Episode 12: Conversations (Maria)

"Maria?"

I couldn't believe my eyes. She was in front of me. However, she didn't wear her usual jersey. Instead, she was wearing a black and white polka dot dress and a black ribbon that neatly tied her hair up in a ponytail.

While her new apparel surprised me a bit, there was one aspect of her that was even more unbelievable.

Did she just speak? She can speak? Why did she never speak before then? With these questions in mind, I didn't realize that I've just been staring at her.

"You look stupid, Andrew," she chuckled.

I shook myself out of my shock and cleared my throat.

"I just... didn't expect to see you here," I said. "And to hear you talk."

"Well, it seems that we have a lot to talk about," she replied then gestured for the cottage. "Why don't we go inside? Gustave said that this space will provide us with everything we need."

I nodded and followed her inside.

It was spectacular. The interior was fully furnished with natural wood. The atmosphere and lighting were designed to give off a cool, relaxing feeling. However, the multiple stuffed heads of animals and monsters were not to my liking.

"Sit down in the living room," Maria said. "It's too early for a meal so I'll see if they have some tea for us."

"Ok," I replied and settled down on the wooden couch near the fireplace.

I was still reeling from it all. I was unconscious right? And the doctor said that I won't be able to move for the rest of my life.

I looked at my hand and squeezed it. There was feeling in them for sure. And I could move them just fine.

How about magic?

I took a deep breath and connected myself to the wind as I usually do.

But nothing.

"You just woke up and you're already trying to do magic?" Maria said as she brought in a tray of tea and baked goods.

"I just had to try," I replied as I helped her set it down. "But it seems that I can't do it anymore."

She took a seat beside me on the couch and poured some tea in my cup. The calming aroma of Earl Grey hit my nose as piping hot steam rose from the cup.

"You must have a lot of questions," she said as she moved onto her cup. "I'll answer them if I can."

Right... questions. I definitely had a lot. But, during this time, one question took priority above everything else.

"I don't know if this was a topic you wanna talk about, but I just really need to know..." I took a deep breath to brace myself. "Have you always been able to talk?"

Maria paused for a bit. Then, she laughed.

"Oh my god, Andrew," she said. "Out of all the questions to ask first, you chose that one?"

I shrugged. "I have my priorities," I replied. "It's just that in all our time together, I've never heard your voice. So, whenever you wrote or signed, I would always imagine how you would sound," I then took a sip of the tea before I continued. "And I must say, you sound cuter than what I had imagined."

"Aww, you're such a lady killer mi amor," she said as she gave me an affectionate hug. "I wonder if you say that to all the girls."

Growing up in the West, I was never one to give or receive physical touch. So I was taken aback when she suddenly clamped onto me. But I must say, it was nice to finally see what I assumed to be the real Maria. She has always been so reserved and her usual form of communication have always made me feel distant from her. But seeing her show affection like this, it was clear that she was Chakob's daughter.

"Stop stalling and answer the question," I chuckled.

"Fine, fine," she replied as she took a cookie from the plate. "You heard my dad shout before right?"

"Yeah," I replied with a sigh as I remembered that defeaning voice. "He said Orcs developed vocal chords that could even scare a Dragon."

"Mhm, and mine's many times more powerful than his," she replied.

What? People around a 5 kilometer radius reported hearing Chakob's shout on that day. And she was saying that hers is way more powerful than that?

"Can you... give me an example so I can wrap my head around it?" I asked.

She thought for a bit.

"I could probably level the entire city just by saying the vowels normally," she replied nonchalantly.

A walking Weapon of Mass Destruction...

What the hell's wrong with the Rodriguez Cartel? They got a leader who developed a secret martial arts. Three top generals that can destroy a small army. And now, an heiress that can destroy an entire city with only her voice?

I cleared my throat to compose myself.

"Well, if that's the case, then wherever we are seems to allow you to talk," I said. "Where the hell are we anyway?"

"We're in Mount Olive right now," she replied. "Well, Gustave's Ethereal Space to be specific."

"Mount Olive?" I asked.

"Mhm, Gustave said that to repay you for saving everyone at the venue, he asked his tribe to let you recover here," she replied.

Mount Olive... The Elves didn't really like strangers being in their territory so Gustave must've been well-respected within the community if he managed to arrange this.

"But why here?" I asked.

She shrugged and stuffed another piece of cookie into her mouth. "Mr. Han knows the details so ask him. He should've been the one to meet you first, but I threw a tantrum so they'd let me take his spot."

I smirked.

To think that she would do that just to see me first. The Rodriguez family sure lived up to their reputation for being go-getters.

