DRYSTAN
Selene sat in front of me with a solemn look on her face, as she mindlessly twirled her food around on her plate. I let out a breath and sighed deeply, "listen, it's going to be okay. It's probably nothing that serious. Your flight will be ready tomorrow and we can go together" I said, hoping it would at least console her.
She glanced up at me and forced a smile on her face, she mumbled "thank you" and went back to playing with her food.
Ever since that call, she has had a blank look on her face and all her smiles were forced despite my attempts to cheer her up. I can still remember the way excitement and happiness vanished from her eyes the moment she got off the call.
****** EARLIER IN THE DAY ******
"Let's go and get cotton candy!!" Selene yelled in my ears right after we got down from the rollercoaster. It's been fun going on almost all the rides with her, all thanks to her contagious and bubbly vibe but damn I feel exhausted but I just can't say no to her.
"Alright! Take it.." I was still talking but she didn't wait for me to finish and just dragged me along and started running. She was so hyper it made me wonder if she was a special breed of Werewolf.
I shook my head at her but didn't say a word and just tagged along, "two cotton candies please" she ordered the moment we got to the stand.
The man looked up with a smile on his face but the moment he set eyes on us, I, to be precise he stiffened, the excited look on his face vanished and was immediately replaced with a look of fear and shock "please just give us the cotton candy" I said through the mind link when he didn't seem to be snapping out of his trance.
My words seemed to draw him out of his momentary shock and he nodded "yes, beta."
He set down to make the cotton candy but his hands were shaky and he kept knocking things over. I sighed frustratedly and rubbed my hands on my forehead, why can't people just act normal around me and not look so scared? I mean I've not even done anything to them.
"Not everyone has 5 wolves" Agner reminded me like he always does when I start wondering why people get so scared of me "But that's okay, with a little time they'll get to realize that you're not a bad person" he chanted his favourite line and unlike before when it would comfort me, it only annoyed me. It's been years since he started using that line yet no one has realized that I'm not a bad person for having 5 wolves.
"Please relax sir, we're not here to harm you. We just want cotton candies so please treat us like customers" I heard Selene say to the man and I looked at her in surprise but she just grinned widely at me, and weirdly, her smile brought me the comfort I was seeking.
Her words got to the man and he smiled at us and got himself together, he hurried up the process and soon enough we both were holding cotton candies "It's on the house" he said with a genuine smile when I was about to pay and I nodded curtly at him.
"Thank you" Selene chirped in and just like she's been doing, she held my hand and dragged me out of the stand. When we were out of the cotton candy stand, she let go of my hand and gripped the candy with her two hands, she would occasionally stuff it in her mouth while she walked around aimlessly, her eyes darting around the park with excitement shining brightly in them.
I tagged along behind her quietly with no clue where we were going, and I didn't bother asking, the peace I felt just walking behind her was enough. I watched her stuff her mouth with candy and would secretly judge the amount she was taking in at a go but I subconsciously eat my candy each time she ate hers, and a smirk tugged on my lips when I realized what I was doing.
We continued our walk in quietude and while she watched the park with excitement, I watched her with an unexplainable feeling in the pit of my stomach. I just couldn't wrap my head around what I've been feeling ever since we came out together, it feels peaceful and comforting like nothing else matters apart from her presence yet it feels scary like I'm on the edge of a cliff and just a step away from falling off.
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft melody and just as I was about to turn in search of the tune, I saw Selene whip out her phone, and surprisingly, the melody was coming from her phone. A big smile spread on her face the moment she opened her phone and my chest clenched tightly at the sight.
She picked up the call and hurriedly placed it on her ears "Dad! How're you doing?" She exclaimed excitedly, the grin on her face widening even more.
I released a breath I didn't know I was holding when I heard her say "Dad" and the tightness of my chest suddenly reduced. A frown made its way to my face at the cluster of emotions I was feeling, it didn't make sense no matter how much I thought of it.
"Maybe you're developing feelings for her," Favian said and I shook my head at the ridiculous thought.
"That's not possible, you know it"
"Well then, what do you call all these clusters of emotions?" Erasmus asked and my brows knitted together.
"Can you at least give me a clue on what's going on?" I heard Selene ask, and I immediately diverted my attention to her. Her voice was filled with desperation and fear, something I'd never detected in her before, I unknowingly took a few steps towards her till I was standing a few inches away from her.
"I'll take the next flight home" she mumbled dejectedly into the phone and I tensed up.
*"home? Why does she have to go home?"*
"Drystsan...." She breathed out my name and I snapped my head towards her "we should go home, I have to pack my bags. My dad, my mum.. I need to go" she said, trying to keep her voice calm and steady but anyone could hear the undeniable cracks in her voice, her eyes that were shining with happiness and excitement was now lacking its shine.
Without asking any questions, I nodded in understanding and grabbed her hands in mine "Let's go" she didn't utter any word and just followed silently behind me.
I drove faster than I would on any normal day just to get her home as fast as I could, and in about 45 minutes, I parked in front of our apartment. She opened the door the moment I parked, and without saying anything she stepped out of the car and walked robotically inside.
A deep sigh left my lips as I stared at her retreating figure, I stayed in the car for a few more minutes to give her some privacy. When I felt I've given her enough time, I jumped out of the car and ran inside. I ran upstairs and met her door open, she was inside the room stuffing her clothes into a duffle bag.
Puffing out a breath, I whipped out my phone from my pocket and decided to make things easier for her by helping her book her flight. I quickly logged into the airline website to book a flight to San Diego but all the flights for the day were already fully booked. I sighed in disappointment and switched off my phone, before turning to Selene: who was still busy stuffing most of her stuff into her bag.
My heart dropped to my stomach as I watched her pack, my mind ran in circles searching for a suitable way to break the news to her but my mind kept coming up with absolutely nothing.
"Hey, sorry to bother you but can you help me book a flight to San Diego?" She momentarily stopped packing and just stared at me, waiting for a response.
I gulped down nervously as I just stared back at her, I can't break the news to her but at the same time, I just can't ignore her and let her keep packing with high hopes "well? Are you not going to help?" She asked after waiting for a few moments and still not getting an answer from me.
"Umm... I don't know how to say this but, all the flights back to San Diego today are fully booked" I finally said and readied myself for whatever her reaction would be.
I saw her eyes widen and disbelief washed over her face, she shook her head vehemently at me "you can't be serious!" she cried out after minutes of awkward silence passed, she immediately took her phone and started typing on it.
I silently watched her as she did her thing, and after typing away on her phone for a while, she harshly threw her phone on the bed and kicked the bag that previously held her stuff making it all spill away "What am I supposed to do now?" Her voice cracked with each word she spoke, she looked at me and I instantly sucked in a breath at the glossiness of her eyes.
Without thinking twice about what I was doing, I rushed towards her and engulfed her in a hug "it's going to be fine, I'll make sure I book the first flight back home for you tomorrow" I mumbled comfortingly into her ears and softly patted her back as she kept sobbing on my shoulders.
****** PRESENT MOMENT ******
"I'm done eating, I'll head to my room now" I heard Selene say, pulling me out of the memory lane I was in, and before I could say anything she was already rushing up the stairs.
I sighed and looked at her plate, and the food in there was just the same amount I dished out to her earlier. My appetite vanished hastily and I shook my head before I stood up and cleared the table.
The moment I was done, I walked upstairs pausing briefly at her door to make sure she was okay before I walked into my room, and I immediately set an alarm for 3 am so I could wake up early enough to book the next possible flight to San Diego. When I was done I finally gave in to the tiredness I was feeling.