Stick War: Inamorta and beyond

Chapter 40: Realization

17th March, 9.05am

Grace's POV

It was raining. A heavy downpour in fact. Even though it's raining cats and dogs, the Spearton army and us pushed on for the capital. We all wore our raincoats to avoid getting soaked. I have always loved rain. It is comforting and cooling to my heart. The sound of raindrops falling onto the ground comforts my soul and warms me from the inside. Strange, why so I feel like this as well when I think of Kim?

Strange things have been happening to me ever since Kim and I were in the same team. Whenever he's around, my heartbeat increases. When I hear his voice, I feel comforted. When I looked in his gaze, I felt happy. When something happens to him, I can't help but to worry about him. He is constantly tormenting me from the inside, I just can't get him out of my head. Something must be wrong with me. I need to seek help from someone.

"All right, men. It is time for a break. You all have 15 minutes, after that, we continue marching!" A Spearton officer shouted out of no where, disrupting my thoughts.

My eyes immediately shifted to Kim as if it was natural. He was talking to Ace, what are they discussing about? Then for a split second, our eyes met. I looked away immediately, I could feel my face heating up. Just what is wrong with me?  

I turned to Mark, just to hide my red beat face from Kim. Then it turned to me, why not I ask Mark about it?

Wait no!

Mark's an idiot, there is no chance that he would know what is happening to me. Maybe I'll ask Elizabeth, since we are both girls too. She'll be easier for me to approach.

So, I approached Elizabeth who was drinking water from her canteen.

"Hey Elizabeth." I approached her while trying my best to calm down.

"Hi Grace, what's up?" She asked while adjusting her raincoat.

"I would like to ask a question but could you please not tell anyone about it?" I said while fidgeting my thumbs.

"Hmm? Okay, I keep it a secret. What is it?" She asked suspiciously.

"Um, I don't know how to explain it. Well, I feel weird." I said.

"Huh? How so?" She asked, confused.

Gosh! Can't she take a hint?

"Well, I feel weird around Kim." I said, feeling my cheeks burning up.

"What?" She said.

"Let me explain." I said.

"Go on." She replied.

"Well, whenever I'm near Kim, I will feel happier. When I heard his voice, my heart pounds faster. When I know that he is in danger, I felt a sharp pain in my heart and have the urge to help him. When I see him, I felt very safe. What is wrong with me?" I asked, my face probably as red as a tomato.

Elizabeth looked at me with her mouth hung open wide. She looked very dumbfounded.

"Umm, Grace I don't know how to explain it but you are probably-" Before Elizabeth could finish her sentence, an idiot came and interrupt us.

"HEY ELIZABETH! LOOKING PRETTY AS ALWAYS!" Mark shouted.

Elizabeth and I looked at him dumbfounded until we realised what happened.

Elizabeth immediately drew her sword while I reload an arrow into my bow.

"What? Wait! Hey! Don't do violence! I just came to tell you guys that it is time to go!" Mark exclaimed and ran away like a coward.

I sighed.

"Anyway, what was it Elizabeth?" I asked.

"Umm, how bout next time? Since it is time to go and Mark just ruined it." She said and walked away.

Ruined it? Mark ruined what?

As like the idiot Mark said, the March towards the capital continues.

Timeskip, 5.46pm, still Grace's POV

The March was hell, my legs are sore, my arms hurt and my soul feels like it has been beaten down. Rain continues to fall, it has been raining since morning. I know that the Spearton kingdom is currently experiencing wet season but this is crazy.

Elizabeth still haven't told me what is happening to me. I am still confused about these feelings in my heart.

Anyway, the army has come to a stop tp rest for the night. Seems that we would reach the Spearton capital, Orilon by tomorrow. The long march has finally came to an end.

Setting up camp in a middle of a downpour isn't fun at all. The strong winds kept blowing our tents away, most of our equipment are wet, the raindrops are making it difficult to see and the roaring of rain makes it hard for us to hear instructions properly. Nevertheless, we managed to fixed our tent.

"Finally! Out of that horrible rain!" Mark exclaimed while lying in the tent.

"Hey, aren't we suppose to have two tents? One for the guys and one for the girls." Elizabeth asked Kim.

"Well, I think that we should share the tent for tonight. You don't want to set up another tent in the rain again right? Plus, we all are already exhausted." Kim said.

I blushed wildly. Sharing a tent with Kim?! Why am I so flustered?! Why?!

"Grace you alright? Your face is beat red." Ace said.

Damn it! They saw it!

"Uh, it's the rain. Maybe I caught a cold." I lied.

"Really? Come here, let me see." Kim said and walked towards me.

Don't come near me... I can't take it anymore.

I bolted out of the tent into the cold rain. I could hear Kim's shouting at me to come back.

Why? Why so I feel so happy? Why is it that when I see him, I feel so comforted? Why? Why? Why?!

I ran and ran, even when I'm tired, even when I want to rest, I just kept running until I reached a large lake.

I stared out into the lake. The raindrops gracefully fell onto my forehead, clearing my mind. I clenched my heart, I feel so happy. I couldn't help but smile when he came into my mind. What is wrong with me?

'Grace I don't know how to explain it but you are probably-'

I remembered Elizabeth's words. What is it? What was she trying to say? It hurts. My chest hurts. But it feels comfortable as well. What is this feeling. I fell to my knees and clenched my chest.

At this moment, I hear the grass rustling, someone is here. I turned around and saw Elizabeth, gasping for air. It seems that she ran after me.

"Hey Elizabeth." I said, awkward.

"Grace, I never finished my sentence this morning did I?" She said while gasping for air.

I looked at her confused. Why is she bringing that up now?

"Grace, the reason why you feel this way is because...  You love Kim." She said it to me.

It was as if time stopped and I remembered all my experiences with Kim.

Love? Love? Love?

And I don't know why but tears start to fall from my eyes like a river.

"Eh? Why am I crying? I'm happy but I couldn't hold it back. Why?" I sobbed and wiped my tears.

Elizabeth smiled at me and placed her hand onto my shoulder while I sobbed.

"Grace, those are tears of happiness." She said to me.

I couldn't stop, tears just kept falling from my eyes.

"It's okay. Let it all out. This shows how much you loved him." She said, now hugging me tightly.

Now I realised, this whole time, ever since I met Kim, I have always...

I have always loved him.