EMOTIONS

    " What do I used to bathe?". She said out of an impulse not realizing what she just uttered. Her eyes widened, realizing what she just said, but it was too late to take back her words.

    She stared back into his eyes with a defensive expression, as if what she just said was never uttered. She stared back at him with a calm and unnerved expression, even though deep within her was chaos. She felt like screaming or rewinding the time to stop herself from saying such.

   She stared into his eyes requesting an answer but he said nothing.

    " I'm sorry, but I'm not sure you can do any of that here". He paused still staring back at her in a not-so-accommodating expression.

  " But there's a lake not far away". He continued, his expression turning aloof once more before turning away to leave.

  She stared at his retreating back till it got to some distance before she the carriage's door.

*******

   " So what did you tell her?". Asked a voice that belongs to no one other than Ramon. He was packing up with the tent, he stopped whatever he was doing turning to Zamiel who had just gotten there.

   " Told her what was needed". He answered the puzzle.

  " She didn't take it personally?". Asked Ramon raising his brows.

   " No, she didn't". Replied Zamiel with a short answer.

  " Hey, hey, hey. Don't tell me you're just leaving without full information". Ramon said acting a bit dramatic, trying to poke into Zamiel's mind for some conversation.. maybe gossip. He dropped the pillow he held, turning to Zamiel who was about to retreat.

  " Yes, I am". Zamiel turned around sparing Ramon a glance before turning away, the side of his face pulling up.

  Ramon stood there staring at Zamiel's retreating figure, with a smirk on his face, but his smile immediately died down when he saw Beebah's figure approaching Zamiel. His smile completely wiped off his face as he watched Beebah and Zamiel interact. h fluttering her eyelashes trying to get close to Zamiel.

 His eyebrows went low with this scene

" Tch". He watched, scoffing with a smirk playing on his face.

***************

  Zamiel smirked at Ramon's attitude. Though Ramon might be a bit annoying. But his behavior still is funny all the time.

But his smirk wiped off his face, with his face turning all cold and aloof coupled with his calm and cool session.

  He stared at Beebah approaching him from his north, he couldn't turn away as if he saw her. That's just not like him. Besides that, their eyes met, summing it up to four.

  He stopped his footsteps, making Beebah approach him instead

   " Good morning". She greeted smiling bashfully while fluttering her lashes.

  " Morning". He answered staring at her. Unlike Mira, Beebah is a bit as tall as Zamiel's height giving off the sassy model's vibe.

   " I hope you had a good sleep". She asked trying to strike up a conversation.

  He switched his gaze off her face to her eyes, furrowing his brows, inviting an expression that clearly says. " What is this?" Sarcastically.

  " Ha, ha. I'm sorry if I sound weird or if you are offended. I sincerely apologize".

  " Can you please hit the nail on the head"? He spoke hanging her words in a polite and cool manner, coupled with his smooth and aloof expression. He walked away from where they stood not caring if she stood there or not.

   "I wanted to check up on Mira". She said following him, pausing on purpose.

 " Check up on Mira?". He questioned pausing his footsteps, turning back to her, and now staring into her eyes probingly.

  " Uhm, actually after yesterday, I wanted to talk to her to clear any misunderstanding. Since we are not really on good terms, I don't want her assuming something else about my arrival". She explained, without being questioned.

  She purposely explained that way completely not involving Zamiel. But on a closer look, she did. She said to clear any misunderstanding, meaning Mira might be suspecting something about both of them. And also she said it only to wipe out any negative impression Zamiel has towards her.

  " You shouldn't call her by her name. So it's better if you remember to place her title when calling her name next time".  He warned, in a calm and polite tone. But it still brought goosebumps to the skin with the way he said it in a calm voice with a straight but deadly gaze of his. Anyone who received such would feel fear crawling upon them because of the way he spoke even in a polite manner and it sounded more like a threat than a note of warning.

  "Of course. I'm so sorry". She apologized, masking her nervous expression with a smile.

  " Hmm. No need to apologize to me. It's done already". He said walking out as soon as he said walking out as soon as he breathed the last words as if she had a contagious disease.

  She stared at his back for a while before switching her gaze towards the carriage where Mira was. Her expression turned to the opposite of what she had on her face a while ago.

   After what happened that night, he still felt uncomfortable and uneasy. His relationship with her went unstable after she confessed to him that night. After that night he felt an invincible line drawn between them and was pretty sure she knows that too.

   He didn't know why, but he just wanted to give some distance between them after then. He had to let her know that he doesn't have such feelings toward her. Then gives her false hope by being nice to her.

   He knew she won't give up even after he rejected her feelings and if he was being nice by acting polite with her then he was reading and killing her little by little. When it is all done, it will be pretty hard for her to get back up, and then she... resenting him for giving her false hope.

  He doesn't want that, it was better to let her know, with time she'll get used to the truth and heal or maybe move on. He stopped his footsteps staring at the carriage where she was.

   ( Sigh). " How does he tell her?".

    She walked towards the carriage at a steady pace. The carriage was like a reward that she had to get, like a ticking bomb she has to disconnect.

  KNOCK! KNOCK!  KNOCK!.

  Mira heard someone knock on the carriage door. She was just recovering from what happened. She still felt a bit embarrassed about what happened between her and Zamiel. Even though she handled the situation well, she still felt a bit embarrassed and scared to step outside the carriage to meet him.

    She stared at the huge briefcase that looks so old like a box used to store old memories that she normally sees in those 90s movies.

  " Ha". She breathed through the space between her upper and lower lips. She was getting ready to exit the carriage. Since she can't wear clean clothes before bathing and God knows how far the river was with the way he said: " not far away". She's pretty sure it far away considering their mode of transportation. 

   What does she do? Will she wear this dress till they get there? Uuggh she is feeling uncomfortable already. All these thoughts were swirling in Mira's head for a knock to help intrude in it.

   She heard a knock disrupting her thoughts.

   "Who is there?". She asked with a calm and smooth voice, regaining her composure. Receiving no reply, these had her raise her brows a bit suspiciously.

   " It's me. Beebah". She heard the person finally answer when she ( Mira) was about to open the carriage door.

 She opened the door to meet Beebah's face which looked the opposite of what she was and maybe what she was expecting.

  All she saw was a beautiful, sweet and calm girl with brown wavy hair. Tall and a bit huge, with a calm and slim physique like a model's.

   " Yes?". Said Mira staring at Beebah, not at all fazed with what she saw ( Beebah's calm attitude).

  " Can I speak with you... Please"? She heard Beebah say which had her become a bit paranoid and alert with the opposite attitude she was displaying. With the little time she just spent at the inn, she was sure it's hundred percent impossible for her ( Beebah) to change overnight. They left the inn yesterday and yesterday they were not really on good terms with each other. She stared at Beebah with a questioning gaze.

 " Look, I know you feel suspicious with the way I'm speaking to you..." She paused staring at Mira to read her expression which wasn't what she was expecting.  Her expression was the one that says " So?".

   " Can I come in and let's talk about it". She requested peeking behind Mira to stare at the inside of the carriage.

  " No". Mira replied without hesitation