Warmth - BOOK 1 (END)

Chapter 17 - Love

ARTHUR LEYWIN

"C-can we talk?" Tessia asked, her voice shaking.

I smiled towards her and answered, "Of course." Tessia and I walked side by side, minutes passed yet no one between us spoke out. Silence accompanied our talk—an uncomfortable silence.

"Let's talk on the balcony, it's quite uncomfortable to talk while walking," I stated. I felt the wind graze my body as we neared the balcony. As we arrived, Tessia sat down on the wooden bench and I sat next to her.

"How have you been, Art?" Tessia's fingers fidgeted.

"I've been okay. Just been busy because of the war. What about you?" I stared at the distant forest.

"Well you know. I've been a captain since Grandpa allowed me to join the war," Tessia turned to me, I could feel her gaze burning a hole on my cheeks. I looked at her and met her eyes, and there I saw her pair teal eyes looking at me with sadness, loveness and hope. "I missed you, Art," She smiled.

"I see..." I muttered. I didn't know what to reply, I couldn't think of anything to say that won't hurt her, or that won't have her hope. I turned away, looked at the night-sky. The cold wind embraced my body.

"Did you not miss me...?" Tessia trailed off.

"Tess I—" I turned to look at her, but was cut off as she placed both her hands on my cheeks, and planted her lips on mine. My eyes widened and I immediately pushed her away. Tessia looked at me with a surprised expression.

"What are you doing?" I coldly asked.

"I-I am just showing you my feelings! You're so dumb, I've loved you for many years, yet you haven't realized my feelings..." Tessia cried out, tears running down her face.

"I know. I know, Tessia. But I just don't love you, you saw me and Varay earlier," I answered, my voice coming out frustrated.

"Weren't you doing that just to make me jealous, right, right, right?! Don't worry, I forgive you, Arthur, so come back to me now, I know you love me!" Tessia smiled, her hands reaching towards my body.

"Tessia, stop it! I can only think of you as a friend."

"It's okay! It'll change, so stay by my side. I promise what you're feeling will change, you'll come to love me as a woman and soon as a wife," She stated and took my hand. Tessia placed my hand on her cheeks, and pressed it tightly.

"It won't, I already love someone," I murmured and peeled my hand away from her cheek.

"I loved you first, I was there for you first. I was the first person who had you first, you were mine first...we did everything first...you saved me first, I was the first..." Tessia cried out, she fell from the bench now kneeling on the grass.

"Tell me, Arthur. Was the exchange of glances we did back in Xyrus Academy a lie? The way you protected and held me, was all that a lie? Was the way you looked at me then, a lie? Was everything A lie?" Tessia looked at me with sorrow, anguish, hope and most of all, her eyes still contained love.

I opened my mouth and closed them again—fearing that I might cause more pain.

"Tell me, Arthur. Did I even have a place within your heart?" Tessia cried tears running out of her eyes, the once beautiful teal now looking void, the spark that it once had, now gone.

"Tess. I'm sorry," I walked towards the entrance of the balcony and stopped—turned to my right and saw Virion, his head resting on the wall. Virion met my eyes and he smiled.

"I'm sorry, Gramps," I whispered under my breath. He just smiled and patted my shoulder, before walking towards Tessia. As I walked away, I heard her cries becoming louder, in protecting their privacy—I conjured a sound barrier around them.