Crimson Threads ♡Sinbad X Oc♡

Chapter nineteen: Hidden jelousy

Feeling the warmth of sunlight on her face, Yunalesca blinked herself awake. Morning beams filtered through the closed curtains, painting the floor in golden patterns as she pushed herself off her pillow. "Wait... when did I get into bed?" Yunalesca groggily rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she looked around the room. Ja'far was still asleep, his tiny body curled up comfortably under his bedding, and Yunalesca couldn't help but smile.
Swinging her legs out from under her blankets, she tiptoed to the window, closing the curtains a little more so that the light wouldn't fall on the boy's face, then grabbed her satchel and sneaked to the door. With her hand on the knob, Yunalesca hesitated for a second, the memory of Sinbad flirting with the woman the previous night, haunting her confidence.
Shaking the thought away, Yunalesca turned the knob and quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Good morning!" Hinahohos exuberance bounced off the stone halls, echoing loudly through the quiet morning air. Yunalesca spun around raising her index finger to her mouth, shushing her Imuchakk companion.
He looked confused for a second before pointing to the door. "Is Jafar still asleep?" Yunalesca nodded, stepping away from the door and gesturing for Hinahoho to follow her. "I was surprised as well since he's usually up before dawn. Tell me, Hina, what were you guys up to that has Ja'far so exhausted?" Yunalesca shot Hinahoho a grin over her shoulder.
"Oh, you know, the usual Sinbad shenanigans." Hinahoho laughed. "He dragged us all around the city looking for the Knight King and then he stood outside their headquarters for hours trying to get recruited."
"And let me guess, they denied him entry and chased him away?" Yunalesca chuckled, as the two made their way to one of the tables in the dining area. "How ever did you know?" Hinahoho sighed, a playful grin pulling the corners of his lips up as he sat down across from Yunalesca who just laughed in response.

The Inn was quiet, save for the shuffling of feet as the women working there prepared the Inn for the day. "But seriously though. I know Sinbad's strange, but you guys were in way too good a mood for being chased around the city all day. What happened?" Yunalesca grinned as she rested her arms on the table, her one hand playing absentmindedly with her bangle.
"Right, we didn't get a chance to tell you yesterday." Hinahoho raised his hand, gesturing for one of the servers toward the table. "Yesterday, while we were having our meal, we met the Knight King's son, Mystras Leoxus."
Yunalesca blinked a few times, unsure of how to respond to Hinahohos' casual remark, so she just closed her eyes and sighed a quiet laugh while shaking her head. "That is the most Sinbad thing I've heard in a long time."
Hinahoho chuckled, clearly amused at Yunalescas' reaction.
"Now tell me, what were you up to that had you so exhausted yesterday?" Himahoho leaned forward, his arms barely fitting on the table.

"Nothing much. Went looking for a doctor." Hinahoho raised an eyebrow, clearly worried, and Yunalescas' hands instantly shot up, waving off her friend's concern. "I'm fine, Hina, I promise. I went there to learn about Sasan's medical practices and get referrals for what books have the most accurate information about said practices."
She could see the tension in Hinahohos' shoulders release.
"Good morning! How can I help?" A young woman chirped from the side of the table. Yunalesca turned her head to smile at the woman but her smile froze midway. It was the same woman she'd seen Sinbad flirting with the night before.

"Ah! Good morning, can we get something to eat please?" Hinahoho asked with a friendly smile. The woman nodded as she glanced between Hinahoho and Yunalesca. "What would you like?" She was soft-spoken, her polite smile lighting up her face. Yunalesca felt that familiar pang in her chest. "Some meat skewer for me please. Yuna?" Hinahohos' voice snapped Yunalesca out of her thoughts. "Anything's fine, but can I get some tea as well?" Yunalesca forced herself to smile completely. The woman nodded as she walked away, her hair swishing playfully to the bopping of her head.

"Are you alright?" Hinahohos' brows knitted together. "Yeah! Perfect." Yunalesca's head snapped back to Hinahoho, who just raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you. I noticed it when that woman was flirting with Sin yesterday as well."
Yunalesca felt her chest grow tight as she fidgeted with her bangle. "What do you mean, Hina?" She chuckled humourlessly.
"Your smile falters and you freeze up." Hinahohos' words sent a quick stabbing pain through Yunalescas' chest that vanished as soon as it came "Tell me, Yuna, do you not like her?" Hinahoho gestured to the woman as she disappeared through a door to the kitchen.
Yunalesca hesitated for a few seconds, her fingers twirling around the bangle.
"Well there isn't really a reason for me not to like her, I mean, I barely know her." She refused to meet Hinahohos' eyes, instead staring pointedly at her hands playing with the bangle, fingers lacing around and around the thin gold accessory.
Hinahoho narrowed his eyes.
"Then, are you jealous of that woman for flirting with Sinbad?"

"Jealous?" Yunalesca scoffed, but quickly shut her mouth. Never, in all the years she'd known him had she scoffed at Hinahoho and judging by the silence between the two friends, he was just as shocked as she was.
"I just... as his friend I don't agree with his behaviour. It makes me uncomfortable... that's all." Yunalesca looked away, still refusing to meet Hinahohos' gaze.
The silence sat heavily at the table. Unable to take it Yunalesca got up, slinging her satchel over her shoulder in the process.
"I... I have stuff I need to do today, so I'll be taking my leave. Enjoy your breakfast, Hinahoho." Yunalesca gave him a polite wave before heading for the front door.

Watching Yunalesca close the door behind her, Hinahoho sighed. He'd had the suspicion for a while that Yunalesca had feelings for Sinbad and that his behaviour was unintentionally hurting her. He sat back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment before the familiar tapping of boots caught his attention.
"Good morning Hinahoho!" Opening his eyes, he saw Sinbad standing next to him, hands on his hips, eyes bright and he couldn't help but greet his friend with the same enthusiasm.

Just as Sinbad sat down, the woman returned with a plate of skewers and a bowl of stew, the spoon placed neatly on a small plate with some freshly baked bread next to a cup of tea.
The woman looked puzzled for a moment as she placed the meal on the table glancing at Hinahoho, who just gave her a slight nod and reassuring smile. After she had placed the last plate on the table, she greeted Sinbad with a shy smile before returning to her duties.
"They sure know what service is." Sinbad flashed Hinahoho a grin as he watched the woman walk away.
"Yeah." Hinahoho said a bit dryly as he bit into his skewer.

Watching Hinahoho for a moment Sinbad shrugged, picking up his spoon.
"Is Yuna awake yet? I wanted to talk to her about yesterday." Sinbad remarked, almost casually.
"Yes, but you just missed her. She left not too long ago, saying she had some things she needed to attend to." Hinahoho answered after he'd finished chewing and swallowing his bite of meat.
"Ah." Hinahoho saw Sinbad's face drop a little and his shoulders sag, and if he hadn't been Sinbad's friend, he wouldn't have picked up on the disappointment in his friend's voice.
Hinahoho felt something akin to pity for his friend as he watched Sinbad dip his spoon into the stew.

"Well. With Yuna so busy I guess we have no choice but to get busy with our own plans. Can't have her outshining us." Hinahoho said playfully, pointing his skewer at Sinbad.
Amused by the comment, Sinbad chuckled. "Very true, old friend."