The boy in the forest

5. Tempest

Note: I humbly apologize for the previous chapter, 4. blossoming as it was written way past my usual bedtime... at 2 am so it's not as beautiful as I wanted it to be.....  @ ~_~ @

Jiu's POV

Ever since that day I frequently visited him, to spend... waste away the day as mundanely as possible. "Ai, do you live around here?" I asked out of curiosity, as we were distracted in skipping stones, a new game he'd introduced to me. You're supposed to throw a stone across the lake and the person who makes the most ripples across the water without sinking wins. Silly and Naïve, isn't it?

"Here.." He muttered as he chucked the pebble in his hand across the water surface, sowing radial ripples at it's touch. "You mean here? In the woods?" I asked however no sound came from him except the frisky stone submerging into the water with a plop. I assumed that it was because he'd nowhere else to go so I decided to not further indulge in the matter. 

"Are you curious about me?" He asked as he bent down to collect a few more stones ashore, his tone didn't sound very anticipating though. "No.. I'm not," I muttered as usual, putting distance between us. After all I still wasn't sure about his being, was he human or a ghost? Sometimes my assumptions of him, his entirety has vaguely surpassed past those thoughts, that his nature might be more far fetched than I could think.

 "Oh... hehe, you shouldn't hide your true feelings since we're friends now, right?" He raised back and faced me with a smile however it didn't reach his eyes. Overtime I've noticed that when doesn't like the topic we're talking of, his fringe will slightly lower onto his eyelashes, covering his expressive gaze which makes it harder for me to understand what he's thinking of. This time also it was probably the same. 

 "All I want is to know where you come from, that's all" I answered as honestly but then he muttered something along the lines "I'm glad you're thinking of me..", however my concerned mind failed to decipher his utter. "What?" I asked, wanting to clarify but he brushed it off, saying  "Nothing...One more round.." he handed me a couple more of pebbles he'd collected.  "One two three.." he alerted and once again we threw a pebble each. Mine succumbed after four dribbles while hiss continued to go as far as to seven skips.

 "I won.." He bragged ostentatiously though I had already thrown in the towel without a second thought. "Yeah... yeah, congrats.." I mumbled, annoyed by the sudden return of his carefree side but relieved at the same time, him being all broody was something I felt awkward with so I didn't want him to feel that way, besides it made me feel guilty for ruining his mood too hence I let him flaunt a bit longer. "I'm amazing aren't I?" "Yes you are.."  I fed his pride mindlessly, a part of me had become soft to him which I usually am not, however Ai was truly an affable being so no excuses.

He was one annoying brat, but his childish behavior enlightened the constant angst I kept brooding over. Speaking of which, I still hadn't thought about what to do in future, a part of me was still lost on the bridge to adulthood as no one offered to guide me around. I even vaguely thought that it'd gotten too late as I had let go off the rope that'd been dragging me to the goal, the dream my mother sought for my sake. 

"Jiu san?" I became aware of the reality when my name was called loudly enough that my eardrums were ringing. I turned to face the speaker and he looked displeased, apparently he'd been calling me for a while as I was distracted. "What?!" I asked, trying to seem as casual but he never fails to read my mind. "Is there something bothering you? You seem to be distracted," He asked seeming concerned, but I didn't want to drag him into my problems. "Uh.. sorry about that," I apologized whole heartedly and yet he persisted, asking "It's fine, just know that... I'm here to listen in anytime, alright? so do you want to tell me what's wrong?".