You Will Always Be The One (Jeyna)

Chapter Six

As long as I possess this power given by the goddess that resides above, you have absolutely no chance of finding love. You will never have Jason. He's mine. MINE.

A shadow materialized out of the darkness I currently find myself in, taking shape in the form of Piper McLean. Tendrils of smoke curled from the outlines of her barely recognizable body, her eyes were completely black. Despite this, I am very much certain she is studying me.

"You know," she started, "there is a difference between doing something out of love," she paused and smirked, "and doing something out of kindness. I want to show you something... something that made you who you are right now."

The ground shook and I fell into a chasm of greater darkness, tossing and turning, falling like a ragdoll. I landed on something soft and bounced a few feet. I used the fall to roll forward and I landed squarely and safely on my feet.

Grass. I looked up. The sun was setting and exploded in colors of pink and yellow that dabbed the sky. Piper brought me back to that day...

It was my seventh birthday. I see myself sitting on the couch with a big smile on my face; the smile of an expectant child. I was a different person back then; sweet, caring, innocent. But that day... it made me realize what people wanted me to become. I was on the couch because I was waiting for my friends, or so I called them. I invited all of them, excitedly announced the event I'll be celebrating. Despite the excitement I was able to deliver this with great clarity. The six year old me couldn't explain the look on their faces. But it didn't matter to me. And not giving it a thought was a mistake. Hylla had hovered around me, her frantic attitude slowly worsened. She must have sensed it before I did. I had a lot of excuses for her: "They must have been preparing still," "See that car that passed by? That's them. Just gonna buy me some present I guess," "Oh, maybe I forgot to tell them it's supposedly this morning," "Lost, maybe? You know how hard it is to find our house," "Big sis, they're almost here. I can sense it." Then I realized, as the sun had finally set and the food completely cold, that I wasn't expecting anymore; I was already convincing myself that they would come. I didn't know what I had done wrong. Perhaps I wasn't good enough. Or maybe they find me weird. Maybe it was my fault. Maybe I was worthless and I didn't deserve them. By then I stood up from hours of sitting on the couch by the low window, and spoke to my sister who had accidentally fallen asleep in the dining room. I gently shook her.

"Hylla, let's clean this up... no one's coming." It was an octave lower than the last time I spoke. I watched myself take the food away. Hylla was watching me too. I saw in my eyes the emptiness I felt. I could remember, almost feel, how painful it was. I tried so hard to suppress myself from crying. Because even if I did, no one's gonna comfort me. Except for Hylla, I have no one else. I am alone should Hylla go away. I'm left with nothing.

People made me think like I don't deserve them, any of them. And so I stopped and locked myself away, so no one can hurt me again.

Don't feel bad yet, Reyna. There is one more thing I want to show you...

The scene shifted and I find myself standing in New Rome. In the distance, I could see the Reyna from the past checking on a wounded Roman soldier. Then Jason, still in his Roman outfit, jogged up to me and excused me from the others. He catches his breath and smiled at me. It was a smile I love.

"So yeah," Jason had sheepishly uttered. He laughed. That's what his usual reaction is when nervous. I smiled. "I had to go through so many things just to know this... something... because I couldn't ask you and you wouldn't tell me anyway." He made a face. I laughed softly.

"Why didn't you tell me? You could tell me you know. I..." He sighed and gave up explaining. I think it's so cute when he does that.

How can I ever forget...

"Anyway," he distractedly said, "I got you this." He showed me a chocolate box and he gestured at a table with two vacant seats, served with steaming hot chocolate for each person. Jason smiled.

"Happy birthday, Reyna."

...the way he made me feel loved again.