Monique
Days had turned to weeks since the latest incident. Although how people perceived her wasn’t the worst thing that she had imagined, she was avoiding someone else entirely. Though he would try his fruitless endeavors to hangout with her, she found excuses upon excuses upon excuses. Soon, she would become an excuse artist. She had perfected her map; she had an answer for just about everything to the extent that it became sadly predictable and well timed. She would eventually find herself teleporting all around the castle until eventually she found herself inside of Terra’s room. Terra had seen Monique's flushed, panicked face that she tried so hard burying in her hands. Terra couldn’t help but laugh.
Terra: That bad, huh?
Those three words jolted Monique’s nervous system. She had not only entered a person’s room without permission but also entered Terra's room. And in all the weeks she had spent avoiding Lee at the home front, she had spent that time hanging out with Terra. And Terra was a fiend for knowledge regardless of where it would lead her. She trembled as she shook her head.
Terra: Whaaaat? Come now, don’t lie to me! I mean we’re well past the level of acquaintances if you come teleporting into my room without any warning.
Monique: S-sorry.
Terra: No need for apologies! So, come on, sit down! Tell me, what’s got you here.
Monique: I-I’m just c-confused.
She sank down to the floor she once stood on.
Monique: I was…made…too self-conscious. I don’t think Lee intended to take me to his private spot but…
Terra: Oh, don’t tell me! He kissed you!?
Monique: N-N-N-N-NOO! He…he just…said something that made me super self-conscious…soooo I-I don’t feel too comfortable being alone…or in any vicinity of him.
Terra had the smuggest look attached to her face.
Monique: What?
Terra: I can see it.
Monique: See what?
Terra: It’s written all over your face.
Monique swiftly went to look at Terra’s mirror.
Monique: I swear I just cleaned my face this morning.
Terra: Not literally, silly. You liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike him, don’t you?
Monique’s face flushed in the brightest red. So red, tomatoes would have been outshined. The room proceeded to heat by the second as her feelings couldn’t be contained. She furiously shook her head.
Terra: Don’t lie! Come now!! He literally slept with you in a cave and in your room!
Monique: HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT!?
Terra: Oh, these walls can talk.
Monique stared at her in confusion.
Terra: Okay, Ben is a bit of a gossiper. But teasing aside, why not be honest with yourself? You like him right? Well, what if he does like you? I mean, have you ever asked yourself if he actually loves you?
Monique: No.
Terra: Why not?
The words echoed throughout her mind. Why was it so hard? Was it because honesty was harder than fibery? Because when was the last time she actually felt loved? Cared for? Although memories were coming back in pieces, she felt guilty for relying on someone else caring for her. Like caring for her as a person, as a living being, was too much for her. As if it weighed so much as a heavy burden for her. Was she so much of a distressful damsel that she warranted these emotions? Did she even deserve them? She glanced away; a heavy gloom hovered over her.
Monique: Because I’d rather not delude myself again.
Before Terra could say anything else, Monique found herself teleporting away. She was getting better at that too. Teleporting herself to what she thought were unknown places in the castle. Yet, these unfamiliar hallways felt more like home than anything else. She would wander around hallways and corridors, dragging her fingertips along the way. Surprisingly not a speck of dust was to be found.
Why not be honest with yourself?
Who would love a monster like you?
Only I ever understood you
Although Ezekiel’s presence had been nothing more than just a whisper in her subconscious, the years of torture never quite left her. It demoralized her, clung onto her like dried on stains. No matter how hard she washed them away, they were there. What would he say when he saw her wrists all bloodied up? Or her back all covered in scars that never seemed to heal? Sure, Karin’s regenerative cream worked for some time, but her body always had the ability to heal. It was the traces of her failures that clung onto her the most. She didn’t want to be shunned let alone have these bastardy things be romanticized. Yet deep down, she didn’t know if they’d treat her the same knowing how often she tries dancing with death.
When she thought of the way he looked at her that day he told her she was cute, it unnerved her. As if feeling so fraudulent under her own skin. She kept replaying the scene over, and over, and over, and over, and as it constantly replayed, she found herself stumbling near a well-lit room. Before she had thoughtlessly crossed through, voices echoing a conversation filled the once quiet hallways. She had recognized them to come from both Ben and Lee.
