Feelings, unknown to her...

Sanim held his hands tightly, as her body trembled in fear, and with her red eyes, she looked at his olive eyes, which now had a hint of darkness in the pupils.

"I am scared of the dark…"

Veru, hiding his annoyance, consoled her. "Don't worry. Just don't leave my hand, and be near me. Don't run anywhere."

Sanim bowed her head as she gave him a brief nod.

Hina was at the back, lurking the two as they held each other hand, for the most time she was quiet, but seldomly she teased the green-haired boy.

Veru felt immense anger boiling inside of him. He wanted to hold Hina's hand, and not of Sanims' but he couldn't and was obliged to hold hands with the red-haired girl to check her to get to close with Hina;

She furthermore stuck close to him, annoying him more.

They finally reached the gates of a humongous mansion, painted in white, with an open garden on each side of the entrance.

"Is this where you live?" asked Veru, as he looked at the mansion with his eyes spread open.

Sanim gave him a nod; she barely made any eye contact with him the entire way.

Hina looked at the black-haired girl, the smile on her face, vanished as she got lost in her thoughts.

There were two men dressed in black shirts and pants, who stood and guarded the gate. 

Sanim looked at the guards and waved her hand. "Thanks for the help, " and ran towards the two men, who on seeing her opened the gate.

Veru looked at her, finally leaving him and Hina alone; he finally was alone with Hina and had a victorious smile on his face.

Hina crept behind his back and whispered close to his ear. 

"Hoho! Aren't you smiling a little too much?"

Veru's face turned red as he flustered; he could feel her breath on his ear as Hina whispered.

"What? I am just happy because that dumb girl has finally left us alone. Now you can help me, and we together can collect the shells."

Veru grinned, hiding the true reasons for the wide smile.

Hina looked at him, coughing she twisted his ear. "I won't help you unless you try hard too. I won't just do it for you."

"Ouch!!!"

Veru removed her hand and rubbed his ear. "Why do you think I would let you do all the work?"

Veru grinned, as the two left for the shore.

~~~~

"This is how Sanim and we met for the first time, " in a somewhat sad tone, Hina told Hose her past.

Hose took a long break after Hina finished telling him the story, and then looked at Hina.

"What do you think about Veru?"

Hose carefully looked at Hina's face; she didn't know that she was being observed with such attention.

"What about Veru?" asked Hina with no change in her reactions.

Hose sighed as he looked at the fainted girl. "I somehow now have started to understand some parts of it. What happened next?"

Hina with a slightly raised tone inquired about him with a pout. "If you understood it then why should I tell you more?" 

Hose sighed.

"I am not sure about it, so please tell me what happened next."

Hina looked at the dark sky lightened bright stars and the moon as she sighed and once again continued her story.

"We didn't know much about her, and hardly knew her relationship with others, and for Veru, it was…"

'Veru, where are you? Are you safe? Please for my sake be safe!' Hina thought to herself as she narrated the rest of the story.

~~~~

"Veru, how long will you keep me waiting?" asked the white-haired girl who now was standing near a palm tree, with its long brown withered leaves hanging.

The black-haired boy grinned as he replied. "Just keep your eyes close. I need to show you something."

"Okay, " Hina nodded her head as she continued closing her eyes.

Veru ran towards the portion of the shore where several palm trees grew in a group.

Rustle…

Hina's ears twitched as she noticed a faint sound coming from the bunch of palms trees behind her.

She turned her back and opened her eyes; she was on her guard.

"Who is there?"

She felt someone stalking her.

Rustle…

Being caught the culprit revealed itself, or rather herself. 

Her long black hair fluttered in the light breeze as her red eyes glistened the sunlight.

"Sanim! What are you doing here?"

Hina looked at the girl with a surprised face. 

'Don't tell me that she is lost now, ' she couldn't think of any reason other than her getting lost as it was the normal thought process.

'She is from a rich family, ' Hina when she saw the mansion, she understood her status and therefore was shocked seeing her at the beach where she was currently with Veru.

For some reason unknown, she felt frustrated, but soon her rational mind kicked in.

'Why is she here? No one would allow a kid to come here all alone.'

The place she currently was, was the same spot where people used to port and smuggle goods and even your existence here could prove to be harmful.

Veru and Hina were safe as they used to come here all the time since it was a normal routine for time.

Sanim rubbed her hair. "I was alone and wanted to talk with you and V-Veru, " she stuttered.