HER KIND

Comfort In A Way

'Chapter 7'

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Funny seeing you here."

"I don't think it's funny at all, considering I specifically said that I didn't want to see you again," Dria gritted through her teeth.

"Well, I don't exactly have a choice, my car broke down, and the only means of transportation that is available and affordable is the local town bus," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Who would have thought of that?" Dria retorted, hoping to convey her sarcasm and annoyance, but all he did was smile at her. It sparked something within her, a feeling she couldn't quite grasp but found intriguing.

She rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention to her surroundings, determined to avoid any further conversation with him. In front of her, an elderly woman seemed lost in her own world. A gentle smile played on her lips, piquing Dria's curiosity about what could be making her so blissful.

Dria noticed a fellow student standing just a few feet away, throwing occasional glances in Alucard's direction. She could practically read his thoughts.

'What is he doing using a town bus? Doesn't he have a porch that needs polishing?' A soft chuckle escaped her lips, unable to contain her amusement.

A gentle tug on her sleeve pulled her out of her reverie, and she looked down at Marcelo. "What's funny, Henry?" he inquired.

She shook her head with a smile, offering a vague response. Her gaze shifted away from him, meeting Alucard's. His eyes appeared calculating, as if analyzing her.

"What?" she asked.

He shook his head, his gaze turning elsewhere. She lingered on him for a moment before allowing her eyes to drift up to the cloudy sky. A sudden shiver ran down her spine, prompting a quick glance down the road. She worried that the bus might be running late, leaving them all drenched.

Dria glanced down at the boys and noticed that Elliam was starting to get sleepy. She sighed, knowing that once they found a seat, he would inevitably use her as a pillow.

"Oh!" the elderly woman in front of Dria exclaimed. "Here it comes. I was worried for a second there. We don't want to get wet now, do we?" She spoke with a smile, turning to Alucard, who reciprocated with a nod.

"No, we don't, ma'am," Alucard replied.

The bus rolled up to the curb and came to a stop right in front of them. Each of them took their turn finding seats. Dria couldn't help but notice that Alucard had chosen to sit beside Marcelo. Their eyes met, hers glaring at him while his sparkled with amusement.

The sound of the bus's groaning engine filled Dria's ears, and she immediately felt Elliam's small body leaning against hers. She observed as he tucked his legs under him and snuggled deeper into her side, and she responded by pulling him even closer.

As the voices of passengers filled the bus with small conversations, Dria decided to close her eyes for a while and savor the moment. She allowed her body to relax, feeling the tension in her shoulders dissipate. She was not one to complain or make anyone's life harder, but sometimes she felt overwhelmed, yearning to retreat into a tight space and stay there. However, she knew that wouldn't work; her own thoughts would become too overwhelming.

That's why she found a semblance of solitude on the bus. The rumbling of the vehicle and the constant chatter of people seemed to drown out her own thoughts, granting her a respite. Even if the feeling only lasted for the 30-minute bus ride, it was enough. She would simply breathe, and thoughts about her father, her uncle, her brother, their kind, and their safety would wash away, leaving her feeling lighter.