Lee
Vacation days were coming to an end as were the lackadaisical days where he could just be. The sense of freedom and ease would end so soon, and he found himself becoming selfish for more. He knew the words he said bore a cost, but he was no longer one to hide away his feelings. He lived a very simple life, a very simple principle: to be as straightforward as possible so no one could ever misconstrued what he meant. And he knew that it may affect the relationship he had with Monique, still he said what he said anyways. He didn’t want to wait to tell her how much he cherished her. Though, every attempt to hang out with her ended in a bust, he knew that this next one would spectacularly go well. Well, that is what he had hoped for anyways. The plan was simple, just give her a bouquet. He didn’t know what kinds of flowers she would like, just knew two very important things: 1) She’s not allergic to them and 2) Who wouldn’t like receiving them? Weirdos, that’s who.
He entered one of the many rooms that was rarely looked at let alone discovered. It was the perfect place for him to do the one thing he didn’t think he’d actually do: refer to both Ben and his inner demon for flower arrangement advice.
Ben: You’ve got to be joking. You’ve never even spoken two words to your demon! Not for the time I’ve known you! Now you want to go and manifest him to talk about flowers!?
Lee: I don’t know if manifesting him is…accurate…but, yeah. I was asking myself which of these flowers should I give to Monique, and he started going off. He kept talking about how certain flowers mean certain things and had this completely random lecture about how to properly ensure that each and every flower gets noticed if you put them in a certain way? It was very jarring.
Ben: So, you’re going to trust him? That’s a first…
Lee: It’s more like…I don’t think I can ever maintain a moment of peace. So I thought I might as well listen to Faustus.
Ben: So, you’re on a first name basis?
Lee: He’s been super chatty since Monique has been here.
Ben: And how’s that going?
Lee: She’s ignored all of my attempts at trying to contact her.
Ben, almost flabbergasted: The Lee von Solari???? Getting ignored??? What will the single guy population ever do?? It’s almost like an apocalypse is on them.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Lee: Aren’t you married??
Ben: And every day of my life, I am grateful that Alexis actually loves and adores me, otherwise I would be filled with spite because of my constant contact with you tall people. But the point is that you are tall, dark, and handsome!!! The poster child for the most gorgeous man out there!! You’re literally the secret description of what most people want!! Why is she avoiding you???
Lee: Probably…because…I let it slip that…she’s cute…and she’s probably becoming aware…that I have feelings for her and that I want to confess them to her.
Monique
Her spinning thoughts stalled. The only thing echoing throughout her head was “confess feelings”. She had no clue that’s what he wanted to do. Now how was she supposed to face Lee now? She slumped out onto the floor, her feet incapable of moving. She then heard footsteps approaching. She couldn’t move, too flustered at the entire situation. Someone has towered over her, keenly observing both what was going on in the room and what was going on with Monique. When Monique looked up, she noticed it was Ken. She didn’t know if Ken could keep a secret, but she prayed he did anyway.
Ken: What’s this I hear about confessing?
He walked into the room, giving a wink, and signaling to Monique as if she’d have to owe him later.
Lee
Ben: Vanish, you behemoth!
Ken: Awh, come on short stack!! We’re on the same team here!! We gotta make sure Romeo here isn’t – a-are those flowers?!?
Ken had seen that Ben and Lee were discussing what to put inside a bouquet as Ben was now vehemently involved in this situation.
Lee: Yeeaaah. At the very least, she’d like them, right??
Ken looked at Ben then they both nodded and shrugged as if saying who wouldn't. Every flower Ben presented to Lee, Lee would say yes to but his hands would reach for something else. Every now and then it would slap something absurd like a lily out of Ben’s hands. As if the demon was actually granted control over just his limbs and nothing else.
Ben: Though, I must say, I’m quite impressed.
Lee: How so?
Ken: You never did this for Alice. She begged so many times and you just didn’t care.
Lee: Wait….really?
Ben: Oh yeah. She was fuming when you yelled at her for picking the ones in the garden.
Lee: I-I think that was because he didn’t like it.
Ken: He?
Lee: the demon…. what’s his face..
For the last time it’s Faustus.
Lee: Yeah, Faustus didn’t like it that much.
Ken: Well, color me surprised.