My stomach fluttered a little with the thought of her wanting to see me again. I never thought I'd mean that much to her.

I took some milk to pour into my tea. And as I reached for the spoon, my clumsy hands instead brushed it off the table.

"Ah, crap," I said as I reached down to grab it.

However, instead of the spoon, my hand touched soft skin as I grabbed Maria's hand when she also reached for it.

"Oh, sorry," I chuckled nervously as I wiggled my way to the spoon.

Then, as I withdrew my hand, Maria grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards her.

Her sudden force blew every strength in my body and I couldn't resist. In the end, our faces were mere inches from each other.

Her warm breath tickled my skin. Was that mint?

Her doe eyes looked at me with expectation and her long eyelashes lured me deeper into her gaze.

Then my eyes fell on her pink, thin lips. And like two planets, draw to each other by their gravities, our face inched closer.

And closer.

My heart raced, my palm sweated.

Was this really happening?

Then, when our lips were at their closest, a memory suddenly flashed before my eyes.

"Hey there, lover boy."

I immediately recoiled backed away from her.

Guilt and shame washed over me like a flood as I looked at her eyes that were filled with disappointment.

"I...I'm sorry," I stammered. "I'm sorry."

"I... no... I guess it was too much huh?" she said weakly. "Sorry."

"No, no, don't apologize," I quickly said. "It's all me."

Then a pause. The two of us, unable to look each other in the eyes.

Then, it was Maria who broke it first.

"Are you not attracted to me?" she asked finally in an almost a whisper.

"No... Yes..." I stumbled on my words. "I mean you're pretty, but..."

"Is it because I'm in this form?" she then stood up and approached me. "Rosemary said you like muscular women. Should I remove my armband to show you my Orc form?"

"What? No, no, it's not..." I said as I backed up. "Wait, Rosemary said what? Whatever. It's not that at all."

"Then why, Andrew? Why won't you kiss me?" she pressed.

"Because I can't kiss you when I'm thinking of another woman!" I blurted out.

Her eyes went wide at first, then she sighed and took a seat.

"Is it Blair?" she asked.

"Rosemary said that too huh..." I replied as I plopped tiredly on the floor.

"Mhm, along with all the girls you liked in the Academy," she added.

"That blabbermouth," I chuckled to myself.

Then there was silence again. It was overbearing. Heavy.

Did I just ruin our relationship? All because of a haunting memory.

Then, Maria walked to where I was and sat beside me. Her back leaned against my shoulder.

"You know Andrew, I may be an Orc, but I'm also a Latina," she said. "And we are a passionate bunch. If we see a man we like, we snatch them so that no other girls can have them."

I instinctively shifted.

"Is that a threat?" I chuckled nervously.

"No," she replied. "Not yet at least. I know that this put- ... Blair... still has a hold on you. And because of that, I can wait."

I sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Maria," I said. "I promise I-"

Then, without warning, she spun her body with one quick motion and before I could even react, she's already mounted me. Her eyes, once innocent, now looked at me with mischievousness and passion. Her hand grabbed my collar and pulled me close to her.

"But don't make me wait too long, mi amor," she said. "Or else I may not be able to hold back."

I froze in place.

I faced many life threatening experiences.

Mozambique. The Dungeon in Antarctica. Frying my Mana Circuits.

But there was something about Maria's aggression that struck fear in my heart. A primal fear that I couldn't shake off.

"I...I promise I'll deal with it," was all I managed to reply.

"Good!" she said with a bright smile and let me go.

Holy shit, I thought to myself as I gasped the air back into my lungs. My collar was still hot from when she grabbed it. My heart was still running a hundred miles an hour. What the hell did this girl do to me?

I looked at the girl who was happily gobbling up snacks and tea. Her innocent face has returned and she was back to being the Maria I was used to.

"Oh, right!" she suddenly exclaimed and jerked up from her seat.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I forgot that I only have a few minutes with you, oops," she replied. "Mr. Han said that he needed to talk to you about something urgent so I have to go."

"Umm..."

She then planted a kiss on my cheek and waved goodbye.

"See you soon! I'll bring Christina next time," she said as she disappeared in a blinding light.

I was alone in silence. And with her gone, I crumpled onto the floor.

Maria without her silence was a hurricane! She came and went as she pleased and made a mess of my mind in the process.

Then as I sat on the floor, processing everything that just happened, the air crackled when a purple, electrified mist formed near the door.

"Whooey! Is it just me or is it hot in here," Mr. Han said as he stepped through the portal.

"Always an eavesdropper I see," I chuckled.