Chapter 23
It was mid-summer and the gentle breeze sways the grasses and trees, under the shade of the tree sat a girl with black hair; the hair almost reaching the waist of the girl, the breeze sway the hair of the girl and the girl will tuck her naughty hair behind her ears from time to time.
The rustling sound of the page been turned remain inaudible amidst the enthusiastic shout of the students. The young girl who was relaxing and reading novels became quite conspicuous among the students who were training enthusiastically.
The young girl receive a furtive glance for being 'Lazy' and 'resting' while all the others are working hard but she ignore it all as if she is in another world and all outside noises remain oblivion.
Placing a bookmark, Yuna close the book and sigh.
The novels remain cringey and hard to swallow as ever.
"At this rate, I will have an impulse to write novels on my own QAQ"
Yuna is filled with emotion. She missed her modern world where many web novels were at her fingertips. With time, she thought that she will not missed earth but as time goes by and with the increasing emptiness she felt in her heart because of insufficient novels, she missed earth, in fact, she missed her cell phone.
Looking at the training ground, Yuna land her eyes on the boy with golden hair, his hair sparkling under the bright sun.
"Sparkling as ever, tsk" Austin increasingly good look with the days passed sometimes displeased Yuna and left her with a sour taste especially when she went home, look herself in the mirror and notice her also increasing pale look and ghost like appearance because of the stark contrast of her skin and her black hair.
The young striking boy as if perceiving a gaze he adore turn and met eyes with a black obsidian eyes.
He smile lightly, warm and mellow.
Yuna although don't really want to smile force a small smile and nod her head at him out of courtesy.
'I really hate god favoured good looking people!'
Yuna remain salty and sour as ever.
Not wanting to look more, Yuna bend down her head and open the book to read in pretence.
After class, Yuna went home with Austin who likes to stick to her. If he didn't go hunting beast or spend time training, his remaining time is mostly occupied with spending time beside her which annoyed Yuna who like solitary.
Its' not that she want to be the only person in the world, human needs other human otherwise it is too lonely, human are social animal.
The existence of many other humans brings her a sense of comfort but she does not like to be with people, nor engage herself or have too much contact and relationship with others. She knows that human exist alongside her and that is enough, she don't need to connect with them and she don't like it either.
But Yuna found it hard to just drive away Austin that silently approaches her with warm attitude. She could only be perfunctory with him in hope that he will not be enthusiastic to approach her; it was also the reason why she didn't want him to label her as a good person and spoke in a somewhat commanding tone as if she looked down on his helpless self and she— helping with hateful hypocritical sympathy.
She raises a standing and rift them apart such that they are not even fit to be called a debtor and creditor but of someone who donate charity and a person who could only receive but have no way to give it back.
She donates and he received because that is all he can do.
For Yuna, her ego is too huge to thankfully receive charity of others and might as well perish or die than receive the sympathy of others. Her pride is too big. Even if others help her with good intention, she will feel that they secretly look down on her that is why even if she is unfortunate and might lose something, she didn't want to seek for help or sympathy.
Also, she feels uncomfortable and felt obligated to return them something if they help her even if they didn't asked back a reciprocal. She is not very good at handling when receiving from others.
On the contrary, Yuna like to help others when she feel like it and if she can because it satisfy her vanity, she help it not because she wants to make other happy, she help because it make her feel good and happy— it was such a selfish reason.
Indeed, she is not a good person and she didn't strive to be one either.
Austin somehow attachment to her makes her feel uncomfortable and fed up.
Of course, it was not long before she eventually asked in a roundabout way "Have you practiced that sword technique? You kept coming to see me as if you have a lot of free time" please cue the sarcasm.
Austin smile warmly towards Yuna as usual and answered "I mainly practiced at night; I try to allocate my time well so that I can spend a few more hours with you"
Yuna choke at the straightforward reply. They said sword master are straight forward and frank and it seem to be the case.
Also, how ambiguous his words were!
She is only 11 years old, well, her body is.
Austin dear friend, you mature adult, don't you have to think about your wording a bit more? Also, who like to spend time with you? Give me back my solitude!
Although Yuna scold so much on the inside, her years end impassive face remains perfectly maintained as it always does, her facial muscle does not like to exert too much expression after all. Also, she don't like to maintain facial expression that much, it drains her energy and makes her feel hollow, constantly smiling or grinning when chatting, replying every time because you don't want to appear rude, in general, the necessity to do for social interaction makes her empty and tired.
In another world, Yuna somehow became unrestrained and don't want to be falsely expressive anymore, she don't want to be expressive either.
Okay, we are off topic.
"I see….but you don't have to, you should practice more" And let me see the sword splitting as soon as possible!
Yuna thought urging him.
"I will increase my practice session at night so that I can let you show the sword technique, it was a gift from you and I want to let you see it as soon as possible" As if reading Yuna thought, Austin replied.
'Well, it's not a gift, it's a charity as well as me fulfilling my own desire! Don't interpret things however you like!'
"You don't have to increase your night training, you can start before evening instead of accompanying me at the apothecary store and wait for me when I learn to make potion"
Yuna persist, wanting her thought to go through.
"I like spending time with you" Austin said, he searched Yuna eyes and tentatively asked as if cautious "Do you not like spending time with me?"
'Bruh, do you hear what you said!?' even if Austin naturally said it and not disturb by it, she is.
"I like the feeling of solitude"
This time, Yuna frankly replied—this time intent on driving away the big Buddha and fighting for her peace, no more dilly dallying.
Any normal person will feel shame and uncomfortable to continue disturbing them after hearing such tacit refusal, pity, Austin is not an ordinary person; a person who grew up in a sick environment as well as withstand apocalypse for ten years.
"I will just silently accompany you and not disturb you, don't drive me away okay?" He said in a pleading tone as well as in a voice that seem as if he is coaxing a child.
"No, we meet at school every day" Yuna not moved cold heartedly refused.
Did she look like a child that can be easily coaxed and swayed? Sorry but she is also an adult at soul too!
Austin just smiles and does not say anything more.
Yuna thought everything is settled, that they have come into an agreement and she will be able to finally gain her solitude but the next day, Austin still walk home with her, not exactly walk together but follow her at a distance, not talking to her and even enter the apothecary store, he pull a stool at a distance and silently accompany her without ever speaking a word.
"I said you don't have to stay with me" Not able to help Yuna said, pressing her lips in a tight line.
At that, Austin just continues to smile softly, so soft that instead of softening her heart, it gave Yuna the creeps.
"I will just silently accompany you and not disturb you" He said simply, the same statement he made before.
He has always been a persistent person, therefore, he will persistently stay by her side.
His answer make Yuna realize that she has not reason with him at all.
"Do whatever you want" I won't argue with you.
Yuna just coldly state.
Don't blame her if she ignore him and treat him like air than.
Especially when she read novels, she tends to forget the existence of everyone or when she is lost in her own thought. Yuna has refrain herself from doing so in front of Austin to maintain basic social interaction but if the other person insist on sticking with her after her telling off, then she will not hold back anymore and freely ignore him without any burden.
Whether he feel neglected or feel uncomfortable, she will not care anymore. She has given enough face.