The mind, a noisy calm

"Iven?", Seb called again confused at his strange act out of nowhere after all the ignoring.

Iven held her even tighter but carefully, trying not to hurt her.

His caress was gentler but he was holding back. Afraid, he might break her.

Maintaining his position, he finally started to speak.

"Listen to me". he whispered low,"....and listen carefully". His voice had changed.

He going on about something which is not familiar to Seb.

He indeed chose purposely not to face her in that situation because he knew he can't face while confessing such a major.

Whatever might be the consequences, he will face it head on!

Only, he doesn't want to see Seb's face when she receives it coming from him.

That's all the reason he's been avoiding her.

He claims himself guilty for all happened!

"Everything, till now....", he said digging his face more in her hair,".... whatever happened, it's all because of me. Because I was a coward and kept it all from you, whereas I was the one who

dragged you in to all this".

Seb thought that Iven was worning himself because of her, posing as the one at fault. That's why he couldn't face her properly.

She tried to encourage him a little, "No Iven, it can never be such. It all happened because we were careless, and didn't listen to you..."

"NO!", Iven's voice went firmer. Seb flinched, "Everything happened because.....because.....I let it happen. Our meeting, it wasn't an accident. I pre-planned it. Everything was sorted out

carefully to happen in timing".

"What?", Seb breathed out, trying not to absorb the shock.

"Yes!", Iven admitted, "I brought you into my world, lured you in this all".

Seb didn't say anything and just waited for the explanation.

"I saw you every day, I knew you long before even we met", Iven said murmuring his voice," Every morning when you went to the dockyard for a run, I saw you each time. First, I didn't use to pay much attention, but then, how could ignore that pure view outside my room each morning? You kept playing with the dogs, and it almost became like my regular morning television program which I needed to watch no matter what. I had to be there present to not miss a single second. I don't know when it turned into a die-hard habit. My attention turned into attraction and eventually into affection. When I realized that I can't just do watching you only at mornings, I knew I had to meet you!".

"You….", Seb said pausing," …. stalked me?".

"No!", Iven immediately discarded her theory, "It was more than you can think Belle! I could have followed you easily and find you out with my power, but I liked waiting while I enjoyed the excitement of your appearances."

"So, you watched me….", Seb said again," …. creepily".

"Think what you like, I can't make you feel my mind", Iven sighed and continued, "That's why, I formed this error proof layout, away from any of the boy's knowledge. I let you come to me instead of me approaching you. I made you feel attracted to me, I made the system and you stepped in it. It's all because I wanted it! The accident at the mall, I took advantage of your mistake, the man being my client, I let you follow me, me being me based on my personality, your abduction, pretending every minute of it.... were all part of my plan. And then, I let the story continue as it went with flow. I knew you would be nosy, so it pretty much took care of the whole problem."

"If you had planned this all along….", Seb tried to free herself from Iven's arms but he didn't let her, "...then why did you harass me repeatedly? Was that a plan too?"

"Believe me, how much I blamed myself for that mess back then", Iven kept his calm," I tend to lose my temper on that, dunno why. I thought I could drag your interest in me at once, but realizing I can't, I tried to win over by force. It happened since I had never encountered a girl before. I felt extremely terrible since then, feeling it was all the end! I finished it all".

Seb didn't say anything anymore.

To be honest, she didn't expect that he would have done something this daring from the top.

He played the mastermind of this game. But still for some reason she didn't feel the betrayal she was supposed to feel. Instead, her mind was showered with question which didn't even make any sense. He knew her way before she did, he started this story. Should she be happy or surprised about all these all of sudden?

But then, the incident with Iason?

Was that a part of his plan somehow? Is it possible….?

"If you don't say anything Belle….", Iven nudged," ...I'll start to get scared. Please say something".

"Did you perhaps….", Seb spoke," …. use me? To get your revenge from Iason for Judy?".

Suddenly Iven grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back, detaching himself and separating her from him. His eyes looked seriously piteous and disappointed. Seb faced him with a face which knew that she did ask the wrong question.

"How the hell on earth can you even think about it?", he beamed. Then he quickly pulled back his gaze from her, "Forget it, it's my fault in the first place which made you think such".

"I'm sorry", Seb apologized.

"Don't, it's not your fault", Iven was reverting eyes from her, "Things started going wrong from the middle and nobody predicted it. Iason was not meant to happen, and that's where my plans laid wrong. Even though things were going good between us, and I stopped referring to my layout anymore, I had to bring'em back due to Iason. Even you meeting the boys was a pure coincidence. But since Iason forced the blow upon us.... that's when things went twisted".

Iven looked up again.

His moist eyes were dried.

"Whatever you decide now Belle….', he spoke," …...I'll accept it without a retort. I've been lying to you this whole time, I'm sorry to have done this to you. I thought things would go better if I didn't".

Seb continued to stare at him for a moment.

Iven started flushing after a few seconds.

Her eyes were completely unreadable. No surprise, no shock, no disappointment. A complete poker face for the time. Iven was ready for the worse to come. He brought this on himself anyways. If Seb chooses to leave him, he'll have to accept it. She has the right! If he wouldn't have met him, she would still be in her best form and not in such a mess right now.

"So, you're telling…", Seb started to speak folding her hands," …. all this while you kept me in the dark?".

-Yes.

"Even though you knew me, based on your pride you let me come to you instead of approaching me?"

-Yes.

"You basically tricked and lured me in your trap?"

-...yes...

"Everything that happened till now is a lie?"

-Yes.

"...…even your feeling? Whatever we have between us?"

-No! Every bit of my words to you were true.

"You arranged for these all to happen because you wanted it?"

-Yes.

Seb paused.

Iven knew what was coming based on her voice and inquiry. That was it for him. Any moment she might tell it now.

Seb sighed and said,"I…..I'm glad you did!", came out her unexpected words.

Iven looked up at her. She was smiling softly at him. Her face was sincere. His eyes were bulged enough to debate if he has heard clear. What's with this unpredicted reaction? Does she really doesn't mind? Or is it one of her theories again? Does she not realize the situation she had been through? He gazed motionless, recalling her words again.

I am glad!

Why? Hasn't she suffered a lot already? Was it not enough to despise him? Yet she's got that smile worn on her face. She can't be lying with that sort of an expression. Her voice is too honest. Did she forgive him? If not for him, she won't have to lay broken on the bed. He planned her fate, and still she sits facing him wearing that warm smile.

"What…. did you just say?", he asked doubting his ears.

"I said I'm glad you did all that", her voice sounded matured like never before.

"But why?", Iven objected to it, "You're won't be here if not for my stupid obsession!!!".

"I'm alive due to that", Seb corrected, "And it's not stupid, it's true".

"Get it straight already", Iven was still having a hard tie grasping on to the words, "I played with you. I laid this disaster for my own sake. Why aren't you furious?"

"Call it whatever", Seb said, "I'll still say the same. Even if the moments I spent with you were planned, it was true for me and you made that happen.

"But…...but why?", Iven was dumfounded.

"Why you say….", saying Seb suddenly reached over and presses her lips against Iven's, pulling back within 5 seconds,"…..why I wonder!".