El Comienzo Trágico (The Tragic Start) | [Still on Going]

Chapter 10

  As they are leaving, the sorceress calls Lynn, "Lynn... Come here for a second, I need to give you something." Lynn and Hope looked at each other.
        "Go..." Hope said.
        The sorceress took some kind of book from her massive bookshelf and then handed it to Lynn, "Basic Potions," she read.
        "I hope it can help..."
        "Thank you," and everything went silent.
        "Well...Good luck kids, the future of our country is in your hands," she says in a serious voice.
        When they got out of the alley, they heard fun village music that was coming from the park which is at the center of the town. They grabbed their horses and went to the park to see what was going on, and there, they saw many people dancing in the middle. At first, they enjoyed it, but suddenly, they remembered that they had to get some food. Because of the loud music and trumpets, Lynn did not hear them, so she was left there. However, Ben noticed her, so he went back and stood beside her. He saw that Lynn's face showed no emotion, but he could see through her eyes that she enjoyed it and loved it. Ben then reached his hand and asked, "You want to dance?"
        "No..." She replies.
        "You know... this is in our tradition, to dance. Come on I know you want to," He grabbed her by the hand, but Lynn forcibly took her hand off his.
        "I said no!" She was about to leave, but Ben grabbed her again and he ran her to the center of the dance floor. As he let go of her, Lynn tried to run away, but again she was caught by Ben. "Just for once, make yourself happy! Please," he shouts, so Lynn can hear him. He started to dance in a practiced step like how others do, and this time Lynn did not run away. Ben holds her and makes her dance, and as time goes on, Lynn starts to feel the happiness she hasn't felt for a long time. She starts to copy the steps and learn them quickly, and after all this time, Ben sees Lynn smiling for the first time after they have met.
        He senses that the music is about to end so he grabs Lynn's hand and pulls her, which causes Lynn to spin towards him and catches her. The playing of instruments stopped right on time and was in a perfect position for Lynn and Ben. Suddenly, Lynn remembers something, she stepped back and ran away faster. Ben then followed her as she changed her way in a small passage.
        She sat there and started to cry, "No no no don't cry!" Wiping her tears. Moments later Ben found her.
        "Are you okay?"
        "Yeah... I'm fine," she said while wiping her eyes.
        "No you're not," He sat beside her "Tell me what is it?"
        "I said I'm fine!!"
        "Are you?" 
        She started to burst into tears again, "Are you dumb! I said I'm fine!" Sobbing "I hate you, Ben!!" She growled
        "What? Why? What did I do?"
        "You just— forget it!!" She stood up and looked down at Ben, "I HATE YOU!" she growled, and ran back outside the alley.

Back in Harrison's place, Sanya was peacefully folding the clothes on the table when Mr. Harrison approached her. "Sanya," he called.
        Sanya stood up and bowed, "Yes sir?"
        "Can I talk to you for a second,"
        "Ye-Yes sir,"
        He sat down and ordered Sanya to sit. "It's about the accident in the kitchen, a couple of days ago, you remember?"
        "I'd rather not talk about that Sir."
        "No no, I just want to hear your reason why'd you stab me." Everything went silent for a second.
        "With all your respect, It was self-defense what I did sir," she explained.
        "Self-defense for what?"
        "You're trying to take advantage of me! Don't you dare say you weren't!" she exploded.
        "Wa-what? No, I'm not, how can you say that?"
        "Well, why are you leaning toward me that time like you're going to do something bad!"
        "Okay, hear me Sanya... I went inside the kitchen to talk to you... Peacefully, however, I saw you looked anxious, like, like you were terrified, I asked if you were okay, but it seemed like you didn't hear me. I lean toward you because I was going to whisper something, You look paranoid at that moment, then you stab me," he explains. "I know there's a lot of rumors about me but believe me Sanya, I'm not that kind of person, I respect women like how I respect my mother."
        Sanya was stunned to speak for a moment thinking if that was true or not. Suddenly, she feels guilty, realizing everything that happened to her and Ben, is because of her misunderstood.
       "Forgive me, sir, I don't know what has gone to me, I was—paranoid... I didn't know what to do at that moment, I kept hearing the words they were saying about you, Forgive me if I chose to believe the rumors."
       "Sanya, I understand, and I hope you change how you see me." She nods her head.
       "Sir, I'm sorry to tell you this but... I hope you quit liking me, You are married, and you should be focusing on your wife."
       "Yeah, about that... That was what I was going to tell you that moment in the kitchen San... Look, you know, I don't love her; It was, an arranged marriage. My family was forced because of the financial problem, and now, I'm trying to be a real husband to her... And be patient with her even though she's rude, materialistic... and dramatic," They both laugh after he says that.
       "And Sanya... I need you to prepare the whole house for tomorrow. I received a letter from my family that they're going to visit us here, so make sure everything is perfect, okay? I should tell you, my grandmother is very strict around the house."
       "Sure sir, I'll tell the others and we will start preparing later."
      After their conversation, she quickly finished folding the clothes and went to the kitchen where Grace was preparing the cooking for lunch. "What's with the hurry?" Grace asked. "And what's with the big smile?"
      "I don't know I feel so happy and excited for tomorrow."
      "tomorrow? Why?"
      "We have to prepare everything because Mr. Harrison's family will arrive tomorrow. We have to make sure everything is perfect," she chirped
      "Really? We should hurry then."

