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chapter eleven. at fault. ━━━━━━━━━━━━
Ronal stared at her two children.
She looked at them with mere disappointment.
Ronal's hand ran through her hair with frustration as she continued to pace the woven ground beneath the three of them.
The time was ticking and they were waiting for their father arrived for their scowling.
The room lingered with anger.
Heavy stomps could be heard from behind Maleia as Tonowari entered the secluded pod.
Maleia straightened her back before looking down towards the ground, not wanting to face the ashamed look of her father.
He let out a frustrated sigh.
Maleia wanted to curl into a ball, she wanted to run and never return to this.
"I expect this from you.. Ao'nung," Tonowari began to talk and Maleia sharply sucked in air.
Ao'nung looked at his sister.
Her head was faced to the ground, her arms crossed over her stomach as she picked at the skin on her opposite arms.
She was scared.
Maleia had never been in this much trouble before, all the other times was because she had worried her parents by going missing deep within the ocean.
"Maleia!" Tonowari spat.
The way he said her name seemed like it was something disgusting on his tongue.
"I expect better from you," Tonowari finished.
The whole reason Maleia was in trouble was because she didn't help her brother prevent the fight, or help him get out of it.
Maleia was at fault for Ao'nung getting hurt.
"You are future Tsahìk! You are supposed to be responsible. This behaviour you have shown will not be allowed!" Ronal exclaimed.
Maleia's eyes closed as her mind thought of thousands of words to say back.
To explain being Tsahìk was something she didn't want, that she wanted to love her home without the worries of her people.
But, her mouth stayed shut.
"Mother, it is my fault," Ao'nung tried to take responsibility as he held onto Maleia's arm, trying to comfort her.
Maleia lifted her head at the words.
"Maleia had nothing to do with this. She did try to stop me..." Ao'nung further spoke.
Ronal looked at Maleia who was begging for forgiveness with her eyes. Tonowari sighed before nodding his head, "Alright," He said curtly.
Maleia felt like she could finally breath again, her shoulders slouching down.
"You may go, Maleia, but I do not want another mishap like this again!" Ronal warned before Maleia stood and walked out of the pod.
That was when she saw Lo'ak.
He was walking out of his pod and holding onto his bleeding nose.
"Lo'ak!" Maleia shouted before he stopped once hearing her voice, turning around to find her running towards him.
It all happened so quick.
But, whatever did happen, Maleia ended up with her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
Lo'ak stumbled back from her sudden weight, but once he steadied himself, his arms moved to hug around her waist.
Her head rested on his chest.
And, his chin pressed into the top of her head.
He moved his thumb up and down her back, feeling her settle deep into his touch.
"What happened?" Maleia asked him, knowing he needed this hug as much as she did.
Lo'ak signed, "The usual."
Maleia looked up at him after she pulled away, her hand settling on his cheek and swiping her thumb against small cuts.
"What happened with you?" He asked.
Maleia looked down to the floor.
"They blamed me..." Maleia replied in almost disbelief to her own words.
Lo'ak widen his eyes before removing his arms from around her waist, grabbing onto her shoulders, "They blamed you? That's bullshit."
Maleia furrowed her brows at the unusual word.
Though, she didn't comment on it because it was probably something Lo'ak said naturally. "It is okay," Maleia shrugged her shoulders, "Ao'nung told them it wasn't my fault and I was set free."
"Speaking of Ao'nung... I have to go apologise to him," Lo'ak said.
Maleia nodded her head.
"Okay..." She smiled up at him before he pressed his hand to her cheek and left her alone.
