When a new something strikes

Seb found Iven standing with his back at her. He was early.

"Waiting for me?", she called from behind and joked.

"Like I don't have better jobs", Iven turned,"Also...You're the one late today".

"So you were waiting after all",chided Seb.

"Take it as you want",Iven gave a don't-care look at her. Seb laughed.

"Well...", Seb started to talk normally,"I usually come at 5:00 am, but nowadays I feel a bit tired. So I delayed the time".

"You come everyday?", asked Iven.

Seb nodded.

"That explains it", Iven said,"I too come everyday, but 6:00 am. I live here you know".

"So you admit that the ship is your hideout?", Seb snapped her fingers.

"It's my home", Iven corrected and stressed the word 'home',"And you figured it out earlier, why ask again?"

"Just needed the confirmation", Seb shrugged.

Iven tched.

After a little while of their stroll, Iven talked again,"What do you do?"

Seb looked bewildered,"Me?...I'm a college student".

- I mean, what do you do that makes you so tired?

-Oh you have no idea!!!

-What is it?

-There is my Taekwondo tournament upcoming, then a stupid football match, my volleyball practices, then the editing documentaries, also my sketches....

Iven sounded very calm when he talked, whereas Seb was beaming while explaining her lists of things to do.

He raised his palm up and gestured her to pause. a frown appeared on his face,"I think you've learnt too much, don't you?"

"Even Eric says the same", Seb led out a short laugh.

Iven had an alarmed expression,"Who's Eric?"

-She's my best pal. She says I've taken all the responsibilities of the college.

-She? Eric....is a woman???

-Actually it's Erica. I call her Eric.

-You've weird boyish accents.

-Eric says that too!!! She hates my boyish accents.

Iven sighed and rolled his eyes. Seb suddenly remembered that Erica's dream guy was a hardcore guy. And she was standing right beside one.

"What's your exact age?", suddenly Iven dropped the question out of the blue.

Seb stared with a blank face at him. Iven's face turned red. Wrong question!!!

"Ah...I guess we are not supposed to ask that to women. My bad. Wrong question", Iven ran his hand through his hair due to embarrassment.

There was a creepy silence as Seb kept gaping at Iven. He wondered if he was going to get thrashed again.

"Wrong concept", corrected Seb,"Don't worry, you're not guilty here", she laughed a little.

Iven had no idea what to say to the unexpected reaction of Seb.

"I'm 19 by the way", Seb told him.

"You're young enough than you seem", commented Iven.

"Why, what's yours?", Seb counter backed.

"I'm 25", Iven replied without hesitation.

That's now something Seb couldn't believe. She really thought that he was of her age. He looked too young. She also wondered why was he not into education and weird jobs at this age. He turned 25 at such an young age? His face and body was so perfectly built without a trace of adulthood in them!

"Don't lie!!!", she said," You can't possibly be 25!".

"Do I look more old?", Iven looked little surprised.

"In fact, you look rather young", Seb let him know,"Like a school pass out!".

"That's exaggeration", Iven said.

"Really!!!", Seb beamed.

"Oh, do I?, Iven scratched his head ai the compliment. His ears turned red.

Within all the talks, it was time for Seb to leave,"I think I need to go now".

"Good riddance!!!". Iven pretended.

Seb chuckled, Iven is too sly. Iven hid a smile.

But amazingly, since that day, Seb and Iven produced a very unique relationship. They pretended as if they can't stand each other, but they couldn't wait to meet. They grew restless for time to pass faster. They even started competing among themselves to see who appears earlier in the morning. It extended up to dusk 4:45 am. It was too extreme so they brought it down to 5 am.

Seb was yet to find an answer that why her captor was getting attractive every day, and Iven knew that he can never get a suitable answer why he can't help not staying away from Seb. He waited desperately for her in the morning and then pretended to get annoyed when she arrived.

Slowly they started bonding a closer relationship.

Both of their inner conscience protested loudly.

Don't do it, Iven's voice was clear, You'll regret it!!! Your and her world is totally different. Stop it before it's too late for you and for her. Don't let this go any further!!!

Seb knew what her thoughts were, He's dangerous and cruel. You know nothing about him at all. Don't forget what he has done to you and he can do it again. He's not trustworthy. This is a trap!!!

But for them, all protests in the world suddenly seemed so meaningless.

The only thing they did, was ignore it!