * * *

'I hope you've savoured your time in the garden,' Alasdair says, as he opens the door for us. I've noticed that the butlers and the maids have been missing. Then I recall that the redhead had asked them to leave us alone. Of course, how could a bunch of teenagers have the time of their lives with adults snooping around?

When Eien and I are settled, Alasdair, Fumihiro, and Noritaka go to the kitchen to make our early dinner. Eien wants to help, but Declan asks him to spend time with him instead. It's only fair, he says. 'You two were in the garden? And none of you thought to wake me up?' he whines.

Now the three of us are choosing a channel to tune in to. I've got no idea what's on the box that will interest me. There's a dating show, but the participants barely link their arms together. Imagine being in your twenties, but you can't even kiss an attractive woman who's basically spreading her legs for you because you don't get the message.

Frustrated, I change the channel and...it's news. 'This blows.' I almost press the button when Eien slaps the remote control from my hand. 'Hey!'

They both tell me to shush. I wanna protest, but then the maps of the Philippines and Vietnam are shown on the screen. I know it's those two countries because the tags say so. I haven't heard anything about these two countries for so long that I've forgotten what they look like.

Eien pushes some buttons, and the news is translated into English.

'...Vietnam, once again, has sent a warning that no country should attempt to breach their borders. At least five soldiers from the Philippines have been shot fatally.'

'What the hell is going on?' I listen as the newscaster reports that Zone 9's second main military base is located in the Philippines. It has more than a hundred thousand Filipino soldiers and millions of Zone 9 soldiers.

'Are we in a war or something?' I say after absorbing the report.

Declan shrugs. 'Maybe they are. It's not our problem.'

'But Zone 9 isn't that far from Zone 1!'

'Yeah, well, Zone 1 has signed a treaty in which it says we'll never include ourselves in any war. Well, at least that's what they said. If things go down, bitch, I'm outta here. I'll be takin' Eien with me.'

'That is nice,' Eien says.

I become silent as images of wounded soldiers flash across the screen. The commanders of the Vietnam army warn Zone 9 to stay away, leave them alone, or else they'll wage a war the world will never forget.

Are they aware that almost nobody talks about them? Any country that hasn't been named as a 'Zone' has been left in the dust. I know that Declan is right: This isn't our problem. If Zone 9 wants to wage war against Vietnam for whatever reason, I shouldn't care. Of course, I feel sorry for those who are and will be affected, but what can I do for them?

'But... Renaming your country as one of the Zones meant peacefulness, right? That you only want negotiation or...' I pause, shaking my head.

'You've got a lot more to learn, Jaxjax,' Declan says.

I press my back against the wall. I have to ignore the poisonous ideas swarming me.