Veiled Horizons

Chapter Nineteen: Adlyn

"Why aren't you there, having fun with them?" Harvin asked as Adlyn sat beside him. The rest of the group were laughing and splashing water on each other, on the waterfall before them.

"I'm not interested in that" Adlyn said, quietly. He picked up a stone and started to roll it between his fingers, just to take his mind off from all that's happened and tried to make his thoughts go away.

"Then, you could at least take a bath" Harvin smiled at Adlyn and raised an eyebrow.

"Not interested in that, either" Adlyn said, quietly, with the same disinterested tone he always held. His gaze focused onto the stone he was swirling between his fingers.

Harvin chuckled at his reply, his positive demeanor filled Adlyn's distracted mind.

"Isn't it weird..." Harvin looked away from Adlyn, a smile on his face "How we were in the same school but didn't even talk to each other until we were caught in all this"

Harvin's words made Adlyn look up at him. His mind trying to catch even a single glimpse of memory of him seeing Harvin at school. He still couldn't believe he never met or run into Harvin. Maybe he did, but he just don't remember it because Adlyn was only friends with Joel at that time. Though he wasn't still friends with anyone else, he wasn't feeling alone. Like, there's still people who cares about him.

"I always thought you were one of those cool students who wouldn't mind the other students like me until we start smoking or cut classes for fun or..." Harvin went on, his words felt deep for Adlyn, "You know, Act cool" he looked at Adlyn and chuckled.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Adlyn's lips.

"You're Smiling!" Harvin said in awe. "That's a first" he teased. Which made Adlyn's smile fade away. He never liked showing emotions before others.

"Well, who said you aren't cool" Adlyn said, looking at Harvin

"No one, but," Harvin looked as if he was about to say reasons for why he was not cool. He frowned. But then his temples became flat and his eyebrows raised with a look of realisation. "So, does that mean I'm cool? Whoa, I just got your approval? You? One of the coolest guy I know?" he exclaimed

Adlyn shook his head, his smile widening. "I still didn't say you're cool, kid"

Harvin puffed his cheek and looked away, embarassed.

All the small talks with Harvin after that felt great for Adlyn. For a moment, he felt bad for not meeting Harvin when they were still in school. His mind was taken off from the nightmare-like reality, during their chat.

Then all of a sudden, Adlyn felt a warm shift in the air to his right. While turning his head, he saw strands of red hair moving with the wind, in the corner of his right eye. Then, after he turned completely, he got the full view. Red eyes glowing like shattered round pieces of ruby. Scarlett sat beside him, looking straight into Adlyn's eyes, smiling.

Adlyn felt a warm sensation wash over him as he saw her smiling at him. He forced a smile back, slightly blushing.

"Hey" Scarlett said, her voice low. Still not looking at him.

"Hey" He replied. "I thought you..." he trailed off and glanced at the fun-filled bathing of the group going on before them, with an annoying look.

Scarlett shook her head. Adlyn felt like she had the same feeling about 'group fun' like him. He glared back into Scarlett's eyes, with the relaxed look he always held.

"You could've used a bath, though. I mean, you were here for over a month" Adlyn said, his voice calm. His eyes tracing her figure.

Scarlett nodded. Then turned her head to Adlyn. "Well then, You should, too"