Chapter 38: Chapter 35: A Night To Remember

Chapter 35: A Night to Remember

"Every moment is the paradox of now or never. "

CESIA'S POV

**************************FLASHBACK*******************************************

We are facing the sea waiting for the countdown and the fireworks show. Dark's Family was giving some hugs and kisses to their children. Aries, Amara, and Aivan were laughing sharing their moments and experiences here on the Mortal World.

I sat down on the sand of the sea and went around my sight. People were having fun with their family, relatives, and friends. Couples walking by the sea while hugging and smiling at each other. Those who are with me in another dimension of the world and the creatures who sincerely welcome us and shelter us, just to make up for the good we have done.

I did not expect to experience these things. Only yesterday I was like a bird trapped in a cage and did not know if I taste that freedom; to experience Seeing the beauty of the world.

But here I am now, laughing with joy in my heart as I am with these creatures. I don't know what could be the possible result of our journey. And, I'm afraid that if I wake up for tomorrow all these happy things I experienced are just a dream or worst a lie. I hope that does not happen, I will accept all the truth about who I am, as long as they never forget me and betray me. I consider them as my family and best friends. Even in a short time, I met them.

I hugged myself as the cold wind blew and the waves crashed into the sea. I looked up at the sky and the moon shining brightly tonight and the stars twinkling in the dark.

'Very beautiful… I hope it's always like this.'

"You are more than beautiful, of what you've imagined and see." I looked at the man who spoke next to me now. I did not even realize that he was sitting here. Has he been sitting there before?

"Yeah. Your eyes and mind are busy touring around the place, giving thoughts of what you feel." I frowned. Is my face so obvious just to read whatever is on my mind? I heard him chuckle with joy at what he saw. His smile and laughter are like a blessing… He always frowns and the coldness of dealing with others. You will be surprised when he does that.

"Tsk! You're smart but too slow and, Maybe you just don't care sometimes? " Huh, the thickness of his face. It's good telling me smart, but with additional mocking words?

'Is that really how they see it in me?'

"Why did you say that Dark Prince?" noted with the hint of sarcasm. He just looked at me with a smirk on his lips and turned his gaze to the ocean.

"Too obvious? Didn't you know, did you? I can see someone's tragic past and nightmares. I can read someone else mind." I gasped at what he said as if nothing to him that I was surprised by what I heard. Why I didn't think of that? So, all these times; he's been reading my mind? Moreover, knowing he can see someone's tragic past, I will no longer be mistaken in thinking that he already knows my past!

'Gosh…Shame on us, Ces…' Zia said I swallowed the lump on my throat before asking him if I heard it right.

"Wh-at do you mean by Reading minds and yo-u can see the past? N-o way! You're a Dark Prince, right? Why do you have such abilities? Then, you have a lot more powers. Shouldn't your abilities or powers we're more on Dark Magic? " I asked him one question after another.

"Tsk! Chill, we have much time to talk about that." He said, giving me a don't worry look. Time? Eh, I can hardly talk to him because of my training and I still avoid him. You see, this man still has the urge to say chill? That he is the one who reads the mind of the person who wants privacy.

'Oi, you are just scared because your thinking that maybe he has already read in your mind that you have feelings for him and you are avoiding him?' This one too. She doesn't even accompany me.

'Tsk. Shut up… You seem to be able to help, right?' I glared at Trevor when I heard him chuckle; if he could see my wide-open eyes. Maybe he read what I was thinking.

"Eh, why do you seem happy? Ha? You can read again, what are my thoughts? " I turned to face him and looked at him with censorious eyes.

"What? That you are too cute to see in your reaction now? Or, should I say, you think that I secretly read your mind? Hmmm. Why, are you hiding something in your mind that I should not know? " A smile flashed across his face with sarcasm.

"Oh, Mr.Ezekiel, you're invading someone's private mind. Don't you know too, that it's too creepy entering our thoughts?" I raised my brow at him, giving him an annoying glare.

"Don't worry I can read minds through looking their eyes or touching them. It depends on me If I want to read them or not. I won't read you unless if you want me to do it?" It was as if a thorn had been pulled out of my throat.

By the way, why do I have to be teased?

He looks at me with amusement in his eyes and all, I can see his angelic face. An unearthly beauty; are these beauty hidden something unbelievable too?

I don't know how long we've been staring at each other, tracing every inch of our faces. We were just disturbed by Amara's screams and the exciting shouts of the people around us.

"Hey, Guys! Come on, 15 seconds for the countdown!" Amara raises her hand with a glass of beer on it. I immediately looked away from him. And stand up right away. My wet swimsuit is a bit dry yet and only the robe giving warms to my body. I already hugged myself because of the cold, even my lips were shivering because of the cold breeze. They started screaming for the countdown and their faces were looking up at the sky.

"TEN…"

"Let me... do this, to ease your coldness." I was stunned because of the warm hands enveloping my whole body. Back hugging me.

"I can handle-" he cut me out.

"Stop. Just this time. I can't bear seeing you like this, you have endured the cold for long. Let me warm you through this hug until this countdown ends." I swear all I here, right now is my heart beating so fast, racing for the finish line while his voice echoed in my mind.

"NINE…"

"W-hy are you doing this to me? I see you're too distant from others but why you're acting like you've known me for long?" I am confused about how he treats me, especially this kind of treatment. That's why, I'm avoiding him, but why he keeps on coming back to my life?

