LAST DAY

"You probably shouldn't stay too late today, I don't know when exactly they're going to come release me." Jerome said. He was nibbling on a slice of bread that Ravea put in his mouth.

"You still haven't told me why you decided to take the blame for everything." She sat facing the river, throwing in little stones every once in a while.

"I thought you'd forgotten about that." The bread fell out of his mouth, "Ah."

She looked at him, then the bread, then got up, picked up another slice and stood in front of him. "I'll give you the bread if you tell me", she said.

"Aww come on", he moaned, "I told you I wasn't going to tell you, I was, and am still going to make sure your guilt eats you up inside out."

"Well too bad, I don't feel guilty anymore. I stopped feeling guilty a long time ago", she smirked.

"Then why are you still here?"

"Huh?" She was confused.

"Why do you come here every day to feed me if it's not out of guilt?" He elaborated.

She stared at him, "Why am I here?" she asked herself.

"Are you alright?"

Her face turned red.

"Alright I'll tell you."

"What?" She was surprised.

"Don't make me repeat myself, I said I'll tell you why I took the blame." He looked at the bread in her hand, "Just after I finish eating."

She put the bread in his mouth.

Minutes later he was done. So he started, "It's actually pretty dumb", he said.

"I still want to hear it."

He squeezed his face,"I did it because of Rima."

"Rima? How?"

"A friend told me about her. He said she was really pretty, calm and eloquent."

Ravea's face turned pale.

"I hadn't seen her before so he just described her to me. Dark hair, Full lips, Beautiful Eyes. It wasn't much but I immediately recognized her when she held your hand during the trial. I didn't want to ruin my chances with her by causing her sister pain so I-" he looked at Ravea, "-took the blame. Are you okay?"

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Her head was bent and her hands were behind her back. "Mhmm", she replied.

"Alright, so that's it."

"Thank you", She said then quickly folded her mat, picked up the remnant food, put them in her basket, then ran off without waiting for his reply.

Early the next morning, Jerome was released. He could barely stand on his own when he was set free. His legs had grown weak from minimal use, but as the days passed he got his strength back.

His mother didn't get the chance to really talk to him before he was punished so she thought it was time she did.

She was harvesting potatoes in the farm behind their house alongside the three helps that lived with them. The wind of plenty had passed over the land. The potatoes were plump and heavy, one could even be compared to a tuber of yam.

She sat down on a bench to rest, then looked over at Jerome. "Are you sure you're strong enough to do this? It would be problematic if you fainted from exhaustion", she complained. Jerome had volunteered to help her but she refused. Nevertheless, he insisted and eventually made her agree, partially.

"Staying in bed all day won't make me get any better, I have to exercise my muscles", he replied.

After a while. "Alright, you all can take a break", she announced. "Jerome, I want to speak with you."

He walked over to her. "Yes ma", he answered then sat down beside her.

She held his cheek, "JēJē", she said.

"Mother, I told you to stop calling me that", Jerome fussed.

"And I promised to stop when you turn 17", she smiled.

"Well I turn 17 next week."

"Next week isn't today, which means I'm still allowed to call you that", She chuckled then took her hand of his cheek.

"Alright sure. It's just one more week then no more, agreed?" He looked at her with his brows furrowed a bit to show how serious he was.

"Agreed." She smiled again.

He thanked her, then "Mother, I wish to invite the Semira's to my party", he said.

"What? Why?" She asked surprised.

"I can't explain it. As a gesture of goodwill I guess", he replied.

"Alright, I'll tell your father about it."

"Thank you. So why did you call me?" He relaxed a bit on the bench.

She paused and looked at him, into his eyes. They were clear as glass. " Nevermind, It's nothing. Can you get me some water?"

"Sure" he replied, a bit confused. "I'll be back."

That night after Jerome had gone to bed, Mr. Dernewt came back late from the sanctuary. "Where is Hilma?" He asked Loma, one of the helps, when she served him his food.

"The madam was tired from the day's work so she went to bed early and asked me to stay behind and serve you once you got back", She replied.

"Oh. Thank you. You're dismissed for the night", he replied soberly.

She excused herself then left.

Once he was done eating, he went upstairs. He paused for a couple seconds in front of Jerome's door, before continuing forward.

When he got to his room, he took of his clothes and jumped into bed.

"You stink", Hilma said.

Mr. Dernewt turned and looked at her. "You wouldn't know that if you were really asleep."

"Your stink woke me up."

"Tsk, alright." He got up from the bed and headed towards the door.

"Jerome said he'd like to invite the Semira's to his party." Hilma said idly.

Mr. Dernewt stopped and looked at her, "Why would he want that?"

"'A gesture of goodwill' he said."

"Well I don't think they'll accept the invitation", he held unto the door handle.

"Why?" She asked before sitting up.

"Because I said I wasn't going to sell the land to them again."

"What? Why would you do that?!"

"You talk like you don't know."

Hilma shook her head in disappointment. "Even the child that got punished is forgiving enough to invite them to his party."

Mr. Dernewt said nothing. He left the room to take his bath but he didn't come back after. He found the couch to be more comfortable.