Evident

30.

Smooth rushes from the river flowed before me, I dip both of my dirty feet into its coldness, the water ripples and surged back over my ankles as I dug my toes into the mud. I wrapped an arm around my waist, my cheeks stained with my tears as Amerio sat beside me.

He had brought me here just to clear my mind, the river was just a five-minute walk from the square and I was grateful that he took me from the night's festivity because I didn't know what the hell would happened if I continued to entertained my sadness.

"You know you didn't have to do this..."

He smiled over at me softly, his eyes a breath of fresh air to my wounded heart. "Of course it's my duty, remember now sweetheart I am your bodyguard so it is my job to protect you from all harm."

"And you're clearly in harm's way seeing that you're wasting your tears."

I smiled. "Who would have thought you'd be such a softy. Thank you for your generosity."

"This place is also nice." I brought my knees up underneath my chin, resting the side of my cheek on my skin as I stared over at the hulk of a man.

His black hair twirled with the night's air as he set his gazed firm on the sparkling waters before him.

"The night season is the perfect time to come to the river, it's a blessing to mankind honestly and I think it's fitting regarding your current state."

I blow out a breath and closed my eyes as a huge gush of winds flew into the air, I took an inhale and welcomed the freshness it brings.

"What's it's like being a commander?" I curiously asked him as I opened my eyes.

I paused as I noticed he was already staring at me; his gaze was so rare. So intense. It had me lost within its uniqueness.

I didn't know why the heck I was feeling this way but I tossed it up to the emotion of hurt.

Amerio swiped his tongue on his bottom lip and leaned forward to positioned his elbows on his knees.

His irises darkening as he glances over my face intently.

"It's definitely something worth leading. To be truthful, Mato adopted me just when I was eighteen, I came in a year after Aureliano's accident so I pretty much grew with every man, I know their weakness and strengths something that rounds us up to becoming one of the best warriors known across the Amazon forest."

"That is until you came." He smiled.

I shoved him slightly as a chuckled left me. "I am in no way experienced as your men, I was barely holding unto my breath that night when we fought."

He shook his head then lift both of his hands to pull his hair up into a man bun. "Once again sweetheart, you should give yourself some credit. You left an impact on my men after that night seeing that they knew you had an injured leg but still managed to inflict a lot of damaged."

"And in that same breath..." He scans his eyes over mine with his lips now into a thin line.

"Let no man waste your tears..." He drew towards me and held the side of my jaw, our eyes in a tight lock as our breaths touches.

"You're too beautiful for that sweetheart." I smiled at him, my heart now at eased the more we talked.

I never would have thought that Amerio was such a caring person. When he let me go that night, I solely thought he did it because he wanted something in return.

Yet he proved me wrong.

I grip his wrist and pulled my face to his, with eyes drifted close, my lips brushes across his as I draw in his citrus and musk scent.

As I was about to pressed my lips on his, I opened my eyes as he pulled his body away.

His hand gripping his bun as he grips my chin. "No." His voice drop to a lower octave in warning.

I frowned at his resistance.

"I'm sure by now you know that you interest me, I like you but I know you like someone else."

I began to shake my head but he held my cheeks and rub his thumb on my skin. "I'm great with reading body language sweetheart, I can see it. It's not a secret, it might be to Bly but I know that you and the Chief have something going on. Your tears..."

He traces the tear stain with his thumb. "Is an obvious statement to me that you like him and his obvious glare on me since the day we caught you and tonight tells me that he feels the same way."

"He doesn't, because if he did, he wouldn't have ignored me for three days and went off with another woman. Marriage contract or not he should have told me about it. I do not fucking care about how he'd feel about us kissing, I'm sure he had done the same to his future wife."

He sighed. "I just want you to like me on your own terms sweetheart...not because of impulsive anger."

I knew he was right.

I needed to get over that bastard.

His decision about us was already made the very moment he agreed to marry Bly.

The world is still rotating on it's axis and is clearly doing its job by not giving up on its role therefore I should do the same.

I was taught to not show weakness, it produces vulnerability...

I will not allow this brute to break me all for the sake of love.

Fuck that.

"You should lift your chin sweetheart, use your weakness..." He presses his lips on my forehead and said.

"As your strength."

And just like that I toss him a grateful smile, realizing how handsome he look underneath the imitating moon. Our conversation pursuing through the night the longer we sat on the bank of the river.