"EIGHT…"

"Like, I've said before, it's not the time to know that. All I can say, you are like a shining star in the darkness giving light and hope at the pits of it. You are glowing beautifully inside and out… You are my light, through my darkest life, Aphrodite." His hot breath and baritone voice filled my skin and give a familiar soothing feeling in my heart. I don't know what's his reason. Should I believe him?

"SEVEN…"

"I-I don't understand… There's nothing in me I should be proud of. I don't know if you know my past, I'm not someone whom you can trust quickly. We just met, not too long… Please… I'm not that numb to feel it. Is it true what you are showing me? Or it is just your funny time?" I don't want to act rude to him. Here we are already, I better just talk to him about what he shows to me so that I can no longer hope.

"SIX…" His hug tightened, giving me chills, and my heartbeat race. Like, he doesn't want me to get out of his grip. Like, he is dying to feel it, again…

"Is that how you feel? I know it's not…Tragic past or not…your still my sunshine… Meeting in just a short time or not… as long as my eyes landed on the precious person that happened to my life… don't forget that you are my star… " Why he is talking such kind of flowery words that sends butterflies to my stomach? Why he can't say it straight? I can't find any words to say and divert my eyes at the sky. It's better not to talk… But he just continues…

"FIVE…"

"Listen…" my hair stood on the hot breath as he spoke while his face rested on my shoulder.

"FOUR…"

"I know your tragic past… I've seen how you suffered by their hands… How you hope for the light to come in your way… How you beseech God because you feel nothing in His presence… How you succumb to darkness…How you afraid to trust and How you always put in your mind that you're not worth it." I know my tears almost fell on my eyes. Why he have to say those? Why he has to make me remember it? I thought I buried those nightmares already?

"THREE…"

"But you didn't know… You are the true light that you are waiting for… You are the star in your darkness, too. No matter, how you faced those painful acts. You still learn to move little by little… To accept … To Stand… To Trust… and Love… You don't know, that's the true you, Aphrodite? You don't know that you give a big portion of your heart to us? You don't know that you are slowly healing? It's because of you, we are just here willing to help you." My tears went falling like water. I'm very touched, is that how I really; focus on my past? Am I that scared to experience this? He turned me to his front and wiped my tears with his finger.

"TWO…"

"Don't cry… I know that you we're happy with what you are experiencing now. And that makes me happy, too. I want to see your smile always, not just in your lips but with your eyes and heart." He smiled. He pinned my hair to my ear and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Thank You." I smiled at him. No words I can express to say what's in my heart. I hope this negativity of mine, will fade away. I want to be strong and not this weak sensitive emotion.

"ONE…."

"No. Thank You, for coming back into my life… My sunshine… My star… My light… I won't force you to respond… But, I will formally want to court you, I know it's weird for you, I will win your heart back…I am very happy to be with you in the simple celebration of these people...It is like a new hope and dawn for me by your side… My Regina I want you back by my side…" I am now ready for a heart attack because of my racing heartbeats. I can't utter a word, but stupid me… I miss the chance to hear his last sentence because of the loud noise of the people and the noise of the fireworks now starring in the sky.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! YOOHOO!" I smile, but why he is thanking me for my come back? I look at the colorful sky. The fireworks give different lights on the night that make us happy, welcoming the new sunrise of the year. My First Sunrise of Freedom. I look at the man beside me, the reason for my crazy heart right now.

"Happy New Year, Ezekiel." I face him and give him a heartfelt smile.

I no longer pay attention to what happened in my environment… I was surprised he grabbed my waist closer to him and gradually his face stared closer to my eyes. I was nervous about what he would do now. His face was just getting closer to mine.

I closed my eyes and should have enjoyed this time. I waited for his lips to land on my lips… But I was disappointed with what he did. His lips just landed on my forehead.

Oh, I thought he was going to kiss me.

What?

Why do I think that?

Is it because of what he said to me earlier, that I becoming like this?

'Assumimg' Zia teases me.

I heard Trevor laugh at me. When I opened my eyes, I looked at him, but I was surprised that he quickly covered my lips to his. It was as if I was a statue of what had happened and my muscles softened as he tightened his grip on my waist and brought my body even closer to him which gave me a hotter feeling.

I could not move my lips because I really, don't know what to do; but he just ignored them and gave them a sweet kiss. I no longer knew what he said to me and I was just left there stunned and holding my lips while he is gone with my sight.

****************************************************************************************************

Blag!

"Ouch!" I massage my butt and try to reach my hurting back. It was an epic act for me to fall in my bed, while I'm having my peaceful sleep. I didn't even notice, to stop myself from falling on the carpeted floor.

'Tsk! Look… because of that Prince, we haven't slept all night!' Zia commented in annoyance. I slept for just one and a half hours. I know I had big eye bags result of my wakeful night. The dark circle marks are actually, visible under my eyes. And it's more fascinated by my zombie-like moves.

"CESIAAAAA! What the fudge? Haven't you taken a bath yet? Hurry up there was an emergency, hurry!" Amara was panting while she opens the door.

I moved quickly and wondered what the emergency Amara was saying. New Year's eve was done and today my training continues. I hope, this is not bad news.

TO BE CONTINUED...