CHAPTER SIX

Naya was sitting at the river bank crying slowly.

She had just been beaten by her aunt for pouring water on the floor and right now, all her body aches.

She felt weak and empty that right now she wished for nothing but death to come.

She sniffed in her tears and started singing, she loves singing because it is what consoles her when she is sad like this.

She felt her heart lightened as she sang and soon she closed her eyes and let herself feel the joy from hearing herself sing.

"There you are," a voice said behind her.

Naya was startled because it came all of a sudden. She breathed out as she flew her eyes open but immediately her eyes met with Seth, a short smile formed on her face.

"Seth," she called.

Seth gasped. He never knew she heard him the day he called out to her.

"You heard me that day?" He asked, sitting beside her.

Naya shifted for him so he could sit comfortably. She used the tip of her cloth to wipe her face.

"Yes, I do," she replied with a short smile.

Silence ensued as they both started taking turns in throwing pebbles at the river.

"What made you cry?"

"What brings you here?"

They both asked at the same time. They stare at each other and both share a short laugh.

"You go first," Seth said.

"Okay, what brings you here?" Naya asked him.

"Nothing, let's say boredom at the palace," he replied truthfully.

Naya gasped.

"You worked at the palace?" She asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Wow! You must be so rich, I heard the king pay you guys well," she said.

"Rich my foot but truly the king pays us well," he replied with a chuckle.

"Oh! I wish I can work there someday, I won't spend any of my salary, I will save up till I become rich then I will leave this pack to the human world to live my life beautifully," Naya stated dreamily.

Seth stared at her as she speaks. He could swear she is the most beautiful girl he has ever met, from her long hair to her pouty small lips, everything about her screams elegance.

"Seth," Naya called when she didn't hear anything from him again.

"Huh?" He creased his brow.

"Are you even listening to me at all?" Naya asked.

"Yes, I am, I do. I mean you can come work with us, it is not too late," he said.

Naya breathed out a sigh of relief. She thought she said everything to the air when he wasn't responding.

"I wish," she muttered.

"You wish? Can't you? Is there something hindering you?" He asked.

"Yes, but I don't want to talk about it at least not now," Naya replied.

She smiled at him before standing up as she dusted her cloth.

"Are you going already?" He asked.

"Yes, thank you for changing my mood," she replied, tying her fallen hair into a bun.

"But, you haven't fulfilled your part of this discussion. I just answered your question, now is your time to answer yours," he stated.

Naya chuckled.

"Make me answer it some other time," she stucked out her tongue as she took to her heels.

"Hey! You tricked me!" Seth yelled after her.

Naya laughed as she ran.

She got to the house and her heart skipped multiple beats when she saw her aunt in front of the house.

She started taking slow steady steps as if she didn't want to get to the house any longer but she eventually got there.

Kihara scoffed immediately when she saw her.

"Where are you coming from?" She demanded.

"I was coming from the river," she replied slowly.

"What did you go and do at the river or let me put it this way, what did I send you to do there?" She asked her.

"Nothing," she replied.

"Okay, what did you send yourself to go do there?" She asked.

"I just went there…

"Too meet Enola?" She interrupted sharply.

"You see that girl, she will end up being the end of you or how many times do I have to warn you against that girl but it seems like your ears, something is there that is hindering you from listening to me.

"Don't worry, it's me and you in this house," Kihara promised.

"I'm sorry aunt," Naya bowed.

"Don't make me lose the anger I'm trying to keep in store for you, you this foolish and useless orphan. If I should dash on you this evening, God forbid you won't get to meet your parents,"Kihara spat.

Naya's eyes filled up with tears in the corner of her eyes, immediately she heard that. She hated it when Kihara abused her with her parents or any of her parents.

"Get into the house and cook for me," she ordered.

Naya kept quiet as she walked slowly towards the kitchen to cook.

After cooking the food that Kihara ordered her to cook, she served kihara before going inside to eat her own portion of food.

Kihara might be stern, wicked and harsh at her but she has never denied her food, she always ensure she eat to her satisfaction and in most times that she always feel weak to cook or eat after being beaten, kihara will cook and bring it to her room.

Sometimes, she wanted to define kihara as being nice but somehow, the other part of kihara's behavior disagreed with that adjective.

After eating, she walks to her room.

She was about to jump on the bed when her eyes caught with the bracelet that she had always kept, it is the last gift her mother gave her before she died.

She held the bracelet and rubbed her hand to find the little item. She hugged the bracelet to her chest as she lay on the bed, she was unaware of when tears started Falling out of her eyes, the memories that lingered in her brain just hurt.