A Matter Of Choice

Chapter 11: At the Capitol

Different goods filled the marketplace. Live fowls of different kinds, pigs, cattle and other animals were caged at one side, although there were already butchered ones on a large meat stall. A variation of fruits and vegetables gave color to the entire are. There were a few shops that sold other things, too. But this place is very different from Verona’s simple marketplace. It is very clean. It was too clean to be a market, in fact—no flies, no puddles, no unpleasant smell. The flooring was, actually, tiled. We are indeed in the Capitol.

The sight of peacekeepers sent chills running down my spine. Lucas, on the other hand, seemed confident and secure. He looked so much like a real Principessian. He wore a black hoodie jacket with what seem to be shoulder pads, white pants and light blue rubber shoes. His hair was also dyed blue. I guess Fiona applied the same kind of dye as she applied on my hair, but only in a different color. She colored my mane light pink, which went weirdly well with the peach-colored dress Fiona made me wear. Luckily, Fiona made me wear flats instead of heels.

“What’s the first thing on our list?” Lucas asked awkwardly.

It is the first time we ‘got together’. It is certainly awkward. We do not yet know how to approach each other. I couldn’t look right at him and he couldn’t do it to me either.

“Eggs.” I managed to mutter, reading the foot-long list which Fiona wrote the night before.

“I think it is over there.” He said, pointing to the farthest part of the marketplace. Impressive. He’s street-smart. Either that or he has been doing his shopping here before.

I noticed a familiar face as we walked closer to the egg dealer. It was Emily.

“Are you drunk?” Emily asked, frowning. She walked closer to Kyle. “You smell of alcohol.”

“C’mon. It was just a tiny glass, Em.” He protested. “It can’t even harm Kyle Rickshaw.”

As soon as he said his name, a loud beeping sound was heard. The rebel alarm.

“Damn it! I need to go, Isabella.” Emily said. She fled from the area leaving me and Kyle helpless.

I placed my hand on my forehead. It hurt but I do not have an idea why I suddenly had headache. Lucas took hold of me in an instant, supporting my back with a hand and holding my arm with another.

“Are you okay?” He asked. I simply nodded. We moved on and went to buy eggs.

While purchasing eggs, I felt someone poke my back. I knew it. My hands began to feel cold. I turned around. As I expected, it was Emily. Her eyes expressed greatly of regret.

“Um, Heather?” She whispered. “I’m sorry for what happened. Please tell Kyle too.”

I looked at her. “It’s okay. I guess.”

“No, it isn’t.” She handed me a secure paper bag. I was about to open it when she stopped me from doing so. I frowned. “Accept it as my peace offering.”

“I know that it’s not really that easy to forgive someone who did a thing like that. I-I’m not buying your forgiveness either. I… I just want to mend things with you.” She muttered. “I really needed to leave you  both…”

I noticed that she didn’t mention my whole name or Kyle’s name the whole time. Maybe, she was still traumatized by the entire ‘rebel alarm’ incident. With that, I guess her sorry isn’t that sincere after all. But then again, she apologized for what she did. I hugged her tight since I was too lost for words. In shorter terms, I let it off. I let everything off.

I smiled at her. She suddenly pulled both me and Lucas inside a shop at the corner most part of the marketplace. It smelled of coffee, milk and tea. I guess this is what they call a coffee shop. I still don’t trust Emily completely, but I let her drag me into the place. After all, she’s a rebel like us. Lucas, on the other hand, followed with a confused look in his face.