Crumbling Down

Chapter 8

Kert

One last time before we set out, I took a walk into the woods. The breeze swayed beneath the undergrowth, cooling my legs. The thoughts are quiet and subtle. I commanded the water I can find. Tristian's instructions repeated in my mind. I breathed, the rain came easily. The low-tiny clouds slowly formed to dark, intimidating rolls of them.

Cycle them in a slow-repeating pattern.

The looming clouds swirled, the sky losing its sight by the second. The motion was getting faster and darker. Rain pours in, flooding the woods. My body gave out, and a flash of thunder echoed the sky. I did it. The one thing that Tristian could do, I did it.

"Weather? I told you there's more to you", the voice made my hair stood on ends. Blood pumped and flared; I turned to see Mika through the rain. Somehow, the full dark clouds withstanding for a while.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, right?". I sighed, and with my heart settling, Mika still looked beautiful beneath the rain.

"N-No you didn't. What's wrong?", I raised my eyebrows. She chuckled and came closer, closing the space between us.

"Nothing... I want to talk, that's all", her eyes dazed with interest. My face felt scorched. Mika smiled.

"A-About what?", I blushed, and she kept laughing.

"It's just... You inspire me. How you question things and don't let anyone judge you", she added. How? Ironically, I'm inspired by how she treated people with empathy and patience. I don't know what she sees in me.

"Well, I'm nothing. I have nothing for someone to be inspired. For you, you got everything I want", I blurted out. Oh no, is it too late? Did I say something wrong? Mika shook her head, slowly.

"I don't. As much as you think I'm kind to everyone and empathetic, you don't know me", Mika pointed out. I couldn't deny it. I don't know her, but anger boiled inside me. To tell her I do and she doesn't know what's shes talking. However, this girl is someone that might make me a better human being.

"But what about Avery? You guys seem to be close". Mika glared at me like how Natasha did days ago.

"No Kert, nobody is. All through my life, I only had myself", she spat, her tears pooled her eyes. As much as I want to have pride for things I believed in, I rushed forward and gathered her embrace.

"I-I'm here. You don't have to be alone anymore", the rain-clouds slowly disappearing. Mika's sobs broke the silence. The woods were weirdly comforting with her by my side.

"Thank you, Kert, but don't... I'm a waste... Nobody deserves to know me--". I didn't care. This girl is too beautiful to cry and be left alone. I pressed my lips against hers, Mika's body stiffened. I kept going until she does the same. The woods accompanied our moment. After a while, we separated, and her eyes sparkled. Her tears dried but at least she's smiling.

"I did something wrong?", My· face breaking out in sweat and my body flushed and quickened. Her laugh, genuine laughs, put me at ease. Its the hardest I've seen her laugh, but I'm not complaining.

"Of course not! It was my first and that moment felt...right", she amused. I nodded, and the sun was going down, casting rays of light.

"Before we leave, do you want to see the sunset?", She offered a spot by the hills, free of people, open to everything. I nodded, and I can see myself knowing her more.

"K-Kert, can I tell you something? It's important, and nobody knows."

"Of course, I told you I'm here," I was about to kiss her but refrained since her story is much more inclining. She sighed tiredly and traveled her eyes to me.

"Remember when I told you your situation the other day wasn't as bad as mines?". I nodded.

"Well... I'm going to share it with you. I've been an orphan since I was born. My parents didn't want me, so there I was left by the slums. If you didn't know, Poltlemus is where I'm born. The richest of the richest kingdoms. And as I grew up in the poor slums, the orphanage would harass me and bully me."

"Why? You're an amazing person", I replied.

"I'm about to get there. I have an... ability. I can heal myself quicker than other people", she admitted. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

"That's amazing Mika," I smiled, kissing her lips again. However, she didn't seem pleased.

"Thanks, Kert, but not everyone like you saw it that way. They physically hurt me to the point of me almost dying from blood loss. I healed in a matter of minutes, but they took advantage of it. So badly, I wanted to treat my mentality like how I recovered my body. I tried to... disappear. Be like everybody else, but I couldn't. And that's when it clicked.

"I wasn't the only one going through it. People in lower classes like me, getting unfair laws and punishments. It taught me to put kindness to other people's lives. To brighten their future and to not let them go through what I went through. So with that, I ran away from the orphanage, and with luck, I met Natasha". I gasped, and she nodded, smiling.

"Even now, a couple of years since I joined the rebellion, I still put my kind act so people won't know my pain. Even Avery or Natasha don't know. I never wanted you to--", Mika's flooded with tears, and her mouth trembled. I hugged her tightly, hoping she can feel my love.

"I-I'm not strong... as much as you guys think I am, I'm not. I didn't want you to know the real me, the one with weaknesses and being vulnerable", she added, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Mika...You're beautiful, amazing, and you're strong. You inspire me to have empathy for others. I can go on and on, but I like you. A lot", I admitted. She gazed at me.

"How? I'm nothing--". I shushed her gently like how Natasha did with me.

"I'm here, and I want to know you more. I promise I'm not like everybody else".

"Well, if so, I'm going, to be honest. I'm starting to give my trust to you, and you're the only one...And it's time to leave", she added, kissing my cheek before leaving me in the woods. The stars are out, and I knew that with tonight, this rebellion would change the history or fade away.