Ben: You’re telling me! I think it’s about time we’ve celebrated.
Lee: Celebrated what?
Ken: You finally growing out of your grumpy shell
Lee: Haaaah. Very funny.
Ken: I’m serious! Let’s go to the Lucky Leprechaun!
Lee: But I want to give them to her now!
Ben: Oh!! I have an idea! Follow me.
Before long, Ben had hustled out of the room, leaving Ken and Lee to trail along. As Lee left the room from the other side, he noticed Ken looking out of the opposite end, looking then chuckling to himself.
Lee: You coming or what?
Lee held onto the final product of the bouquet…both Ben and Faustus had some say into what the final product agreement was. It was a gorgeous arrangement of red roses and pink tulips and carnations that were in the middle. Ken just shook his head.
Ken: I thought something funnier would happen, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Are those for me?
Lee: In your dreams.
Monique
Sweat drops fell from her cheeks. She knew if she had stayed in that corner any longer, she would have been discovered. In her heart of hearts, she knew she wouldn’t know how to react. No one had ever given her a flower let alone a bouquet of them?? But did she even deserve them? Ezekiel’s reach was but a small, insignificant touch. Like a passing stranger one can hardly notice. Yet, the damage had been done. Nothing was reversible. How could she even dream of being like the characters in her favorite novels that she would read in libraries; they were loved, they were wanted; who would ever want something as broken as her?
She reached the other side of the garden and stumbled onto her knees, tears started streaming as she let out a few small sniffles.
Terra: Hey!!
Terra was out of breath, as if she ran through the property looking for her. She knelt down beside Monique.
Terra: F-finally f-found you!
Monique: You were looking for me?
Terra was steading her breathing. When she was finally able to catch her thoughts, she looked at Monique and smiled.
Terra: Of course! What kind of friend would I be if I just made you feel like shit?? I-I’m so sorry. It was really insensitive of what I said. I didn’t mean for you to feel the way you do.
She’s lying.
Monique, in tears: Why would you need to apologize to me?
What does she know?
Terra hugged her and the thoughts that agitated her suddenly melted away. As if she gave the comfort she needed.
Terra: Because you’re hurt.
When was it…she thought to herself, when was it the last time anyone had ever cared about me? When did anyone…ever….and soon she would sob into her arms. She never knew this kind of comfort…or at least that’s what she thought. All those voices that Ezekiel had instilled in her mind dissipated for this brief moment. She suddenly remembered the warm scent of chocolate chip pancakes made by someone she would call Mama Nephite who’s features would become much clearer. Before she could reach out to that, Terra held her a bit tighter bringing her back to the present.
Terra: Look…I-I don’t know who told you…who told you any sort of bullshit about not being loved because that was an obvious lie. I know I barely know you, but no one’s ever not loved.
Monique: How could you possibly know that?
Terra: Believe it or not, I once felt that way. I grew up in a very bad home environment. I was forced to commit many atrocities that I never wanted any part of. There’s so much blood stains that can’t be washed off. But those weren’t the choices we made.
Monique nodded.
Monique: So, you belonged to an evil organization too?
Terra: Well…I mean yeah cults are basically that.
They both chuckled.
Monique: But how can I even go about any of that when I don’t feel I deserve it?
Terra: Accept it from the people who think you do. We can’t choose what kind of life we were born to, but we did choose to leave it behind. And…to truly leave it, you have to move on ahead with the life that’ll help you grow and change you for the better.
As she said that, Lee walked into view. He held a bouquet containing red roses, light pink carnations, and pink carnations.
Lee: Uhh…am I interrupting something?
Terra: Yeah!! Valuable girl time!!
Lee: Well, is it possible that I can, I don’t know, interrupt it? Promise to return her later?
Terra had seen the flowers Lee held and smiled. She had made sure that Monique wasn’t looking as she was really flustered at this point.
Terra: Well, that depends. Monique, would you like to talk to Lee?
Monique, whispering to Terra: I should be brave, huh?
Terra agreed: Yes, be brave and I’ll be waiting in your room for whatever happens.
Monique nodded as Terra let her go and walked back towards the indoor part of the castle. She waved them off.
Terra: Good luck you two~!
Then proceeded to leave the two alone. And oh, how the silence screamed.