Reborn as A Snake! (3.) [ONGOING]

(5). - Attempting a Rekindle.

                    When Dreoda said those words, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. For the first time ever, I had heard Dreoda apologise to me for that decision all those years ago — that decision he made. In fact.. this was the first time I've ever heard him apologise at all about anything. Usually, Dreoda would have been very, very strict about the way he handles things — not budging one bit on his decision about something and very much insisting on not apologising.

But this... This was the first time in my entire life I had heard him apologise — seen him crack from the pressure. And he was also tearing up and even crying while he apologised.

I was a bit lost for words, standing up before moving towards Dreoda, who turned his gaze away and looked down at the ground with what appeared to be grief. I immediately kneeled down, before sitting down in my legs next to Dreoda. I have held a grudge against him for so long now and for a good reason, but here I find myself just... Giving up almost.

Seeing him in this state had reawakened memories of our first days after hatching. He was still the same back then, but he showed a lot more emotion then — very much being open about everything and always telling me about his feelings. But after our first sibling hatched, being Dala, he quickly became cold and distant, rarely showing any real emotion or empathy.

He even stopped talking to me about his feelings, which I at the time respected, as it just felt like he needed some space to get used to things.

I stared at Dreoda for a bit, before exhaling and looking at Dala.

"Can you and the others leave us alone for a bit? I want to.... Talk with Dreoda."

I asked, stumbling my speech towards the end as I wasn't sure if I truly wanted to talk it all out with Dreoda yet. Would he even tell me anything or listen? Who knows.

Dala looked at me confused, before looking at Dreoda and then at me again, nodding silently. Afterwards, she stood up and walked over to Hipsha and the two twins, quietly telling them to come with her and not disturb us, before moving farther on, with Leola and Dedela throwing one last look at us before slithering after Dala.

Hipsha also remained for a bit longer, before exhaling and turning around and following the three sisters, finally leaving me alone with Dreoda. Once the others were far enough, I looked at him with worry filled and yet serious eyes.

"Dreoda? Can you..."

<Dreoda>;
"I have been playing a strong persona for way too long."

Dreoda suddenly stated, cutting me off and surprising me a bit with his statement. A strong persona? Playing it? What did it even mean? I looked at him confused for a bit, before opening my mouth to speak up, only to see him raise his head back up, like he was about to continue speaking, so I held back my words and just listened.

"For so long... I have stayed strong. I've kept all that upset me to myself and never let anyone else know how I truly felt, as I was afraid that it would cause me to grow weak and incapable of protecting those I care about."

"When I was around others, even my loved ones, I put on the tough guy act, pretending to be strong minded and witted — pretending that I had nothing to worry about and that I was a cold man. But inside... I was miserable. I wished that I could just breakdown next to someone and just tell them how I felt - tell them all that I felt."

"But I didn't have anyone."

"I had driven you away with my attitude and foolishness, I had made Dala see me more as a Teacher than an Older Brother and I had not made any deep connections to the citizens of the village I worked so hard to protect everyday and night."