INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

CHAPTER XII: LEI

Dressed in black pajamas and grey hooded jacket, she gripped the tray of two cups of hot cocoa as she debated on whether to open the door or not. She knew nothing about his preference so she brought the containers of sugar and milk. She also placed two tuna sandwiches in case they got hungry.

"I wanted you to know him yourself." Her aunt's words echoed in her mind. Rejection, doubt or antipathy should not stop her from knowing about herself. Whether Skhy liked her or not, Lei needed to know more about the Academy.

She placed the tray on her desk to open the door. Cold dry wind embraced her as the door creaked open. The wind whooshed inside her room and the hair on her body stood. She trembled but she retrieved the tray and walked outside. Closing the door with her foot, she looked at the round moon and the countless stars. She stood in her small balcony. A wooden bridge connected her porch to the tree house. Her eyes wandered in the opened window of the tree house. The light was opened but Skhy was out of sight.

With a sigh, she walked on the bridge, careful not to drop the tray. She neared the door when it slowly opened, revealing Skhy dressed in grey sweatpants and a blue tee shirt. His wet chestnut hair was combed backwards but few fringes stood. What should she ask him first? She should have written her questions.

She stopped herself from panicking like it was her first time. She had few guy friends so talking to one was not new to her.

But he is a Concordian. And a handsome one.

She walked inside the tree house and set the tray down on the small table in front of the brown settee. The bed behind the couch consisted of two apple green pillows and a blanket over the white sheet. The wall was painted white with a painting of birds above the head board. A door beside the bed opened to a bathroom.

Skhy sat on the couch as Lei awkwardly stood in front of him. He raised his eyebrow, tilted his head on the side and glances at the seat beside him. Lei stared at the seat for a while before sat at the far end.

No one talked for a while. Lei just looked at the opened window facing them. She watched the stars in awe. She always loved stargazing. I'm daydreaming again.

She faced Skhy who nibbled a sandwich while stirring his drink. This guy was unbelievable.

"I'm sorry." Lei was taken aback by his sudden statement. She studied his face but he kept on chewing. He finished half of the sandwich when he placed it down, drank his cocoa then looked back at her.

"What for?" He needed to explain his attitude towards her. She just met the guy but she felt like she did something he hated.

"I was surprised and... sad at the same time," he started. "You remind me of...your parents...so I didn't talk much earlier."

She understood. He was also probably close to her parents so meeting her was quite a shock. His face showed that he wanted to say more.

"You don't have to explain but right now, you are the only one who can teach me more about the Academy." For the first time today, Skhy appeared uneasy as his eyes wandered anywhere but her. After a while, he restored his composure but looked outside the window, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together.

"You are Celeste's second daughter." His voice was melancholic. He paused, maybe thinking what to say next.

"I know. Carol was the first child." He faced him, eyes flashed pain and sadness. Was there something about her family that she did not know of?

"She was a friend though she was three years older." She searched his eyes for any hint of lies, but there was none. Lei just nodded. Words were not needed. She understood what Skhy was trying to say.