After they went to the market, Hope saw Lynn walking alone, Her eyes were wet, and looked like something was bothering her mind, She could see that there was no confidence on her face, so she quickly approached her. "Lynn! Where have you been?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
      "Yeah, I'm fine," Lynn replied,  wiping her wet eyes.
      "Where's Ben?"
      "Oh Uh— There he is." In the distance, Ben was covering his face with fabric to hide in case someone knew him.
     "Hey, guys," whispered Ben, and suddenly, a strong wind blew the fabric from Ben, revealing his face. Luckily no one seems to notice him.
     "We should get back to the woods, it's not safe here... For him," Luke said.
     "We'll get the horses," Kendrick says, he then claps his hand on Jake's shoulder asking for assistance.
     When they got there, they started to prepare for their lunch. Lynn sat on a log and glanced at Ben who was making a fire for cooking, she rolled her eyes at him when Ben looked back at her. Hope notices Lynn's bad mood, "Why so upset?"
     "Nothing,"
     Hope sat beside her and offered a snack. "Try this," she said while chewing. "What's nice here is everything's cheap." Lynn grabbed from the bag and put it directly into her mouth.
      "Urghh, What is this?" gagged Lynn after she tasted it.
      "It's dried tamarind," Hope chuckled. "Good right?"
      "For you."
      "Yeah, one of my favorite... Want more?" teased Hope.
      "Not for me," she replied not in a mood.
      A couple of minutes later, while having their lunch, they were having a conversation. "So, you guys have a plan for our next step?" asked Kendrick.
      "Not really..." Hope says. "But first, let's ask Ben if he's with us." Everyone's eyes turn to Ben who looks hungry at the time    
      "Sorry, It was so good, I didn't know Kendrick was a good cook..." Ben commented. "I don't know, I mean, I want to... But, what about Sanya, I can't bring her on a journey like this."
      "And why?" asked Lynn.
      "Well, she's not like you Lynn... Or Hope... she's not that brave at all... No offense to her but she'll scream first before she makes a move."
      "But if you don't go with us they'll probably catch you, and continue their plan of execution Ben," Jake spoke.
      "I'll try to talk to her later..." everything went silent for a moment. "Guys come on, we're having a very delicious meal today, don't break the mood... Let's ask questions about each other while eating, Okay?"
      "Okay, I'm up to that!" Jake said. "Who will ask first?" Everyone seemed to not care, however, Hope spoke.
      "Kendrick, Luke... Can you tell us how you become half-brothers?" She smiled after.
      "Yeah... Tell us," said Percy. Both Kendrick and Luke laugh.
     "Man... Okay, well, we both have the same mother..." they continue telling their story to them, about how they got separated from their mother.

Mr. Harrison and his wife are having lunch quietly when Mr. Harrison remembers he forgot to remind the madam about tomorrow. "Oh, hun, my family will be visiting us here tomorrow... I'd already asked our maidens to prepare and make our house look perfect."
       "That is tomorrow!?" her eyes were wide open.
       "What's the matter?"
       "You know your grandmother didn't like me! Why she didn't like me in the first place? Am I not perfect enough for her?"
       "You're not trying to make her want you!—"
       "So you're saying I'm not perfect huh?"
       "You're being dramatic,"
       "Okay, well, I will try tomorrow! What should I do?! Should I wear those housewife clothes with a stupid apron around me so I will look like I'm an independent wife?"
       "Please can you stop now? Just have your lunch and we will go to the market after to buy something for our meal tomorrow..." he said, "My goodness," muttered Mr. Harrison.
     
   

•A bag of Dried Tamarind